REMOTE EQUIPMENT MONITORING AND NOTIFICATION USING A SERVER SYSTEM

• US 20160012707A1
• Filed: 07/09/2015
• Published: 01/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mckinley Equipment Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mckinley Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: McKinley, W. Michael, Rusin, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,734,693 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/187 Machine fault alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems, devices, and methods are provided for equipment monitoring comprising monitoring signals created by a PLC and sensors associated with a piece of equipment using a monitoring device comprising hardware communicatively coupled to a PLC and operative to transmit information over a communications network, transmitting signals from the monitoring device over the communications network to one or more databases stored on a server system comprising hardware and software communicatively coupled to the network, analyzing signals created by the PLC to determine the nature of the signals and using the analyzed signals to send alerts to one or more mobile service devices operated by technicians when emergency maintenance is required for the piece of equipment.

Claims

1. A method of equipment monitoring in order to predict parts failures, repair scheduling, safety, operational efficiency and prevention of theft, comprising:

monitoring signals created by a PLC associated with a piece of equipment using a monitoring device comprising hardware communicatively coupled to a PLC and operative to transmit information over a communications network;

transmitting signals from the monitoring device over the communications network to one or more databases stored on a server system comprising hardware and software communicatively coupled to the network;

a processor analyzing signals created by the PLC to determine the nature of the signals; and

the processor using the analyzed signals to send alerts to one or more mobile service devices operated by technicians when emergency maintenance is required for the piece of equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the piece of equipment with a pressure sensor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the piece of equipment with a motion sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the piece of equipment with a temperature sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the piece of equipment with a light sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the piece of equipment with a camera.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring the piece of equipment with a video camera.

8. A method of equipment monitoring in order to predict parts failures, repair scheduling, safety, operational efficiency and prevention of theft, comprising:

monitoring a piece of equipment using a monitoring device comprising hardware communicatively coupled to a processor and operative to transmit information over a communications network;

transmitting signals from the monitoring device over the communications network to one or more databases stored on a server system comprising hardware and software communicatively coupled to the network;

a processor analyzing signals created by the monitoring equipment; and

the processor using the analyzed signals to send alerts to one or more mobile service devices operated by technicians when emergency maintenance is required for the piece of equipment.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring device is a pressure sensor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring device is a motion sensor.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring device is a temperature sensor.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring device is a light sensor.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring device is a camera.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the monitoring device is a video camera.