A method to determine the fuel consumption of lorries

Abstract

 A method to determine the fuel consumption which can be utilized in the area of the motor freight haulage and is contingent on technical parameters and on the parameters, important to determine the fuel consumption of vehicles, and combination thereof into driving sets, and having the character of executed transports.
At first, the vehicles (1) of a vehicle fleet are sorted in groups in compliance with certain parameters. Further after standard working performance of every vehicle (1), the reference data is acquired which are generated in the course of runs under the standard working performance of the vehicle. The reference data consist of the combination of the reference data I, generating from the on-board computer (2) of said vehicle (1), and of the reference data II, generating from the order system (6).
Subsequently, the reference data are analyzed with the result of the determination of the functional dependence of the fuel consumption on said reference data.
Then for every group of vehicles (1) of the vehicle fleet a calculating model for the approximated fuel consumption is found in dependence on the reference data.
Further, the real data for every vehicle (1) of the vehicle fleet are acquired repeatedly, said real data being generated during the standard working performance of said vehicle (1) during certain period. The real data consist of the combination of the real data I, generating from the on-board computer (2) of said vehicle (1), and of the real data II generating from the order system (6).
With using the found calculating model for the approximated fuel consumption and inserting the real data, the claimed fuel consumption is determined for given period.
In the last step, the claimed fuel consumption is compared to the real fuel consumption for the given period.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technical solution pertains to the area of registration or indication of the operation of vehicles or possibly to the area of numerical calculations or data processing.

State of the Prior Art

[0002] According to the hitherto known state of the engineering, an analogous solution has been published in the document no. US 2008270519. Conformably to this solution, in the first step the information is received automatically, repeatedly and wirelessly from each of more various users of vehicles. This information relates to vehicle driving by a given operator on the basis of sensing by means of several sensors installed in the vehicle. This information involves data about vehicle velocity and acceleration. Every above mentioned information is stored then automatically and repeatedly in a database.

[0003] In the following step, an access is provided for some of the providers of service, or for all of them, to a selected part of the stored information or to transmission thereof with various parts of all information being received at chosen different repetition rate. The providers present a feedback to users relating to the vehicle driving by a given user. The mentioned feedback involves the information on how the driving should be changed in order to reduce the fuel consumption.

[0004] At least one of above mentioned service providers is a training centre of driving, an emergency phone centre, an alarm central, a vehicle manufacturer, a service workshop, an dependent-position-information provider, a leasing company, a lending office, and a road department or police..

[0005] Conformably to one of the variant claims of this document, the information from a vehicle involves the velocity, accelerator pedal position, time, brake pedal position, driver's identification, the height level, and the position of the transport vehicle. Further, the weight of freight on the transport vehicle is calculated repeatedly as the difference between the total weight of the transport vehicle and the weight of the vehicle alone (i.e. the readiness weight). The total vehicle weight is deduced repeatedly from the information received from the transport vehicle. The information, leading to the total vehicle weight calculation, concerns the potential and kinetic energy of the transport vehicle, the energy change due to the velocity change of the vehicle and possibly from rolling energy loss and that due to the air resistance. The driver of the given vehicle is informed repeatedly about the weight of the freight with the data being stored if need be.

[0006] The disadvantage of this solution consists in the ceaseless communication of the system with the driver during the run which can cause the driver's attention can be detracted from vehicle driving or solving of traffic situations etc. due to which the security of the vehicle can be reduced.

[0007] Besides, the service provider has not precise information about the traffic, weather, temperature and other conditions in the place the vehicle occurs. Therefore in some cases, the directive attempt to change the way the vehicle is driven can be counterproductive. For the described solution, the vehicle must be equipped additionally with several auxiliary sensors which measure the necessary values during the operation. This solution is complicated and expensive financially. The repeated weight determination is needless during the run and even complicated in the mentioned way.

Disclosure of the Invention

[0008] For needs of the method to determine the fuel consumption according to the proposed proceeding, the vehicles of the given vehicle fleet must be sorted into individual logical groups first of all.

[0009] The vehicle fleet is sorted according to the parameters which are e.g.: the brand name and the type of the lorry, the motor power of the lorry given by the manufacturer, steady gear ratio of the driven axels mechanism of the lorry, number of axels of the lorry and/or of the whole set consisting of one lorry at least and of one joined vehicle at least. A lot of lorries is used in case of heavy freight haulage where e.g. one lorry is used as a traction vehicle and the second as a thrust one. In this case, a towed trailer or a semitrailer connecting are the joined vehicles.

[0010] Conformably to a given sorting key for the vehicle fleet, certain vehicle groups originate. The number of vehicles in a group results from combinations of these parameters where a group can consist of one or several vehicles.

[0011] Further, reference drives are executed with individual vehicles of every group of the vehicle fleet in the course of the standard working operation. In course of these reference drives, the reference data are acquired which consist of the reference data I, originating from an on-board computer of the vehicle, and of the reference data II originating from the order system. The acquired reference data I are namely: the fuel consumption and the average velocity. The acquired reference data II are namely the weight of the transported goods and the number of axels. To gain an evidential sample of the reference data, satisfactory number of reference drives must be executed. Especially, the reference data must be obtained in the course of reference drives at various average velocities and various weight of freight with different drive modes.

[0012] Subsequently, the obtained reference data are subject to the data analysis as the result of which the functional dependence of the fuel consumption on the reference data is determined.

[0013] The reference data analysis consists of the regress model construction which is common for all groups of vehicles. Then, for individual vehicle groups the regress model coefficients are calculated and approximated fuel consumption of the vehicle group is calculated by making use of the regress model and of corresponding coefficients. The obtained approximated consumption value forms the basis for the claimed consumption determination. Then, the real data are acquired repeatedly in the course of the periods stated by the operator. Usually, this period equals one calendar month, but can be arbitrary.

[0014] The real data equal qualitatively that one obtained in case of the reference data and differ quantitatively as a rule. Therefore, the real data consist of the combination of the real data I and the real data II. The real data I originate from the on-board vehicle computer and express especially the fuel consumption and the average velocity in a given period. The real data II originate from the order system and express especially the transported freight weight and the number of transports. The real data are acquired during every drive with standard work contents of every vehicle of the fleet.

[0015] After having been generated with the on-board vehicle computer, the real data I are stored in the recording and reading device through the communication interface. With the vehicle being in an area covered with the signal of a contractual mobile operator, the real data I, from the recording and reading device, are transmitted into the evaluating centre automatically and in the real time.

[0016] In case the vehicle is outside the area covered with the signal of a contractual mobile operator, the real data I are not transmitted from the recording and reading centre into the evaluating centre automatically in real time because the transmission thereof by means of the non-contractual mobile operator's signal would be uneconomical. However, in case a worker of the evaluating centre requires these real data I at the moment, he can demand sending of them by means of the non-contractual mobile operator's signal by means of wireless communication with the given vehicle. The real data I, stored in the recording an reading device but not transmitted into the evaluating centre on request, are sent in the evaluating centre automatically as soon as the vehicle enters the area covered with the contractual mobile operator's signal.

[0017] In case the given vehicle is parked, it generates zero values of the real data I. If a worker of the evaluating centre is in momentary need of the real data I, stored in the recording and reading device, he can request the real data I with direct questioning the vehicle. Then the real data I can be transferred into the evaluating centre with the mobile operator's signal which is just in reach with the contractual mobile operator's signal being preferred.

[0018] The real data II, concerning the transported freight, are generated from the order system. The order system is an integral one which records the orders of individual customers for transport, the transport document files as requested by the legislative in force and the market with interconnection to the final system output in the form of taxation documents and according to the accounting software.

[0019] The files of loading and unloading places and of accurate data about the weight of the transported goods are part of the order system. The real data II are transmitted into the evaluating centre automatically and in real time by means of the computer network. This computer network can be internal otherwise e.g. the Internet can be used to transmit the real data II as well.

[0020] Further, in the evaluating centre the claimed consumption is calculated with using the prior found model for calculating the approximate fuel consumption and inserting the real data for every vehicle, said claimed consumption being confronted with the reached real consumption afterwards.

[0021] In case the driver presents higher real consumption which exceeds the claimed one, his real data are used as a basis for training of drivers. The real data are analyzed for drivers' training and the driver is informed about aspects causing his disproportional consumption.

[0022] This solution is the calculable claimed consumption which should be reached with every vehicle. With respect to technical differences of driving set configurations, the claimed consumption cannot be determined uniformly regardless to the technical parameters thereof. For vehicles determined for freight haulage the manufacturer does not present any data about the fuel consumption in the technical documents of the vehicle. For this reason the solution according to the invention is an instrument which substitutes the missing manufacturer's data and can be applied in various operating conditions in practice.

[0023] To establish necessary additional data in comparison with the hitherto state of engineering, the vehicle need not be equipped with additional sensors because a part of necessary data is provided by means of a serial on-board computer and the resting part thereof is gained from external documents (loading and unloading vehicle weigh or covering documents of the freight). Here moreover, the operator of the vehicle processes his data alone without sending them to any superior subject. Here the risk of data change by the superior subject or of time delay or misusing thereof is cancelled.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] The exemplary embodiment of the proposed solution is described with referring to following drawings where

Fig. 1 - The diagram of elements interconnection in the system of fuel consumption determination.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] The method to determine the fuel consumption in compliance with the invention can be applied in the area of the freight haulage especially and consists of several necessary subsequent steps. At first, the vehicles 1 of the operator's vehicle fleet are sorted in individual logical groups. The vehicle fleet is sorted according to following parameters:

• the brand name and the type of the lorry or possibly of the vehicle 1,
• motor power of the lorry or possibly of the vehicle 1 as given by the manufacturer,
• steady gear ratio of driven axles of the lorry or possibly of the vehicle 1,
• number of axles of the whole set.

[0026] In this case the vehicles 1 of the vehicle fleet are sorted in two groups. Here the first one involves the drive sets with the total number of five axles, the road tractor VOLVO with the motor output of 324 kW and constant gear ratio of 2.79 of driven axels. Here, the second group consists of drive sets with six axles in total, the road tractor SCANIA with the motor output of 345 kW and constant gear ratio of 2.72 of driven axels. Subsequently all vehicles 1 of the vehicle fleet are used for drives with the standard working performance. Therefore, the vehicles 1 are used for transports of various freight kinds from the loading place to the unloading one, for drives without back-utilization and/or with it, for drives between the operator's seat and the place of the order etc. In the course of these reference drives the reference data are acquired. The reference data consist of the combination of the reference data I and the reference data II. The reference data I originate from the integrated on-board computer 2 of the vehicle 1, said computer being approved with the technical documentation of the manufacturer of the vehicle 1. These data relate to the fuel consumption and the average velocity during the given period. The reference data II originate from the order system 6 and relate to the weight of the transported-away goods, number of transports and lasting time thereof. After executing satisfactory number of reference drives with various driving modes and on various routes with various utilization of capacity, the obtained reference data are analyzed. This analysis results in establishing the functional dependence of the fuel consumption on the reference data.

[0027] Subsequently, a calculation model of approximate fuel consumption is found in dependence on the reference data for each group of vehicles 1. Further, the real data for every vehicle 1 of the vehicle fleet are acquired repeatedly, said data being generated with the standard operation of said vehicle during the periods stated by the operator. In this case these periods are one calendar month long. The real data consist of the combination of the real data 1, originating from the integrated on-board computer 2 of the vehicle 1, said computer having been approved with the technical documentation of the manufacturer of the vehicle 1, and of the real data II originating from the order system 6. The real data I, generated with the on-board computer 2 of the vehicle 1, are stored in the recording and reading device 3, by means of the communication interface and are transferred from it, in dependence on the availability of the contractual mobile operator's signal, into the evaluating centre 5 by means of the wireless transmission 4. The real data II are transferred into the evaluating centre 5 from the order system 6 ceaselessly by means of the Internet. The real data equal the reference ones qualitatively but differ quantitatively there from.

[0028] Further, with using the previously found model of approximate fuel consumption calculation and after inserting the real data, the claimed fuel consumption of every vehicle 1 is determined for the given period.

[0029] In the last step the claimed fuel consumption is compared to the true fuel consumption for the given period. With this, the exact result 8 is obtained which gives evidence whether the true fuel consumption of a given vehicle corresponded to the claimed fuel consumption during the tested period, i.e. whether it was within the standard. The evaluating centre 5 is interconnected with the accounting office 7 where e.g. the wages of the drivers of the vehicles 1 can be modified on the basis of the result 8 either in the form of bonuses or with temporary reduction of wages on the contrary. Due to this motivating program, the driver of every vehicle 1 strives for the lowest possible fuel consumption which is desirable economically as well as ecologically. The real data, compared to the reference ones, can be supporting materials for drivers' training and can contribute to improve the economy of the operation of vehicles 1.

[0030] List of Reference Numbers

1 -

vehicle

2 -

on-board vehicle computer

3 -

recording and reading device

4 -

wireless data transmission

5 -

evaluating centre

6 -

order system

7 -

accounting office

8 -

result

Claims

1. A method to determine the fuel consumption of lorries which can be used in the area of the road motor freight haulage and which is conditional on technical parameters and the parameters decisive for the determination method for vehicles and combinations of the vehicles in drive sets and on the character of executed transportations, characterized in that the vehicles (1) of the vehicle fleet are sorted in groups at first,
further, after standard working operation of every vehicle (1), the reference data, generated in the course of the drives during standard operation of the vehicle (1), are acquired, with the reference data consisting of combination of the reference data I, generating from the on-board computer (2) of the vehicle (1), and the reference data II, generating from the order system (6),
subsequently, the reference data are analyzed, the result of which is establishing of the functional dependence of the fuel consumption on the reference data,
then a calculation model for the approximate fuel consumption is found in dependence of the reference data for every group of vehicles (1) of the vehicle fleet,
and then the real data for every vehicle (1), of the vehicle fleet, are acquired repeatedly with standard operation thereof during a certain period, with the real data consisting of the combination of the real data I, generating from the on-board computer (2) of the vehicle (1), and the real data II, generating from the order system (6),
and the claimed fuel consumption, for the given period is determined, with using the found calculation model for the approximated fuel consumption and inserting the real data,
and further the claimed fuel consumption is compared to the real fuel consumption for the given period.

2. The method to determine the fuel consumption according to the Claim 1, characterized in that the parameters, used to sort the vehicles (1) of the vehicle fleet in individual groups, are namely:

- the brand name and the type of the lorry,

- motor power of the lorry stated by the manufacturer,

- constant gearing ratio of the driven axles mechanism of the lorry,

- number of axles of the lorry and/or of the whole set consisting of one lorry at least and of one joined vehicle at least.

3. The method to determine the fuel consumption according to the Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the reference data analysis, leading to functional dependence determination of the fuel consumption on the reference data, consists in a regress model construction which is common for all groups of vehicles (1),
and subsequently the regress model coefficients are calculated for individual groups of vehicles (1),
and the claimed fuel consumption for said group of vehicles (1), is calculated by means of the regress model and with application of the coefficients relevant to the group of vehicles (1).

4. The method to determine the fuel consumption according to the Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the repeatedly obtained real data I, generated with the on-board computer (2) of the vehicle (1), are stored in the recording and reading device (3) by means of the communication interface,
and from said recording and reading device (3) said real data I are transmitted (4) automatically and in real time from the vehicle (1), which is to be found in an area covered with the contractual mobile operator's signal, into the evaluating centre (5), and the repeatedly obtained real data II, about the transported freight, are generated with the order system (6) and are transferred into the evaluating centre (5) by means of a computer network automatically and in the real time.

5. The method to determine the fuel consumption according to the Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the repeatedly obtained real data I, generated with the on-board computer (2) of the vehicle (1), are stored in the recording and reading device (3) by means of the communication interface,
and from said recording and reading device (3) said real data I are transmitted (4), from said vehicle (1) which is outside the area covered with the contractual mobile operator's signal, into said evaluating centre (5) on the request of the worker of said evaluating centre (5),
and the repeatedly obtained real data II, about the transferred freight, are generated with said order system (6) and transmitted into said evaluating centre (5) by means of the computer network automatically and in real time.

6. The method to determine the fuel consumption according to the Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the repeatedly obtained real data I, generated with said on/board computer (2) of the vehicle (1), are stored in said recording and reading device (3) through said computer interface,
and from said recording and reading device (3) the real data I are transmitted (4) from the parked vehicle (1) into said evaluating centre (5), on a direct query of the worker of said evaluating centre (5) about the vehicle (1), by means of the mobile operator's signal,
and the repeatedly obtained real data II, about the transported freight, are generated from said order system (6) and transmitted into said evaluating centre (5) by means of the computer network automatically and in real time.

7. The method to determine the fuel consumption according to the Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the real data, compared to the reference data, stand for supporting materials applied for the drivers' training and contribute to improve the operating economics of the vehicles (1).

Drawing