Position sensing system

• US 20060136170A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Skinner, Thomas G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,519,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/02 for measuring length, width, or thickness G01B21/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A programmable position sensing system for monitoring a position of a monitored component movable between a first position and a second position includes a housing associated with the monitored component and a sensor associated with the housing and disposed onboard the monitored component. The sensor is configured to monitor a position of the monitored component. A memory component is associated with the housing and disposed onboard the monitored component. The memory component includes identifying information of the monitored component stored therein. A processor associated with the housing and in communication with the sensor and the memory component.

Claims

1. A programmable position sensing system for monitoring a position of a monitored component movable between a first position and a second position, comprising:

a housing associated with the monitored component;

a sensor associated with the housing and disposed onboard the monitored component and configured to monitor a position of the monitored component;

a memory component associated with the housing and disposed onboard the monitored component, the memory component including identifying information of the monitored component stored therein; and

a processor associated with the housing and in communication with the sensor and the memory component.

2. The position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the identifying information includes data representative of a first position of the monitored component and an associated first signal from the sensor.

3. The position sensing system of claim 2, wherein the identifying information further includes data representative of a second position of the monitored component and an associated second signal from the sensor.

4. The position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the identifying information includes an identification code of the monitored component.

5. The position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the identifying information includes physical parameters of the monitored component.

6. The position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the identifying information includes identifying information for the sensor.

7. The position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a transducer configured to measure at least one of linear and rotational displacement.

8. The position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the memory component includes stored information regarding the number of times that at least one of a velocity and an acceleration of the monitored component has exceeded a preset threshold.

9. The position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the memory component includes stored processes configured to compute at least one of a movement velocity and a movement acceleration of the monitored component.

10. The position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the memory component includes stored processes configured to count at least one of:

a number of times a direction of movement of the monitored component changed over the life of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component;

a number of times a direction of the monitored component changed since the most recent servicing of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component; and

a number of hours of use of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component.

11. The position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the memory component includes stored processes configured to track at least one of:

a total distance traveled by the monitored component over the life of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component; and

a total distance traveled by the monitored component since the most recent servicing of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component.

12. The position sensing system of claim 1, wherein the memory component includes a stored instruction map configured to provide data for a response when the monitored component reaches a predesignated position.

13. A method of employing a sensing system for monitoring a position of a monitored component, comprising:

monitoring a position of the monitored component;

generating identifying information for the monitored component;

storing the identifying information in a memory component disposed onboard the monitored component; and

accessing the identifying information with a processor disposed onboard the monitored component.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the identifying information includes data representative of a first position of the monitored component and an associated first signal from a sensor.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the identifying information further includes data representative of a second position of the monitored component and an associated second signal from the sensor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein generating identifying information includes:

detecting the first signal from the sensor when the monitored component is located at the first position;

moving the monitored component to the second position; and

detecting the second signal from the sensor when the monitored component is located at the second position.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein generating identifying information further includes storing the actual distance between the first and second positions in the memory component.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the monitored component is a cylinder actuator and the first position is a fully extended position and the second position is a fully retracted position.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the component is configured to rotate about a pivot point and wherein the angle between the first position and the second position is stored within the memory component.

20. The method of claim 13, including operably assembling the monitored component onto a mechanical device after storing the calibration information.

21. The method of claim 20, including accessing the stored identifying information with an electronic control module disposed on the mechanical device.

22. The method of claim 13, including storing an identification code of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component.

23. The method of claim 13, including storing physical parameters of the monitored component.

24. The method of claim 13, including storing operating parameters of the monitored component.

26. The method of claim 13, including storing identifying information for the sensor.

27. The method of claim 13, including storing an instruction map configured to provide data for a response when the monitored component reaches a predesignated position.

28. The method of claim 13, including storing identifying information for at least one of an associated work machine and an associated subassembly of the work machine.

29. The method of claim 13, wherein generating identifying information includes measuring at least one of distance and rotation.

30. The method of claim 13, including computing at least one of a movement velocity and a movement acceleration of the monitored component with the onboard processor.

31. The method of claim 13, including at least one of:

counting with the onboard processor, a number of times a direction of movement of the monitored component changed over the life of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component; and

counting with the onboard processor, a number of times a direction of the monitored component changed since the most recent servicing of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component; and

tracking a number of hours of use of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component.

32. The method of claim 13, including at least one of:

tracking with the onboard processor, a total distance traveled by the monitored component over the life of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component; and

tracking with the onboard processor, a total distance traveled by the monitored component since the most recent servicing of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component.

33. An extendable component, comprising:

an extension portion;

an body portion;

a sensor configured to monitor an extension amount of the extension portion relative to the body portion; and

a memory component disposed onboard at least one of the extension portion and body portion, the memory component having information stored therein, the information including identifying information specific to the extendable component.

34. The extendable component of claim 33, wherein the identification information includes calibration information specific to the extendable component.

35. The extendable component of claim 33, wherein the identifying information includes an identifying code.

36. The extendable component of claim 33, wherein the memory component includes data representing at least one of bore diameter, rod diameter, and nominal stroke.

37. The extendable component of claim 33, further including a processor associated with the memory component and the sensor, the processor being disposed on-board the extendable component.

38. The extendable component of claim 37, wherein the memory component includes stored processes configured to determine at least one of:

an extension and retraction distance traveled over the life of the extendable component or a subcomponent of the monitored component; and

the extension and retraction distance traveled since the most recent servicing of the extendable component or a subcomponent of the monitored component.

39. The extendable component of claim 37, wherein the memory component includes stored processes configured to count at least one of:

a number of times a direction of the extension changed over the life of the extendable component or a subcomponent of the monitored component;

a number of times a direction of the extension changed since the most recent servicing of the extendable component or a subcomponent of the monitored component; and

a number of hours of use of the monitored component or a subcomponent of the monitored component.

40. The extendable component of claim 37, wherein the memory component includes stored processes configured to compute at least one of a velocity and an acceleration of the extension or retraction of the extendable portion relative to the body portion.

41. The extendable component of claim 37, wherein the memory component includes a stored instruction map configured to provided data to reduce a velocity of the component prior to reaching an extension or retraction limit of movement.