Equipment system checking apparatus and method
First Claim
1. Equipment monitoring apparatus, comprising:
- a master module mounted on equipment at a first location, said master module including a data reader and said master module configured for locking and unlocking at least one of plural operation components of said equipment;
at least one FOB, said at least one FOB associated with and attached to a system component of the equipment with a tether that ties said at least one FOB to said system component, said at least one FOB having FOB data uniquely identifying said system component, wherein said at least one FOB is normally located at a second location that is physically separated from said first location, the physical separation between the first and second locations defining a separation distance; and
wherein, said master module is configured to read said FOB identifying data when said at least one FOB together with said attached system component are moved into physical proximity to said master module, and when said at least one FOB is at said second location said master module cannot read said FOB identifying data at the separation distance.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and system that ensures that defined equipment systems are monitored and checked before the equipment may be used is described. The invention includes apparatus that encourages the equipment operator to perform specified monitoring checks on specified systems at specified intervals, and requires that the check is done by the operator physically removing a check device such as a crankcase or transmission dipstick, radiator cap, air filter, and so on. Failure to perform the required monitoring task results in the equipment being disabled or locked out so that the operator is unable to use the equipment; for example, a starter motor may be locked out so that the engine cannot start until a specified monitoring check has been completed.
3 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. Equipment monitoring apparatus, comprising:
-
a master module mounted on equipment at a first location, said master module including a data reader and said master module configured for locking and unlocking at least one of plural operation components of said equipment; at least one FOB, said at least one FOB associated with and attached to a system component of the equipment with a tether that ties said at least one FOB to said system component, said at least one FOB having FOB data uniquely identifying said system component, wherein said at least one FOB is normally located at a second location that is physically separated from said first location, the physical separation between the first and second locations defining a separation distance; and wherein, said master module is configured to read said FOB identifying data when said at least one FOB together with said attached system component are moved into physical proximity to said master module, and when said at least one FOB is at said second location said master module cannot read said FOB identifying data at the separation distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. A method of monitoring equipment comprising the steps of:
-
a) attaching at least one FOB to a single system component, said at least one FOB uniquely associated with said single system component and including identifying data uniquely identifying only said single system component and wherein said single system component and said at least one FOB are normally located at a first location on said equipment, and wherein a reader is adapted for reading said at least one FOB; b) mounting said reader at a second location on said equipment that is physically separated from said first location, wherein the second location is physically separated from the first location by a distance such that said reader is unable to read said identifying data when said at least one FOB is in the first location; c) interfacing said reader with an operation component of said equipment; d) moving said at least one FOB with the system component attached with a tether that ties said at least one FBO to said system component in proximity to said reader to cause said reader to read said identifying data; e) causing said reader to operate said operation component. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. Equipment monitoring apparatus, comprising:
-
a FOB attached to a single system component of equipment with a tether that ties said FOB to said single system component, said FOB including FOB identifying data uniquely identifying said single system component and said FOB and said single system component normally and movably located at a first location of said equipment; and a FOB reader mounted at a second location of said equipment that is physically separated from said first location of said equipment such that said FOB reader cannot read FOB identifying data of said FOB when said FOB is at the first location. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification