Wear part monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10689832-B2
Application number	US-201715833993-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 6, 2017
Priority date	Nov 25, 2013
Publication date	Jun 23, 2020
Grant date	Jun 23, 2020

Abstract

A process and tool for monitoring the status, health, and performance of wear parts used on earth working equipment. The process and tool allow the operator to optimize the performance of the earth working equipment. The tool has a clear line of site to the wear parts during use and may be integrated with a bucket or blade on the earth working equipment.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bucket for use with earth working equipment comprising walls defining a containment portion for gathering earthen material to be excavated, a digging edge, wear parts secured along the digging edge, and at least one electronic sensor with a clear line of sight to the wear parts to monitor the wear parts and wirelessly transmit the monitored information.

2. The bucket of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes an optical camera.

3. The bucket of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes an infrared camera.

4. The bucket of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes a thermal imaging camera.

5. The bucket of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor.

6. The bucket of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes a laser interferometer.

7. The bucket of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes a laser range finder.

8. The bucket of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic sensor is secured proximate an upper end of the containment portion.

9. The bucket of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic sensor detects a detachment of any of the wear parts from the digging edge.

10. The bucket of claim 1 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors wearing of the wear parts.

11. A bucket for use with excavating equipment comprising walls defining a containment portion for gathering earthen material to be excavated, a digging edge, and at least one electronic sensor secured to one of the walls to monitor the health and/or performance of the bucket and wirelessly transmit the monitored information.

12. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes an optical camera.

13. The bucket of claim 12 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors acceleration of the bucket during use.

14. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes an infrared camera.

15. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes a thermal imaging camera.

16. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes an ultrasonic sensor.

17. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes a laser interferometer.

18. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor includes a laser range finder.

19. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor is secured proximate an upper end of the containment portion.

20. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors an amount of earthen material gathered in the bucket during use.

21. The bucket of claim 20 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors a digging cycle of the excavating equipment.

22. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors a digging cycle of the excavating equipment.

23. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors strain in the bucket.

24. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors loads on the bucket.

25. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors pressure on the bucket.

26. The bucket of claim 11 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors inclination of the bucket during use.

27. A bucket for use with excavating equipment comprising walls defining a containment portion for gathering earthen material to be excavated, a digging edge, at least one wear part secured to the digging edge, and at least one electronic sensor to monitor at least one of acceleration, strain, and applied load during use, and to wirelessly transmit the monitored information.

28. The bucket of claim 27 wherein the at least one electronic sensor is secured to the at least one wear part.

29. The bucket of claim 28 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors acceleration.

30. The bucket of claim 28 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors strain.

31. The bucket of claim 28 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors load.

32. The bucket of claim 28 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors inclination.

33. The bucket of claim 27 wherein the at least one electronic sensor is secured to one of the walls.

34. The bucket of claim 33 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors acceleration.

35. The bucket of claim 33 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors strain.

36. The bucket of claim 33 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors load.

37. The bucket of claim 33 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors inclination.

38. The bucket of claim 27 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors acceleration.

39. The bucket of claim 27 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors strain.

40. The bucket of claim 27 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors load.

41. The bucket of claim 27 wherein the at least one electronic sensor monitors inclination.

42. A bucket for use with excavating equipment comprising walls defining a containment portion for gathering earthen material to be excavated, a digging edge, at least one wear part secured to the digging edge, a first electronic sensor secured to one of the walls of the bucket, and a second electronic sensor secured to the at least one wear part, wherein the first and second electronic sensors each monitor at least one of status, health and performance of the bucket and/or the at least one wear part during operation.

43. The bucket of claim 42 wherein the first electronic sensor includes an optical camera, an infrared camera, a thermal imaging camera, an ultrasonic sensor, a laser interferometer, and/or a laser range finder.

44. The bucket of claim 43 wherein the second electronic sensor includes an accelerometer, a strain gauge and/or a load cell.

45. The bucket of claim 42 wherein the second electronic sensor includes an accelerometer, a strain gauge and/or a load cell.

46. The bucket of claim 45 wherein the first electronic sensor includes an accelerometer, a strain gauge and/or a load cell.

47. The bucket of claim 42 wherein the first electronic sensor includes an accelerometer, a strain gauge and/or a load cell.

48. The bucket of claim 42 wherein the first electronic sensor monitors the inclination of the bucket.

Assignees

• Esco Corp
• Esco Group Llc

Inventors

• Bewley Eric L
• Cowgill Noah D
• Blomberg Joseph E

Classifications

• G06V10/44

  Local feature extraction by analysis of parts of the pattern, e.g. by detecting edges, contours, loops, corners, strokes or intersections; Connectivity analysis, e.g. of connected components · CPC title

• A01B15/06

  Interchangeable or adjustable shares · CPC title

• A01B15/00

  Elements, tools, or details of ploughs · CPC title

• A01B23/02

  Teeth; Fixing the teeth · CPC title

• E02F9/24

  Safety devices {, e.g. for preventing overload (E02F9/226 takes precedence)} · CPC title