Wireless system for automatic ordering of maintenance parts for equipment

• US 20070072547A1
• Filed: 09/19/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Omnitracs LLC (Solera Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sims, Loyie, McCloskey, Robert, Ram, Satish
• Granted Patent: US 9,015,059 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/39
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4184 characterised by fault tolerance, reliability of production system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32229 Repair fault product by replacing fault parts
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32235 Sharing of data between process control and maintenance management computers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32236 Automatic order of parts needed for maintenance schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/80 Management or planning

Abstract

A wireless equipment management system is provided which automatically orders parts in connection with equipment maintenance schedules generated using sensors remotely located with the equipment. The system additionally uses diagnostic software to analyze fault conditions within the equipment using the sensors, and parts are automatically ordered in conjunction with equipment service needs as determined by the system

Claims

1. A management system for equipment comprising:

a processor located remotely from said equipment;

at least one sensor being operable to sense operating condition information pertaining to said equipment; and

a wireless communication system being operable to provide communications among said processor, said sensor, and said equipment, said processor being programmed to electronically order parts in connection with maintenance requirements as determined by data from said at least one sensor.

2. A management system as recited in claim 1 wherein said data includes equipment maintenance historical data.

3. A management system as recited in claim 2 which further includes data storage memory at a site remote from said equipment, said equipment maintenance historical data being maintained in said data storage memory.

4. A management system for equipment as recited in claim 1 wherein said maintenance requirements are determined in connection with a predetermined OEM maintenance schedule for said equipment.

5. A management system for equipment as recited in claim 1 wherein said parts are identified for replacement and ordered over the Internet.

6. A management system for equipment as recited in claim 1 wherein a maintenance schedule from said multiple maintenance schedules pertains to maintenance of one from the group consisting of power trains, engines, hydraulic systems and transmissions.

7. A management system as recited in claim 1 wherein said communications system is a wireless communications system selected from the group consisting of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communications system, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system, a Frequency Division Multiple Access System (FDMA), a satellite communications system and a two-way radio communications system.

8. A management system for equipment comprising:

a processor located remotely form said equipment;

at least one sensor being operable to sense operating condition information pertaining to said equipment; and

a wireless communication system being operable to provide communications among said processor, said sensor, and said equipment, said processor being operable to generate multiple maintenance schedules for said equipment in connection with said processor receiving equipment operation hours from said at least one sensor and said processor being programmed to electronically order parts in connection with maintenance requirements as determined by data from said at least one sensor.

9. A management system for equipment as recited in claim 8 wherein a maintenance schedule from said multiple maintenance schedules pertains to maintenance of one from the group consisting of power trains, engines, hydraulic systems and transmissions.

10. A management system as recited in claim 8 wherein said communications system is a wireless communications system selected from the group consisting of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communications system, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system, a Frequency Division Multiple Access System (FDMA), a satellite communications system and a two-way radio communications system.

11. A management system for equipment comprising:

a computer located remotely from said equipment, said computer being programmed according to equipment diagnostic software;

at least one sensor being operable to sense operating condition information pertaining to said equipment; and

a wireless communication system being operable to provide communications among said computer, said sensor, and said equipment, said computer being operable to analyze equipment malfunction or operational trends according to said equipment diagnostic software through said at least one sensor, and said computer being further operable to electronically order parts in connection with determining said malfunction or operational trend.

12. A management system as recited in claim 11 wherein said communications system is a wireless communications system selected from the group consisting of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communications system, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system, a Frequency Division Multiple Access System (FDMA), a satellite communications system and a two-way radio communications system.

13. A method of doing business comprising:

electronically monitoring, using a computer system, equipment from a remote location;

generating a plurality of maintenance schedules for said equipment;

electronically dispatching a selected OEM maintenance schedule to a designated maintenance entity; and

electronically generating part orders in connection with said selected maintenance schedule.

14. A method of doing business as recited in claim 13 wherein said maintenance schedule is dispatched and said part orders are generated over the Internet.

15. A method of doing business as recited in claim 13 wherein said equipment is monitored using a wireless communication system.

16. A method of doing business as recited in claim 13 wherein said wireless communications system is a mobile communications system selected from the group consisting of a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) communications system, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) system, a Frequency Division Multiple Access System (FDMA), a satellite communications system and a two-way radio communications system.

17. A method of doing business as recited in claim 13 wherein said maintenance entity comprises a contractor.

18. A method of doing business as recited in claim 17 wherein said contractor is selected form the group consisting of engine servicing personnel, transmission servicing personnel, fuel delivery personnel and tire servicing personnel.

19. A method of doing business as recited in claim 13 wherein said equipment is selected from the group consisting of heavy equipment, office equipment and surface, land and air vehicles.

20. A method of doing business as recited in claim 13 wherein electronically monitoring equipment includes monitoring equipment operational hours and profiles.

21. A method of doing business as recited in claim 13 wherein electronically monitoring equipment includes monitoring equipment fault conditions and operational trends.

22. A method of doing business as recited in claim 21 further comprising electronically generating part orders in connection with monitoring equipment fault conditions and operational trends.