Monitoring system for determining a vehicle maintenance condition based on weight

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11227451-B2
Application number	US-201816214291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2018
Priority date	Dec 8, 2017
Publication date	Jan 18, 2022
Grant date	Jan 18, 2022

Abstract

The invention is a monitoring system for determining a vehicle maintenance condition based on weight. The system includes a monitoring station, a weight determination system, a data input device configured to receive input data, and a processing device. The processing device includes a processor and non-volatile memory. The processor is configured to receive load ratings for a tow vehicle and tow equipment, receive maintenance requirements for the tow vehicle and the tow equipment, receive vehicle use requirements for the tow vehicle and the tow equipment, receive weight data from the weight determination system, and receive the input data from the data input device. Additionally, the processor is configured to determine at least one maintenance condition based on the load ratings, the weight data, and the input data. The processor is also configured to send the maintenance condition data to the monitoring system and communicate the maintenance condition to a user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A monitoring system for determining a vehicle maintenance condition based on weight, comprising:
a monitoring station comprising a communication module;
a weight determination system comprising at least one sensor;
a data input device configured to receive input data; and
a processing device comprising a processor and non-volatile memory;
wherein the processor is configured to:
receive load ratings for a tow vehicle and tow equipment;
receive maintenance requirements for the tow vehicle and the tow equipment;
receive vehicle use requirements for the tow vehicle and the tow equipment;
receive weight data from the weight determination system;
receive the input data from the data input device;
determine at least one maintenance condition based on the load ratings, the maintenance requirements, the vehicle use requirements, the weight data, and the input data;
send the at least one determined maintenance condition to the monitoring station; and
communicate the at least one determined maintenance condition to a user;

wherein the monitoring system sends at least one control command to a vehicle computer server.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one determined maintenance condition determines at least one vehicle maintenance task.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one determined maintenance condition determines at least one vehicle use restriction.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring system:
receives at least one weight update at each stop along a trip; and
makes an adjustment to the at least one determined maintenance condition based on the weight update.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the weight data comprises vehicle weight.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5 , wherein the weight data further comprises trailer weight.

7. The monitoring system of claim 6 , wherein the monitoring system restricts at least one of:
access to a tow vehicle based on the at least one determined maintenance condition; and
access to a trailer based on the at least one determined maintenance condition.

8. The monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the access restriction comprises at least one of:
locking out a specific user based on the at least one determined maintenance condition;
modifying vehicle operation controls based on the at least one determined maintenance condition;
restricting connection of a specific trailer to a specific tow vehicle;
requiring the specific user to enter load type via the input device; and
requiring the specific user to enter trip data.

9. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one control command controls the operation of the tow vehicle based on the at least one determined maintenance conditions.

10. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the data input device is an OBD device connected by a plug-in connector to a vehicle OBD port.

11. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the data input device receives data from the at least one sensor.

12. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring station receives and transmits data via a wireless interface.

13. The monitoring system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to build a model of a set-up for a specific vehicle connected to a specific trailer;
wherein the model determines at least one maintenance mode based on the data associated with the set-up for the model;
wherein the model is stored in the non-volatile memory;
wherein the monitoring system receives user settings;
wherein the monitoring system communicates the at least one determined maintenance condition for the model to the vehicle control system; and
wherein the monitoring system alerts the user to the at least one determined maintenance condition for the model.

14. The monitoring system of claim 13 , wherein the non-volatile memory stores factory settings and user settings specific to the model.

15. The monitoring system of claim 13 , wherein the monitoring system further comprises a cloud-based network;
wherein factory settings, the user settings and the sensor data are stored in the memory of the cloud-based network;
wherein the cloud-based network processor is configured to:
determine set-up specific maintenance condition for a specific towing set-up of tow vehicle, trailer and all associated tow equipment; and
transmit the set-up specific maintenance condition to the monitoring system based on the sensor data, the factory settings, and the user settings.

16. The monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the data input device comprises a cell phone, satellite phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant, tablet computer, laptop computer, remote control device, mobile transmitter, a mobile internet device or a combination of one or more of the same.

17. The monitoring system of claim 13 , wherein the processor converts data from the at least one sensor to an electrical signal; and wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least one of: electromagnetic, electrochemical, electric current, electric potential, magnetic, radio, air flow, accelerometers, pressure, electro-acoustic, electro-optical, photoelectric, electrostatic, thermoelectric, radio-acoustic, environmental, moisture, humidity, fluid velocity, position, angle, displacement, or combinations thereof.

18. The monitoring system of claim 13 , wherein the monitoring system further:
monitors, via the one or more sensors, behavior of a vehicle and its components while driving on a specific trip;
makes adjustments to the maintenance mode and the model for the specific trip based on the specific trip sensor data and input data; and
stores, in the non-volatile memory, an adjusted maintenance mode model based on the adjustments.

Assignees

• Hall Labs Llc

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Hall Michael
• Myer Seth

Classifications

• G01G19/12 Primary

  having electrical weight-sensitive devices · CPC title

• G01G23/3742

  using a mobile telephone network · CPC title

• G01G23/005

  Means for preventing overload · CPC title

• G07C5/006

  Indicating maintenance · CPC title

• G07C5/008

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