Metal tooth detection and locating

• US 9,311,513 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Issued: 04/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joy Global Surface Mining Inc. (Mitsui & Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Harnischfeger Technologies Inc. (Mitsui & Company Limited)
• Inventors: Miller, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, CURTIS J
• Application Number:
  US14/517,479
• Publication Number:
  US 20150035673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: E02F 9/2808 Teeth
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2816 Mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Methods and systems for tracking heavy machine teeth. One system includes a heavy machine tooth configured to be mounted on a bucket of a heavy machine, an active RFID tag coupled to the heavy machine tooth to move with the tooth, and an RFID reader configured to read data from the RFID tag, The RFID reader is further configured to provide an indication regarding the location of the tooth when the tooth separates from the bucket based on the data read from the RFID tag and provide diagnostic information regarding the heavy machine tooth based on the data read from the RFID tag.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a heavy machine tooth, the method comprising:

coupling an RFID tag to the heavy machine tooth, the RFID tag coupled to the heavy machine tooth to move with the heavy machine tooth and detuned when the heavy machine tooth is mounted to the heavy machine and tuned when the heavy machine tooth is separated from the heavy machine;

positioning an RFID reader to read the RFID tag;

receiving, by a controller, information from the RFID reader based on the data from the RFID tag;

determining, by the controller, when the heavy machine tooth is separated from the heavy machine based on the information from the RFID reader;

determining, by the controller, diagnostic information for the heavy machine tooth based on the information from the RFID reader; and

providing, to a user, the diagnostic information and an indication to a user when the heavy machine tooth is separated from the heavy machine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing to the user an indication of a location of the heavy machine tooth when the heavy machine tooth is separated from the heavy machine.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the diagnostic information includes determining a date the heavy machine tooth was installed on the heavy machine.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the date the heavy machine tooth was installed on the heavy machine includes determining the date based on information read by the RFID reader from the RFID tag.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the diagnostic information includes determining how many hours the heavy machine tooth has been in operation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the RFID tag to the heavy machine tooth includes encasing the RFID tag in ceramic, placing the ceramic-encased RFID tag in a mold, and pouring liquid steel into the mold to form the heavy machine tooth.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising magnifying a signal from the RFID tag by backscattering.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising coupling a wear detection circuit to the RFID tag.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising detecting wear of the heavy machine tooth using the wear detection circuit and transmitting from the wear detection circuit the detected wear, wherein the wear detection circuit detects resistance of the heavy machine tooth.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising recording resistance detected by the wear detection circuit to the RFID tag.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising recording an initial resistance of the heavy machine tooth prior to use of the heavy machine tooth to the RFID tag.

12. A heavy machine tooth monitoring system, the system comprising:

a heavy machine tooth configured to be mounted on a bucket of a heavy machine;

an active RFID tag coupled to an end of the heavy machine tooth to move with the tooth;

a mounting bracket receiving the end of the heavy machine tooth and coupling the heavy machine tooth to the bucket;

a tuning circuit included in the RFID tag, the tuning circuit tuning a frequency the RFID tag after the RFID tag is coupled to the tooth by using the tooth as an antenna; and

an RFID reader configured to read data from the RFID tag and provide an indication regarding the location of the tooth when the tooth separates from the bucket based on the data read from the RFID tag and provide diagnostic information regarding the heavy machine tooth based on the data read from the RFID tag.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a wear detection circuit, wherein the wear detection circuit detects wear of the tooth and provides information on the detected wear of the heavy machine tooth to the RFID tag.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wear detection circuit uses a four-point resistance method to detect wear of the tooth.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the RFID tag is embedded in a ceramic plug that is inserted in the heavy machine tooth, and wherein four probes in electrical communication with the wear detection circuit are embedded in and extend from the plug and are in electrical contact with the heavy machine tooth.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the RFID tag stores information, the information includes at least one selected from the group of a serial number, an origin, and a date of manufacturer.

17. The system of claim 12, further comprising a battery included in the RFID tag and control circuitry configured to activate the battery when the RFID tag is coupled to the heavy machine tooth.