Systems and methods for monitoring a machine

• US 20080059081A1
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Gualandri, J. Joseph, Long, Milton R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,711,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/34
• 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 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a machine. In one implementation, a system for monitoring the machine includes a monitoring server in communication with a machine. The monitoring server receives data from the machine, estimates, based on the received data, an operating condition of the machine, and estimates a depreciation value of the machine based on the operating condition.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a machine, the system comprising:

a monitoring server in communication with the machine, wherein the monitoring server receives data from the machine, estimates, based on the received data, an operating condition of the machine, and estimates a depreciation value of the machine based on the operating condition.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the received data includes one or more of parameter data, site information, operator identifiers, fault codes, stress readings, application information, hours of operation, rpm readings, temperature readings, and location data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operating condition is a number of hours of operation or a use of the machine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring server determines whether the depreciation value is greater than a threshold and, when the depreciation value is greater than the threshold, determines an amount of a penalty.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the monitoring server generates a message to a customer leasing the machine that indicates the penalty.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring server determines a new lease rate for the remainder of a lease term, wherein if a customer leasing the machine accepts the new lease rate, the penalty will not be incurred.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the monitoring server generates a message to the customer that indicates the new lease rate.

8. A method for monitoring a machine, the method comprising:

receiving, over a network, data from the machine;

estimating, based on the received data, an operating condition of the machine; and

estimating a depreciation value of the machine based on the operating condition.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the received data includes one or more of parameter data, site information, operator identifiers, fault codes, stress readings, application information, hours of operation, rpm readings, temperature readings, and location data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the operating condition is a number of hours of operation or a use of the machine.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining whether the depreciation value is greater than a threshold; and

when the depreciation value is greater than the threshold, determining an amount of a penalty.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

generating a message to a customer leasing the machine that indicates the penalty.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

determining a new lease rate for the remainder of a lease term, wherein if a customer leasing the machine accepts the new lease rate, the penalty will not be incurred.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

generating a message to the customer that indicates the new lease rate.

15. A computer-readable medium storing instructions executable by a processor for monitoring a machine according to a method, the method comprising:

receiving, over a network, data from the machine;

estimating, based on the received data, an operating condition of the machine; and

estimating a depreciation value of the machine based on the operating condition.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the received data includes one or more of parameter data, site information, operator identifiers, fault codes, stress readings, application information, hours of operation, rpm readings, temperature readings, and location data.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the operating condition is a number of hours of operation or a use of the machine.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

determining whether the depreciation value is greater than a threshold; and

when the depreciation value is greater than the threshold, determining an amount of a penalty owed by a customer leasing the machine.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

generating a message to the customer that indicates the penalty.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

determining a new lease rate for the remainder of a lease term, wherein if a customer leasing the machine accepts the new lease rate, the penalty will not be incurred.