SE533353C2 - Transport planning module and method intended to be used in connection with the loading of a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

25 533 353 2 to avoid overloading. This is accomplished by sounding an overload alarm when the total loaded weight exceeds the overload limit.

The information can also be stored in the form of a bar code.

JP2000048293 describes a monitoring system for vehicle transports which includes electronic information carriers where the information can be read out in the form of radio waves. The weight and destination of the cargo are stored in the information carrier.

The present invention is based on the inventor's observation that in connection with the loading of packages on a truck there is a risk of incorrect loading, ie. an uneven weight distribution of the load. This can lead to too high axle pressure on one or more of the wheel axles, which in turn can lead to increased wear, poorer fuel economy, poorer driving characteristics and then more difficult to comply with legal requirements, e.g. regarding maximum axle weight, which may affect road safety.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Summary of the invention The above object is achieved with the present invention in accordance with the independent claims.

Preferred embodiments are indicated by the dependent claims.

With the help of weight information about packages to be loaded, for example from goods information on packages or from driving orders, preferably combined with the ELC system, a function can be created that helps the driver to distribute the load optimally, which means that the load can be increased and reduced. 20 25 533 353 3 axle load. This is achieved with the present invention through a transport planning module with a goods reading unit which makes it possible to register the gross weight of the goods and then calculate an optimal location of the goods on the car.

The transport planning module comprises a goods reading unit which can read goods information from an information carrier related to the goods via a reading unit.

Goods information contains, among other things, information about the goods' content, destination, weight and size. today, the driver must make a reasonableness assessment of how the load will affect the axle load depending on how the load is distributed. Using the present invention, i.e. by knowing what the load weighs and how it is distributed over the packages, when each package is loaded, you can demonstrate a suitable placement of the package to get a good weight distribution. For each new package that is loaded, a new analysis is made of the weight distribution and gives a proposal for a suitable placement of the new package.

With the help of the invention, your benefits are thus achieved, such as reduced wear, better fuel economy, better driving characteristics, and better compliance with legal requirements.

It should further be pointed out that even if the recovery is primarily described in connection with loading, it is equally applicable in connection with unloading a load.

W U N ß 533 353 4 Brief Description of the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a vehicle with an ELC system.

Figure 2 shows a block diagram illustrating the present invention.

Figure 3 shows a flow chart illustrating the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the illustrated example shown in Figure 1, the vehicle is a truck.

The vehicle 1 comprises a front wheel axle 10 with two or two wheels resting against an underlying bearing surface 2 and a rear wheel axle 20 with two or seven wheels resting against the bearing surface 2. In the illustrated example, the vehicle also comprises a further rear wheel axle 20 with two or several wheels. The vehicle 1 further comprises a chassis 3 which is supported by said wheels 11, 21. The vehicle 1 is provided with an air suspension system which can be arranged to be controlled by means of a so-called ELC system (ELC = Electronic Level Control). The ELC system senses the distance in height between the respective wheel axles 10, 20 and the chassis 3 by means of sensors (not shown) and can be set to automatically regulate the air pressure in the air bellows of the air suspension system so that the chassis 3 is maintained at a given height relative to the wheel axles 10, 20 regardless of the load on the wheel axles. The air suspension system includes a set of air bellows 12 at the front wheel axle 10 and a set of air bellows 22 at the rear wheel axle 20. By regulating the air pressure in the front air bellows 12, the height of the front part of the vehicle chassis 3 is relative to the front wheel axle 10 and thereby relative to the bearing surface 10. 2 is adjustable, and by regulating the air pressure in the rear air bellows 22, the height of the rear part of the vehicle chassis 3 relative to the rear wheel axle 20 and thereby relative to the bearing surface 2 is adjustable.

It should be noted that the present invention is in no way limited to the use of an air suspension system but is equally applicable to a vehicle using any other suspension system, e.g. a hydraulic suspension system.

With reference to the ur guras, and in particular fi gur 2, the transport planning module in accordance with the present invention will now be described in detail.

The transport planning module is intended to be used in connection with the loading of a vehicle of a load containing at least one package.

