Asset monitoring and fueling system

• US 9,305,406 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2012
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Divelbiss Corporation, Kokosing Construction Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Divelbiss Corporation and Kokosing Construction Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Divelbiss, Donald S., Divelbiss, Terry L., Bechtel, Erin, Reynolds, Shawn M., Burgett, William Barth, Gott, Brian T., Pew, Rodney L., Truex, Timothy E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US13/562,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20130035788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 340/8.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/14 responsive to input of recorded programmed information, e.g. on punched cards
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/32 Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/004 Indicating the operating range of the engine economical driving B60R16/0236, F02B77/084; measuring liquid fuel of an engine G01F9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/08 Registering or indicating performance data other than driving, working, idle, or waiting time, with or without registering driving, working, idle or waiting time

Abstract

The present application discloses systems and methods for managing assets. In one exemplary embodiment, a system for monitoring an asset is disclosed. The system comprises at least one asset monitoring device, at least one fuel control device, and a central server. The asset monitoring device is configured for use with the asset to collect asset data about the asset. The fuel control device is configured for use with a fuel source to collect fueling data about fueling of the asset. The fuel control device is configured to communicate with the asset monitoring device to receive the asset data from the asset monitoring device. The central server is configured to communicate with the fuel control device to receive the asset data and the fueling data from the fuel control device.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a motorized asset, comprising;

at least one asset monitoring device configured for use with a motorized asset that is powered by a liquid or gaseous fuel, the asset monitoring device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory, wherein the asset monitoring device is configured to collect asset data about the asset;

at least one fuel control device configured for use with a mobile fuel source for the motorized asset, wherein the mobile fuel source is separate from the asset and capable of being used for more than one motorized asset and fuel provided by the mobile fuel source is the liquid or gaseous fuel used to power the motorized asset, the fuel control device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory, wherein the fuel control device is configured to control the fuel provided to the motorized asset from the fuel source, collect fueling data about fueling of the motorized asset, and wherein the fuel control device is configured to communicate with the asset monitoring device to receive the asset data from the asset monitoring device; and

a central server configured to communicate with the fuel control device to receive the asset data and the fueling data from the fuel control device, wherein the fuel control device is configured to transmit the asset data and the fueling data to the central server;

wherein the fuel control device of the mobile liquid or gaseous fuel source broadcasts a sync frame at a specified radio frequency and the asset monitoring device of the motorized asset powered by liquid or gaseous fuel scans radio frequencies listening for the sync frame from the fuel control device and determines from the signal strength of the sync frame whether the mobile fuel source is within a specified range of the motorized asset; and

wherein, when the mobile fuel source is within the specified range of the motorized asset, the asset monitoring device begins to transmit the asset data to the fuel control device, determines whether the motorized asset has been run for more than a predetermined length of time since the motorized asset was last fueled, and notifies the mobile fuel source whether the motorized asset needs fuel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile fuel source is a fuel truck.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a data collection device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory, wherein the data collection device is configured to communicate with the asset monitoring device to receive the asset data from the asset monitoring device, and wherein the data collection device is configured to communicate with the central server to transmit the asset data to the central server.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the data collection device is configured to communicate with the fuel control device to receive the asset data and the fueling data from the fuel control device, and wherein the data collection device is configured to transmit the asset data and the fueling data to the central server.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel control device is configured to receive central data from the central server and transmit the central data to the asset monitoring device, and wherein the asset monitoring device is configured to receive the central data from the fuel control device.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the central data is managed on the central server and comprises information about at least one of the motorized asset and users of the asset.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset data comprises signals received by the asset monitoring device through a communication bus of the motorized asset.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset data comprises signals received by the asset monitoring device from at least one of a sensor of the motorized asset and a switch of the asset.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset monitoring device is connected to a GPS module, and wherein the asset data comprises signals received by the asset monitoring device from the GPS module.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset monitoring device is connected to a human machine interface, and wherein the asset data comprises signals received by the asset monitoring device from the human machine interface.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising a handheld device configured to communicate with the asset monitoring device, wherein the asset data comprises signals received by the asset monitoring device from the handheld device.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the handheld device is configured to receive inspection data for the motorized asset from the asset monitoring device.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the handheld device is connected to a scanning device for scanning one or more portions of the motorized asset.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset monitoring device is configured to log the asset data intermittently when a predetermined logging trigger is met.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset monitoring device generates data about the motorized asset using at least one of signals received through a communication bus of the motorized asset and signals received from a GPS module of the motorized asset, and wherein the asset data comprises the data generated by the asset monitoring device.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the fueling data comprises signals received by the fuel control device from at least one of a sensor of the mobile fuel source and a switch of the mobile fuel source.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile fuel source is connected to a GPS module, and wherein the fueling data comprises signals received by the mobile fuel source from the GPS module.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the mobile fuel source is connected to a human machine interface, and wherein the fueling data comprises signals received by the fuel control device from the human machine interface.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic of the asset monitoring device tracks the idle time of an engine of the motorized asset.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the control logic compares the RPM of the engine against a predetermined threshold RPM to track the idle time of the motorized asset.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the asset monitoring device sends a signal to an indicator when the engine has been idling for a predetermined maximum idle time.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset monitoring device notifies the mobile fuel source that the motorized asset does not require fuel.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the asset monitoring device sends a signal to turn on a visible indicator to notify an operator of the mobile fuel source that the motorized asset does not require fuel.

24. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel control device determines whether a user is authorized to operate the mobile fuel source.

25. The system of claim 24 further comprising a human machine interface connected to the fuel control device to collect identification data about the user, and wherein the fuel control device compares the identification data against a list of authorized users to determine whether the user is authorized to operate the mobile fuel source.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel control device determines the identity of the motorized asset to be fueled using the mobile fuel source.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the fuel control device determines the identity of the motorized asset from the asset data received from the asset monitoring device.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel control device uses the asset data to determine the amount and type of fuel permitted for the motorized asset.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein an operator of the motorized asset pushes a button that sends a signal to the asset monitoring device to transmit the asset data to the fuel control device.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the asset monitoring device compares the asset data against shut down data managed on the central server and transmitted to the asset monitoring device to determine a length of time the motorized asset is permitted to idle after an ignition of the motorized asset is turned off.

31. A system for monitoring a motorized construction asset, comprising;

at least one asset monitoring device configured for use with the motorized construction asset that is powered by a liquid or gaseous fuel, the asset monitoring device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory, wherein the asset monitoring device is configured to collect asset data about the motorized construction asset;

at least one fuel control device configured for use with a mobile fuel source for the motorized construction asset, the mobile fuel source is separate from the motorized construction asset and capable of being used for more than one motorized construction asset and fuel provided by the mobile fuel source is the liquid or gaseous fuel used to power the motorized construction asset, the fuel control device comprising a controller having control logic and a memory, wherein the fuel control device is configured to control the fuel provided to the motorized construction asset from the mobile fuel source, and wherein the fuel control device is configured to collect fueling data about fueling of the motorized construction asset and communicate with the asset monitoring device to receive the asset data from the asset monitoring device; and

a central server configured to communicate with the fuel control device to receive the asset data and the fueling data from the fuel control device, wherein the fuel control device is configured to transmit the asset data and the fueling data to the central server;

wherein the fuel control device of the mobile fuel source broadcasts a sync frame at a specified radio frequency and the asset monitoring device of the motorized construction asset scans radio frequencies listening for the sync frame from the fuel control device and determines from the signal strength of the sync frame whether the mobile fuel source is within a specified range of the motorized construction asset, and wherein, when the mobile fuel source is within the specified range of the motorized construction asset, the asset monitoring device begins to transmit the asset data to the fuel control device, determines whether the motorized construction asset has been run for more than a predetermined length of time since the motorized construction asset was last fueled, and notifies the mobile fuel source whether the motorized construction asset needs fuel.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the fuel control device controls the amount of fuel provided to the motorized construction asset from the mobile fuel source.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the fuel control device controls the type of fuel provided to the motorized construction asset from the mobile fuel source.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the asset monitoring device determines whether a user is authorized to operate the motorized construction asset.

35. The system of claim 34 further comprising a human machine interface connected to the asset monitoring device that collects identification data about the user, and wherein the asset monitoring device compares the identification data against a list of authorized users to determine whether the user is authorized to operate the motorized construction asset, and wherein the asset monitoring device enables an ignition for the motorized construction asset if the user is authorized to operate the motorized construction asset.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the asset monitoring device determines whether an inspection of the motorized construction asset was completed and enables ignition for the motorized construction asset if the inspection was completed.

37. The system of claim 36 further comprising a handheld device configured to communicate with the asset monitoring device, wherein the handheld device transmits the results of the asset inspection to the asset monitoring device.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the asset monitoring device determines whether the inspection was completed by comparing the results of the inspection against an inspection checklist.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the mobile fuel source is a fuel truck.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the fuel control device is configured to receive central data from the central server and transmit the central data to the asset monitoring device, and wherein the asset monitoring device is configured to receive the central data from the fuel control device, and wherein, when the fuel truck is within the specified range of the motorized construction asset, the fuel control device begins to transmit the central data to the asset monitoring device.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein the list of authorized users is generated from information that includes the level of ability, level of training, certification, and hours worked for each user.

42. The system of claim 39 further comprising a fuel truck human machine interface connected to the fuel control device that collects fuel truck identification data about a user of the fuel truck, and wherein the central data includes fuel truck operator data that is managed on the central server, and wherein the fuel control device compares the fuel truck identification data against the fuel truck operator data to determine whether the user is authorized to operate the fuel truck, and wherein the fuel control device permits the user access to the fuel control device if the user is authorized to operate the fuel truck, and wherein the fuel truck operator data includes a list of authorized fuel truck operators generated from information that includes the level of ability, level of training, certification, and hours worked for each operator.