Data acquisition system indexed by cycle segmentation

• US 20090228176A1
• Filed: 03/07/2008
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: King, Kevin D., Tozawa, Shoji, Price, Robert J., Janardhan, Vijayakumar, Mintah, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,185,290 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/435 for dipper-arms, backhoes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/24 Safety devices , e.g. for preventing overload E02F9/226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/264 Sensors and their calibration for indicating the position of the work tool
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles

Abstract

A data acquisition system for an excavation machine having a power source configured to drive a tool through a work cycle is disclosed. The data acquisition system may have a first sensor associated with the power source to generate a first signal indicative of a performance of the power source, and a second sensor associated with the tool to generate a second signal indicative of a performance of the tool. The data acquisition system may also have a controller in communication with the first and second sensors. The controller may be configured to record the first and second signals, and partition the work cycle into a plurality of segments. The controller may be further configured to link the performance of the power source and the performance of the tool together with one of the plurality of segments during which the associated first and second signals were recorded.

Claims

1. A data acquisition system for an excavation machine having a power source configured to drive a tool through a work cycle, the data acquisition system comprising:

a first sensor associated with the power source to generate a first signal indicative of a performance of the power source;

a second sensor associated with the tool to generate a second signal indicative of a performance of the tool; and

a controller in communication with the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to;

record the first and second signals;

partition the work cycle into a plurality of segments; and

link the performance of the power source and the performance of the tool together with one of the plurality of segments during which the associated first and second signals were recorded.

2. The data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein:

the performance of the power source is related to a fuel consumption rate of the power source; and

the performance of the work tool is related to a payload of the work tool.

3. The data acquisition system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate a payload moved by the tool per amount of fuel consumed by the power source.

4. The data acquisition system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate a payload moved by the tool per completed work cycle.

5. The data acquisition system of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate an amount of fuel consumed during each of the plurality of segments.

6. The data acquisition system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to calculate an idle time of the excavation machine.

7. The data acquisition system of claim 1, further including a timer, wherein the controller is in communication with the time and further configured to record an elapsed period of time required for completion of each of the plurality of segments, and to link the elapsed period of time to the performances of the power source, the performance of the tool, and the one of the plurality of segments.

8. The data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to link the performances of the power source and the tool together with the one of the plurality of segments after the tool has completed the work cycle.

9. The data acquisition system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

compare the linked performances of the power source and the tool for each of the plurality of segments to a threshold performance level; and

alert an operator of the excavation machine when the linked performances for at least one of the plurality of segments are below the threshold performance level.

10. A method of acquiring data, comprising:

generating a power output;

sensing a first performance parameter associated with generation of the power output;

directing the power output to complete an excavation work cycle;

sensing a second performance parameter associated with completion of the excavation work cycle;

recording the first and second performance parameters;

partitioning the excavation work cycle into a plurality of segments; and

linking the first and second performance parameters together with one of the plurality of segments during which the associated first and second performance parameters were recorded.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

the first performance parameter is related to a fuel consumption rate; and

the second performance parameter is related to an amount of material moved during the work cycle.

12. The method of claim 11, further including calculating an amount of material moved per amount of fuel consumed to move the material.

13. The method of claim 11, further including calculating an amount of fuel consumed during each of the plurality of segments.

14. The method of claim 11, further including calculating an amount of idle time during the excavation work cycle.

15. The method of claim 10, further including recording an elapsed period of time required for completion of each of the plurality of segments, and linking the elapsed period of time to the first and second performance parameters and to the one of the plurality of segments.

16. The method of claim 10, further including linking the first and second performance parameters together with the one of the plurality of segments after completion of the excavation work cycle.

17. The method of claim 10, further including:

comparing the linked first and second performance parameters for each of the plurality of segments to a threshold performance level; and

alerting an operator when the linked first and second performance parameters for at least one of the plurality of segments are below the threshold performance level.

18. An excavation machine, comprising:

a combustion engine configured to generate a power output;

a first sensor associated with the combustion engine to generate a first signal indicative of a fuel consumption rate of the combustion engine;

a tool driven by the power output to move through a work cycle;

a second sensor associated with the tool to generate a second signal indicative of a payload of the tool; and

a controller in communication with the first and second sensors, the controller being configured to;

record the first and second signals;

partition the work cycle into a dig segment, a loaded swing segment, a dump segment, and an empty swing segment; and

link the performance of the combustion engine and the performance of the tool together with one of the dig, loaded swing, dump, and empty swing segments during which the associated first and second signals were recorded.

19. The excavation machine of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate at least one of:

a payload moved by the tool per amount of fuel consumed by the power source;

a payload moved by the tool per completed work cycle; and

an amount of fuel consumed during each of the dig, loaded swing, dump, and empty swing segments.

20. The excavation machine of claim 18, further including a timer, wherein the controller is in communication with the time and further configured to record an elapsed period of time required for completion of each of the dig, loaded swing, dump, and empty swing segments, and to link the elapsed period of time to the performances of the combustion engine, the performance of the tool, and the one of the dig, loaded swing, dump, and empty swing segments.