Remote lockout/tagout

• US 9,135,813 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2012
• Issued: 09/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leighton Contractors Incorporated (ACS Actividades de Construcción y Servicios SA), Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leighton Contractors Incorporated (ACS Actividades de Construcción y Servicios SA), Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Stratton, Kenneth L., Cook, Gary, McDonald, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Terrell, Emily C
• Application Number:
  US13/725,129
• Publication Number:
  US 20140176303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 340/5.61, 340/5.64, 340/5.63, 341/176, 708/28
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A remote lock-out/tag-out system and method allow a remote service technician to remotely lock-out a machine via a remote wireless control device. In one aspect, the lock-out initiation request is sent from the remote wireless control device to the machine. The remote wireless control device then receives from the machine an indication that the machine location and state are suitable for lock-out. In response, the remote wireless control device sends a lock-out command to the machine.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating a remote Lock Out/Tag Out (LO/TO) procedure on a machine, the system comprising:

a first wireless control device resident in the machine, the first wireless control device being configured to sense a state of the machine including positional data for the machine, and to provide a user interface to an operator of the machine; and

a second wireless control device remote from the first wireless control device, the second wireless control device being configured to provide a user interface to a service technician located at a distance that is remote from the machine and to wirelessly interface with the first wireless control device such that the service technician is able to remotely perform a LO/TO procedure on the machine only if the machine is in a proper location required for machine maintenance to be undertaken.

2. The system for facilitating a remote LO/TO procedure according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless control device is built into the machine.

3. The system for facilitating a remote LO/TO procedure according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless control device is located in a cab of the machine.

4. The system for facilitating a remote LO/TO procedure according to claim 3, wherein the first wireless control device is a portable wireless device.

5. The system for facilitating a remote LO/TO procedure according to claim 1, wherein state of the machine further includes one or more of machine transmission status, machine engine speed, machine implement system status and machine brake status.

6. The system for facilitating a remote LO/TO procedure according to claim 5, wherein the second wireless control device is configured to remotely perform the LO/TO procedure on the machine after verifying the transmission status is neutral, an engine speed status is one of off and idle, an implement status is safe, and a parking brake is applied.

7. The system for facilitating a remote LO/TO procedure according to claim 5, wherein the first wireless control device is configured and connected to control one or more of the machine transmission, machine engine, and machine brake.

8. A method for executing a remote LO/TO procedure with respect to a machine via a remote wireless control device, the machine having therein a local wireless control device, the method comprising:

receiving a request at the remote wireless control device input by a remote service technician to initiate LO/TO of the machine;

transmitting a request to initiate LO/TO from the remote wireless control device to the local wireless control device and displaying a corresponding initiation request to an operator of the machine via the local wireless control device;

receiving an indication from the local wireless control device at the remote wireless control device of positional data for the machine and a machine state for LO/TO; and

locking out the machine to the operator only in response to determining at the remote wireless control device that the machine is in a proper location required for maintenance of the machine to be undertaken and the machine is in a safe state for LO/TO.

9. The method for executing a remote LO/TO according to claim 8, further comprising, prior to locking out the machine:

receiving a control request at the local wireless control device from the remote wireless control device to cede control of the machine to the remote service technician;

informing the operator of the machine of the control request;

receiving at the hosted wireless control device an operator acceptance of LO/TO input by the operator at the local wireless control device; and

transmitting an indication of the operator acceptance to the remote service technician via the remote wireless control device.

10. The method for executing a remote LO/TO according to claim 9, wherein informing the operator of the machine of the request includes providing a visual prompt to the operator.

11. The method for executing a remote LO/TO according to claim 8, further comprising, receiving at the remote wireless control device an acknowledgement of control of the machine input by a service technician.

12. The method for executing a remote LO/TO according to claim 8, wherein receiving an indication from the local wireless control device at the remote wireless control device that the machine is in a proper location required for maintenance of the machine to be undertaken and the machine is in a safe state for LO/TO includes receiving an indication that a machine park brake is applied, a machine transmission is in neutral, a machine implement status is safe and a machine engine is at a specific speed.

13. The method for executing a remote LO/TO according to claim 12, wherein receiving an indication that the machine engine is at a specific speed includes receiving an indication that the machine engine state is one of off and idle.

14. The method for executing a remote LO/TO according to claim 8, wherein receiving an indication from the local wireless control device at the remote wireless control device that the machine is in a proper location required for maintenance of the machine to be undertaken and the machine is in a safe state for LO/TO further comprises:

determining that the machine is not in the safe state;

informing the operator and remote service technician of a condition preventing LO/TO; and

receiving an indication that a condition causing the machine to not be in the safe state has been corrected.

15. A method of locking out a machine via a remote wireless control device that is remote from the machine comprising:

sending a lock-out initiation request from the remote wireless control device to the machine;

receiving at the remote wireless control device from the machine an indication that a positional data for the machine and a machine state are suitable for lock-out; and

sending from the remote wireless control device a lock-out command to the machine only in response to determining that the machine is in a proper location required for maintenance of the machine and that the machine is in a safe state.

16. The method of locking out a machine via a remote wireless control device according to claim 15, wherein the indication that positional data for the machine and the machine state are suitable for lock-out indicates that a machine transmission is in neutral, a machine engine is in a state that is one of off and idle, a machine implement status is safe and a machine park brake is applied.

17. The method of locking out a machine via a remote wireless control device according to claim 15, wherein the remote wireless control device communicates with the machine via a wireless protocol.

18. The method of locking out a machine via a remote wireless control device according to claim 15, wherein the remote wireless control device communicates with the machine via a cellular protocol.

19. The method of locking out a machine via a remote wireless control device according to claim 15, wherein receiving an indication that positional data for the machine and the machine state are suitable for lock-out further comprises:

first receiving at the remote wireless control device an indication that positional data for the machine does not indicate that the machine is in a proper location required for machine maintenance to be undertaken and the machine is not in a safe state for lock-out and an identification of a condition preventing lock-out; and

secondly receiving an indication that the identified condition preventing lock-out has been corrected.

20. The method of locking out a machine via a remote wireless control device according to claim 15, wherein the remote wireless control device is one of a Laptop device, desktop device, IPHONE, IPAD, cellular phone, and ANDROID device.