Tractor Data Center

The present invention is directed generally to the monitoring arts and more particularly to apparatus for monitoring a plurality of vehicle functions and conditions in a vehicle such as a tractor used in agriculture.

While the monitoring apparatus of the invention may find utility in conjunction with the monitoring of the functions and conditions any of a plurality of different types of vehicles, the disclosure will be facilitated by reference to a tractor of the type used in agricultural operations.

In recent years, such tractors have become increasingly complex and expensive. Accordingly, it is desirable to carefully monitor the functions and conditions of an operating tractor, in order to ensure efficient operation thereof. Moreover, such monitoring may avert any breakdown or damage to this complex piece of equipment, which may be quite difficult and expensive to repair.

Furthermore, the operation of a vehicle such as a farm tractor requires a high degree of attentiveness on the part of the operator. Hence, such monitoring apparatus must be sufficiently simple to use so as not to detract from the operator's attention to the control of the tractor and associated machinery which may be pulled behind the tractor. Moreover, since such tractors are provided by different manufacturers and in different models, monitoring of the various functions and conditions thereof has heretofore required that a separate monitoring apparatus be provided for each type or model of tractor. Hence, it is desirable to provide a monitoring apparatus which may be readily and simply adapted to monitor the functions and conditions of any such model or type of tractor.

Additionally, in view of the increasing cost of fuel, it is important that such a vehicle be operated as efficiently as possible. Importantly in this regard, wheel slippage is to be optimized so as to optimize the relationship between work accomplished, vehicle and tire wear and fuel consumption. However, wheel slippage is notoriously difficult to accurately measure, as such tractors generally have a plurality of different gear ratios or gear ratio ranges in which they may be operated. Moreover, different sensors have heretofore been provided on such vehicles for measuring engine RPMs and for measuring the wheel rotational speed of the vehicle, either directly or by analogy to a ground speed measured by some other means such as radar. Hence, it has heretofore been difficult to provide an inexpensive yet accurate apparatus for achieving a reliable wheel slippage measurement regardless of the types and locations of such RPM and ground speed sensors provided on the tractor.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved monitoring apparatus for a vehicle.

A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved monitoring apparatus for a tractor of the type used in agriculture.

A further object is to provide a monitor of the foregoing type which is relatively simple to use and yet accurately monitors a plurality of vehicle functions and conditions.

A more specific object is to provide a monitor of the foregoing type which provides an accurate measurement of wheel slippage.

A further object is to provide a monitor in accordance with the foregoing objects which is readily adaptable for use with any one of a broad variety of different vehicles having different operating characteristics and having various types of sensors for sensing the functions and conditions to be monitored.

Briefly, in accordance with the foregoing objects, a monitoring apparatus is provided for a vehicle including a plurality of sensors for detecting a plurality of vehicle functions and conditions and for producing corresponding sensor signals. The monitoring apparatus comprises a console including operator actuatable control means, and control circuit means including means for calculating wheel slippage of at least one drive wheel of said vehicle. The calculating means includes means responsive to sensor signals corresponding to engine RPM of the vehicle and to sensor signals corresponding to the rotational speed of said at least one drive wheel for calculating a predetermined relationship therebetween. The control circuit means also includes calibration means responsive to actuation of said operator actuatable control means for setting said calculated relationship to a predetermined reference value when there is substantially no load on the vehicle and hence minimum slippage of the drive wheel. This setting is made for each of a plurality of ranges of gear ratios of the vehicle, thereby calibrating the calculating circuit means to calculate wheel slippage for each of a plurality of gear ratios.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily appreciated upon reading the following detailed description of the illustrated embodiments and referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a monitoring and control concole in accordance with the invention; and

FIGS. 2A and 2B, taken together, form a schematic circuit diagram of a monitoring and control circuit associated with the console of FIG. 1.

