AUTOMATED RECORDATION OF CRANE INSPECTION ACTIVITY

• US 20100039319A1
• Filed: 03/25/2009
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Trimble Navigation Limited (Trimble Inc.)
• Inventors: Cameron, John F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,224,518 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.270
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/16 Applications of indicating, registering, or weighing devices in crane hooks B66C1/40; in safety gear B66C15/00; weighing-apparatus G01G; remote indicating in general G08
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/18 Control systems or devices exclusively for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms B66D1/40

Abstract

In a method for creating a record of crane inspection activity, a wireless inspection communication between a component monitor and a component information unit is initiated in response to a crane inspection activity. The component information unit is mechanically coupled with a crane component. An inspection record related to the crane component is automatically storing within the component monitor. The inspection record includes a geostamp and a timestamp associated with the inspection communication. The geostamp and timestamp are stored in the inspection record in conjunction with a component identification that is associated the crane component and that is received from the component information unit as part of the wireless inspection communication.

Claims

1. A method for creating a record of crane inspection activity, said method comprising:

in response to a crane inspection activity, initiating a wireless inspection communication between a component monitor and a component information unit, wherein said component information unit is mechanically coupled with a crane component; and

automatically storing within said component monitor an inspection record related to said crane component, said inspection record including a geostamp and a timestamp associated with said wireless inspection communication, said geostamp and timestamp stored in said inspection record in conjunction with a component identification that is associated said crane component and that is received from said component information unit as part of said wireless inspection communication.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

wirelessly transmitting said inspection record to a inspection record repository unit located remote from said component monitor and said crane component.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

updating an inspection status stored in said component information unit to reflect a time of said time stamp and a location of said geostamp.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving at said component monitor a user input associated with said crane inspection activity; and

storing said user input as a part of said inspection record.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said storing said user input as a part of said inspection record comprises:

storing an authenticating input provided by said user to authenticate said inspection activity.

6. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said storing said user input as a part of said inspection record comprises:

storing an inspection result related to said crane component and input by said user.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

as part of said inspection communication, accessing an overstress record associated with said crane component and stored in said component information unit, and

incorporating information from said overstress record in said inspection record.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said in response to a crane inspection activity, initiating a wireless inspection communication between a component monitor and a component information unit, wherein said component information unit is mechanically coupled with a crane component comprises:

automatically initiating said inspection communication from said component monitor in response to said component monitor entering into a mesh network that includes said component information unit.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said in response to a crane inspection activity, initiating a wireless inspection communication between a component monitor and a component information unit, wherein said component information unit is mechanically coupled with a crane component comprises:

automatically initiating said inspection communication from said component monitor in response to said component monitor receiving a close proximity inspection indication as an input.

10. The method as recited in claim 9, wherein said automatically storing within said component monitor an inspection record related to said crane component further comprises:

storing a representation of said close proximity inspection indication in said inspection record in response to said component monitor accessing a close proximity indication from a close proximity indicator coupled with and associated with said crane component.

11. A component monitor for electronically monitoring and recording crane inspection activity, said component monitor comprising:

a mesh networking device configured for automatically engaging in a wireless inspection communication with a component information unit via a wireless mesh network to access a component identification associated with a crane component to which said component information unit is coupled;

a GNSS receiver configured for providing a geostamp and a timestamp associated with said wireless inspection communication;

an inspection record module configured for automatically creating an inspection record related to said crane component in response to said wireless inspection communication, said inspection record comprising said geostamp, said timestamp, and said component identification; and

a storage module configured for storing said inspection record within said component monitor.

12. The component monitor of claim 11, further comprising:

a communication module configured for wirelessly communicating with an inspection record repository unit to transfer said inspection record from said component monitor to said inspection record repository unit.

13. The component monitor of claim 11, further comprising:

a close proximity authentication module configured for accessing a close proximity indication to authenticate a close proximity inspection of said crane component.

14. The component monitor of claim 11, further comprising:

a user interface configured for receiving a user input for inclusion in said inspection record.

15. The component monitor of claim 11, wherein said inspection record module is further configured for incorporating as part of said inspection record information from an overstress record associated with said crane component and accessed from storage in said component information unit as part of said wireless inspection communication.

16. A system for electronically recording crane inspection activity, said system comprising:

a component information unit mechanically coupled with a crane component and including a component identification associated with said crane component; and

a component monitor configured for automatically creating and storing an inspection record associated with said crane component in response to occurrence of an inspection activity, said inspection record comprising a component identification associated with said crane component, a geostamp associated with occurrence of said inspection activity, and a timestamp associated with said inspection activity.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising:

an inspection record repository unit located remotely from said component monitor configured for wirelessly receiving and storing a transmission of said inspection record from said component monitor.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein said component monitor is configured within a hand-holdable portable device.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein said component monitor and said component information unit are configured with mesh network communication devices for communication with one another on an ad hoc basis over a mesh network.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein said component monitor comprises:

a GNSS receiver configured for providing said geostamp and said timestamp.