The transport planning module includes a calculation unit, a goods reading unit and an output unit. The goods unloading unit is adapted for connecting a unloading unit for reading goods information related to a package to be loaded on the vehicle.

The reading unit is preferably a bar code reader of a conventional type, alternatively an electronic circuit for detecting information which is detected wirelessly, e.g. in the form of radio waves or Bluethooth.

A commonly used technology is so-called RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), which is a general term for technologies that use radio waves to automatically identify people or objects. There are several identification methods, but the most common is to store a serial number that identifies the person or object, and possibly other information, on a microchip connected to an antenna (the chip and antenna are often called RFlD transponders or RFID tags). The antenna enables the chip to send information to a reader. This converts the radio waves that are re-reflected from the RFID tag into digital information which is then processed.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the goods information is stored on an information carrier which is arranged in connection with the quality to be loaded on the vehicle. According to another embodiment, the goods information is stored on an information carrier in the form of a driving order.

The goods information is preferably stored on the information carrier in such a way that it can be read wirelessly and remotely, for example in the form of a bar code. Alternatively, the information carrier may consist of an electronic circuit, for example a passive oscillation circuit, adapted to deliver stored information upon activation.

The goods information contains relevant information about the package, including weight and / or size information about the package.

The goods reading unit receives the goods information and submits this to the calculation unit, which calculates, among other things based on the goods information, a location of the package in the vehicle such that optimal weight distribution of the entire load is achieved.

The calculated location is then delivered to the output unit which presents the location.

According to one embodiment, the location is presented graphically via a display.

Alternatively, or in combination with the Greek presentation, the placement can be presented using audible instructions.

The transport planning module is further adapted to cooperate with an electrical level control system, an ELC system, in such a way that the vehicle's suspension system is set depending on the weight distribution of the load.

This can e.g. is achieved by submitting the weight and size data for the package to the ELC system which calculates a location proposal based on the setting of the vehicle dr suspension system, this proposal is then transferred to the calculation unit which takes this into account in the final calculation of the location.

According to one embodiment, the ELC system is adapted to calculate a number of different proposals for locations which are transferred to the calculation unit and which then select one of these. This is done, among other things, based on the placement of the load being done so that the load is correctly balanced over the wheel axles.

This is done using a dynamic algorithm. In the following, an example of a dynamic algorithm will be described in detail.

Incoming parameters in the algorithm: Maximum load weight for each wheel axle, Total weight = Vehicle weight + Freight weight, Axle weight = load weight on the current axle, Freight position in three dimensions (width, length, height), Package = the load units to be transported, a package is a separate loadable unit Package weight = Package weight, Package volume = Package volume, For the vehicle there is a maximum load weight and for each axle there is a maximum load weight; these are regulated by the vehicle specification. The problem that the present invention solves is to be able to recommend an optimal goods placement at all times.

Based on the above parameters, the algorithm can be described as follows: o For each new package: 10 15 20 25 533 353 8 I Find vacant goods positions where the package fits and are suitable from a load perspective (ie a heavy package cannot be placed on a light package) .

I For each vacant suitable goods position: o Check which new axle pressures are given if the package is placed in the position.

I Select the goods position that gives the best axle load distribution.

I Give a recommendation on the selected goods position to the driver. o Take the next package.

Preferably, when calculating the location of the package to obtain optimal weight distribution of the load as a whole, this can be done so that the center of gravity of the entire load is placed as centrally and as low as possible in the cargo space.

The calculation unit further comprises a memory (not shown in the clock) intended, among other things, for storing information representing the cargo space in three dimensions.

Before starting loading, the calculation unit must receive information about the total available cargo space in the form of a three-dimensional representation of the cargo space stored in the memory.

The present invention also comprises a method to be used in connection with the loading of a vehicle of a load containing at least one package using a transport planning module comprising a calculation unit, a goods reading unit and an unloading unit.

The method will now be described with reference to the fate diagram shown in Figure 3. Before the actual loading of the goods information can begin, the system must be initiated by entering data on available cargo space to create a three-dimensional representation of the cargo space.

