System and method for tracking engine cycles

• US 7,324,923 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Strategic Power Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Strategic Power Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Steele, Robert Jr., Christiansen, Thomas, DellaVilla, Salvatore A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui; Bryan
• Application Number:
  US11/428,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 702/188, 702/182, 702/183, 702/81, 700/99, 700/106, 701/33, 701/35
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/08 Registering or indicating the production of the machine either with or without registering working or idle time

Abstract

A system and method for detecting/calculating engine cycles, tracking engine cycles and correlating the engine cycles to parts to measure accumulated cycles associated with the parts. A system is disclosed that includes a parts tracking system for tracking serialized parts contained within the machine; an interface for importing cycles data on the machine via a remote data collection unit, wherein the cycles data includes full cycle, partial cycle, and trip cycle data; and a cycles calculation system for calculating accumulated cycles for each of the serialized parts contained within the machine based on the imported cycles data.

Claims

1. A system for correlating cycles for parts of a machine, comprising:

a remote data collection unit located at a site where the machine resides, wherein the remote data collection unit automatically detects cycle activity occurring on the machine and distinguishes full cycle, partial cycle, and trip cycle data cycles data; and

a cycles tracking system located remotely from the remote data collection unit that includes;

a parts tracking system for tracking serialized parts contained within the machine;

an interface for importing cycles data from the remote data collection unit; and

a cycles calculation system for calculating accumulated cycles for each of the serialized parts contained within the machine based on the imported cycles data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the parts tracking system allows for the tracking of parts at a location level, a plant level, a machine level, and a parts level.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote data collection unit further identifies different types of partial cycles.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote data collection unit analyzes a power output of the machine to identify the occurrence of a full cycle, a partial cycle, or a trip cycle in a near real time fashion.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the cycles calculation system utilizes a set of accumulated cycles equations and K factors to calculate accumulated cycles for the serialized parts.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the cycles calculation system generates an expended life value for each serialized part and a life remaining life value for each serialized part.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a parts data interface for entering, modifying and viewing parts data.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a reporting system for generating cycles data reports.

9. A method for correlating cycles data with parts of a machine, comprising:

storing and tracking serialized parts contained within the machine;

detecting cycle activity occurring on the machine and calculating cycles data via a remote data collection unit, wherein the cycles data includes full cycle, partial cycle, and trip cycle data, and wherein the partial cycle data is calculated by examining successive values of a load obtained from the machine over time to determine if a detected change in load drops below one of a plurality of first threshold values and then rises above a second threshold value;

importing cycles data from the remote data collection unit; and

calculating accumulated cycles for each of the serialized parts contained within the machine based on the imported cycles data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the storing and tracking step tracks parts at a location level, a plant level, a machine level, and a parts level.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising distinguishing each partial cycle based on the plurality of first threshold values.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the remote data collection unit analyzes a power output of the machine to identify the occurrence of a full cycle, a partial cycle, or a trip cycle.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the calculating step utilizes a set of accumulated cycles equations and K factors to calculate accumulated cycles for the serialized parts.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the calculating step generates an expended life value for each serialized part and a life remaining life value for each serialized part.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of providing a parts data interface for entering, modifying and viewing parts data.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of generating cycles data reports.

17. A computer program product stored on a computer usable medium for correlating cycles data with parts of a machine, comprising:

program code configured for storing and tracking serialized parts contained within the machine;

program code configured for importing cycles data occurring on the machine from a remote data collection unit that distinguishes full cycle, partial cycle, and trip cycle data; and

program code configured for calculating accumulated cycles for each of the serialized parts contained within the machine based on the imported cycles data.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the program code configured for storing and tracking serialized parts tracks parts at a location level, a plant level, a machine level, and a parts level.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the machine comprises an engine.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the program code configured for calculating accumulated cycles utilizes a set of accumulated cycles equations and K factors to calculate accumulated cycles for the serialized parts.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the program code configured for calculating accumulated cycles generates an expended life value for each serialized part and a life remaining life value for each serialized part.

22. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising program code configured for providing a parts data interface for entering, modifying and viewing parts data.

23. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising program code configured for generating cycles data reports.

24. A method for deploying a cycles tracking application, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

store and track serialized parts contained within a remote engine;

import cycles data occurring on the remote engine collected via a remote data collection unit that distinguishes full cycle, partial cycle, and trip cycle data; and

calculate accumulated cycles for each of the serialized parts contained within the remote engine based on the imported cycles data.