On-board service tool and method

• US 9,222,239 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2007
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Hartwick, Ty
• Primary Examiner(s): Sample, Jonathan L
• Application Number:
  US11/853,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20090070672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,031 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/06 with digging elements mounted on an endless chain E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging elements mounted on an endless chain per se E02F3/08
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/145 control and indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials

Abstract

A self-contained, on-board diagnostic system integrated with a control system and method of using the same. Various control system coefficients and parameter settings may be set and edited with the on-board system, without the use of external hardware. In certain embodiments, an operator panel display may be used as a display for the on-board system. A menu navigation scheme can be employed to access a plurality of screens in an organized, efficient manner. The on-board system can be adapted for use with a tracked trencher and/or other mobile equipment.

Claims

1. An on-board tool for diagnosing a plurality of systems on-board a piece of mobile equipment, the on-board tool being integrated with a control system of the piece of mobile equipment and not requiring any external hardware, the system including an operator station, the on-board tool comprising:

a memory;

a display including a display screen mounted at the operator station; and

a programmable circuit in electrical communication with the memory and the display, the programmable circuit programmed to generate a user interface configured to display a main operator panel information screen on the display screen in at least near-realtime, the main operator panel information screen displaying machine operating information, the display also including;

at least a first diagnostic display screen, the first diagnostic display screen being configured and operable to show a grouping of information relating to a first system of the piece of mobile equipment on the display screen in at least near-realtime, the grouping of information including;

a) a first operator input including a first signal originating from a first operator input device controlling operation of the first system;

b) first control system outputs including first commands communicated to first valves or first pumps of the first system; and

c) first machine inputs including a first drive pressure of the first system and a first drive speed of the first system, the first machine inputs each individually adjustable via the display, thereby allowing at least near-realtime feedback regarding operation of the mobile equipment, and allowing customized operation of the first system for use in a particular environment, wherein the first system comprises at least one of;

a track drive system, wherein the first signal comprises a propel signal, wherein the first commands comprise track drive commands, wherein the first drive pressure comprises a track drive pressure and wherein the first drive speed comprises a track drive speed, and

an excavation attachment system, wherein the first signal comprises an attachment speed control signal originating from an attachment speed control device, wherein the first commands comprise attachment forward and reverse commands wherein the first drive speed comprises an attachment drive speed and wherein the first drive pressure comprises an attachment drive pressure.

2. The on-board tool of claim 1, wherein the first diagnostic screen shows a steering signal originating from a second operator input device.

3. The on-board tool of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic display screens further include a boom diagnostic screen having a grouping of information relating to a boom of the piece of mobile equipment and a conveyor diagnostic screen having a grouping of information relating to a conveyor of the piece of mobile equipment.

4. The on-board tool of claim 1, wherein the first diagnostic screen shows engine speed.

5. The on-board tool of claim 1, wherein the operator station includes a load control knob, and wherein the first diagnostic screen shows a load control signal controlled by operator manipulation of the load control knob.

6. The on-board tool of claim 2, wherein the operator station includes a load control knob, and wherein the first diagnostic screen shows a load control signal controlled by operator manipulation of the load control knob.

7. The on-board tool of claim 1, wherein the first signal and the first commands are displayed as voltages.

8. The on-board tool of claim 1, wherein the track drive commands include forward and reverse electronic displacement control commands, and wherein the first diagnostic screen shows track drive command electronic displacement control thresholds.

9. The on-board tool of claim 1, wherein the first diagnostic screen also shows at least one of an attachment case temperature, an attachment charger pressure and an accumulator pre-charge.

10. The on-board tool of claim 3, wherein the boom diagnostic screen shows at least one of a boom up-down control signal, a boom valve up command, a boom valve down command and boom cylinder depth signal.

11. An on-board tool for diagnosing a plurality of systems on-board a piece of mobile equipment, the on-board tool being integrated with the piece of mobile equipment and not requiring any external hardware, the piece of mobile equipment also including left and right tracks for propelling the piece of mobile equipment, the piece of mobile equipment also including an excavation attachment, the piece of mobile equipment further including an operator station including a track propel control device and an attachment speed control device, the on-board tool comprising:

a memory;

a control panel arrangement at the operator station, the control panel arrangement including a screen display device;

a control system in electrical communication with the memory and the control panel arrangement, the control system programmed to display an operator panel information screen on the screen display device, the operator panel information screen displaying machine operating information, the control system also programmed to selectively display a plurality of different diagnostic display screens on the screen display device in at least near-realtime, the diagnostic display screens including;

a track diagnostic screen showing a grouping of information relating to the left and right tracks, the grouping of information including;

a) an operator input including a propel signal originating from the track propel control device;

b) control system outputs including left and right track commands; and

c) machine inputs including track pressure and track speed; and

an attachment diagnostic screen including a grouping of information relating to an excavation attachment of the piece of mobile equipment;

wherein each of a plurality of operator inputs to the mobile equipment is reflected in the grouping of information on at least one of the track diagnostic screen or the attachment diagnostic screen, thereby allowing at least near-realtime feedback regarding operation of the mobile equipment, and allowing customized operation of the mobile equipment in a particular environment.

12. The on-board tool of claim 11, wherein the machine inputs shown on the track diagnostic screen include engine speed, wherein the operator station includes a steering control device, and wherein the track diagnostic screen shows a steering signal controlled by operator manipulation of the steering control device.

13. The on-board tool of claim 12, wherein the attachment diagnostic screen shows:

a) an operator input including an attachment speed control signal originating from the attachment speed control device;

b) control system outputs including attachment forward and reverse commands; and

c) machine inputs including attachment speed and attachment pressure.

14. The on-board tool of claim 13, wherein the tracks are driven by a hydrostatic track drive, wherein the track pressure is a hydrostatic drive pressure of the hydrostatic track drive, wherein the track speed is a drive speed of the hydrostatic track drive, wherein the attachment is driven by a hydrostatic attachment drive, wherein the attachment pressure is a hydrostatic drive pressure of the hydrostatic attachment drive, and wherein the attachment speed is a drive speed of the hydrostatic attachment drive.

15. The on-board tool of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic display screens include a boom diagnostic screen having a grouping of information relating to a boom of the piece of mobile equipment.

16. The on-board tool of claim 11, wherein the diagnostic display screens include a conveyor diagnostic screen having a grouping of information relating to a conveyor of the piece of mobile equipment.

17. The on-board tool of claim 11, wherein the excavation attachment includes a trenching chain driven by a hydrostatic drive.

18. The on-board tool of claim 11, wherein the operator panel information screen displays an engine speed, an attachment speed, an attachment pressure and a steering position.

19. An on-board tool for diagnosing a plurality of systems on-board a piece of mobile equipment, the on-board tool being integrated with the piece of mobile equipment and not requiring any external hardware, the piece of mobile equipment also including left and right tracks for propelling the piece of mobile equipment, the piece of mobile equipment also including an excavation attachment, the piece of mobile equipment further including an operator station including a track propel control device and an attachment speed control device, the on-board tool comprising:

a memory;

a display including a display screen mounted at the operator station;

a programmable circuit in electrical communication with the memory and the display, the programmable circuit programmed to generate a user interface configured to display a main operator panel information screen on the display screen, the main operator panel information screen displaying machine operating information, the display also including a diagnostic screen access item that when selected by an operator provides access to a plurality of diagnostic display screens, the diagnostic display screens including;

a track diagnostic screen showing a grouping of information displayable in at least near-realtime relating to the left and right tracks, the grouping of information including;

a) an operator input including a propel signal originating from the track propel control device;

b) control system outputs including left and right track drive commands; and

c) machine inputs including track pressure and track speed;

an attachment diagnostic screen including a grouping of information displayable in at least near-realtime relating to an excavation attachment of the piece of mobile equipment, the grouping of information including;

a) an operator input including an attachment speed control signal originating from the attachment speed control device;

b) control system outputs including attachment forward and reverse commands; and

c) machine inputs including attachment speed and attachment pressure; and

a boom diagnostic screen having a grouping of information displayable in at least near-realtime relating to a boom of the piece of mobile equipment, the boom diagnostic screen showing at least one of a boom up-down control signal, a boom valve up command, a boom valve down command and boom cylinder depth signal;

wherein the display also includes an escape item that can be selected by the operator to return from the diagnostic display screens back to the main operator panel information screen

wherein each of a plurality of operator inputs to the mobile equipment is reflected in the grouping of information on at least one of the track diagnostic screen, attachment diagnostic screen, or boom diagnostic screen, thereby allowing at least near-realtime feedback regarding operation of the mobile equipment, and allowing customized operation of the mobile equipment in a particular environment.

20. The on-board tool of claim 19, wherein the tracks are driven by a hydrostatic track drive, wherein the track pressure is a hydrostatic drive pressure of the hydrostatic track drive, wherein the track speed is a drive speed of the hydrostatic track drive, wherein the attachment is driven by a hydrostatic attachment drive, wherein the attachment pressure is a hydrostatic drive pressure of the hydrostatic attachment drive, and wherein the attachment speed is a drive speed of the hydrostatic attachment drive.

21. The on-board tool of claim 19, wherein the diagnostic display screens include a conveyor diagnostic screen having a grouping of information relating to a conveyor of the piece of mobile equipment.

22. The on-board tool of claim 19, wherein the excavation attachment includes a trenching chain driven by a hydrostatic drive.

23. The on-board tool of claim 19, wherein the operator panel information screen displays an engine speed, an attachment speed, an attachment pressure and a steering position.

24. The on-board tool of claim 20, wherein the track diagnostic screen shows a steering signal originating from an operator controlled steering control device, wherein the track diagnostic screen shows a load control signal originating from an operator controlled load control device, wherein the track diagnostic screen also shows engine speed, wherein the track drive commands include forward and reverse electronic displacement control commands, and wherein the track diagnostic screen shows track drive command electronic displacement control thresholds.