Monitoring and annunciation device for equipment maintenance
First Claim
1. A service tracking system (10) for use with a machine (15) having an engine or motor assembly (18), the service tracking system (10) for warning when a maintenance procedure for a service maintenance task is to be performed, comprising:
- a maintenance manager (14), responsive to a service interval setting command, for providing a corresponding service interval setting signal indicating a service interval for the service maintenance task; and
a service tracker (12), retrofittably attached to the machine (15), responsive to the service interval setting signal, and further responsive to a machine operating status signal provided by a coupling to the engine or motor assembly (18), for issuing a service warning urging that the service maintenance task be performed as soon as possible;
wherein the service tracker (12) includes a resettable timer (42a) having a timer count value indicating a timer reading useable for determining when to issue the service warning, and the service tracker (12) is responsive to a timer reset signal for resetting the resettable timer so as to allow comparing the resettable timer reading with the service interval.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system (10) that can be used to retrofit any machine (15) for indicating when to perform maintenance service tasks for the machine (15). It includes a service tracker (12) connected to the machine (15), and also a maintenance manager (14) typically hosted by a hand-held device and coupled to the service tracker (12) by a wireless link (12a 14a 16), so as to allow providing a service interval for each of typically several tasks. For each of the tasks, a timer (42a), preferably resettable via the maintenance manager (14), is provided as part of the service tracker (12), allowing direct comparison of a service interval for a task with the reading of the corresponding resettable timer (42a). Based on the direct comparison of service interval and resettable timer reading for a task, the service tracker (12) provides a service warning via a display (12d) when it is time to perform the task again.
18 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A service tracking system (10) for use with a machine (15) having an engine or motor assembly (18), the service tracking system (10) for warning when a maintenance procedure for a service maintenance task is to be performed, comprising:
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a maintenance manager (14), responsive to a service interval setting command, for providing a corresponding service interval setting signal indicating a service interval for the service maintenance task; and
a service tracker (12), retrofittably attached to the machine (15), responsive to the service interval setting signal, and further responsive to a machine operating status signal provided by a coupling to the engine or motor assembly (18), for issuing a service warning urging that the service maintenance task be performed as soon as possible;
wherein the service tracker (12) includes a resettable timer (42a) having a timer count value indicating a timer reading useable for determining when to issue the service warning, and the service tracker (12) is responsive to a timer reset signal for resetting the resettable timer so as to allow comparing the resettable timer reading with the service interval. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for monitoring maintenance service for a machine (15) having an engine or motor assembly (18), the method characterized by:
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a step (22) of using a hand-held device (14) to provide at least one service interval via a wireless link (16) to a service tracking module (12) retrofittably attached to the machine (15) and electrically coupled to a component of the engine or motor assembly (18); and
a step (26) of issuing at least one service warning signal based on comparing the service interval with a reading of a resettable timer (42a) included in the service tracking module (12). - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification