Method and system for operating machines

• US 7,819,312 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2006
• Issued: 10/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Gualandri, J. Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Hess; Daniel A
• Application Number:
  US11/495,545
• Publication Number:
  US 20080121684A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 701/50
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/105 Radio frequency identification data [RFID]
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/267 Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31366 Operate faulty tool in degraded mode
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0291 Switching into safety or degraded mode, e.g. protection and supervision after failure
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A method for operating a machine and/or a component of the machine includes collecting machine data from the machine and/or machine component over a communications network. The machine data includes data reflecting at least one operational parameter associated with the machine and/or machine component. The method also includes determining that the machine and/or machine component is in an abnormal condition based on the collected machine data, and derating the machine and/or machine component based on determining that the machine and/or machine component is in the abnormal condition.

Claims

1. A method for operating at least one of a machine or a component of the machine, comprising:

collecting machine data from the at least one machine or machine component over a communications network, the machine data including data reflecting at least one operational parameter associated with the at least one machine or machine component;

determining that the at least one machine or machine component is in an abnormal condition based on the collected machine data, the abnormal condition including at least one of an unscheduled operation of the at least one machine or machine component, or an unscheduled change in location of the at least one machine or machine component; and

derating the at least one machine or machine component based on determining that the at least one machine or machine component is in the abnormal condition,

wherein the derating of the at least one machine or machine component includes disabling at least one machine component of the at least one machine or machine component and allowing the machine to travel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the derating of the at least one machine or machine component includes decreasing an engine speed.

3. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving a command to derate the at least one machine or machine component; and

delaying the derating of the at least one machine or machine component based on an operation of the at least one machine or machine component.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one machine or machine component automatically derates when the at least one machine or machine component determines that the at least one machine or machine component is in the abnormal condition.

5. The method of claim 1, further including sending a command to the at least one machine or machine component to direct the at least one machine or machine component to derate.

6. The method of claim 1, further including:

providing a code to the at least one machine or machine component; and

ending the derating in response to the provided code.

7. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving, by the at least one machine or machine component, a command to end the derating; and

ending the derating after receiving the end derating command.

8. The method of claim 1, further including automatically ending derating based on detecting that the at least one machine or machine component is no longer in an abnormal condition.

9. The method of claim 1, further including:

receiving a notification that the at least one machine or machine component has been derated;

adjusting an operation of the at least one machine or machine component; and

ending the derating based on the adjusted operation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one disabled machine component includes at least one of a hydraulic component, an electro-mechanical component, or an electronic component of the machine.

11. A system for operating at least one of a machine or a component of the machine, comprising:

a service center configured to;

collect and store machine data from the at least one machine or machine component over a communications network, the machine data including data reflecting at least one operational parameter associated with the at least one machine or machine component,

determine that the at least one machine or machine component is in an abnormal condition based on the collected machine data, the abnormal condition includes leaving a predetermined area or entering a predetermined area by the at least one machine or machine component, and

send a command to derate the at least one machine or machine component based on the determining that the at least one machine or machine component is in the abnormal condition;

wherein the command to derate the at least one machine or machine component includes a command to delay the derating of the at least one machine or machine component based on an operation of the at least one machine or machine component.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the command to derate the at least one machine or machine component includes a command to decrease an engine speed.

13. A method for operating at least one of a machine or a component of the machine, comprising:

storing machine data associated with the at least one machine or machine component, the machine data including data reflecting at least one operational parameter associated with the at least one machine or machine component;

determining that the at least one machine or machine component is in an abnormal condition based on the machine data, the abnormal condition including at least one of an unscheduled operation of the at least one machine or machine component, or an unscheduled change in location of the at least one machine or machine component,

automatically derating the at least one machine or machine component based on the determining that the at least one machine or machine component is in the abnormal condition;

receiving a command to derate the at least one machine or machine component; and

delaying the derating of the at least one machine or machine component based on an operation of the at least one machine or machine component.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the derating of the at least one machine or machine component includes decreasing an engine speed.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein derating of the at least one machine or machine component further includes derating the machine so that a transmission in the machine is capable of operating only in low gears.