CONFIGURABLE MONITOR AND PARTS MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20170372534A1
• Filed: 01/15/2016
• Published: 12/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Modustri LLC
• Inventors: Steketee, Brian B., Baarman, David W., Strayer, Mark, Senti, Thad
• Application Number:
  US15/543,275
• Publication Number:
  US 20170372534A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/96 with arrangements for alternate or simultaneous use of different digging elements E02F3/7604, E02F3/769, E02F3/78 take precedence; quick-acting devices to connect tools to arms or booms E02F3/3609, for arms to tractors or the like E02F3/627
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/003 Devices for transporting the soil-shifting machines or excavators, e.g. by pushing them or by hitching them to a tractor
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2025 Particular purposes of control systems not otherwise provided for E02F3/16, E02F3/26, sub-groups of E02F3/43, E02F3/651, sub-groups of E02F3/84, E02F3/907, E02F5/145 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/02 Registering or indicating driving, working, idle, or waiting time only apparatus forming part of taximeters G07B13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/167 Control of land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/02 with visual presentation of the material to be studied, e.g. using film strip
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

A monitoring and maintenance system that utilizes imperial and theoretical data to compare parts, vehicles, users, regions, wear intensity indexes over time and tracking information to provide a sophisticated data collection system for heavy-duty equipment or rental equipment. This tracking is designed to better the specifications, designs, training, preventative maintenance, and replacement wear understanding of fleet management.

Claims

1. A method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle operation events comprising:

storing a plurality of patterns representing heavy duty vehicle operation events in memory;

affixing an HDi monitor to a heavy-duty vehicle;

operating the heavy-duty vehicle over time;

collecting sensor data with the HDi monitor as the heavy-duty vehicle is operated; and

identifying a heavy-duty vehicle operation event by comparing the sensor data with the plurality of patterns stored in memory.

2. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 wherein the sensor data includes vibration data and the method includes analyzing the vibration data to track wear associated with a heavy-duty vehicle wear part.

3. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 including providing vehicle operator coaching related to a heavy-duty vehicle operation event based on identifying that heavy-duty vehicle operation event.

4. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 including calculating an operator rating.

5. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 including affixing another HDi monitor to a work tool, installing the work tool on the heavy-duty vehicle, collecting sensor data with the HDi monitor affixed to the work tool as the heavy-duty vehicle is operated, and associating the heavy-duty vehicle and the work tool based on a comparison of the sensor data from the HDi monitor affixed to the heavy-duty vehicle and the sensor data from the HDi monitor affixed to the work tool.

6. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 including associating an operator to at least one of a heavy-duty vehicle and a work tool, monitoring wear of the work tool or a wear part on the heavy-duty vehicle based on the sensor data, and attributing the wear to the associated user.

7. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 5 includes limiting vehicle functionality based on operator.

8. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 wherein the sensor data includes acceleration data.

9. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 wherein the heavy-duty vehicle operation event includes at least one of digging with a work tool attached to the heavy-duty vehicle, moving the heavy-duty vehicle, and turning a turret of a heavy-duty vehicle

10. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 including identifying a shock event based on the sensor data.

11. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 including affixing a plurality of HDi monitors to a fleet of heavy-duty vehicles, collecting sensor data for the fleet of heavy-duty vehicles, and tracking the location and wear data of the fleet of heavy-duty vehicles using the sensor data.

12. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 including communicating sensor data via a social mesh network via advertising mode.

13. The method of identifying heavy-duty vehicle events of claim 1 including affixing additional sensors on at least one of an oil filter, wear surface, and a filter system

14. An HDi system comprising:

a heavy-duty vehicle;

memory that stores a plurality of patterns representing heavy-duty vehicle operation events in memory;

a sensor affixed to the heavy-duty vehicle that collects sensor data as the heavy-duty vehicle is operated;

a controller configured to identify a heavy-duty vehicle operation event by comparing the sensor data with the plurality of patterns in memory.

15. The HDi system of claim 14 wherein the sensor data includes vibration data and the method includes analyzing the vibration data to track wear associated with a heavy-duty vehicle wear part.

16. The HDi system of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to provide vehicle operator coaching information to a user related to a heavy-duty vehicle operation event based on identifying that heavy-duty vehicle operation event.

17. The HDi system of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to calculate an operator rating.

18. The HDi system of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to associate a heavy-duty vehicle and a work tool.

19. The HDi system of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to associate an operator to at least one of a heavy-duty vehicle and a work tool, and monitoring wear of the work tool based on the sensor data.

20. The HDi system of claim 19 wherein the controller is configured to limit vehicle functionality based on an operator profile.

21. The HDi system of claim 14 wherein the sensor data includes acceleration data.

22. The HDi system of claim 14 wherein the heavy-duty vehicle operation event includes at least one of digging with a work tool attached to the heavy-duty vehicle, moving the heavy-duty vehicle, and turning a turret of a heavy-duty vehicle

23. The HDi system of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to identify a shock event based on the sensor data.

24. The HDi system of claim 14 including a plurality of HDi monitors affixed to a fleet of heavy-duty vehicles, collecting sensor data for the fleet of heavy-duty vehicles, and tracking the wear data of the fleet of heavy-duty vehicles using the sensor data.

25. The HDi system of claim 14 wherein the controller is configured to communicate sensor data via a social mesh network via advertising mode.

26. The HDi system of claim 14 including an additional sensor on at least one of an oil filter, wear surface, and a filter system.

27-47. -47. (canceled)