Automated vehicle preventative maintenance system

• US 6,101,433 A
• Filed: 12/07/1998
• Issued: 08/08/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Challenger Enterprises, LLC
• Original Assignee: Challenger Enterprises, LLC
• Inventors: Flicker, Ronald F. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/206,587
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 701/22, 701/29, 701/30, 701/32, 340/425.5, 340/428, 340/457.4, 360/5, 307/9.1, 307/10.7
• US Class Current: 701/35
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/04 using counting means or digital clocks

Abstract

Actual time of operation of a plurality of motorized vehicles is automatically recorded utilizing an operation logging circuit installed in each of the vehicles. Each operation logging circuit in each vehicle includes a memory button located in a protected enclosure and programmed with a unique vehicle identification code. Each memory button also has an electronic register for accumulating aggregate vehicle operation time. The memory button is electrically connected to the vehicle direct current electrical system for detecting actuation and deactuation of vehicle operation. For example, the connections to the memory button may be from the contacts for enabling the power steering, contacts for engaging the vehicle for forward and reverse movement, or contacts for the key switch for providing electrical power to the vehicle. A voltage regulating system steps down the power from the vehicle to the level of 5 volts which is required for operating integrated circuits. Each vehicle is provided with an extension circuit that leads to an interrogation port on the exterior of the vehicle and which is accessible from outside the body of the vehicle. A touch memory button reader is brought into physical contact with the interrogation port to interrogate each memory button of each vehicle to copy the vehicle identification number, time and date of interrogations, and the contents of an electronic register indicating accumulated hours of operation of each vehicle. The data copied into the touch memory button reader is downloaded into a central computer system for maintaining maintenance records.

Claims

1. In combination:

a motorized vehicle having a vehicle operating direct current electrical system for actuating and deactuating vehicle operation, and a vehicle body that includes an outer shell that shields a protected enclosure therewithin,

a memory button having an electronic contact surface and which is disposed within said protected enclosure and which is programmed with a unique vehicle identification number and which includes an actuatable and deactuatable timer and an electronic storage register for accumulating aggregate time of operation of said timer,

voltage regulation circuitry connected between said vehicle operating electrical system and said memory button for stepping down voltage from said vehicle operating system to provide an electrical input to said memory button during vehicle operation,

an extension circuit connected to said electronic contact surface of said memory button and including an extension contact secured relative to said outer shell and accessible for physical contact from outside said shell,

a touch memory button reader having a data transfer contact, and which copies said vehicle identification number and said aggregate time of operation of said timer from said memory button when said data transfer contact of said touch memory button reader touches said extension contact of said extension circuit, and

a central computer system programmed to store and manipulate vehicle maintenance data concerning said motorized vehicle and which includes a touch sensor that extracts said copied vehicle identification number and said aggregate time of operation from said touch memory button reader when said data transfer contact of said touch memory button reader physically touches said touch sensor.

2. A combination according to claim 1 further characterized in that said memory button is provided with a date and time register for receiving inputs from said timer and for electronically storing in said time register the current time and date, and further characterized in that said touch button reader copies the contents from said time register when said data transfer contact touches said extension contact, and said central computer system extracts said copied contents of said time register when said data transfer contact touches said touch sensor.

3. A combination according to claim 2 wherein said voltage regulation circuitry steps down voltage to said memory button to a level of about 5 volts.

4. A combination according to claim 3 further comprising isolation circuitry connected to said memory button, said extension circuit and said vehicle operating direct current electrical system for isolating said memory button from said vehicle operating direct current electrical system when said data transfer contact of said touch memory button reader touches said contact of said extension circuit.

5. A combination according to claim 3 wherein said vehicle operating direct current electrical system includes power steering actuating contacts across which an electrical voltage differential exists when said vehicle is being operated, and said voltage regulation circuitry is connected between said power steering actuating contacts of said vehicle operating direct current electrical system and said memory button.

6. A combination according to claim 3 wherein said vehicle operating direct current electrical system includes propulsion engaging contacts across which an electrical voltage differential exists when said vehicle is being propelled, and said voltage regulation circuitry is connected between said propulsion engaging contacts of said vehicle operating direct current electrical system and said memory button.

