METHOD FOR ACQUIRING ROAD LOADS

Abstract

A method for determining road loads includes preparing a road map (15) that contains information about the local configuration of a plurality of roads. For each of a plurality of vehicles (1) a vehicle location is determined and at least one vehicle location signal (So) that characterizes the location of the vehicle concerned is generated. Using the vehicle location signal (So) and the road map, the vehicles (1) are assigned to the roads. For each vehicle (1) a vehicle load mass is determined and at least one vehicle load mass signal (Sm) that characterizes the vehicle load mass is generated. At least one road loading signal (Sb) that characterizes a road load is generated for each road using the vehicle load mass signals (Sm) of the vehicles (1) assigned to it.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A method for determining road loads, the method comprising: preparing a road map (15) is prepared, the road map containing information about local configurations of a plurality of roads; determining a vehicle location for each of a plurality of vehicles (1) generating at least one vehicle location signal (So) for the plurality of vehicles, the vehicle location signal characterizing the vehicle location; assigning each of the plurality of vehicles (1) to one or more roads of the plurality of roads using the vehicle location signals (So) and the road map; generating at least one vehicle load mass signal (Sm) for each of the plurality of vehicles (1), the at least one vehicle load mass signal characterizing a vehicle load mass; and generating at least one road loading signal (Sb) for each road of the plurality of roads, using the at least one vehicle load mass signal (Sm) for each of the plurality of vehicles (1), the at least one road loading signal (Sb) characterizing a road load.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein each vehicle (1) contains a load mass determination unit (8), wherein determining the vehicle load mass and generating the at least one vehicle load mass signal (Sm) are performed using the load mass determination unit (8).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein in at least one of the vehicles (1) the load mass determination unit (8) comprises at least one height level sensor (7), by means of which a spring deflection of the vehicle (1) is determined.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the plurality of vehicles (1) has pneumatic suspension comprising a gaseous suspension medium, wherein the load mass determination unit (8) of the at least one of the plurality of vehicles contains at least one pressure sensor by means of which a pressure of the suspension medium is determined.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein each vehicle (1) contains a location unit (10), and wherein the method further comprises: determining, by the location unit, the vehicle location of each of the plurality of vehicles (1); and generating, by the location unit, at least one vehicle location signal (So).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein in at least one of the plurality of vehicles (1) the location unit (10) comprises a global positioning system, and wherein the method further comprises determining a global position of the at least one of the plurality of vehicles by means of the global positioning system.

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising: providing an evaluation unit (11) remotely from the plurality of vehicles, the evaluation unit connected by radio to the road load mass determination unit (8) and to the location unit (10); and generating the at least one road loading signal (Sb) by means of the evaluation unit (11).

19. The method according to claim 12, comprising: associating an empty vehicle mass signal is associated with each of the plurality of vehicles (1), the empty vehicle mass signal characterizing a mass of a vehicle of the plurality of vehicles, in an unloaded condition; and generating, for each road, the at least one road loading signal (Sb) using the empty vehicle mass signal of one or more respective vehicles of the plurality of vehicles.

20. The method according to claim 12, comprising: selecting, for at least one road of the plurality of roads, a road-surfacing material from a plurality of different road-surfacing materials as a function of the associated at least one road loading signal (Sb), wherein the road-surfacing material is used as the road-surfacing material of the at least one road.

21. The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of vehicles (1) comprises a vibration detecting unit, and wherein the method comprises: detecting, by the vibration detecting unit, at least one vehicle vibration of the at least one vehicle (1) and; generating, by the vibration detecting unit, at least one vehicle vibration signal that characterizes the at least one vehicle vibration, comparing the at least one vehicle vibration signal with a predefined reference vibration signal; and determining, based on the comparison, at least one road wear signal that characterizes a wear condition of the road with which the at least one vehicle (1) is associated.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the vibration detecting unit is formed by the load mass determination unit (8) of the at least one vehicle (1).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] Below, the invention is described with reference to a preferred embodiment, referring also to the drawing, which shows:

[0029] FIG. 1: A schematic representation of a vehicle and an evaluation unit, and

[0030] FIG. 2: A more detailed representation of the evaluation unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 1 comprising a vehicle body 2 and a number of vehicle wheels 4 connected to the vehicle body 2 by means of wheel suspensions 3, the wheels further being supported on the vehicle body 2 in a vertical direction z of the vehicle by schematically indicated vehicle springs 5. In FIG. 1 the vertical direction z of the vehicle 1 extends in particular perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing. Furthermore a longitudinal direction x of the vehicle and a transverse direction y of the vehicle are shown, wherein the directions x, v, and z in that sequence form in particular a co-ordinate system. The usual forward-driving direction of the vehicle 1 preferably extends in the longitudinal direction x of the vehicle.

[0032] The vehicle body carries a vehicle load 6, whose mass is also called the vehicle load mass. This mass results is a deflection of the vehicle wheels 4 relative to the vehicle body 2 in the vertical direction z of the vehicle, which deflection of the vehicle wheels 4 is detected by a number of height level sensors 7. The height level sensors 7 are connected to a load mass determination unit 8 by means of which, from deflection signals Se delivered by the height level sensors 7, the vehicle load mass is determined and a vehicle load mass signal Sm is generated and sent to a transmitter unit 9. The height level sensors 7 are preferably part of the load mass determination unit 8. Although it is preferable to have several, for example three or four height level sensors 7, it is also possible to us only one or two height level sensors 7. For that reason, in particular at least one height level sensor 7 is provided.

[0033] The vehicle 1 further comprises a location unit 10, by means of which the location of the vehicle 1 is determined and a vehicle location signal So is generated and sent to the transmitter unit 9. The location of the vehicle 1 is in particular also called the vehicle location. The height level sensor or sensors 7. the load mass determination unit 8. the transmitter unit 9 and the location unit 10 are provided on or in the vehicle.

[0034] The transmitter unit 9 transmits a vehicle information signal Si to an evaluation unit 11 provided at a distance from the vehicle 1, as can be seen in the more detailed representation in FIG. 2. The vehicle information signal Si includes in particular the vehicle load mass signal Sm and the vehicle location signal So.

[0035] The evaluation unit 11 includes a receiver unit 12 by which the vehicle information signal Si can be received, a computer unit 13 and a memory unit 14, in which a road map 15 is stored in electronic form, the said map giving information about the local configurations of several roads.

[0036] By means of the computer unit 13 the vehicle 1 is assigned to one of the roads by evaluating the vehicle location signal So and with reference to the road map. Preferably, additional vehicles are assigned to this road in a corresponding manner. Thereafter, by means of the computer unit 13. by evaluating for the said road the vehicle load mass signals Sm of the vehicles 1 assigned to the road concerned, a road load signal Sb that characterizes the road loading of the said road is generated.

[0037] Preferably the evaluation unit 11 receives corresponding vehicle information signals from other vehicles, these vehicles driving on other roads. In that case corresponding road loading signals can be generated for the other roads.

INDEXES

[0038] 1 Vehicle [0039] 2 Vehicle body [0040] 3 Wheel suspension [0041] 4 Vehicle wheel [0042] 5 Vehicle suspension spring [0043] 6 Vehicle load [0044] 7 Height level sensor [0045] 8 Load mass determination unit [0046] 9 Transmitter unit [0047] 10 Location unit [0048] 11 Evaluation unit [0049] 12 Receiver unit [0050] 13 Computer unit [0051] 14 Memory unit [0052] 15 Road map [0053] Se Suspension spring deflection signal [0054] Sm Vehicle load mass signal [0055] So Vehicle location signal [0056] Si Vehicle information signal [0057] Sb Road loading signal [0058] x Longitudinal direction of the vehicle [0059] y Transverse direction of the vehicle [0060] z Vertical direction of the vehicle