Reference is initially invited to FIG. 1 wherein a preferred embodiment of a control and display console is indicated generally by the reference numeral 24. The console 24 includes a display panel designated generally 26 and three rotary dial-type control members 28, 30, 32. Additionally, the rotary control members 28 and 32 are provided with centrally mounted pushbutton controls 34, 36, respectively.

The display panel 26 preferably comprises a liquid crystal display panel (LCD), including four, seven-segment digital characters designated generally by the reference numeral 38. These display characters 38 indicate the value of a selected function, or as will be seen later, a value selected as an alarm point for a given function. A plurality of selectively energized messages, designated generally by the reference numerals 40 and 42, are arranged to either side of the digital characters 38 for indicating the selected function in response to operation of the control members 38 through 36, inclusive.

Additionally, a plurality of selectively energized bar segments designated generally by the reference numeral 44, are provided in conjunction with selectively energized digits 5, 10, 15, etc., to provide a graphic indication of a percentage value of wheel slippage of the vehicle. An additional seven-segment digital display character 46 is also provided immediately to the left of the graphic display 44, for indicating a gear ratio or gear range selection for purposes of measuring wheel slippage, as will be more fully described later.

To afford an understanding of the operation of the invention, the operation of the console of FIG. 1 will now be described. The operator actuatable controls 28 through 36, inclusive, permit the operator to set desired alarm levels for each of the functions to be monitored. In this regard, each of the rotary controls 28 and 32 comprises a twelve detent per revolution rotary switch, the passing of a detent in either direction providing a suitable signal to the control circuitry, to be described later, that the switch has been turned in the corresponding direction. The rotary control 30 comprises a three-position rotary switch.

In operation, when the rotary switch 30 is set to its center or "OPERATE" position, the graphic display 44 of wheel slippage is automatically selected. Each bar or segment of the graph 44 represents substantially 2.5% slippage, with the range of the graph extending 30%. With the switch 30 in the OPERATE position numeric readouts may be selected by rotating the control 32, including the ground speed of the vehicle (SPEED), engine "RPM", and as will be more fully described later, of the "TOTAL AREA" and "FIELD AREA", respectively, covered by an implement towed behind the tractor. Additionally, a numeric readout or display on the characters 38 may be selected for the current area per hour (AREA/HR.) and average area per hour (AVG. AREA/HR.) rates being covered by an implement towed by the tractor. A corresponding message 40, 42 is energized upon selection of each of the foregoing functions.

An Audible alarm (not shown in FIG. 1) will be sounded, together with flashing of the associated message 40 for the following conditions: exceeding the ground speed alarm point (SPEED), exceeding the wheel slip alarm point (%SLIP), or operating within a preset low RPM band (RPM). Depressing the pushbutton switch 36 during the sounding of an alarm will silence the audible alarm, but the associated message 40 will continue to flash. Moreover, the alarm point for any function may be set to zero, thereby disabling the giving of an alarm for that function. The foregoing operations are accomplished by manipulation of the operator controls as will be understood from the following discussion.

The operator may also manipulate the rotary switches 28 and 32 while the switch 30 is in the OPERATE position to effect one of a plurality of additional selections. For example, the gear range or gear ratio selection for purposes of measuring wheel slippage is made by rotating the control 28 clockwise or counterclockwise to cause the digital display character 26 to indicate a number between one and eight. In accordance with a feature of the invention, this range selection causes an internal memory, to be described later, to select a suitable constant or factor for enabling calculation of the percentage of wheel slippage in accordance with the gear range or gear ratio selected. It will be appreciated that in many tractors, a plurality of gear ratios or gear ranges are available, whereby the operator may select a number corresponding to the currently operating gear ratio or gear range as just described.

