System and method for power and data delivery on a machine

• US 8,405,500 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Issued: 03/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Lammers, Bryan G., Portscheller, James I., Casperson, Paul G., Crayton, John W., Freeman, David C
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US11/311,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,654 Days
• Field of Search: 340/310.11
• US Class Current: 340/538.11
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25132 Superposition data signals on power lines for actuators
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25323 Intelligent modules

Abstract

A power and data delivery system for a machine. The system includes a power and data conductor located throughout at least a portion of the machine, a plurality of processing nodes, each connected to the conductor at various locations, and a plurality of devices, each connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of processing nodes and controlled by the processing node, wherein each processing node may be connected at any location of the conductor.

Claims

1. A connector for a power and data delivery system, comprising:

a base housing having a longitudinal axis, the base housing including;

a base conductor channel extending along the longitudinal axis and providing a through path for a combined power and data delivery conductor; and

at least one conductor contact having at least one corresponding prong extending transverse the longitudinal axis; and

a top housing, including;

a top conductor channel corresponding to the base conductor channel;

a circuit board positioned to receive the at least one prong, the circuit board having at least one connector pin, the circuit board including a first processor and a second processor; and

a connector interface positioned to receive the at least one connector pin;

wherein the circuit board is configured to separate a power signal from a data signal, the first processor is configured to send redundant packets to the second processor, and the second processor is configured to compare the redundant packets for integrity.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the conductor includes two or more wires;

and

wherein the base housing includes a conductor partition extending along the longitudinal axis.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the base housing and the top housing provide a seal about the conductor when the base housing is connected to the top housing.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the top and base conductor channels each have a first and a second end, at least one of the first and second ends being flared outwardly.

5. The connector of claim 4, wherein at least one of the top and base conductor channels include a clamping portion.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top and base conductor channels have a clamping portion.

7. The connector of claim 6, wherein the clamping portion engages the conductor when the base housing is connected to the top housing.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the top housing further includes a potting layer separating the top housing from the base housing, the potting layer having at least one prong guide.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the circuit board is positioned between the top housing and the potting layer to receive the at least one prong through the at least one prong guide.

10. The connector of claim 9, wherein the space between the potting layer and the top housing contains a potting material.

11. The connector of claim 1, wherein the circuit board further includes at least one of a transmitter, a receiver, and a contact device.

12. The connector of claim 1, wherein the top housing further includes a heat sink, the heat sink being operably connected to the circuit board through the top housing.

13. The connector of claim 3, wherein an electrical connection is made at the connector interface.

14. The connector of claim 3, wherein the connector is operable to selectively transfer at least one of power and data signals between the conductor and a device.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the connector interface is configured to be connected to the device at a device interface.

16. The connector of claim 3, wherein at least one of the top and base housings include rubber grommets.

17. The connector of claim 1, wherein the at least one conductor contact is configured about a portion of the conductor.

18. A method for attaching a connector to a conductor, comprising:

attaching a conductor contact to each of at least one conductor wire, the conductor contact having a prong extending transverse a longitudinal axis of the conductor;

positioning the conductor in a base conductor channel of a base housing located along the longitudinal axis;

positioning a circuit board in a top housing, the circuit board including a first processor and a second processor; and

attaching the top housing to the base housing such that each prong extends through the top housing to a connector interface;

wherein the circuit board is configured to separate a power signal from a data signal, the first processor is configured to send redundant packets to the second processor, and the second processor is configured to compare the redundant packets for integrity.

19. The method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising:

removing a portion of an insulation from each conductor wire.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the step of positioning the conductor in the base conductor channel of the base housing includes separating each conductor wire from the other conductor wires with a conductor partition.

21. The method as set forth in claim 18, further comprising:

providing a seal about the conductor as the top housing is attached to the base housing.

22. The method as set forth in claim 18, wherein the step of positioning the circuit board in the top housing includes positioning the circuit board between the top housing and a potting layer.

23. The method as set forth in claim 22, wherein positioning the circuit board further includes:

positioning the circuit board to receive each prong; and

arranging at least one connector pin on the circuit board to be received by the connector interface.

24. The method as set forth in claim 22, further including:

inserting a potting material in a space about the circuit board between the top housing and the potting layer.

25. A power and date delivery system for a machine, comprising:

a conductor located throughout at least a portion of the machine;

a plurality of connectors, each connected to the conductor at a respective desired location, each connector including;

a base housing;

a top housing configured to connect to the base housing and contain a portion of the conductor; and

a circuit board including a first processor and a second processor located in the top housing;

wherein the circuit board is configured to electrically connect to the conductor and to separate a power signal from a data signal, the first processor is configured to send redundant packets to the second processor, and the second processor is configured to compare the redundant packets for integrity; and

a plurality of devices, at least one being connected to a corresponding one of the plurality of connectors and controlled by one of the first processor or the second processor;

wherein the desired location may be located at any point along the conductor.

26. The power and data delivery system of claim 25, wherein each connector controls actuation of the connected device.

27. The power and data delivery system of claim 25, wherein each connector is operable to transfer at least one of the power and data signals between the conductor and the connected device.

28. The power and data delivery system of claim 25, wherein the plurality of connectors are operable to transfer at least one of power and data signals over the conductor.