Fleet management system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10060827-B2
Application number	US-201414586323-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2014
Priority date	Jan 17, 2014
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

In one example, fleet devices are monitored. The fleet devices include engines. A controller, such as an engine controller or centralized controller, receives sensor data indicative of a load on the engine from one or more of the fleet devices. The controller analyzes the load from the sensor data to identify a management function. The controller generates a message including the management function.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising: receiving sensor data from a position sensor or a pressure sensor mounted in a manifold of at least one engine to collect data for a throttle valve of the at least one engine, the sensor data indicative of a bad on the at least one engine from one or more fleet devices, wherein the sensor data describes a throttle position of the at least one engine, wherein the load includes a mechanical device connected to the at least one engine; comparing the sensor data to a load signature; starting a timer when the sensor data matches the load signature; determining a management function based on the timer; and generating a message including the management function.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor data includes throttle position data and manifold pressure data.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
accessing an expected value for manifold pressure according to the throttle position data;
comparing the manifold pressure data to the expected value for manifold pressure; and
generating a warning message for the management function when the manifold pressure data exceeds the expected value by a threshold amount.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
calculating a maintenance interval for the management function.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mechanical device is a lawnmower deck.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the load signature describes a model of a lawnmower, a welder, a pump, or a plow.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
identifying oil data indicative of a state of the oil of the at least one engine, wherein the management function includes a maintenance interval calculated as a function of the oil data, wherein the state of the oil includes an oil quality, an oil level, or both.

8. A method comprising:
receiving sensor data from an engine control unit electrically connected to one or more fuel injectors of an engine, the sensor data indicative of a load on the engine of one or more fleet devices;
analyzing, using a processor, the load from the sensor data to identify a management function;
calculating a maintenance interval for the management function, wherein the sensor data includes injection time data indicative of an operation of one or more fuel injectors of the engine and the maintenance interval is calculated as a function of the injection time data; and
generating, using the processor, a message including the management function.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
identifying oil data indicative of a state of the oil of the engine, wherein maintenance interval is calculated as a function of the oil data, wherein the state of the oil includes an oil quality, an oil level, or both.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sensor data is indicative of a mechanical device connected to the engine.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the mechanical device is a lawnmower deck.

12. A method comprising:
receiving sensor data indicative of a load on an engine from one or more lawnmowers, wherein the sensor data indicates throttle position of the engine;
analyzing, using a processor, the load from the sensor data to identify a management function;
performing a comparison of the sensor data to a set of load signatures;
selecting a lawnmower type based on the comparison; and
generating, using the processor, a message including the management function according to the lawnmower type.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
assigning a job request based on a deck size of the selected lawnmower type.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
determining a mowing pattern based on a deck size of the selected lawnmower type.

15. An apparatus comprising:
a memory including a plurality of management functions for one or more fleet devices; and
a processor configured to analyze sensor data indicative of a load on an engine of the one or more fleet devices and generate a message including a management function selected from the memory based on the load of the engine,
wherein the sensor data indicates throttle position of the engine, and the sensor data is indicative of a lawnmower deck connected to the engine,
wherein the processor is configured to compare the sensor data to a load signature and start a timer when the sensor data matches the load signature, wherein the management function is based on the timer.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the sensor data includes throttle position data and manifold pressure data, and the processor is configured to access an expected value based on the sensor data and generate a warning message when the sensor data is inconsistent with the expected value.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor is configured to compare the sensor data to a set of load signatures and select a lawnmower based on the comparison.

18. An apparatus comprising:
an engine mechanically connected to a mechanical device;
a sensor mounted on the engine and configured to collect sensor data indicative of a throttle position of the engine and indicative of a load on the engine based, at least in part, to the mechanical device connected to the engine;
a processor configured to provide a management function for the engine based on a received analysis of the sensor data including a comparison of the sensor data to a load signature and a timer based on the comparison,
wherein a message including the management function is provided to a user of the engine.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the mechanical device is a lawnmower deck.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Schnell William
• Radue Martin
• Andren Travis
• Baumann Todd
• Johansen Mark

Classifications

• G07C2205/02

  using a vehicle scan tool · CPC title

• G07C5/008 Primary

  communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C) · CPC title

• G06Q10/20

  Administration of product repair or maintenance · CPC title

• G06Q10/0833

  Tracking · CPC title

• A01B67/00

  Devices for controlling the tractor motor by resistance of tools · CPC title