Wear Prediction and Notification System

• US 20170356164A1
• Filed: 06/09/2016
• Published: 12/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2016
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Recker, Roger L., Johannsen, Eric J., Longanbach, David M., Khan, Asif
• Application Number:
  US15/178,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20170356164A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/10 Bogies; Frames track-tensioning means B62D55/30
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/14 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/21 Links connected by transverse pivot pins
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/32 Assembly, disassembly, repair or servicing of endless-track systems
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/7618 with the scraper blade adjustable relative to the pivoting arms about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/32 Rippers E02F5/106 takes precedence, ripper or scarifying teeth mounted on blades E02F3/8152; ripper tips E02F9/2875
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles

Abstract

An ID tag is disposed on a plurality of components of a machine. A controller stores a usage threshold for each component, receives signals from an ID tag reader, and associates an identification number from each ID tag with a component of the machine. The controller determines previous usage data for each component, determines an extent of usage of the machine since generation of the previous usage data, determines current usage data for each component based upon the extent of usage of the machine and the previous usage data, and compares the current usage data for each component to the usage threshold for each component. The controller generates an alert for each component in which the current usage data for that component exceeds its usage threshold and transmits the alert to a system remote from the machine.

Claims

1. A wear prediction and notification system for a plurality of undercarriage components of an undercarriage of a machine, comprising:

a usage sensor for generating usage signals indicative of an extent of usage of the machine;

a plurality of ID tags, each ID tag being disposed on one of each of the plurality of undercarriage components and having a unique identification number;

the plurality of undercarriage components including one or more types of undercarriage components;

an ID tag reader disposed on the machine to generate signals indicative of the unique identification number of each ID tag and operatively connected to a controller such that a unique location at which each undercarriage component of the plurality of undercarriage components is positioned on the machine is transmitted to and stored by the controller, the type of each undercarriage component of the plurality of undercarriage components is transmitted to and stored by the controller, and previous usage data for each undercarriage component of the plurality of undercarriage components is transmitted to and stored by the controller;

the controller configured to;

store a usage threshold for each undercarriage component;

receive the signals from the ID tag reader;

associate each unique identification number with one of each of the undercarriage components of the machine;

determine previous usage data for each undercarriage component;

determine an extent of usage of the machine since generation of the previous usage data based upon the usage signals from the usage sensor;

determine current usage data for each undercarriage component based upon the extent of usage of the machine and the previous usage data;

compare the current usage data for each undercarriage component to the usage threshold for each undercarriage component;

generate an alert for each undercarriage component in which the current usage data for that component exceeds its usage threshold; and

transmit the alert to a system remote from the machine.

2. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of undercarriage components include a plurality of track links.

3. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of undercarriage components and the one or more types of undercarriage components include a plurality of track links and one or more of one or more idlers, one or more track rollers, one or more drive sprockets, and one or more track rollers.

5. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, wherein the usage sensor is a travel distance sensor for generating signals indicative of a distance traveled by the machine.

6. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, wherein the usage sensor is configured to determine hours of usage of the machine.

7. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ID tags is a passive RFID tag.

8. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ID tags is embedded in an insert disposed within a bore of one of the plurality of undercarriage components.

9. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to store a plurality of usage thresholds for each undercarriage component, each of the plurality of usage thresholds for each undercarriage component corresponding to a different operating condition at a work site.

10. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 9, wherein each different operating condition corresponds to a type of soil at the work site.

11. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 10, wherein each different operating condition corresponds to a moisture content at the work site.

12. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, wherein the usage threshold for each undercarriage component is stored on an on-board controller of the machine, and the on-board controller is configured to compare the current usage data for each undercarriage component to the usage threshold for each undercarriage component.

13. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, wherein the usage threshold for each undercarriage component is stored on an off-board controller remote from the machine, and the off-board controller is configured to compare the current usage data for each undercarriage component to the usage threshold for each undercarriage component.

14. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, further including an on-board controller, and the on-board controller is configured to transmit the unique identification number and the current usage data for each undercarriage component to a system remote from the machine.

15. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 1, wherein at least some of the previous usage data is stored in a system remote from the machine and transmitted to an on-board controller of the machine.

4. (canceled)

16-20. -20. (canceled)

21. A wear prediction and notification system for a plurality of undercarriage components of an undercarriage of a machine, comprising:

a usage sensor for generating usage signals indicative of an extent of usage of the machine;

a plurality of ID tags, each ID tag being disposed on one of each of the plurality of undercarriage components and having a unique identification number;

the plurality of undercarriage components including one or more types of undercarriage components;

an ID tag reader disposed on the machine to generate signals indicative of the unique identification number of each ID tag and operatively connected to a controller such that a unique location at which each undercarriage component of the plurality of undercarriage components is positioned on the machine is transmitted to and stored by the controller, the type of each undercarriage component of the plurality of undercarriage components is transmitted to and stored by the controller, and previous usage data for each undercarriage component of the plurality of undercarriage components is transmitted to and stored by the controller;

the controller configured to;

store one or more usage thresholds of a plurality of usage thresholds for each undercarriage component;

receive the signals from the ID tag reader;

associate each unique identification number with one of each of the undercarriage components of the machine;

determine previous usage data for each undercarriage component;

determine an extent of usage of the machine since generation of the previous usage data based upon the usage signals from the usage sensor;

determine current usage data for each undercarriage component based upon the extent of usage of the machine and the previous usage data;

compare the current usage data for each undercarriage component to the usage threshold for each undercarriage component;

generate an alert for each undercarriage component in which the current usage data for that component exceeds its usage threshold; and

transmit the alert to a system remote from the machine;

wherein the plurality of undercarriage components and the one or more types of undercarriage components include a plurality of track links and one or more of one or more idlers, one or more track rollers, one or more drive sprockets, and one or more track rollers; and

wherein the one or more usage thresholds of the plurality of usage thresholds are based upon the type of the one or more types of undercarriage components and at least one of one or more of a plurality of operating conditions at a work site at which the machine is operating.

22. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 21, wherein the plurality of operating conditions include a type of soil at the work site and a moisture content at the work site.

23. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 22, wherein the usage sensor is a travel distance sensor for generating signals indicative of a distance traveled by the machine.

24. The wear prediction and notification system of claim 22, wherein the usage sensor is configured to determine hours of usage of the machine.