As mentioned above, with the control 30 in the OPERATE position, the condition or function whose value is to be displayed in the digital display characters 38 may be selected by rotation of the control 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the following conditions or functions are selected in response to rotation of the control 32: distance, field area, total area, average area/hour, current area/hour, percent slippage, RPM, ground speed and implement width. Rotation of the control 32 will sequence through these functions in the order in which they appear in the display panel. An implement monitoring function is also provided for determining whether an implement being pulled by the tractor is "down" or in a working position, or alternatively, "up" or in a transport position. A display message IMP UP is provided for giving this indication. It will be understood that a suitable implement condition sensor or "lift switch" is provided on the implement which will assume an open circuit condition or a closed circuit condition depending upon the "up" or "down" condition of the implement. In this regard, actuation of the pushbutton control 34 indicates to the monitor which condition, open circuit or closed circuit, of the lift switch is to be regarded as the active or working condition of the implement, so that the display message IMP UP may be given in response to the proper condition.

Moreover, it will be recognized that the counts of area and area per hour mentioned above are dependent upon the active or inactive condition of the implement. Hence, when the implement is in its down or working position, a counting function of the monitor is also activated to count the area covered and area per hour rate of coverage by the implement. Conversely, when the implement is in its up or transport condition this counting function is placed in a "hold" status.

The pushbutton switch 34 is also utilized to reset certain values or constants, when the rotary control 30 is moved to the program (PRGM) position. For example, the above mentioned area, area/hour and distance counts may be selected as described above by actuation of the rotary control 32, whereupon actuation of the pushbutton switch 34 will reset the selected count to zero. In this regard, the order of operation of the controls is as follows: first, the function select control 32 is moved until the desired function is indicated by the energizing of an associated message 40, secondly, the control 30 is moved to the program mode and finally the pushbutton 34 is actuated to accomplish resetting.

To calibrate the unit for use with the particular distance or ground speed sensor utilized on the vehicle or tractor, the speed function is selected by rotating the control 32 until the SPEED message 40 is energized. Thereupon, the control 30 is rotated to the program position, and the pushbutton 36 is depressed, with the vehicle in motion, as the vehicle passes a starting marker of a measured, 400-foot course. At the end of the measured course, the pushbutton 36 is again depressed, whereupon the monitor is automatically calibrated for use with the distance or ground speed sensor provided on that vehicle or tractor.

In accordance with a feature of the invention, the monitor is calibrated to calculate wheel slippage for as many as eight different gear ratios or ranges of the tractor or vehicle. In order to accomplish this calibration, the control 32 is rotated until the percent slip (% SLIP) message 42 is energized whereupon the control 30 is rotated to the program position. The control 28 is then rotated until the digital position. The control 28 is then rotated until the digital character 46 indicates a number corresponding to the gear range or gear ratio in which the vehicle is currently being operated. The vehicle is then driven in a substantially zero wheel slippage condition. That is, the vehicle or tractor is driven over a substantially flat, hard surface, with no implement or the like attached, or in a substantially "no load" condition, such that substantially zero wheel slippage is to be expected. Thereafter, a single depression of the pushbutton 34 calibrates the monitor automatically for that gear ratio or gear range.

When the calibration has been accomplished, a zero will be displayed in the digital characters 38 to indicate the zero slippage condition. This procedure may be repeated for each available gear ratio or gear range of the vehicle to accomplish calibration of the monitor for calculating wheel slippage for each gear ratio or gear range. Thereafter, the operator need only set the number displayed by the digital character 46 to correspond with the gear ratio or gear range in which the vehicle or tractor is being operated to ensure an accurate wheel slippage calculation and readout for operation in that gear ratio or gear range.

In tractors not equipped with a drive train or differential sensor wheel slippage is computed based upon engine RPM and ground speed (e.g., radar) inputs. The "expected" wheel rotational speed is inferred from engine RPM in this case. In tractors equipped with a differential or drive train sensor or a direct wheel speed sensor, the computation of wheel slippage is based upon one of these inputs and the ground speed input. In this latter case, the calibration procedure outlined above need only be carried out once to accomplish calibration for any number of gear ratios or ranges. The digital character 46 is therefore disabled in this latter case. The monitor, as will be seen later, automatically detects the presence or absence of a differential or drive train sensor or direct wheel speed sensor and carries out calibration and wheel slippage calculations in the appropriate fashion.

