Load monitoring system for booms
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring operation of a boom having at least one boom section, each boom section being supported by an actuator assembly such that a total load supported by an actuator assembly includes a load component caused by a weight of a corresponding boom section and includes a load component caused by any external load supported by the boom, the method comprising:
- sensing a first parameter related to operation of a first actuator assembly, the first actuator assembly being connected to a first boom section for supporting the first boom section, the first parameter being indicative of a total load supported by the first actuator assembly;
determining from the sensed first parameter when a total load supported by the first actuator assembly exceeds a predetermined value;
storing information indicative of an occurrence of a total load supported by the first actuator assembly which exceeded the predetermined value;
providing an output based upon stored information; and
determining whether a boom warranty is in effect based upon the output.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring the operation of a boom is disclosed. The boom has at least one boom section, with each boom section being supported by an actuator assembly such that a load supported by a particular actuator assembly is representative of operation of a corresponding boom section and of a total load experienced by that boom section. A first parameter is sensed, the first parameter being indicative of a load supported by a first actuator assembly. It is determined from the sensed first parameter when a total load supported by the first actuator assembly exceeds a predetermined value. Information, indicative of one or more occurrences of total loads exceeding the predetermined value, is stored. Based upon the stored information, an output is provided which is indicative of a cause of boom failure.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring operation of a boom having at least one boom section, each boom section being supported by an actuator assembly such that a total load supported by an actuator assembly includes a load component caused by a weight of a corresponding boom section and includes a load component caused by any external load supported by the boom, the method comprising:
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sensing a first parameter related to operation of a first actuator assembly, the first actuator assembly being connected to a first boom section for supporting the first boom section, the first parameter being indicative of a total load supported by the first actuator assembly; determining from the sensed first parameter when a total load supported by the first actuator assembly exceeds a predetermined value; storing information indicative of an occurrence of a total load supported by the first actuator assembly which exceeded the predetermined value; providing an output based upon stored information; and determining whether a boom warranty is in effect based upon the output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of monitoring operation of a boom having at least one boom section, each boom section being supported by an actuator assembly such that a total load supported by an actuator assembly includes a load component caused by a weight of a corresponding boom section and includes a load component caused by any external load supported by the boom, the method comprising:
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sensing a first parameter related to operation of a first actuator assembly, the first actuator assembly being connected to a first boom section for supporting the first boom section, the first parameter being indicative of a total load supported by the first actuator assembly; determining from the sensed first parameter when a total load supported by the first actuator assembly exceeds a predetermined value; storing information indicative of an occurrence of a total load supported by the first actuator assembly which exceeded the predetermined value, wherein storing information includes storing a date during which a total load supported by the first actuator assembly exceeded the predetermined value; and providing an output based upon stored information. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of monitoring operation of a boom having at least one boom section, each boom section being supported by a hydraulic piston/cylinder such that hydraulic fluid pressure within a particular cylinder is representative of operation of a corresponding boom section, the method comprising:
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sensing a first parameter related to operation of the boom which is indicative of hydraulic pressure in a first cylinder, the first cylinder supporting a first boom section; determining from the sensed first parameter when hydraulic pressure in the first cylinder exceeds a predetermined value; storing information based upon the sensed first parameter when hydraulic pressure in the first cylinder is determined to have exceeded the predetermined value; and providing an output based upon stored information, providing the output including providing a representation of a date of an occurrence of hydraulic pressure in the first cylinder which exceeded the predetermined value. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of monitoring operation of a boom having at least one boom section, each boom section being supported by an actuator assembly such that a total load supported by an actuator assembly includes a load component caused by a weight of a corresponding boom section and includes a load component caused by any external load supported by the boom, the method comprising:
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sensing a first parameter related to operation of a first actuator assembly, the first actuator assembly being connected to a first boom section for supporting the first boom section, the first parameter being indicative of a total load supported by the first actuator assembly; determining from the sensed first parameter when a total load supported by the first actuator assembly exceeds a predetermined value, the predetermined value bearing a known relationship to a minimum operating total load supported by the first actuator assembly; storing information indicative of an occurrence of a total load supported by the first actuator assembly which exceeded the predetermined value; providing an output based upon stored information; and predicting fatigue failure of boom components based upon the output scheduling boom maintenance based upon the output. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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33. A method of monitoring operation of a boom having at least one boom section, each boom section being supported by a hydraulic piston/cylinder such that hydraulic fluid pressure within a particular cylinder is representative of operation of a corresponding boom section, the method comprising:
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sensing a first parameter related to operation of the boom which is indicative of hydraulic pressure in a first cylinder, the first cylinder supporting a first boom section; determining from the sensed first parameter when hydraulic pressure in the first cylinder exceeds a predetermined value, the predetermined value bearing a known relationship to a minimum operating hydraulic pressure in the first cylinder, the minimum operating hydraulic pressure representing a hydraulic pressure in the first cylinder which must be exceeded for the first boom section to be in operation; storing information based upon the sensed first parameter when hydraulic pressure in the first cylinder is determined to have exceeded the predetermined value; providing an output based upon stored information; and predicting fatigue failure of boom components based upon the output scheduling boom maintenance based upon the output. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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Specification