SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING PART WEAR BASED ON ENVIRONMENT

• US 20170270720A1
• Filed: 03/09/2017
• Published: 09/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Aydin, Saniye Gizem, Ha, Christopher, Longanbach, David M., Scheck, Arthur W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,109,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/00 Control of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0816 Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means

Abstract

A wear estimation system for a component of a machine includes a geolocation unit, a non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing a component wear estimate program, a controller, and an interface device. The geolocation unit is configured to generate a location signal indicative of a location of the machine. The controller is in operable communication with the geolocation unit to receive the location signal therefrom and is configured to execute the component wear estimate program. The interface device is configured to display a graphical user interface of the component wear estimate program. The component wear estimate program is configured to determine an estimated part life for the component based upon an environmental characteristic of the location; to track an actual usage amount for the component; and to indicate, through the graphical user interface, when the usage amount of the component exceeds a threshold percentage of the estimated part life.

Claims

1. A machine comprising:

a frame;

an undercarriage, the undercarriage mounted to the frame;

a component, the component comprising a part of, or supported by, one of the frame and the undercarriage;

a wear estimation system, the wear estimation system supported by the frame, the wear estimation system including;

a geolocation unit, the geolocation unit configured to generate a location signal, the location signal indicative of a location of the machine, the location having an environmental characteristic,

a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing a component wear estimate program, the component wear estimate program including a graphical user interface,

a controller, the controller in operable communication with the geolocation unit to receive the location signal therefrom, the controller in operable arrangement with the non-transitory computer-readable medium such that the controller is configured to execute the component wear estimate program contained thereon,

an interface device, the interface device in operable communication with the controller, the interface device configured to display the graphical user interface of the component wear estimate program,

wherein the component wear estimate program includes a wear estimate module, a tracking module, and a messaging module, the wear estimate module configured to determine an estimated part life for the component based upon the environmental characteristic of the location of the machine, the tracking module configured to track a usage amount for the component when the machine is in service, and the messaging module configured to display, through the graphical user interface, a maintenance indicator in the interface device when the usage amount of the component exceeds a first threshold percentage of the estimated part life.

2. The machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

an operator compartment supported by the frame;

wherein the interface device is mounted within the operator compartment.

3. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the wear estimation system further includes a communication device, the communication device in operable arrangement with the controller to communicatively transmit a wear estimate signal indicative of at least one of the estimated part life and the maintenance indicator to a receiver unsupported by the frame.

4. A wear estimation system for a component of a machine, the wear estimation system comprising:

a geolocation unit, the geolocation unit configured to generate a location signal, the location signal indicative of a location of the machine, the location having an environmental characteristic;

a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the non-transitory computer-readable medium bearing a component wear estimate program, the component wear estimate program including a graphical user interface;

a controller, the controller in operable communication with the geolocation unit to receive the location signal therefrom, the controller in operable arrangement with the non-transitory computer-readable medium such that the controller is configured to execute the component wear estimate program contained thereon;

an interface device, the interface device in operable communication with the controller, the interface device configured to display the graphical user interface of the component wear estimate program;

wherein the component wear estimate program includes a wear estimate module, a tracking module, and a messaging module, the wear estimate module configured to determine an estimated part life for the component based upon the environmental characteristic of the location of the machine, the tracking module configured to track a usage amount for the component when the machine is in service, and the messaging module configured to display, through the graphical user interface, a maintenance indicator in the interface device when the usage amount of the component exceeds a first threshold percentage of the estimated part life.

5. The wear estimation system according to claim 4, wherein the geolocation unit comprises a GPS receiver, and the location signal includes a latitudinal position and a longitudinal position.

6. The wear estimation system according to claim 4, further comprising:

a data storage device, the data storage device in operable communication with the controller, the data storage device including a database of environmental characteristic data for a plurality of geographic regions;

wherein the wear estimate module of the component wear estimate program is configured to correlate the location with one of the plurality of geographic regions and to identify the environmental characteristic using the database of environmental characteristic data for the plurality of geographic regions.

7. The wear estimation system according to claim 6, wherein the data storage device includes a database of time-to-full-wear values for a plurality of components installed in a corresponding set of other machines in which a time-to-full-wear value is calculated using:

8. The wear estimation system according to claim 6, wherein the environmental characteristic comprises a soil condition.

9. The wear estimation system according to claim 8, wherein the soil condition comprises a soil granularity for the location.

10. The wear estimation system according to claim 6, wherein the environmental characteristic comprises a weather condition.

11. The wear estimation system according to claim 10, wherein the weather condition comprises an average precipitation value for the location over a predetermined period of time.

12. A method of estimating wear of a component of a machine, the method of estimating comprising:

operating a geolocation unit to generate a location signal, the location signal indicative of a location of the machine, the location having an environmental characteristic;

transmitting the location signal to a controller;

using the controller to execute a component wear estimate program stored upon a non-transitory computer-readable medium to determine an estimated part life for the component based upon the environmental characteristic of the location of the machine;

using the controller to execute the component wear estimate program to track a usage amount for the component when the machine is in service;

using the controller to execute the component wear estimate program to display, through a graphical user interface, a maintenance indicator in an interface device when the usage amount of the component exceeds a first threshold percentage of the estimated part life.

13. The method of estimating wear according to claim 12, wherein the estimated part life determined by the controller is based upon an average time-to-full-wear value for a data set of historical wear measurements of a plurality of components installed in a corresponding set of other machines in which a time-to-full-wear value is calculated using:

14. The method of estimating wear according to claim 12, further comprising:

using the controller to activate, through the graphical user interface, a warning indicator when the usage amount of the component exceeds a second threshold percentage of the estimated part life, the second threshold percentage being higher than the first threshold percentage, and the warning indicator including at least one of a visible image and an audible sound.

15. The method of estimating wear according to claim 12, wherein the machine includes an operator compartment, and the interface device is mounted within the operator compartment.

16. The method of estimating wear according to claim 12, wherein the machine includes a communication device, the communication device being in operable connection with the controller, the method of estimating wear further comprising:

using the controller to transmit the maintenance indicator to a receiver via the communication device, the receiver being located off board of the machine.

17. The method of estimating wear according to claim 12, wherein the environmental characteristic comprises a soil condition.

18. The method of estimating wear according to claim 17, wherein the soil condition comprises a soil granularity for the location.

19. The method of estimating wear according to claim 12, wherein the environmental characteristic comprises a weather condition.

20. The method of estimating wear according to claim 19, wherein the weather condition comprises an average precipitation value for the location over a predetermined period of time.