TILT SENSING APPARATUS, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING SAME

摘要

A tilt sensing apparatus, a system and a method detect the tilt of a vehicle using tilt sensing devices mounted to the vehicle. An accelerometer and a gyroscope provide orientation data to a processor. The processor calculates the tilt of the vehicle and provides an audible indication and/or a visual indication to an operator of the vehicle via a communications module. The communications module has a display panel accessible to the operator for receiving the tilt information. The system provides tilt information for different amounts of tilt of the vehicle. The method of detecting the tilt of the vehicle accumulates position data from the accelerometer and the gyroscope to provide tilt indications to the operator. The apparatus, system and method compare a tilt angle to preset values and generate corresponding output signals to the operator if the preset values are exceeded. The system disables a power take-off connected to the vehicle in the event of a tilt condition in which the vehicle may roll over.

主权项

1. An apparatus for sensing tilt of a vehicle comprising:
an accelerometer mounted to the vehicle wherein the vehicle has a first axis and a second axis oriented at an angle with respect to the first axis wherein the accelerometer senses a first tilt angle defined between the first axis and a horizontal reference plane wherein the accelerometer generates first data associated with the first tilt angle and further wherein the accelerometer senses a second tilt angle defined between the second axis and the horizontal reference plane and generates second data associated with the second tilt angle; a gyroscope mounted to the vehicle wherein the gyroscope senses the first tilt angle and generates third data associated with the first tilt angle and further wherein the gyroscope senses the second tilt angle and generates fourth data associated with the second tilt angle; and a processor connected to the accelerometer and the gyroscope wherein the processor determines a tilt angle of the vehicle based on the first data and the second data from the accelerometer and the third data and the fourth data from the gyroscope.