TELEMATIC ASSET MICROFLUIDIC ANALYSIS

• US 20110282631A1
• Filed: 05/16/2011
• Published: 11/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Poling, David Glen, Wallace, Daniel John
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,932 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/00 Investigating or analysing materials by the use of electric, electrochemical, or magnetic means G01N3/00 – G01N25/00 take precedence; measurement or testing of electric or magnetic variables or of electric or magnetic properties of materials G01R
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/00 Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8158 With indicator, register, recorder, alarm or inspection means

Abstract

A fluid analyzing system wherein an electronic control module is coupled with an asset and a telematics device. The electronic control module initiates the acquisition of a sample of an asset'"'"'s fluid and analyzes the sample in response to an analysis trigger. An asset management system located remotely from the asset and telematics device receives the results of the fluid analysis wirelessly via the telematics device.

Claims

1. A fluid analyzing system comprising:

a telematics device coupled with an asset;

an electronic control module coupled with said asset and said telematics device, said electronic control module configured for initiating acquisition of a sample of a fluid of said asset and accomplishing a microfluidic analysis of said sample in response to occurrence of an analysis trigger, said analysis trigger comprising an operating characteristic of said asset; and

an asset management system located remotely from said asset and said telematics device, said asset management system configured for wirelessly receiving results of said microfluidic analysis transmitted from said telematics device.

2. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control module comprises:

an analysis controller configured for initiating a first type of analysis of said sample in response to occurrence of a first analysis trigger and a second type of analysis of said sample in response to occurrence of a second analysis trigger, wherein said first and second types of analysis are different.

3. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, wherein said fluid of said asset is selected from the group consisting of:

oil, hydraulic fluid, drilling fluid, antifreeze, coolant, transmission fluid, torque converter fluid, clutch fluid, differential fluid, transaxle fluid, transfer case fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, battery acid, and windshield washer fluid.

4. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control module is coupled with a part of said asset selected from the group consisting of:

an oil filter, oil reservoir, oil fluid line, hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulic fluid line, drilling fluid line, brake fluid reservoir, brake fluid line, transmission fluid reservoir, torque converter reservoir, clutch fluid reservoir, coolant reservoir, coolant fluid line, antifreeze reservoir, antifreeze fluid line, transfer case fluid reservoir, transaxle fluid reservoir, power steering fluid reservoir, power steering fluid line, battery, windshield wiper fluid reservoir, and windshield wiper fluid line.

5. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, wherein said analysis trigger is selected from the group consisting of:

elapsed operating time, operating temperature of asset, ambient temperature asset operates in, exceeding a predetermined RPM level in engine, exceeding a predetermined torque level in transmission, exceeding a predetermined period of time since last sample, time of day, asset power up, asset power down, oil temperature, oil pressure, hydraulic fluid pressure, hydraulic fluid temperature, power steering fluid pressure, and brake fluid pressure.

6. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, wherein said asset is selected from the group consisting of:

an automobile, backhoe, cherry picker, cold planer, compactor, conveyor, crane, cure rig, dozer, dredger, dump, excavator, feller buncher, forklift, forwarder, grader, harvester, handler, hauler, loader, paver, pile driver, pipe layer, reclaimer, roller, shovel, skidder, soil stabilizer, street sweeper, tiller, tractor, trencher, truck, tunnel boring machine, and yarder.

7. A method for analyzing fluids comprising:

acquiring a sample of an asset fluid in response to occurrence of an analysis trigger, said analysis trigger comprising an operating characteristic of asset;

analyzing said sample in response to said analysis trigger, wherein said analysis is performed by a microfluidic analyzer coupled with said asset; and

providing results of said analysis to a telematics device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

adding a test agent to said microfluidic analyzer for use in said analysis of said sample.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

initiating a first type of analysis of said sample in response to occurrence of a first analysis trigger and a second type of analysis of said sample in response to occurrence of a second analysis trigger, wherein said first and second types of analyses are different.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting said result from said telematics device for receipt by an asset management system, said asset management system located remotely from said asset and said telematics device; and

automatically comparing said result with result response rules maintained at said asset management system; and

initiating a response prescribed by said result response rules, said response initiated by said asset management system.

11. An electronic control module comprising:

an analysis controller configured for initiating analysis of a sample of an asset fluid in response to occurrence of an analysis trigger;

a microfluidic analyzer configured for analyzing said sample; and

a result compiler configured for accessing an analysis result from said microfluidic analyzer and providing said analysis result to a telematics device.

12. The electronic control module of claim 11, further comprising:

an agent source coupled with said microfluidic analyzer and configured for providing a testing agent for use in said analysis of said sample.

