Method for initiating start-up of an electrical system

• US 20070021894A1
• Filed: 07/21/2005
• Published: 01/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Vernon, Brandt, Wayne
• Application Number:
  US11/185,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20070021894A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/26 Indicating devices E02F5/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/266 the computer being backed-up or assisted by another circuit, e.g. analogue
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0803 characterised by means for initiating engine start or stop F02N11/0814 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/101 for preventing engine starter actuation or engagement
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2300/30 characterised by the use of digital means

Abstract

A method for starting a work machine includes receiving information corresponding to a current configuration of at least one component of the work machine. The method also includes comparing the received information to information corresponding to a previous configuration of the at least one component. The method further includes providing a data request signal if the received information corresponding to the current configuration of the at least one component is not substantially similar to the information corresponding to the previous configuration of the at least one component. The method also includes providing a start-up signal if the received information is substantially similar to the information corresponding to the previous configuration of the at least one component.

Claims

1. A start-up system of a work machine, comprising:

a plurality of work machine components;

a plurality of data collection nodes, each data collection node configured to provide information corresponding to a current configuration of a respective work machine component; and

a status collection node in communication with the plurality of data collection nodes, the status collection node configured to;

receive information corresponding to the current configuration of each of the plurality of work machine components,

compare the received information to information corresponding to a previous configuration of each of the plurality of work machine components,

provide a data request signal if the received information is not substantially similar to the previous configuration of at least one of the plurality of work machine components, and

provide a start-up signal if the received information is substantially similar to the previous configuration of each of the plurality of work machine components.

2. The start-up system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data collection nodes are configured to automatically provide the information corresponding to the current configuration of the plurality of work machine components.

3. The start-up system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of data collection nodes are configured to provide information corresponding to a plurality of operational aspects of the plurality of work machine components in response to the data request signal.

4. The start-up system of claim 1, wherein the status collection node further includes a start-up manager, wherein the start-up manager is configured to initiate operation of the work machine in response to the start-up signal.

5. The start-up system of claim 4, wherein the status collection node is further configured to store the information corresponding to the current configuration of at least one of the plurality of work machine components as the information corresponding to the previous configuration of at least one of the plurality of work machine components.

6. The start-up system of claim 1, wherein the status collection node is further configured to query at least one of the plurality of data collection nodes for information corresponding to a plurality of operational aspects of at least one of the plurality of work machine components.

7. A method for starting a work machine, comprising:

receiving information corresponding to a current configuration of at least one component of the work machine;

comparing the received information to information corresponding to a previous configuration of the at least one component;

providing a data request signal if the received information corresponding to the current configuration of the at least one component is not substantially similar to the information corresponding to the previous configuration of the at least one component; and

providing a start-up signal if the received information is substantially similar to the information corresponding to the previous configuration of the at least one component.

8. The method of claim 7, further including automatically providing the information corresponding to the current configuration of the at least one component to a status collection node.

9. The method of claim 7, further including providing information corresponding to a plurality of operational aspects of the at least one component in response to the data request signal.

10. The method of claim 7, further including storing the information corresponding to the current configuration of the at least one component as the information corresponding to the previous configuration of the at least one component.

11. The method of claim 7, further including initiating operation of the work machine in response to the start-up signal.

12. A software program adapted for employing the method of claim 7.

13. A method for collecting configuration information of at least one component of a work machine, comprising:

collecting the information corresponding to the current configuration of the at least one component at a status collection node;

storing the collected information for use in a start-up system of the work machine;

determining a start-up condition of the at least one component based on the collected information.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the information corresponding to the current configuration of the at least one component includes information corresponding to a plurality of operational aspects of the at least one component.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the determination is further based on a comparison between the collected information and a previous configuration of the at least one component.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein collected information is automatically provided by at least one data collection node in response to a start-up sequence.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein collected information is automatically provided by at least one data collection node in response to a data request signal.

18. A work machine, comprising:

a power source; and

a start-up system of a work machine operatively coupled to the power source, the start-up system comprising;

a plurality of work machine components;

a plurality of data collection nodes, each data collection node configured to provide information corresponding to a current configuration of a respective work machine component; and

a status collection node in communication with the plurality of data collection nodes, the status collection node configured to;

receive information corresponding to the current configuration of each of the plurality of work machine components,

compare the received information to information corresponding to a previous configuration of each of the plurality of work machine components,

provide a data request signal if the received information is not substantially similar to the previous configuration of at least one of the plurality of work machine components, and

provide a start-up signal if the received information is substantially similar to the previous configuration of each of the plurality of work machine components.

19. The start-up system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of data collection nodes are configured to automatically provide the information corresponding to the current configuration of the plurality of work machine components.

20. The start-up system of claim 19, wherein the plurality of data collection nodes are configured to provide information corresponding to a plurality of operational aspects of the plurality of work machine components in response to the data request signal.

21. The start-up system of claim 18, wherein the status collection node further includes a start-up manager, wherein the start-up manager is configured to initiate operation of the work machine in response to the start-up signal.

22. The start-up system of claim 21, wherein the status collection node is further configured to store the information corresponding to the current configuration of at least one of the plurality of work machine components as the information corresponding to the previous configuration of at least one of the plurality of work machine components.

23. The start-up system of claim 18, wherein the status collection node is further configured to query at least one of the plurality of data collection nodes for information corresponding to a plurality of operational aspects of at least one of the plurality of work machine components.