Alarm points, that is, values of various functions for which a visual and/or audible alarm is to be given, may also be preselected by the operator. In each case, the function for which an alarm point is to be set is selected by rotating the control 30 until the message 42 corresponding to that function is energized. In the illustrated embodiment, alarm points may be set in this fashion for excessive wheel slippage for a low RPM operation of the vehicle or for excessive ground speed of the vehicle. After selecting one of these functions by rotation of the control 32, the control 30 is moved to the SET ALARM position, whereupon depression of the pushbutton control 34 will reset the alarm point to zero and disable that alarm function. A new alarm point may then be set by rotating the control 28, which will cause one of the graphic segments 44 to be energized above one of the digits 38 to be set to a desired value. Thereupon rotation of the control 32 will cause the selected digit 38 to incrementally advance or incrementally decrease, depending upon the direction of rotation, clockwise or counterclockwise, of the control 32. In this fashion, the operator may individually set the digits. When the desired value is displayed, rotation of the control 30 to the OPERATE position sets in that value and rotation back to the SET ALARM position automatically selects the next alarm point to be set, in the order % SLIP, RPM, SPEED. When all of the desired alarm or limit values have been set in this fashion the control 30 is returned to the OPERATE position.

In the case of the low RPM band alarm point, the operator will set the desired value of the high point of that band, within which an alarm is to be given. The monitor is precalibrated to set a value 500 RPM below the set point as the lower limit of the band. Below 200 RPM, it is assumed that the vehicle is not in a fully up or running condition and the monitor will be disabled.

An RPM conversion constant and implement width may each be set by the operator as numeric values by utilizing the display characters 38 and the digit set and digit select function of the switches 32 and 34 in the same fashion described above. When the monitor is initially installed on a given vehicle, the RPM conversion constant is set to relate the sensor pulses produced by the RPM sensor associated with that vehicle to the revolutions of the engine crankshaft, and a suitable number or constant will be supplied to the user in an operator's manual. The implement width is utilized by the monitor for all of the area and rate functions, and needs to be set or reset whenever the effective width of the implement being pulled by the tractor is changed, or when an implement of different width is to be used. In either case the function, either RPM or width is selected by rotating the rotary switch 32 until the corresponding message 42 is energized. The rotary switch 30 is then moved to the program position and the digit selected and digit set functions of the controls 32 and 34 are utilized as described above.

When the rotary control 30 is in the operate mode, depressing pushbutton 36 causes all of the messages 40 and 42 to energize, allowing the operator to inspect the choices and observe the direction of rotation of the rotary dial 32 required to reach a desired function. As each function is selected by the dial 32, the corresponding message 40, 42 will flash on and off, as long as pushbutton 36 is held.

Having reviewed the basic operation of the monitoring unit console embodied in FIG. 1, the monitoring circuits associated therewith will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2A and 2B.

Referring now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, an exemplary monitoring circuit associated with the monitor 24 of FIG. 1 is illustrated in circuit schematic form. This circuit includes a microprocessor 60, which in the illustrated embodiment is preferably of the type MK3872 manufactured by Mostek and is an F8 type single-chip microcomputer. Published literature describing this component is generally available and hence it need not be described in detail herein. Generally speaking, the microcomputer or microprocessor 60 includes four, 8-bit input/output ports, which are designated by hyphenated numbers indicating first the port number (0, 1, 4, or 5) and secondly, the bit number (0 through 7). Positive voltage input terminals are indicated by the letter V. Conventionally, a four megahertz crystal 61 is coupled across input terminals 1 and 2 of the microprocessor 60 to provide a time base for an internal clock.