13. The electronic control module of claim 11, wherein said analysis controller is configured for initiating a first type of analysis of said sample in response to occurrence of a first analysis trigger and a second type of analysis of said sample in response to occurrence of a second analysis trigger, where in said first and second types of analyses are different.

14. The electronic control module of claim 11, wherein said asset fluid is selected from the group consisting of:

oil, hydraulic fluid, drilling fluid, antifreeze, coolant, transmission fluid, torque converter fluid, clutch fluid, differential fluid, transaxle fluid, transfer case fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, battery acid, and windshield washer fluid.

15. The electronic control module of claim 11, wherein said electronic control module is coupled with a part of said asset selected from the group consisting of:

an oil filter, oil reservoir, oil fluid line, hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulic fluid line, drilling fluid line, brake fluid reservoir, brake fluid line, transmission fluid reservoir, torque converter reservoir, clutch fluid reservoir, coolant reservoir, coolant fluid line, antifreeze reservoir, antifreeze fluid line, transfer case fluid reservoir, transaxle fluid reservoir, power steering fluid reservoir, power steering fluid line, battery, windshield wiper fluid reservoir, windshield wiper fluid line, and fluid filter.

16. The electronic control module of claim 11, wherein said analysis trigger is selected from the group consisting of:

elapsed operating time, operating temperature of asset, ambient temperature asset operates in, exceeding a predetermined RPM level in engine, exceeding a predetermined torque level in transmission, exceeding a predetermined period of time since last sample, time of day, asset power up, asset power down, oil temperature, oil pressure, hydraulic fluid pressure, hydraulic fluid temperature, power steering fluid pressure, and brake fluid pressure.

17. The electronic control module of claim 11, wherein said asset is selected from the group consisting of:

an automobile, backhoe, cherry picker, cold planer, compactor, conveyor, crane, cure rig, dozer, dredger, dump, excavator, feller buncher, forklift, forwarder, grader, harvester, handler, hauler, loader, paver, pile driver, pipe layer, reclaimer, roller, shovel, skidder, soil stabilizer, street sweeper, tiller, tractor, trencher, truck, tunnel boring machine, and yarder.

18. A construction equipment asset comprising:

a telematics device physically coupled with said asset; and

an electronic control module fluidly coupled with said asset and electronically coupled with said telematics device, said electronic control module comprising;

an analysis controller configured for initiating analysis of a sample of an asset fluid in response to occurrence of an analysis trigger;

a microfluidic analyzer configured for analyzing said sample; and

a result compiler configured for accessing an analysis result from said microfluidic analyzer and providing said analysis result to a telematics device.

19. The construction equipment asset of claim 18, wherein said asset fluid is selected from the group consisting of:

oil, hydraulic fluid, drilling fluid, antifreeze, coolant, transmission fluid, torque converter fluid, clutch fluid, differential fluid, transaxle fluid, transfer case fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, battery acid, and windshield washer fluid.

20. The construction equipment asset of claim 18, wherein said electronic control module is coupled with a part of said asset selected from the group consisting of:

an oil filter, oil reservoir, oil fluid line, hydraulic fluid reservoir, hydraulic fluid line, drilling fluid line, brake fluid reservoir, brake fluid line, transmission fluid reservoir, torque converter reservoir, clutch fluid reservoir, coolant reservoir, coolant fluid line, antifreeze reservoir, antifreeze fluid line, transfer case fluid reservoir, transaxle fluid reservoir, power steering fluid reservoir, power steering fluid line, battery, windshield wiper fluid reservoir, and windshield wiper fluid line.

21. The construction equipment asset of claim 18, wherein said analysis trigger is selected from the group consisting of:

elapsed operating time, operating temperature of asset, ambient temperature asset operates in, exceeding a predetermined RPM level in engine, exceeding a predetermined torque level in transmission, exceeding a predetermined period of time since last sample, time of day, asset power up, asset power down, oil temperature, oil pressure, hydraulic fluid pressure, hydraulic fluid temperature, power steering fluid pressure, and brake fluid pressure.

22. The construction equipment asset of claim 18, wherein said asset is selected from the group consisting of:

an automobile, backhoe, cherry picker, cold planer, compactor, conveyor, crane, cure rig, dozer, dredger, dump, excavator, feller buncher, forklift, forwarder, grader, harvester, handler, hauler, loader, paver, pile driver, pipe layer, reclaimer, roller, shovel, skidder, soil stabilizer, street sweeper, tiller, tractor, trencher, truck, tunnel boring machine, and yarder.