Method and Apparatus for Providing Diagnostics of a Lifting Magnet System

• US 20090055039A1
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EDW C Levy Company
• Original Assignee: EDW C Levy Company
• Inventors: Pollock, Michael, Kahl, Fred
• Granted Patent: US 7,848,861 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/08 Circuits therefor for electromagnets in general H01F7/18
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 15/00 Safety gear for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms B66D1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/905 electrical

Abstract

An apparatus for providing diagnostics of a work device includes an electric crane including an operator cabin and a derrick that supports a lifting magnet; a diagnostic panel disposed proximate the operator cabin; a device that provides one or more operating parameters associated with an operation of the electric crane; and a logic controller in communication with the device and diagnostic panel. The logic controller receives the one or more operating parameter. The diagnostic panel provides one or more quantifiable diagnostics of the electric crane and/or magnet according to the one or more operating parameters received by the PLC. A method is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing diagnostics of a work device, comprising:

an electric crane including an operator cabin and a derrick that supports a lifting magnet;

a diagnostic panel disposed proximate the operator cabin;

a device that provides one or more operating parameters associated with an operation of the electric crane; and

a logic controller in communication with the device and diagnostic panel, wherein the logic controller receives the one or more operating parameter , wherein the diagnostic panel provides one or more quantifiable diagnostics of the electric crane and/or magnet according to the one or more operating parameters received by the PLC.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the logic controller is a programmable logic controller.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a load cell, an imaging camera, a satellite antenna, a magnet core/casing temperature sensor, and an accelerometer.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the operator cabin includes operator input controls that are in communication with the logic controller, wherein the logic controller receives input signals related to the manipulation of the operator input controls.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating parameters are communicated wirelessly to the PLC.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating parameters are communicated over a hardwire connection provided by a magnet lift cable.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic panel includes one or more audible alerting devices.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic panel includes one or more visual alerting devices.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic panel includes a global positioning system display in communication with a global positioning display antenna associated with the electric crane.

10. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the diagnostic panel includes a load imaging display in communication with the camera for providing images of a load (L_S, L_M, L_L).

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic panel includes an on/off switch, a key-hole for receiving an identification key, and a diagnostic report button.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic panel includes one or more alpha-numeric displays.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein one or more of the alpha-numeric displays provides one or more quantifications of the one or more operating parameters.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the diagnostic panel includes a timing diagram display that provides a real-time timing diagram including a graph of the one or more quantifications.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the one or more quantifications include a service life time of the electric crane and/or magnet.

16. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the one or more quantifications include a number of cycles of the magnet.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the one or more quantifications include an amount of time that the magnet has been cycled.

18. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the one or more quantifications include a temperature of the magnet.

19. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the one or more quantifications include a spatial acceleration of the crane and/or magnet.

20. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the one or more quantifications include an amperage/voltage across the magnet.

21. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the one or more quantifications include an amount of power utilized to operate the magnet.

22. A method for providing diagnostics of a work device, comprising:

receiving, at a device, one or more operating parameters associated with an operation of the electric crane and/or magnet;

sending, to a logic controller, the one or more operating parameters from the device;

providing, to a diagnostic panel, one or more quantifiable diagnostics of the electric crane and/or magnet from the logic controller, wherein the one or more quantifiable diagnostics are based upon the one or more operating parameters; and

displaying the one or more quantifiable diagnostics on the diagnostic panel.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the sending step is conducted wirelessly.

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein the displaying step includes providing an audible alert.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the displaying step includes providing a visual alert.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein the visual alert is provided on one or more alpha-numeric displays.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein the visual alert is provided on a timing diagram display.

28. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of providing an identification of the operator of the electric crane to the logic controller.

29. The method according to claim 28, further comprising the step of remotely monitoring the quantifiable diagnostics.

30. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of remotely communicating, to the operator of the electric crane, a violation of a diagnostic threshold.

31. The method according to claim 29, further comprising the step of remotely interrupting the operator'"'"'s control over the electric crane.