Systems and methods for monitoring a machine

• US 7,711,522 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Long, Milton R., Gualandri, J. Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano; Edward R
• Application Number:
  US11/513,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20080059081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,342 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.19, 340/3.1, 340/5.1, 340/425.5, 340/426.1, 340/426.18, 340/426.24, 340/426.25, 340/825, 340/870.01, 340/870.05, 340/870.07, 340/870.16, 705/500, 705/32, 705/418, 705/1, 705/4, 705/7, 705/11, 705/28, 705/30, 705/35, 705/36.R, 705/400, 705/417, 377/14, 377/1, 377/6, 377/13, 377/15, 377/16, 701/1, 701/19, 701/35, 701/50, 702/1, 702/33, 702/34, 702/81, 702/127, 702/182, 702/187, 702/188, 702/189
• US Class Current: 702/187
• 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 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for monitoring a machine. In one implementation, a system for monitoring the machine includes a monitoring server in communication with a machine. The monitoring server receives data from the machine, estimates, based on the received data, an operating condition of the machine, and estimates a depreciation value of the machine based on the operating condition.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a machine, the system comprising:

a monitoring server in communication with the machine, wherein the monitoring server receives data from the machine, estimates, based on the received data, an operating condition of the machine, and estimates a depreciation value of the machine based on the operating condition, and

wherein the monitoring server determines whether the depreciation value is greater than a threshold and, when the depreciation value is greater than the threshold, determines an amount of a penalty, and

wherein the monitoring server determines a new lease rate for the remainder of a lease term, wherein if a customer leasing the machine accepts the new lease rate, the penalty will not be incurred.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the received data includes one or more of parameter data, site information, operator identifiers, fault codes, stress readings, application information, hours of operation, rpm readings, temperature readings, and location data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operating condition is a number of hours of operation or a use of the machine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring server generates a message to a customer leasing the machine that indicates the penalty.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring server generates a message to the customer that indicates the new lease rate.

6. A method for monitoring a machine, the method comprising:

receiving, over a network, data from the machine;

estimating, based on the received data, an operating condition of the machine;

estimating a depreciation value of the machine based on the operating condition;

determining whether the depreciation value is greater than a threshold;

when the depreciation value is greater than the threshold, determining an amount of a penalty; and

determining a new lease rate for the remainder of a lease term, wherein if a customer leasing the machine accepts the new lease rate, the penalty will not be incurred.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the received data includes one or more of parameter data, site information, operator identifiers, fault codes, stress readings, application information, hours of operation, rpm readings, temperature readings, and location data.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the operating condition is a number of hours of operation or a use of the machine.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating a message to a customer leasing the machine that indicates the penalty.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

generating a message to the customer that indicates the new lease rate.

11. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for performing a method executed by a processor to monitor a machine, the method comprising steps performed by the processor of:

receiving, over a network, data from the machine;

estimating, based on the received data, an operating condition of the machine;

determining whether the depreciation value is greater than a threshold;

when the depreciation value is greater than the threshold, determining an amount of a penalty owed by a customer leasing the machine; and

determining a new lease rate for the remainder of a lease term, wherein if a customer leasing the machine accepts the new lease rate, the penalty will not be incurred.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the received data includes one or more of parameter data, site information, operator identifiers, fault codes, stress readings, application information, hours of operation, rpm readings, temperature readings, and location data.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the operating condition is a number of hours of operation or a use of the machine.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, the steps performed by the processor further comprising:

generating a message to the customer that indicates the penalty.