ASSET MONITORING AND FUELING SYSTEM

• US 20130035788A1
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Divelbiss Corporation, Kokosing Construction Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Divelbiss Corporation, Kokosing Construction Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Divelbiss, Donald S., Divelbiss, Terry L., Bechtel, Erin, Reynolds, Shawn M., Burgett, William Barth, Gott, Brian T., Pew, Rodney L., Truex, Timothy E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,305,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/14 responsive to input of recorded programmed information, e.g. on punched cards
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/32 Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/004 Indicating the operating range of the engine economical driving B60R16/0236, F02B77/084; measuring liquid fuel of an engine G01F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time

Abstract

The present application discloses systems and methods for managing assets. In one exemplary embodiment, a system for monitoring an asset is disclosed. The system comprises at least one asset monitoring device, at least one fuel control device, and a central server. The asset monitoring device is configured for use with the asset to collect asset data about the asset. The fuel control device is configured for use with a fuel source to collect fueling data about fueling of the asset. The fuel control device is configured to communicate with the asset monitoring device to receive the asset data from the asset monitoring device. The central server is configured to communicate with the fuel control device to receive the asset data and the fueling data from the fuel control device.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an asset, comprising;

at least one asset monitoring device configured for use with an asset, the asset monitoring device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory, wherein the asset monitoring device is configured to collect asset data about the asset;

at least one fuel control device configured for use with a fuel source, the fuel control device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory, wherein the fuel control device is configured to collect fueling data about fueling of the asset, and wherein the fuel control device is configured to communicate with the asset monitoring device to receive the asset data from the asset monitoring device; and

a central server configured to communicate with the fuel control device to receive the asset data and the fueling data from the fuel control device, wherein the fuel control device is configured to transmit the asset data and the fueling data to the central server.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset is a motorized asset and the fuel source is at least one of a fuel truck, a fuel station, a fuel tank, and a fuel container.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data collection device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory, wherein the data collection device is configured to communicate with the asset monitoring device to receive the asset data from the asset monitoring device, and wherein the data collection device is configured to communicate with the central server to transmit the asset data to the central server.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the data collection device is configured to communicate with the fuel control device to receive the asset data and the fueling data from the fuel control device, and wherein the data collection device is configured to transmit the asset data and the fueling data to the central server.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel control device is configured to receive central data from the central server and transmit the central data to the asset monitoring device, and wherein the asset monitoring device is configured to receive the central data from the fuel control device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the central data is managed on the central server and comprises information about at least one of the asset and users of the asset.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset data comprises signals received by the asset monitoring device through a communication bus of the asset.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset data comprises signals received by the asset monitoring device from at least one of a sensor of the asset and a switch of the asset.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset monitoring device is connected to a GPS module, and wherein the asset data comprises signals received by the asset monitoring device from the GPS module.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset monitoring device is connected to a human machine interface, and wherein the asset data comprises signals received by the asset monitoring device from the human machine interface.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a handheld device configured to communicate with the asset monitoring device, wherein the asset data comprises signals received by the asset monitoring device from the handheld device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the handheld device is configured to receive inspection data for the asset from the asset monitoring device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the handheld device is connected to a scanning device for scanning one or more portions of the asset.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset monitoring device is configured to log the asset data intermittently when a predetermined logging trigger is met.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset monitoring device generates data about the asset using at least one of signals received through a communication bus of the asset and signals received from a GPS module of the asset, and wherein the asset data comprises the data generated by the asset monitoring device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the fueling data comprises signals received by the fuel control device from at least one of a sensor of the fuel source and a switch of the fuel source.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel source is connected to a GPS module, and wherein the fueling data comprises signals received by the fuel source from the GPS module.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel source is connected to a human machine interface, and wherein the fueling data comprises signals received by the fuel control device from the human machine interface.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic of the asset monitoring device tracks the idle time of an engine of the asset.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the control logic compares the RPM of the engine against a predetermined threshold RPM to track the idle time of the asset.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the asset monitoring device sends a signal to an indicator when the engine has been idling for a predetermined maximum idle time.

