Systems and methods for early detection of machine component failure

• US 20090107219A1
• Filed: 10/26/2007
• Published: 04/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Douglas, Richard David
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,368 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/61.630
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1486 Counting the particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2015/1493 Particle size
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2035/009 alarms, e.g. audible
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00722 Communications; Identification

Abstract

A system for early detection of component failure in a hydraulic system comprises a particle detection device disposed in a fluid flow channel of a machine, the particle detection device configured to monitor a current particle count associated with fluid flowing through the fluid flow channel. The system further includes a condition monitoring system in wireless data communication with the particle detection device. The condition monitoring system is configured to receive data indicative of the current particle count and analyze historic particle count data collected by the particle detection device. The condition monitoring system is also configured to estimate a trend in the historic particle count data based on the analysis. A failure event associated with one or more components associated with the fluid flow channel is predicted if the data indicative of the current particle count deviates from the trend by a threshold amount.

Claims

1. A method for early detection of component failure in a hydraulic system comprising:

implanting a particle detection device in a fluid flow channel associated with a machine, the particle detection device configured to monitor a current particle count associated with fluid flowing through the fluid flow channel;

receiving, in a condition monitoring system, data indicative of the current particle count;

analyzing historic particle count data collected by the particle detection device;

estimating a trend in the historic particle count data based on the analysis; and

predicting a failure event associated with one or more components associated with the fluid flow channel if the data indicative of the current particle count deviates from the trend by a threshold amount.

2. The method of claim 1, further including generating an event notification if the data indicative of the current particle count deviates from the trend by the threshold amount.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein generating the event notification includes:

generating one or more of a text message, an SMS message, an e-mail message, and an automated voice message; and

providing the one or more generated messages to a subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the current particle count data includes one or more of a number and size of particles present in a fluid flowing through the fluid flow channel.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein implanting the particle detection device within the fluid flow channel includes implanting the particle detection device proximate an input port of a filtration device configured to collect and store particulate matter present in the fluid.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the historic particle count data includes previously monitored data indicative of one or more of a number and size of particles present in a fluid flowing through the fluid flow channel.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid flow channel is associated with the hydraulic system for operating one or more hydraulically-actuated devices of the machine.

8. A system for early detection of component failure in a hydraulic system comprising:

a particle detection device disposed in a fluid flow channel of a machine, the particle detection device configured to monitor a current particle count associated with fluid flowing through the fluid flow channel; and

a condition monitoring system in wireless data communication with the particle detection device, the condition monitoring system configured to;

receive data indicative of the current particle count;

analyze historic particle count data collected by the particle detection device;

estimate a trend in the historic particle count data based on the analysis; and

predict a failure event associated with one or more components associated with the fluid flow channel if the data indicative of the current particle count deviates from the trend by a threshold amount.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the condition monitoring system is configured to generate a failure event notification associated with a predicted failure event.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the current particle count data includes one or more of a number and size of particles present in a fluid flowing through the fluid flow channel.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the fluid flow channel includes a filtration device configured to collect and store particulate matter present in the fluid.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the filtration device includes a fluid filter.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the fluid filter includes a hydraulic fluid filter for operating an implement associated with the machine.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the particle detection device includes a laser diode optical detector.

15. The system of claim 8, further including a data collector disposed on-board the machine, the data collector in wireless communication with the condition monitoring system and configured to:

receive data indicative of the current particle count from the particle detection device; and

provide data indicative of the current particle count to the condition monitoring system.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the data collector includes an electronic control module associated with the machine.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the condition monitoring system includes an off-board computer system.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the condition monitoring system is located on-board the machine.

19. A machine, comprising:

a fluid flow channel for delivering fluid to one or more components associated with the machine;

a particle detection device disposed in the fluid flow channel, the particle detection device configured to monitor a current particle count associated with fluid flowing through the fluid flow channel;

a data collector disposed on-board the machine and communicatively coupled to the particle detection device, the data collector configured to receive the particle count data from the particle detection device; and

a condition monitoring system in wireless data communication with the particle detection device, the condition monitoring system configured to;

analyze historic particle count data collected by the particle detection device;

estimate a trend in the historic particle count data based on the analysis;

predict a failure event associated with the one or more components associated with the fluid flow channel if the data indicative of the current particle count deviates from the trend by a threshold amount; and

generate a failure event notification associated with a predicted failure event.

20. The machine of claim 19, wherein the particle detection device includes a laser diode optical detector.