Apparatus and method for testing snow removal equipment

• US 6,778,932 B2
• Filed: 11/03/2003
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sno-Way International Inc
• Original Assignee: Sno-Way International Inc
• Inventors: Struck, John M., Wendorff, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): ASSOUAD, PATRICK J
• Application Number:
  US10/700,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 288 Days
• Field of Search: 702/117, 702/187, 702/182, 702/183, 701/1, 701/29, 701/30, 701/35, 701/50, 340/438, 340/439, 340/901
• US Class Current: 702/117
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/10 having fluid weight-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/005 Means for preventing overload
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/007 using microprocessors or computers

Abstract

An apparatus and method for analyzing and diagnosing the operational condition and malfunctions of snow removal equipment. A diagnostic interfaces coupled to snow removal equipment and to an analysis retrieves and analyzes data and compares the data to a set of reference data. The apparatus and method can further comprise a display module for displaying detailed information relating to the operational status of the snow removal equipment. Alternative embodiments of the present invention are mobile or facilitate servicing networks.

Claims

1. A method for analyzing the operational condition of snow removal equipment removably attached to a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

removably coupling a diagnostic interface to the snow removal equipment, the diagnostic interface including an analysis module;

maintaining a database of information relating to performance and maintenance of the snow removal equipment;

obtaining real time operating data indicating the condition of the snow removal equipment from the diagnostic interface;

diagnosing malfunctions of the snow removal equipment by enabling the analysis module to compare the real time operating data obtained with performance and maintenance information stored in the database concerning the operational condition of the snow removal equipment; and

displaying information related to the real time operating data on a display module associated with the analysis module.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein diagnosing malfunctions of the snow removal equipment includes enabling the analysis module to correlate the real time operating data relating to the operational condition of the snow removal equipment with usage data relating to times of occurrence of an out of range condition for a given operating parameter of the snow removal equipment.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of diagnosing malfunctions of the snow removal equipment includes downloading to said diagnostic interface, only performance and maintenance information for the snow removal equipment.

4. A method for analyzing the operational condition of snow removal equipment removably attached to a vehicle, the snow removal equipment being adapted for mounting on a vehicle, said method comprising the steps of:

removably coupling a diagnostic interface to the snow removal equipment;

coupling an analysis module to the diagnostic interface for analyzing operating and usage data relating to the snow removal equipment,

obtaining operating data and usage data for the snow removal equipment, the usage data including operating data regarding the operational state of components of the snow removal equipment and further data indicative of times of occurrences of at least one of excessive pressure and force; and

correlating the operating data with the further data to determine whether the snow removal equipment has been misused.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the usage data include at least one of continuity of wiring of electrical circuits of the snow removal equipment, open and short circuit conditions for solenoids, pressure values for hydraulic lines, impact data, and cycle times of components.

6. The method according to claim 4, including enabling the analysis module to produce a historical record for use in analyzing usage data to determine a cause of a failure of the snow removal equipment.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the snow removal equipment is a snow plow including a snow plow blade, and including the step of causing the analysis module to correlate operating data indicative of a first condition for the snow plow blade with usage data indicative of a second condition for the snow plow blade and producing an output indicating that the snow plow is being used in an application that is likely to cause a failure of the snow plow.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein obtaining usage data includes the step of detecting an overload condition based upon an overpressure condition in a hydraulic line of the snow plow.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein obtaining usage data includes the step of detecting an overload condition based upon force on the snow plow blade.

10. The method according to claim 9, including obtaining operational time of at least one component of the snow plow.

11. Apparatus for analyzing an operational condition of a snow plow removably mounted to a vehicle, the snow plow including a snow plow blade;

said apparatus comprising;

a snow plow interface mounted to the snow plow;

a data acquisition module on the snow plow, removably coupled to the snow plow interface, the data acquisition module providing real time data indicating the operational condition of the snow plow;

an overload condition monitor coupled to the snow plow for providing usage data, including data indicative of load and impact forces applied to the snow plow and operational time for the snow plow, said overload condition monitor being coupled to the data acquisition module; and

an analysis module removably coupled to the data acquisition module for receiving the real time data and the usage data, the analysis module processing the real time data and the usage data, including comparing the real time data with reference data, to determine if the snow plow has been misused.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said overload condition monitor monitors load and impact forces on the snow plow.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said overload condition monitor is located on the snow plow.

14. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said overload condition monitor is coupled to a hydraulic system of the snow plow.

15. A diagnostic apparatus for analyzing the operational condition of a snow plow removably attached to a vehicle, the snow plow including a snow plow blade, said diagnostic apparatus comprising:

a diagnostic interface carried by the snow plow;

a data acquisition module on the snow plow for obtaining operating data relating to the snow plow, the operating data indicating the operational state of components of the snow plow, the data acquisition module coupled to the diagnostic module; and

an analysis module coupled to the diagnostic interface for receiving and analyzing the snow plow operating data, and the usage data indicative of the application of an excessive pressure condition in a hydraulic system of the snow plow or a load or impact force on the snow plow, the analysis module correlating the usage data with stored reference data to determine if the snow plow has been misused.

16. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the operating and usage data include at least one of continuity of wiring of electrical circuits of the snow plow, open and short circuit conditions for solenoids, pressure values for hydraulic lines, impact data, and cycle times of components.

17. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the analysis module produces a historical record for use in analyzing usage operating and usage data to determine a cause of a failure of the snow plow.

18. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the analysis module correlates first operating data indicative of a first condition for the snow plow blade with second operating data indicative of a second condition for the snow plow blade and produces an output indicating that the snow plow is being used in an application that is likely to cause a failure of the snow plow.

19. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 15, and including at least one detector for detecting an overload condition based upon an overpressure condition in a hydraulic line of the snow plow.

20. The diagnostic apparatus according to claim 15, and including at least one detector mounted on the snow removal equipment for producing said load and impact force data.