OUTRIGGER MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHODS
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An outrigger monitoring system, comprising:
- a) a processing unit;
b) a graphic display operably coupled to said processing unit;
c) a sensor operably coupled to said processing unit and adapted to;
i) determine an extended length of an outrigger; and
ii) output a signal representative of said extended length to said processing unit; and
d) a data store operably coupled to said processing unit storing computer executable instructions, that when executed by said processing unit cause said processing unit to;
i) determine crane fulcrum data dependent on said signal;
ii) store said crane fulcrum data for use in calculation of allowable crane operations;
iii) determine an outrigger status dependent on said signal; and
iv) cause said graphic display to display a graphic representation of said outrigger status, wherein said outrigger status indicates whether the outrigger is in a valid operating position.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An outrigger monitoring system and methods having a graphical user interface. A sensor measures a length of an outrigger and the outrigger monitoring system determines crane fulcrum data based on the length. The system locks the user from continuing if the outriggers are not in a valid operating position. If the user overrides the outrigger monitoring system the crane fulcrum data is then logged and the operator is allowed to continue. In some embodiments the outrigger monitoring system includes a graphical user interface for calibrating the outriggers.
64 Citations
31 Claims
-
1. An outrigger monitoring system, comprising:
-
a) a processing unit; b) a graphic display operably coupled to said processing unit; c) a sensor operably coupled to said processing unit and adapted to; i) determine an extended length of an outrigger; and ii) output a signal representative of said extended length to said processing unit; and d) a data store operably coupled to said processing unit storing computer executable instructions, that when executed by said processing unit cause said processing unit to; i) determine crane fulcrum data dependent on said signal; ii) store said crane fulcrum data for use in calculation of allowable crane operations; iii) determine an outrigger status dependent on said signal; and iv) cause said graphic display to display a graphic representation of said outrigger status, wherein said outrigger status indicates whether the outrigger is in a valid operating position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 23)
-
-
9. A graphical user interface system for interacting with a crane load moment safety system, the graphical user interface system comprising:
-
a) a processing unit; b) a display operably coupled to said processing unit; and c) a data store operably coupled to said processing unit, said data store storing computer executable instructions that, when executed by said processing unit, cause said display to display; i) a graphic representation of an actual position of an outrigger; ii) a status object indicating a status of said crane load moment safety system; and iii) a continuation object selector when said status object indicates a valid operating position. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A computer readable storage medium having instruction stored thereon that, when executed by a processing unit, implement a method, the method comprising:
-
a) displaying a setup selector object; b) receiving a first user input indicating a setup selection; c) determining an actual extended length of an outrigger; d) determining if said actual extended length is within a predetermined tolerance of a valid operating position; and e) providing a first indicator indicating whether said actual extended length is within said predetermined tolerance of said valid operating position. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24)
-
-
25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 25 wherein said method further comprises:
in response to each of said actual extended length and at least one other actual extended length being within said predetermined tolerance of at least one valid operating position, determining crane fulcrum data dependent upon a minimum actual extended length from among said actual extended length and at least one other actual extended length.
-
26. A computer readable storage medium having instruction stored thereon that, when executed by a processing unit, implements a method for calibrating a sensor of a crane monitoring system using a graphical user interface of the crane monitoring system, the method comprising:
-
a) causing a component to move to a known first position; b) receiving a first user input through said graphical user interface indicating that the component is at said known first position; c) receiving a first signal from a sensor representative of said first position; d) storing a first value corresponding to said first signal; e) causing said component to move to a known second position; f) receiving a second user input through said graphical user interface indicating that said component is at said known second position; g) receiving a second signal from a sensor representative of said known second position; and h) storing a second value corresponding to said second signal, thereby creating a calibrated sensor. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
Specification