Physical agents directive dosimeter system

• US 20060185434A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 08/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Bernhagen, James R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,210,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/649
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/14 Measuring mean amplitude; Measuring mean power; Measuring time integral of power

Abstract

A portable physical agents directive (PAD) dosimeter system may be provided. The portable PAD dosimeter system may include a housing and at least one accelerometer configured to generate electrical signals corresponding to a vibration exposure of an operator of a work machine. The portable PAD dosimeter system may also include a controller disposed in the housing configured to process the electrical signals and to determine whether the vibration exposure is above a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. A portable physical agents directive (PAD) dosimeter system, comprising:

a housing;

at least one accelerometer configured to generate electrical signals corresponding to a vibration exposure of an operator of a work machine; and

a controller disposed in the housing configured to process the electrical signals and to determine whether the vibration exposure is above a predetermined threshold.

2. The portable PAD dosimeter system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined threshold is either a PAD action threshold or a PAD limit threshold.

3. The portable PAD dosimeter system according to claim 2, further including:

a display device configured to indicate whether the vibration exposure is above either a PAD action threshold or a PAD limit threshold.

4. The portable PAD dosimeter system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one accelerometer is mounted on a base of a seat for an operator of the work machine.

5. The portable PAD dosimeter system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one accelerometer is located in the housing.

6. The portable PAD dosimeter system according to claim 1, further including:

a first input coupled with the accelerometer to receive an electrical signal corresponding to x-direction vibration;

a second input coupled with the accelerometer to receive an electrical signal corresponding to y-direction vibration; and

a third input coupled with the accelerometer to receive an electrical signal corresponding to z-direction vibration.

7. The portable PAD dosimeter system according to claim 1, further including:

an I/O port configured to allow the controller to exchange data with an external microprocessor based device.

8. A portable physical agents directive (PAD) dosimeter system, comprising:

a housing configured to be selectively mounted on a part of a work machine;

at least one accelerometer mounted inside the housing to generate electrical signals based on vibrations experienced by the housing, which correspond to a vibration exposure of an operator of the work machine; and

a controller contained in the housing and configured to process the electrical signals and to determine whether the vibration exposure is above a predetermined threshold.

9. The portable PAD dosimeter system according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined threshold is either a PAD action threshold or a PAD limit threshold.

10. The portable PAD dosimeter system according to claim 8, further including:

an I/O port configured to allow the controller to exchange data with an external microprocessor based device.

11. A method for determining PAD compliance of a work machine, comprising:

mounting a portable PAD dosimeter on a part of the work machine;

using the portable PAD dosimeter to measure whole body vibration exposure of an operator of the work machine and to generate measurement data; and

determining whether the whole body vibration exposure is above a PAD whole body vibration threshold.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein using the portable PAD dosimeter further includes:

measuring vibration on an x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis using an accelerometer mounted on the work machine at a location external to the portable PAD dosimeter;

generating electrical signals corresponding to the vibration on x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis;

processing the electrical signals to create digital measurement data; and

storing the digital measurement data created in a memory module.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein using the portable PAD dosimeter further includes:

measuring vibration on an x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis using an accelerometer mounted within a housing of the portable PAD dosimeter;

generating electrical signals corresponding to the vibration on the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis;

processing the electrical signals to create digital measurement data; and

storing the digital measurement data created for a predetermined period of time in a memory module.

14. The method according to claim 11, further including:

exchanging the measurement data with an external microprocessor based device.

15. A work machine, comprising:

an engine configured to provide power to the work machine;

a portable physical agents directive (PAD) dosimeter fitted to the work machine, the portable PAD dosimeter including;

at least one sensor to generate electrical signals corresponding to a vibration exposure of an operator of the work machine, and

a controller configured to process the electrical signals and to determine whether the vibration exposure is above a PAD threshold; and

an on-board control system coupled with the portable PAD dosimeter via a data link to exchange information with the portable PAD dosimeter.

16. The work machine according to claim 15, wherein the portable PAD dosimeter further includes:

a display device to indicate to the operator whether the vibration exposure is above a PAD threshold

17. The work machine according to claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one accelerometer.

18. The work machine according to claim 15, wherein the at least one sensor includes at least one microphone, and the portable PAD dosimeter includes at least one processing module to determine a noise level of the work machine based on an output of the microphone.

19. The work machine according to claim 15, wherein the on-board control system further includes a wireless communication module for establishing a communication path to transfer PAD compliance information from the portable PAD dosimeter to a location remote from the work machine.

20. The work machine according to claim 15, wherein the on-board control system is configured to control vibration producing components of the work machine to reduce whole body vibration of the work machine.

21. The work machine according to claim 20, wherein the on board control system is configured to control vibration by reducing an operating speed of the engine.

22. A dealer service network having one or more work machines according to claim 15, the dealer service network further including:

one or more servers configured to automatically collect PAD compliance information from either the on-board control system or the portable PAD dosimeter.