System and method for utilization-based computing of emissions attributable to specific equipment

• US 10,134,012 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2011
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Rentals Incorporated
• Original Assignee: United Rentals Incorporated
• Inventors: Groman, Kevin J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mincarelli, Jan P
• Application Number:
  US13/247,729
• Time in Patent Office: 2,610 Days
• Field of Search: 705 11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/02 Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/04 Manufacturing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/30 Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing

Abstract

A method of determining emissions from a one or more equipment operated by a user for a period. The method includes storing engine data for of the one or more equipment and receiving the utilization of each of the one or more equipment over the period. The emissions are then calculated for each of the one or more equipment based, at least in part, on each of the engines'"'"' utilization and engine data. The total of the calculated emissions is then determined.

Claims

1. A method of determining emissions by a lessor for lease equipment operated by a lessee over a period of time, each lease equipment comprising an engine producing emissions, the period of time being a lease, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing an original equipment manufacturer'"'"'s recommended oil change frequency interval for a particular engine in a particular vehicle in the lease equipment, the interval measured in hours;

(b) storing engine data by the lessor, in a computer database, for each respective engine of the lease equipment;

(c) leasing the lease equipment from the lessor to the lessee;

(d) receiving automatically over a network by the lessor, actual utilization data of the lease equipment over the lease, the actual utilization data comprising an amount of use of the engine during the lease;

(e) storing, by the lessor, the actual utilization data in the computer database, and

(i) establishing a first window with a first range of hours corresponding to the recommended oil change frequency interval for the particular engine;

(ii) establishing a second window with a second range of hours corresponding to an amount of hours exceeding the first range of hours,

(iii) assigning a first preventive maintenance factor value to the first window and a second preventive maintenance factor to the second window, wherein the first preventive maintenance factor value is higher than the second preventive maintenance factor value,

(iv) storing, in a memory in operative communication with a processor, an operative maintenance factor, the operative maintenance factor corresponding to the first preventive maintenance factor or the second preventive maintenance factor based on an observed level of preventive maintenance;

(v) performing an overhaul of the particular engine; and

(vi) resetting the value of the operative preventive maintenance factor from the second preventive maintenance factor to the first preventive maintenance factor in response to determining that the particular engine has been overhauled;

(f) calculating, by a processor, emissions for the lease equipment based, at least in part, on the actual utilization data and the engine data for the lease equipment during the lease, and on the operative preventive maintenance factor; and

(g) totaling, by said processor, the calculated emissions to obtain a total emissions during the lease.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the lease equipment comprises a fleet of equipment.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of performing preventive maintenance on at least some of the lease equipment over the lease, and step f comprises adjusting said calculated emissions for the lease equipment based on which said performance of preventive maintenance meets a predetermined standard of preventive maintenance.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the engine data comprises engine load factor, fuel consumption, density conversion, emission factors or horse power/tier level.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the total emissions to the lessee.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing the total emissions to the lessee on an invoice.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of making a website available to the lessee, the website generating reports of the emission during the lease.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step f comprises use of the following formula:

(Emissions_GHG,CO2-e)=[1×

(Emissions_CO2)]+[21×

(Emissions_CH4)]+[310×

(Emissions_N2O)]

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said methane emissions is calculated using the formula:

(Emissions_CH4)=(FuelConsumed)×

(EF_CH4)×

(0.001)

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said nitrous oxide emissions is calculated using the formula:

(Emissions_N2O)=(FuelConsumed)×

(EF_N2O)×

(0.001)

13. The method of claim 1, wherein step f comprises use of the following formula:

14. The method of claim 1, wherein step f comprises use of the following formula:

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step f comprises use of the following formula:

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step f comprises use of the following formula:

9. The method of claim/wherein said carbon dioxide emissions is calculated using the formula:

(Emissions_CO2)=(FuelConsumption)×

(EF_CO2)×

(0.001)

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said fuel consumed is calculated using the formula: