MONITORING CRANE COMPONENT OVERSTRESS

• US 20100044332A1
• Filed: 08/22/2008
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Inventors: Cameron, John F.
• Application Number:
  US12/196,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20100044332A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 212/278
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 15/065 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/905 electrical

Abstract

In a method for monitoring overstress conditions experienced by a crane component, a wireless signal is received. The wireless signal is indicative of an overstress condition experienced by a crane of which the crane component constitutes an assembled portion. In response to receiving the wireless signal, a record of the overstress condition is stored in a storage module mechanically coupled with the crane component. Information from the record is provided via a wireless communication to facilitate monitoring of occurrence of overstress conditions experienced by the crane component.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring overstress conditions experienced by a crane component, said method comprising:

receiving a wireless signal indicative of an overstress condition experienced by a crane of which said crane component constitutes an assembled portion;

responsive to receiving said wireless signal, storing a record of said overstress condition in a storage module mechanically coupled with said crane component; and

providing information from said record via a wireless communication to facilitate monitoring of occurrence of overstress conditions experienced by said crane component.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiving a wireless signal indicative of an overstress condition experienced by a crane of which said crane component constitutes an assembled portion comprises:

receiving said wireless signal via a mesh network device mechanically coupled with said crane component.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said wherein said receiving a wireless signal indicative of an overstress condition experienced by a crane of which said crane component constitutes an assembled portion further comprises:

receiving a descriptor of said overstress condition in conjunction with said signal.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said storing a record of said overstress condition in a storage module mechanically coupled with said crane component comprises:

storing said descriptor in said record.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said storing a record of said overstress condition in a storage module mechanically coupled with said crane component further comprises:

storing a timestamp as a portion of said record.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said storing a record of said overstress condition in a storage module mechanically coupled with said crane component further comprises:

storing hours of use associated with the component.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said storing a record of said overstress condition in a storage module mechanically coupled with said crane component further comprises:

accessing a measurement of a temperature sensor coupled with said crane component; and

storing a representation of said measurement as a portion of said record.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein storing a record of said overstress condition in a storage module mechanically coupled with said crane component further comprises:

wirelessly accessing a location of said crane component relative to occurrence of said overstress condition; and

storing said location as a portion of said record.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said providing information from said record via a wireless communication to facilitate monitoring of occurrence of overstress conditions experienced by said crane component comprises:

providing said information in response to a wireless access initiated during an inspection of said crane component.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said providing information from said record via a wireless communication to facilitate monitoring of occurrence of overstress conditions experienced by said crane component comprises:

providing said information automatically in response to an initiation of a wireless mesh network communication during an inventory movement of said crane component.

11. A system for monitoring overstress conditions experienced by a crane component, said system comprising:

a component monitor communicatively coupled with a load sensor of a crane, said component monitor configured for sensing stress conditions experienced by said crane and further configured for wirelessly transmitting an overstress signal indicative of occurrence of an overstress condition experienced by said crane; and

a component information unit mechanically coupled with a crane component of said crane and configured for storing a record of said overstress condition in a storage module of said component information unit in response to receiving said overstress signal from said component monitor.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said component monitor comprises:

an overstress module communicatively coupled with said load sensor for observing load induced stress conditions experienced during operation of said crane.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said component monitor further comprises:

a signal module communicatively coupled with said overstress module and configured for generating said overstress signal in response to said overstress condition being observed by said overstress module.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said component monitor further comprises:

a mesh network device communicatively coupled with said signal module and configured for wirelessly transmitting said overstress signal onto a wireless mesh network.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said component information unit comprises:

a mesh network device configured for participating in communication with said component monitor via a wireless mesh network to receive said overstress signal.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein said component information unit comprises:

a strain gauge mechanically coupled with a structural element of said crane component and configured for measuring a mechanical flexing of said crane component relative to occurrence of said overstress condition.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said component information unit comprises:

a temperature sensor configured for measuring a temperature relative to occurrence said overstress condition.

18. A method for monitoring overstress conditions at a crane component, said method comprising:

measuring mechanical flexing of a crane component with a strain gauge mechanically coupled with a structural element of said crane component;

accessing a measurement of said strain gauge to sense a stress condition experienced by said crane component and determine occurrence of an overstress condition experienced by said crane component;

storing a record of said overstress condition in a storage module mechanically coupled with said crane component; and

providing information from said record via a wireless mesh network communication to facilitate monitoring of occurrence of overstress conditions experienced by said crane component.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said measuring mechanical flexing of a crane component with a strain gauge mechanically coupled with a structural element of said crane component further comprises:

measuring flexing associated with a macro component of which said crane component constitutes an assembled portion.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein storing a record of said overstress condition in a storage module mechanically coupled with said crane component further comprises:

accessing a temperature measurement of a temperature sensor coupled with said crane component; and

storing a representation of said temperature measurement as a portion of said record.

21. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein storing a record of said overstress condition in a storage module mechanically coupled with said crane component further comprises:

wirelessly accessing a location of said crane component relative to occurrence of said overstress condition; and

storing said location as a portion of said record.

22. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said providing information from said record via a wireless mesh network communication to facilitate monitoring of occurrence of overstress conditions experienced by said crane component comprises:

providing said information in response to a wireless access initiated during an inspection of said crane component.

23. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said providing information from said record via a wireless mesh network communication to facilitate monitoring of occurrence of overstress conditions experienced by said crane component comprises:

providing said information automatically in response to an initiation of a wireless mesh network communication during an inventory movement of said crane component.

24. An apparatus for monitoring overstress conditions experienced by a crane component, said apparatus comprising:

a strain gauge mechanically coupled with a structural element of said crane component and configured for measuring mechanical flexing of said crane component;

a sensor module communicatively coupled with said strain gauge and configured accessing a measurement of said strain gauge to sense stress conditions experienced by said crane component and determine an occurrence of an overstress condition experienced by said crane component;

a storage module communicatively coupled with said sensor module and configured for storing a record of said overstress condition; and

a mesh network device communicatively coupled with said storage module and configured for providing information from said record via a wireless mesh network communication to facilitate monitoring of occurrence of overstress conditions experienced by said crane component.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature relative to occurrence said overstress condition.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said storage module comprises a tamper resistant memory for storing a portion of said record.