System and method for monitoring the status of a work machine

• US 20070021895A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Vernon, Brandt, Wayne
• Application Number:
  US11/185,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20070021895A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers

Abstract

A status monitoring system for a work machine includes at least a first monitoring device coupled to a first component of the work machine and at least a second monitoring device coupled to a second component of the work machine. The status monitoring system also includes at least a first data collection node communicatively coupled to the first monitoring device and at least a second data collection node communicatively coupled to the second monitoring device. A status monitoring system further includes a status collection node in communication with each of the first and second data collection nodes, the status collection node configured to receive information corresponding to an operational status of the first and second components from the first and second data collection nodes and provide information corresponding to an operational status of the first and second components to an external user interface.

Claims

1. A status monitoring system for a work machine, comprising:

at least a first monitoring device coupled to a first component of the work machine;

at least a second monitoring device coupled to a second component of the work machine;

at least a first data collection node communicatively coupled to the first monitoring device;

at least a second data collection node communicatively coupled to the second monitoring device; and

a status collection node in communication with each of the first and second data collection nodes, the status collection node configured to;

receive information corresponding to an operational status of the first and second components from the first and second data collection nodes, and

provide information corresponding to an operational status of the first and second components to an external user interface.

2. The status monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the status collection node includes an electronic control unit of the work machine.

3. The status monitoring system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second monitoring devices includes a data sensor.

4. The status monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the external user interface is in selective communication with the status collection node.

5. The status monitoring system of claim 4, wherein the external user interface is in wireless communication with the status collection node.

6. The status monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the status collection node includes at least one of the first and second data collection nodes, the status collection node further configured to determine a status of the work machine based upon the received information.

7. A method for collecting data from a plurality of components of a work machine, comprising:

receiving operational information of each of the plurality of components of the work machine;

collecting the received operational information in a status collection node;

receiving a data query from an external user interface; and

providing the collected operational information to the external user interface in response to the data query.

8. The method of claim 7, further including determining the status of at least one of the plurality of components based on the collected information.

9. The method of claim 7, further including determining a status of the work machine based on the collected information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the determination of the status of the work machine is further based upon a predetermined operational range of each of the plurality of components.

11. The method of claim 9, further including storing at least one of the collected information and the status of the work machine.

12. The method of claim 9, further including transmitting at least one of the collected information and the status of the work machine to the external user interface.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving operational information further includes periodically sending a request signal to at least one of a first data collection node and a second data collection node and receiving the operational information in response to the request signal.

14. A method for determining the status of a plurality of components of a work machine, comprising:

receiving operational information of each of the plurality of components of the work machine;

collecting the received operational information in a status collection node;

determining a status of each of the plurality of components of the work machine based on the received information; and

providing at least one of a signal corresponding to the status of the each of the plurality of components and the collected information to an external user interface.

15. The method of claim 14, further including:

determining a status of the work machine based upon the status of each of the plurality of components; and

providing a signal corresponding the status of the work machine to an external user interface.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the determination of the status of the work machine is further based upon a predetermined operational range of each of the plurality of components.

17. The method of claim 15, further including storing at least one of the collected information and the status of the work machine.

18. The method of claim 15, further including transmitting the at least one of the collected information and the status of the work machine to the external user interface.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the receiving operational information further includes periodically sending a request signal to at least one of the plurality of components and receiving the operational information in response to the request signal.

20. A work machine, comprising:

a power source;

a status monitoring system, operably connected to the power source, the status monitoring system comprising;

a plurality of first monitoring devices coupled to a first component of the work machine to receive the operational information of the first component;

a plurality of second monitoring devices coupled to a second component of the work machine to receive the operational information of the second component;

at least a first data collection node communicatively coupled to the first monitoring device to receive the operational information of the first component;

at least a second data collection node communicatively coupled to the second monitoring device to receive the operational information of the second component;

a status collection node in communication with each of the first and second data collection nodes, the status collection node configured to;

receive the operational information from the first and second data collection nodes, and provide information corresponding to an operational status of the first and second components to an external user interface.

21. The status monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the status collection node is further configured to determine a status of each of the first and second components based on the received operational information.

22. The status monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the status collection node is further configured to determine a status of the work machine based upon the received operational information.

23. The status monitoring system of claim 22, wherein at least one of the operational information of the first and second components, the status of the first and second components, and the status of the work machine are stored in memory of the status monitoring system.

24. The status monitoring system of claim 22, wherein the external user interface is in wireless communication with the status collection node.