Other conventional input terminals of the microprocessor 60 include an external Reset-Ram protect terminal (R/R), and an external interrupt terminal (INT).

The rotary control switches 28 and 32 are seen in FIG. 2B to each comprise a single pole, three position switch. As mentioned above, each of these switches has twelve detent positions, and therefore the pattern of three poles is repeated four times within one full rotation of each control switch 28, 32. The processor determines the position of the switch as the pole contacted changes by the order in which the contact moves. The contacts from each of these switches 28 and 32 are provided with suitable pull-ups and feed respective inputs of a 6-bit buffer component 62, which in the illustrated embodiment comprises an integrated circuit of the type generally designated 4502. The six output lines of the buffer 62 feed the six lower order bits (1-0 through 1-5) of port 1 of the microprocessor 60. Hence, port 1 of the microprocessor is used as an input port in this connection.

The eight bits of port 1 of the microprocessor 60, together with the four highest order bits of port 0 also receive inputs from a pair of 6-bit buffer components 64, 66 which in the illustrated embodiment also each comprises an integrated circuit of the type generally designated 4502. The inputs of these buffers 64 and 66 are fed from the Q outputs of a pair of digital counter circuits 68, 70. In the illustrated embodiment the counter 68 comprises a dual binary up-counter of the type generally designated 4520, while the counter 70 is a 7-stage binary counter of the type 4024.

These counters 68 and 70 receive input signals from a distance or ground speed sensor, from a tractor differential or drive shaft sensor, if one is provided, and from an engine RPM sensor, all associated with the vehicle or tractor. In the illustrated embodiment, an input 72 receives signals from a radar-based distance or ground speed sensor, while an input 74 receives signals from the differential sensor and a further input 76 receives signals from an engine RPM sensor. Suitable intervening circuits are provided between each of these inputs and the associated counter 68 or 70, and these three input circuits are identical, whereby only one will be described. The radar input 72 feeds a suitable signal shaping RC network designated generally 78, which in turn feeds the inverting input of an operational amplifier (op amp) 80. The output of this op amp 80 feeds the first count input of the up-counter 68. A similar operational amplifier 82 associated with the differential input circuit feeds the second count input of the counter 68, while a further operational amplifier 84 associated with the RPM input circuit feeds the count input of the second counter 70. Each of these operational amplifiers 80, 82 and 84 is provided with a suitable feedback network and has a suitable reference point set at the non-inverting input thereof by selected resistors. Additionally, a pair of back-to-back diodes, designated generally by the reference numeral 86 in the case of the radar input circuit, run between the inverting input of each op amp 80, 82, 84 and a selected resistor drop away from a positive supply voltage +V.

The monitoring circuit of FIG. 2A and 2B is further responsive to the presence or absence of an RPM signal at the terminal 76 for respectively powering up and powering down the circuit. Accordingly, a line from the RPM input 76 is fed by way of suitable network designated generally 90 to a transistor 92 which when turned on by an RPM signal of sufficient amplitude at input 76 enables the circuit to turn on. In the absence of a sufficient amplitude RPM signal, the transistor 92 turns the circuit off after the RC delay of the network 90. The emitter electrode of the transistor 92 is AC coupled to the anode electrodes of three diodes designated generally by the reference numeral 96. The cathodes of these diodes 96 are coupled to the respective anodes of three further diodes designated generally by the reference numeral 98, which have their respective cathodes coupled to three bits (4-4, 4-5 and 4-7) of port 4 of the microprocessor 60. These three bits of port 4 also receive inputs from the control switches 30 and 36 of FIG. 1 by way of the diodes 98. Bit 4-6 of the microprocessor 60 also receives an input directly from the control switch 34 of the console 24 of FIG. 1. Hence, port 4 comprises a control input port to the microprocessor for detecting the conditions of the control switches 30, 34 and 36. Accordingly, the circuit may also be powered up by pressing button 36 or by turning control 30 to either of the program or set alarm positions.

Four bits 5-1 through 5-4 of port 5 of the microprocessor 60 are utilized for output purposes. The 5-1 bit feeds an audible alarm circuit (see FIG. 2A) which includes an audible alarm 100 and a suitable driving circuit for the alarm 100 including transistors 102 and 104. The transistor 104 is normally enabled from the output 5-1 of the microprocessor 60, to inhibit the audible alarm 100. In the event of an alarm condition existing in the tractor, as discussed above, the transistor 104 is disabled and an oscillator circuit comprising an operational amplifier 108, a timing capacitor 110 and related components which feed the junction point between the transistors 102 and 104 energizes the audible alarm 100. Additionally, a loudness control level for alarm 100 is provided in the form of a current limiting potentiometer 112 interposed between the collector electrode of the transistor 102 and the input of the alarm 100. The remaining terminal of the alarm 100 is coupled to a suitable positive voltage supply.

The outputs 5-2, 5-3, and 5-4 of the microprocessor 60 feed three switching transistors 114, 116, and 118, each of which in turn provides a switched output 120, 122, 124. The switched outputs 120, 122, and 124 comprise respectively a pair of wheel slippage alarm point outputs and a low RPM band alarm point output. Accordingly, additional external alarm or control circuits may be interconnected for energization by these outputs in response to the respective alarm conditions, as described above, associated with the respective outputs 120, 122, and 124.

The power up/power down and voltage regulation circuit 94 is energized from a 12-volt vehicle battery at input terminals 126 and 128 and includes a suitable positive voltage regulating integrating circuit component 130 which in the illustrated embodiment is of the type generally designated MC1404U5. This voltage regulating component 130 provides a source of regulated voltage for the memory components of the microprocessor 60 designated VMEM. The voltage regulation circuits 94 also provide a suitable positive voltage source +V for the other circuit components of FIGS. 2A and 2B, as well as control voltages VOP, R/R, INT and PWR for the microprocessor 60, which control voltages are fed to the like-designatted inputs of a microprocessor 60 described above.

Bit 5-5 of port 5 of the microprocessor 60 receives an input from an implement status terminal 132 by way of a transistor 134. This implement status input 132 receives signals from an implement sensor, as described above, indicating whether an implement pulled by the tractor is in a working condition or in a transport condition.

The bit 5-6 of port 5 receives an input from an English/Metric switch 136, whereby the operator may select either the English or Metric system of measurement for the quantities whose values are displayed in the digits 38 of the display 26 illustrated in FIG. 1. The bit 5-7 of port 5 is coupled with a differential input enable terminal 138 by way of a diode 140 which signals the microprocessor 60 that a differential sensor is present at the input 74. That is, a given signal level a bit 5-7 indicates that the particular tractor with which the monitor of the invention is associated is equipped with a differential sensor coupled to the terminal 74.

A pair of suitable liquid crystal display (LCD) driver components 150, 152 are driven in serial fashion from the 0-7 bit of port 0 of the microprocessor 60. Additionally, clock and control signals for the LCD drivers 150, 152 are provided respectively by the bits 0-2 and 5-0 of ports 0 and 5, respectively, of the microprocessor 60. In the illustrated embodiment, these LCD driver components comprise integrated circuit components of the type generally designated MD4332B. These LCD drivers 150, 152 operate in conventional fashion to energize the digital display elements 38 and 46, the bar graph display elements 44 and the function messages 40 and 42 of the display 26 illustrated in FIG. 1.

In order to fully illustrate a specific embodiment of the invention, an exemplary program for the microprocessor 60 of FIG. 2B is reproduced on the following pages. ##SPC1## ##SPC2## ##SPC3## ##SPC4## ##SPC5## ##SPC6##

While the invention has been illustrated and described herein with reference to a preferred embodiment, the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the invention is intended to include such alternatives, changes and modifications as may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing descriptions, insofar such changes, alternatives and modifications are included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.