System and method of monitoring machine performance

• US 20060229851A1
• Filed: 03/30/2005
• Published: 10/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Cannon, Robert Kimball
• Granted Patent: US 7,333,922 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/193
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A method of monitoring machine operation includes sensing an operating characteristic of a plurality of machines and calculating a performance metric. The performance metric is indicative of the operating characteristic of at least a portion of the plurality of machines. The method also includes storing the performance metric and comparing the performance metric to at least one other stored performance metric.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring machine operation, comprising:

sensing an operating characteristic of a plurality of machines;

calculating a performance metric indicative of the operating characteristic of at least a portion of the plurality of machines;

storing the performance metric; and

comparing the performance metric to at least one other stored performance metric.

2. The method of claim 1, further including comparing the operating characteristic of at least one of the plurality of machines to the performance metric.

3. The method of claim 1, further including determining a desired operating characteristic range in response to the calculating a performance metric.

4. The method of claim 3, further including generating an alert if the operating characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of machines is outside of the desired operating characteristic range.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the desired operating characteristic range is based on a preset parameter.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one other stored performance metric is indicative of the same operating characteristic as the performance metric.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating characteristic is at least one of engine temperature, engine pressure, engine speed, fluid pressure, fluid flow rate, fluid temperature, and tool speed.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the performance metric is an arithmetic mean.

9. The method of claim 1, further including detecting a trend in a plurality of the stored performance metrics.

10. The method of claim 9, further including displaying the trend with an operator interface.

11. A machine performance evaluation system for evaluating the performance of machines in a fleet, comprising:

a plurality of machines, each of the machines including;

at least one sensor configured to sense an operating characteristic of the machine, and

a controller configured to accept information from the at least one sensor;

a receiver configured to receive information from the plurality of machines; and

a central processor configured to receive information from more than one of the machines or the receiver, the central processor configured to;

calculate a performance metric indicative of the operating characteristic of at least a portion of the plurality of machines,

store the performance metric; and

compare the performance metric to at least one other previously stored performance metric indicative of the same operating characteristic as the performance metric.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor is one of a temperature, pressure, flow rate, and speed sensor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the receiver is a satellite.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is an electronic control module.

15. The system of claim 11, further including a signal transmitter configured to communicate information sent from the at least one sensor to the receiver.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the central processor is remote from the plurality of machines.

17. A method of monitoring machine operation, comprising:

sensing an operating characteristic of a plurality of work machines;

calculating a performance metric indicative of the operating characteristic of at least a portion of the plurality of work machines;

storing the performance metric; and

comparing the performance metric to at least one other previously stored performance metric indicative of the same operating characteristic as the performance metric.

18. The method of claim 17, further including comparing the operating characteristic of at least one of the plurality of work machines to the performance metric.

19. The method of claim 17, further including determining a desired operating characteristic range in response to the calculating a performance metric.

20. The method of claim 19, further including generating an alert if the operating characteristic of the at least one of the plurality of work machines is outside of the desired operating characteristic range.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the desired operating characteristic range is based on a preset parameter.

22. The method of claim 17, further including detecting a trend in a plurality of the stored performance metrics.

23. The method of claim 22, further including displaying the trend with an operator interface.

24. The method of claim 17, wherein the operating characteristic is at least one of engine temperature, engine pressure, engine speed, fluid pressure, fluid flow rate, fluid temperature, and tool speed.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the performance metric is an arithmetic mean.