Asset management system

• US 20070150073A1
• Filed: 12/23/2005
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Dawson, Jay
• Application Number:
  US11/315,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150073A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/11
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0283 Predictive maintenance, e.g. involving the monitoring of a system and, based on the monitoring results, taking decisions on the maintenance schedule of the monitored system; Estimating remaining useful life [RUL] preventive maintenance, i.e. planning maintenance according to the available resources without monitoring the system G06Q10/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/08 Construction

Abstract

An asset management system is provided. The system may include one or more data collection devices configured to monitor one or more operating conditions of a machine in real time. The system may also include a processor configured to receive data from the one or more data collection devices and perform an analysis of the received data as it relates to a set of usage terms of a service contract relating to the machine. The system may also be configured to communicate, in real time, at least one of data received from the one or more data collection devices and the analysis of the received data to at least one location remote from the machine. The system may be further configured to communicate, in real time, to at least one of an owner and an operator, information regarding at least one of the received data and the analysis of the received data.

Claims

1. An asset management system, comprising:

one or more data collection devices configured to monitor one or more operating conditions of a machine in real time; and

a processor configured to;

receive data from the one or more data collection devices; and

perform an analysis of the received data as it relates to a set of usage terms of a service contract relating to the machine;

wherein the system is configured to;

communicate, in real time, at least one of data received from the one or more data collection devices and the analysis of the received data to at least one location remote from the machine; and

communicate, in real time, to at least one of an owner and an operator, information regarding at least one of the received data and the analysis of the received data.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the analysis includes making a comparison between the received data and the set of usage terms of the service contract relating to the machine.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes operating parameters of the machine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least two of the following:

operating parameters of the machine;

geographic parameters; and

atmospheric conditions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least one of the following:

work implement repetitions;

work implement speed; and

work implement load.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least one of the following:

fluid temperature;

fluid pressure; and

fluid level.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least one of the following:

payload; and

roughness of terrain.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to communicate analysis of the received data to at least one of an owner and an operator of the machine, wherein the analysis includes recommendations for at least one of the following:

maintenance;

one or more operating parameters; and

one or more operating techniques.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicated information includes an offer of an opportunity to modify the set of usage terms of the service contract.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is configured to automatically change one or more of the usage terms of the service contract.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the communicated information includes a notification of the change in the one or more usage terms of the service contract.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is located on the machine.

13. A method of asset management, comprising:

monitoring one or more operating conditions of a machine in real time; and

receiving data from the one or more data collection devices;

performing an analysis of the received data including making a comparison between the received data and a set of usage terms of a service contract relating to the machine;

communicating, in real time, at least one of the data received from the one or more data collection devices and the analysis of the received data to at least one location remote from the machine; and

communicating, in real time, to at least one of an owner and an operator, information regarding at least one of the received data and the analysis of the received data.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes operating parameters of the machine.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least two of the following:

operating parameters of the machine;

geographic parameters; and

atmospheric conditions.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least one of the following:

work implement repetitions;

work implement speed; and

work implement load.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least one of the following:

fluid temperature;

fluid pressure; and

fluid level.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least one of the following:

payload; and

roughness of terrain.

19. The method of claim 13, further including communicating analysis of the received data to at least one of an owner and an operator of the machine, wherein the analysis includes recommendations for at least one of the following:

maintenance;

one or more operating parameters; and

one or more operating techniques.

20. The method of claim 13, further including communicating information regarding the received data to at least one of an owner and an operator of the machine, wherein the information includes an offer of an opportunity to modify the set of usage terms of the service contract.

21. The method of claim 13, further including automatically changing one or more of the usage terms of the service contract.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the communicated information includes a notification of the change in the one or more usage terms of the service contract.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the analysis is performed on the machine.

24. A machine, comprising:

a frame; and

a power source mounted to the frame;

wherein the machine is integrated with an asset management system including;

one or more data collection devices configured to monitor one or more operating conditions of a machine in real time; and

a processor configured to;

receive data from the one or more data collection devices; and

perform an analysis of the received data including making a comparison between the received data and a set of usage terms of a service contract relating to the machine;

wherein the system is configured to;

communicate, in real time, at least one of the data received from the one or more data collection devices and the analysis of the received data to at least one location remote from the machine; and

communicate, in real time, to at least one of an owner and an operator, information regarding at least one of the received data and the analysis of the received data.

25. The machine of claim 24, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes operating parameters of the machine.

26. The machine of claim 24, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least two of the following:

operating parameters of the machine;

geographic parameters; and

atmospheric conditions.

27. The machine of claim 24, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least one of the following:

work implement repetitions;

work implement speed; and

work implement load.

28. The machine of claim 24, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least one of the following:

fluid temperature;

fluid pressure; and

fluid level.

29. The machine of claim 24, wherein the one or more operating conditions includes at least one of the following:

payload; and

roughness of terrain.

30. The machine of claim 24, wherein the system is configured to communicate analysis of the received data to at least one of an owner and an operator of the machine, wherein the analysis includes recommendations for at least one of the following:

maintenance;

one or more operating parameters; and

one or more operating techniques.

31. The machine of claim 24, wherein the communicated information includes an offer of an opportunity to modify the set of usage terms of the service contract.

32. The machine of claim 24, wherein the system is configured to automatically change one or more of the usage terms of the service contract.

33. The machine of claim 32, wherein the communicated information includes a notification of the change in the one or more usage terms of the service contract.

34. The machine of claim 24, wherein the processor is located on the machine.