7. A combination according to claim 3 wherein said vehicle operating direct current electrical system includes vehicle electrical power actuating contacts across which an electrical voltage differential exists when said vehicle is being powered for operation, and said voltage regulation circuitry is connected between said vehicle electrical power actuating contacts of said vehicle operating direct current electrical system and said memory button.

8. Apparatus for automatically recording actual time of operation of a plurality of motorized vehicles each of which has a vehicle operating direct current electrical system for actuating and deactuating vehicle operation and a vehicle body that includes an outer shell that shields a protected enclosure therewithin comprising:

an automated vehicle operation logging circuit installed in each of said vehicles, each of said vehicle operation logging circuits including a memory button having an electronic contact surface disposed within said protected enclosure and wherein each memory button is programmed with a unique vehicle identification code and which includes an electronic timer and an electronic register for ascertaining current time and date and for accumulating aggregate vehicle operation time provided by said timer, a voltage regulating circuit connected from said vehicle operating direct current electrical system for actuating and deactuating vehicle operation to provide a stepped down direct current data signal to said memory button during vehicle operation, an extension contact secured relative to said vehicle shell and accessible from the exterior of said shell, and an electrical extension line connected between said extension contact and said electronic contact surface of said memory button,

a touch memory button reader which has a data transfer contact and which is operative to interrogate each memory button to copy each vehicle identification number and the contents of each electronic register in association therewith when said data transfer contact is selectively placed into contact with each extension contact of each automated operation logging circuit, and

a central computer for maintaining maintenance records for all of said plurality of motorized vehicles and having a touch sensor that automatically downloads said copied vehicle identification numbers and said copied contents of said electronic registers of all of said vehicles when said data transfer contact of said touch memory button reader is placed in contact with said touch sensor of said central computer.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said voltage regulating circuit includes components for reducing voltage to said memory button from said vehicle operating direct current electrical system to about five volts.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said voltage regulating circuit includes components for limiting current to said memory button to no more than about five milliamperes.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said vehicle operating direct current electrical system includes power steering enabling contacts across which an electrical voltage differential exists when power steering in said vehicle is being operated, and said voltage regulation circuit is connected between said power steering enabling contacts of said vehicle operating direct current electrical system and said memory button.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said vehicle operating direct current electrical system includes forward and reverse propulsion engaging contacts across which an electrical voltage differential exists when said vehicle is being operated, and said voltage regulation circuit is connected between said forward and reverse propulsion engaging contacts of said vehicle operating direct current electrical system and said memory button.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said vehicle operating direct current electrical system includes vehicle electrical power contacts across which an electrical voltage differential exists when said vehicle is being powered for operation, and said voltage regulation circuit is connected between said vehicle electrical power contacts of said vehicle operating direct current electrical system and said memory button.

14. A method of recording the accumulated time of operation of a motorized vehicle having a vehicle operating direct current electrical system for actuating and deactuating vehicle operation, and a vehicle body that includes an outer shell that shields a protected enclosure therewithin comprising:

providing within said protected enclosure a memory button having an electronic contact surface, an actuatable and deactuatable timer and an electronic storage register for accumulating aggregate time of operation of said timer,

providing a voltage regulation circuit to step down direct current voltage from said vehicle operating electrical system to said memory button,

providing an extension circuit from said electronic contact surface of said memory button to an extension contact accessible for physical contact from outside said shell,

electronically storing in said memory button a unique vehicle identification code,

thereafter periodically touching said extension contact with a touch memory button reader to copy therein from said memory button said unique vehicle identification code and said aggregate time of operation of said timer in association therewith, and

downloading from said touch memory button reader said copied identification code and aggregate time of operation into a touch sensor which is part of a central computer system programmed to store and manipulate vehicle maintenance data concerning said motorized vehicle through physical contact between said touch memory button reader and said touch sensor.

15. A method of recording according to claim 14 wherein said memory button is provided with a date and time register for receiving inputs from said timer and further comprising electronically storing in said memory button an accurate time and date so that said timer thereafter maintains the current time and date in said memory button, and further comprising copying said then current time and date from said memory button along with said unique vehicle identification code and said aggregate time of operation and downloading from said touch memory button reader the time and date so copied along with said unique vehicle identification code and said aggregate time of operation.