The method comprises the following steps: A) reading goods information related to a vehicle to be loaded on the vehicle with a reading unit connected to the goods reading unit where the goods information contains, among other things, weight and / or size data for packages; B) to calculate, with the calculation unit, based on the goods information, among other things, a location of the package in the vehicle so that optimal weight distribution of the entire load is achieved, C) to present the calculated location via the discharge unit, and D) that the module cooperates with an electrical level control system; ELC system, so that the vehicle's suspension system is set depending on the weight distribution of the load, E) the weight and size data for the package is submitted to the ELC system which calculates a location proposal based on the setting of the vehicle's suspension system, the calculation unit that takes this into account in the final calculation of the placement.

The calculations in step B are made using, among other things, the following variables: Total available cargo volume Available cargo volume Total weight and volume of goods already loaded Weight and volume of packages to be loaded W Ü 533 353 10 Three-dimensional representation of the cargo space Maximum total cargo weight and maximum cargo weight for the wheel axles The position calculated in step C is presented to the person loading Greek via a display; alternatively, or in combination with the graphic presentation, the placement can be presented to the person loading using audible instructions.

Loading continues as long as there is free space for the package.

The ELC system adjusts the suspension of the vehicle with regard to the weight distribution of the load, this can be done continuously during loading or when loading is completed.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Other alternatives, modifications, and equivalents may be used, and therefore the above embodiments are not to be construed as limiting, but the scope of the invention is defined by the claims.

Claims (11)

10 15 20 25 5133 case ll Patent claim A transport planning module for use in connection with the loading of a vehicle of a load containing at least one package, the transport planning module comprising a calculation unit, a goods reading unit and an output unit, the goods reading unit being adapted to connect a reading unit for reading goods information related to a package. to be loaded on the vehicle and where the goods unloading unit is adapted to receive, from the unloading unit, goods information containing, inter alia, weight data for packages, the goods reading unit submitting the goods information to the calculation unit which calculates, among other things based on the goods information, a location of packages in the vehicle. of the entire load is achieved, and that the calculated location is delivered to the discharge unit which presents the location, the module being adapted to cooperate with an electrical level control system, ELC system, so that the vehicle fi suspension system s depending on the weight distribution of the load, characterized in that the weight and size data for the package is submitted to the ELC system which calculates a proposed location based on the setting of the vehicle fi suspension system, this proposal is then transferred to the calculation unit which takes this into account in the final calculation of the location. Transport planning module according to claim 1, wherein the optimal weight distribution is calculated so that the entire center of gravity of the load is placed as centrally as possible in the cargo space. Transport planning module according to claim 1, wherein the location is presented graphically via a display. 10 15 20 25 533 353 12 The transport planning module according to claim 1, wherein the location is presented by means of audible instructions. The transport planning module according to claim 1, wherein the calculation unit comprises a memory intended, inter alia, for storing information representing the cargo space in three dimensions. Transport planning module according to claim 5, wherein the memory is intended to, in connection with the commencement of loading, receive information regarding available cargo space on the vehicle in three dimensions. The transport planning module according to claim 1, wherein the goods information is stored on an information carrier arranged in connection with the parcel to be loaded on the vehicle. The transport planning module according to claim 1, wherein the goods information is stored on an information carrier in the form of a travel order. The transport planning module according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the information carrier is a bar code and the reading unit is a bar code reader. Method in connection with the loading of a vehicle of a load containing at least one package using a transport planning module comprising a calculation unit. a goods reading unit and an dispensing unit, the method comprising the following steps: A) reading goods information related to a package to be loaded on the vehicle with a reading unit connected to the goods reading unit where the goods information contains, among other things, weight and / or size data for packages; B) to calculate, with the calculation unit, based on the goods information, among other things, a location of the package in the vehicle so that optimal weight distribution of the entire load is achieved, C) to present the calculated location via the discharge unit, and D) that the module cooperates with an electrical level control system; ELC system, so that the vehicle's suspension system is set depending on the weight distribution of the load, characterized in that the method includes the following additional steps: E) that weight and size data for packages are submitted to the ELC system which calculates a location proposal based on the vehicle's setting fl honoring system, and F) to transfer this proposal to the unit of account which takes this into account in the final calculation of the placement. Method according to claim 10, wherein in step C the location is presented graphically via a display.