TELEMATIC ASSET MICROFLUIDIC ANALYSIS

• US 20140052384A1
• Filed: 10/25/2013
• Published: 02/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Poling, David Glen, Wallace, Daniel J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,639,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/22
• 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 comprises an electronic control module and a telematics device. The electronic control module is coupled with an asset. The electronic control module is configured for initiating acquisition of a sample of a fluid of the asset and initiating a microfluidic analysis of the sample in response to occurrence of an analysis trigger. The analysis trigger comprises an operating characteristic of the asset. The telematics device coupled is coupled with both the asset and the electronic control module. The telematics device is configured for wirelessly transmitting results of the microfluidic analysis to an asset management system located remotely from the asset and the telematics device.

Claims

1. A fluid analyzing system comprising:

an electronic control module coupled with an asset, said electronic control module configured for initiating acquisition of a sample of a fluid of said asset and initiating 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

a telematics device coupled with said asset and with said electronic control module, said telematics configured for wirelessly transmitting results of said microfluidic analysis to an asset management system located remotely from said asset and said telematics device.

2. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, further comprising:

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.

3. The fluid analyzing system of claim 2, wherein said asset management system is further configured to take an action based on analysis of said results, said action selected from the group consisting of:

sending an alert to a cellular phone, sending an alert via email, dispatching a maintenance order for said asset to a mechanic, and sending a command to modify operation of said asset.

4. The fluid analyzing system of claim 2, wherein said electronic control module is further configured to modify operation of said asset in response to an asset operation modification command received by said telematics device from said asset management system, said asset operation modification command based on said asset management system analyzing said results of said microfluidic analysis.

5. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, further comprising:

a microfluidic analyzer configured for accomplishing said microfluidic analysis of said sample.

6. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, further comprising:

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

7. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, further comprising:

an analysis controller configured for initiating a first type of analysis of said sample in response to occurrence of said 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, wherein said electronic control module is further configured for accomplishing a second microfluidic analysis of a particular fluid from said asset in response to an external analysis trigger wirelessly received by said telematics device, said external trigger comprising an instruction to sample and analyze said particular fluid of said asset.

13. The fluid analyzing system of claim 1, wherein said analysis trigger further comprises an occurrence of a predefined combination of at least two operating characteristics of said asset.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon which, when executed, cause an electronic control module to perform 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.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for:

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

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for:

initiating a first type of analysis of said sample in response to occurrence of said 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.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for:

directing said telematics device to wirelessly transmit 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.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for:

accomplishing a second microfluidic analysis of a particular fluid from said asset in response to an external analysis trigger wirelessly received by said telematics device, said external trigger comprising an instruction to sample and analyze said particular fluid of said asset.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 14, further comprising instructions for:

modifying operation of said asset in response to receipt of an asset operation modification command, said asset operation modification command received from an asset management system located remotely from said electronic control module and said asset and based upon analysis of said results.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein said asset operation modification command is selected from the group consisting of:

a command to limit engine revolutions per minute of said asset, a command to shut down said asset, a command to lock out an operating mode of said asset, and a command to lock out ability of said asset to start.