Method for utilization calculation on equipment including independent component

• US 9,460,051 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2012
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trackunit Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ZTR Control Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Horne, Brent Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, SHARDUL D
• Application Number:
  US13/654,128
• Publication Number:
  US 20130096799A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 701/99, 701/33, 340/679, 340/989, 340/539.1, 187/282, 187/237, 187/291, 705/11
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/45 External transmission of data to or from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/2054 Fleet management
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a method of monitoring an asset including an independent component, the method including: receiving at an electronic device data related to operation of an asset, the data including utilization data of an independent component of the asset; interpreting, using a processor, the utilization to determine an utilization or operational characteristic of the asset; performing, using a processor, analysis of the utilization or operational characteristic in view of a stored target to produce a performance output; filtering, using a processor, to improve accuracy; and providing a report that includes the operational characteristic and/or utilization output; wherein utilization data of the independent component is generated by detecting the engine status of a prime mover of the asset; detecting a position of the independent component; wherein the independent component provides work functionality independent of the engine status.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring utilization of equipment, the method comprising:

determining, by a processor, using operational data received from a monitoring system coupled to the equipment and that can operate independently of a prime mover of the equipment, a first period of time during which the prime mover of the equipment is running according to a utilization or operational characteristic of the equipment interpreted from the operational data;

determining, by the processor, using sensor data received from the monitoring system that is coupled to at least one sensor on the equipment, an amount of usage of an independent component of the equipment, based on at least one of;

a position of the independent component, and a presence of personnel in or on the independent component, either or both being indicative of use of the independent component and being detectable using the at least one sensor, the independent component corresponding to a component of the equipment that performs or provides work functionality independent of use of the prime mover;

determining, by the processor from the operational data and the sensor data, a second period of time during which the independent component of the equipment is being used while the prime mover is not running, wherein the second period of time does not overlap with the first period of time;

determining, by the processor, an overall equipment utilization based on both the first and second time periods; and

outputting, by the processor, an indication of the overall equipment utilization.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing, using the processor, analysis of the utilization or operational characteristic in view of a stored target to produce a performance output;

filtering, using the processor, to improve accuracy; and

providing a report that includes the operational characteristic and/or utilization output.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the operational data includes one or more of the following:

positional data, engine status, a velocity, a direction, a key on event, a key off event, a door open event, a door closed event, a location, a fuel efficiency, an idle time, a production statistics, a preventive maintenance schedule, a maintenance history, a cycle time, a utilization time period, a fault data, and an alarm data.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising receiving at a mobile device, positional data, operational data or both from the monitoring system coupled to the equipment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the mobile device is a mobile telephone and the telephone sends or receives positional data, operational data and control functions to or from the asset.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising detecting the presence of a user in proximity to the independent component or user controls of the independent component.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein detecting the presence of a user in proximity to the independent component comprises utilizing at least one of:

one or more motion sensors to detect if regular motion occurs;

one or more heat sensors to detect the presence and activity of the user;

one or more load sensors to detect the weight of the user;

one or more sensors attached to or integrated with a safety harness to detect the user'"'"'s presence or activity;

a light beam or light curtain sensor to detect a person in a bucket to cut beam; and

a safety switch and utilization switch.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising after detecting an engine status, monitoring the engine status continually or intermittently.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising after detecting the presence of a user, monitoring the presence of a user continually or intermittently.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising after detecting the position of the independent component, monitoring the position of the independent component continually or intermittently.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting engine status comprises one or more of detecting on/off status, idle status and rotations per minute status.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the position of the independent component comprises utilizing one or more of:

monitoring a platform ‘

out of rest position’

or ‘

stored’

position;

a limit switch;

a proximity switch;

light beam or light curtain;

load cell comprising at least one of a boom, platform, boom arm, and bucket at rest;

monitoring height of the platform to detect ‘

in usage’

using at least one of;

an angle sensor or tilt switch on boom;

an angle sensor or tilt switch on scissor arm;

an hydraulic ram length monitoring; and

laser encoder to determine height from base to platform.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the independent component comprises one or more of an aerial work platform;

booms lift;

articulated boom lift;

telescopic boom lift;

electric boom lift;

trailer boom lift;

personnel boom lift;

boom truck;

cherry picker;

bucket truck;

scissor lift;

engine driven scissor lift; and

electrical scissor lift.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the independent component comprises one or more of an aerial component and a material handling component.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting a position of the material handling component comprises utilizing one or more of:

a load sensor detection on the material handling components;

a limit switch;

an hydraulic pressure sensor;

a limit switch on a hydraulic ram;

an angle/tilt sensor on a telehandler boom;

a proximity switch.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the material handling component comprises one or more of a telehandler, a forklift fork, and a rough terrain forklift fork.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions for monitoring utilization of equipment, which when executed by one or more processors, perform the following operations:

determining, by a processor, using operational data received from a monitoring system coupled to the equipment and that can operate independently of a prime mover of the equipment, a first period of time during which the prime mover of the equipment is running according to a utilization or operational characteristic of the equipment interpreted from the operational data;

determining, by the processor, using sensor data received from the monitoring system that is coupled to at least one sensor on the equipment, an amount of usage of an independent component of the equipment, based on at least one of;

a position of the independent component, and a presence of personnel in or on the independent component, either or both being indicative of use of the independent component and being detectable using the at least one sensor, the independent component corresponding to a component of the equipment that performs or provides work functionality independent of use of the prime mover;

determining, by the processor from the operational data and the sensor data, a second period of time during which the independent component of the equipment is being used while the prime mover is not running, wherein the second period of time does not overlap with the first period of time;

determining, by the processor, an overall equipment utilization based on both the first and second time periods; and

outputting, by the processor, an indication of the overall equipment utilization.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for:

creating, on a device, operational data separate from positional data; and

sending additional data from a mobile device associated with, and removable from, the equipment.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions for detecting the presence of a user in proximity to the independent component or user controls of the independent component.