SYSTEM FOR ACCESSING INFORMATION FOR MAINTAINING AND REPAIRING INDUSTRIAL VEHICLES

• US 20120239243A1
• Filed: 06/04/2012
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul P. Mccabe, Steve Medwin
• Original Assignee: Paul P. Mccabe, Steve Medwin
• Inventors: Medwin, Steve, McCabe, Paul P.
• Application Number:
  US13/487,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20120239243A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/31.6
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/0755 Position control; Position detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B66F 9/24 Electrical devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A database, contained in a computer system onboard the industrial vehicle, stores repair information and as built information about the specific optional features incorporated into that particular industrial vehicle. For example, the database contains one or more of a repair manual, a parts manual, an operating manual, and service bulletins. Upon occurrence of an operating problem, the industrial vehicle generates a fault code designating the operating problem. The computer system uses the fault code to access the database and obtain the as built information and the repair information associated with the operating problem. The repair information may describe a process for diagnosing a cause of the operating problem, a process for identifying a defective component, and a process for replacing the defective component. The computer system also may place an order for a replacement component.

Claims

1. A method for operating an industrial vehicle, said method comprising:

storing repair information in a database contained in a computer system onboard the industrial vehicle, wherein the repair information is customized to the specific optional features incorporated into the industrial vehicle;

upon occurrence of an operating problem, the industrial vehicle generating a fault code designating the operating problem; and

utilizing the fault code to access the database and obtain the repair information associated with the operating problem.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying, on a display device mounted on the industrial vehicle, the repair information associated with the operating problem.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the database contains one or more of a repair manual, a parts manual, an operating manual, a service bulletin, and a bill of materials.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising occasionally adding service bulletins to the database.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the repair information describes a process for diagnosing a cause of the operating problem.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the repair information describes a process for identifying a component of the industrial vehicle which caused the operating problem.

7. The method as recited in claim 6 further comprising the computer system placing an order for a replacement component of the industrial vehicle.

8. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the repair information describes a process for replacing a component of the industrial vehicle which caused the operating problem.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising storing, in the database, as built information about the specific optional features incorporated into that industrial vehicle.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising displaying the as built information on a display device attached to the industrial vehicle.

11. A method for operating an industrial vehicle, said method comprising:

storing, in a database contained in a computer system onboard the industrial vehicle, repair information for the industrial vehicle and as built information about specific optional features incorporated into that industrial vehicle;

upon occurrence of an operating problem, the industrial vehicle generating a fault code designating the operating problem; and

the industrial vehicle utilizing the fault code to access the database and obtain the as built information and the repair information associated with the operating problem.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising displaying, on a display device mounted on the industrial vehicle, the repair information associated with the operating problem.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising displaying the as built information on a display device mounted on the industrial vehicle.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the repair information describes a process for diagnosing a cause of the operating problem.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the repair information describes a process for identifying a component of the industrial vehicle which caused the operating problem.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 further comprising the computer system placing an order for a replacement component of the industrial vehicle.

17. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the repair information describes a process for replacing a component of the industrial vehicle which caused the operating problem.

18. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the database contains one or more of a repair manual, a parts manual, an operating manual, a service bulletin, and a bill of materials.

19. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising occasionally adding service bulletins to the database.