22. A fuel indication method for an asset, comprising:

using an asset monitoring device connected to an asset to determine whether a fuel source is within a specified range of the asset, wherein the asset monitoring device comprises a controller having control logic and a memory;

using the asset monitoring device to determine whether the asset has been run for more than a predetermined length of time since the asset was last fueled; and

using the asset monitoring device to notify the fuel source that the asset does not require fuel.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the asset monitoring device scans radio frequencies listening for a sync frame from a fuel control device of the fuel source, and wherein the asset monitoring device determines from the signal strength of the sync frame whether the fuel source is within the specified range of the asset.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the predetermined length of time is managed on a central server and transmitted to the asset monitoring device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the asset monitoring device sends a signal to turn on a visible indicator to notify an operator of the fuel source that the asset does not require fuel.

26. A method of fueling an asset, comprising:

using a fuel control device connected to a fuel source to determine whether a user is authorized to operate the fuel source, wherein the fuel control device comprises a controller having control logic and a memory;

using the fuel control device to determine the identity of an asset to be fueled using the fuel source;

using the fuel control device to restrict the amount and type of fuel delivered to the asset;

fueling the asset using the fuel source; and

using the fuel control device to log fueling data about fueling the asset.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising using a human machine interface connected to the fuel control device to collect identification data about the user and using the fuel control device to compare the identification data against a list of authorized users to determine whether the user is authorized to operate the fuel source.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the list of authorized users is managed on a central server and transmitted to the fuel control device.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the fuel control device determines the identity of the asset from asset data received from an asset monitoring device connected to the asset, the asset monitoring device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the fuel control device uses the asset data to determine the amount and type of fuel permitted for the asset.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the fuel control device uses at least one of the asset fuel level, asset fuel tank volume, and length of time since the asset was last fueled to determine the amount of fuel permitted for the asset.

32. The method of claim 26 further comprising using an asset monitoring device connected to the asset to transmit asset data about the asset to the fuel control device, the asset monitoring device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein an operator of the asset pushes a button that sends a signal to the asset monitoring device to transmit the asset data to the fuel control device in closest proximity to the asset.

34. A method of authorizing use of an asset, comprising:

using an asset monitoring device connected to an asset to determine whether a user is authorized to operate the asset, the asset monitoring device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory, wherein a human machine interface connected to the asset monitoring device is used to collect identification data about the user, and wherein the asset monitoring device compares the identification data against a list of authorized users to determine whether the user is authorized to operate the asset; and

using the asset monitoring device to enable the asset'"'"'s ignition if the user is authorized to operate the asset.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the list of authorized users is managed on a central server and transmitted to the asset monitoring device.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the list of authorized users is based on at least one of the user'"'"'s abilities, level of training, employment status, certification, credentials, authorization, position, role, and hours worked.

37. The method of claim 34 further comprising using the asset monitoring device to disable the asset'"'"'s ignition if the asset is not started within a specified period of time.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the human machine interface comprises a RFID card reader.

39. The method of claim 34 further comprising using the asset monitoring device to determine whether an inspection of the asset was completed.

40. The method claim 39 further comprising using the asset monitoring device to enable the asset'"'"'s ignition if the inspection was completed.

41. The method of claim 34 further comprising using a handheld device configured to communicate with the asset monitoring device to perform an inspection of the asset, wherein the results of the inspection are transmitted from the handheld device to the asset monitoring device.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising using the asset monitoring device to determine whether the inspection was completed, wherein the asset monitoring device compares the results of the inspection against an inspection checklist.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the inspection checklist is managed on a central server and transmitted to the asset monitoring device.

44. The method of claim 42 further comprising using the asset monitoring device to enable the asset'"'"'s ignition if the inspection was completed.

45. A method of using an asset, comprising:

using an asset monitoring device connected to an asset to collect asset data about the asset, the asset monitoring device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory;

using the asset monitoring device to compare the asset data against shut down data managed on a central server and transmitted to the asset monitoring device to determine a length of time the asset is permitted to idle after an ignition of the asset is turned off; and

permitting the asset to idle for the length of time after the ignition is turned off.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the shut down data comprises a shut down time for the asset, and wherein the shut down time is the length of time the asset is permitted to idle after the ignition of the asset is turned off.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the shut down time is based on at least one of a weather forecast, ambient temperature, climate, season, and location.