Monitoring ground engaging products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11788894-B2
Application number	US-202016903255-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 16, 2020
Priority date	Jun 17, 2019
Publication date	Oct 17, 2023
Grant date	Oct 17, 2023

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for detecting a characteristic of a ground engaging product on earth working equipment are described. The apparatus is operable to: measure a temperature profile at a ground engaging product location; compare the measured temperature profile with an expected temperature profile for that ground engaging product; and indicate a characteristic of the ground engaging product based on the comparison. Thermal inserts for use with ground engaging products on earth working equipment are also described.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of ascertaining a characteristic of a ground engaging product on earth working equipment, the method comprising the steps of: (i) measuring a temperature at a plurality of different locations on or near the earth working equipment, including at least one location on the ground engaging product; (ii) identifying presence or absence of areas of temperature contrast near a location of an expected thermal insert; and (iii) indicating a characteristic of the ground engaging product based on the identified areas.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising using the measured temperatures to create a thermal map of at least part of the ground engaging product.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein identifying presence or absence of areas of temperature contrast near a location of an expected thermal insert includes using one or more markers or other indicators to align with areas of expected temperature contrast.

4. A method according to claim 3 , wherein the one or more markers or other indicators are overlaid on a thermal map to highlight areas of expected temperature contrast.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein indicating a characteristic of the ground engaging product based on the identified areas includes classifying an amount of wear on the ground engaging product into a plurality of categories.

6. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising generating an alert when the wear exceeds a defined classification level.

7. Monitoring apparatus for detecting a characteristic of a ground engaging product on earth working equipment, the monitoring apparatus comprising:
a thermal detector operable to measure a temperature at a plurality of different locations on or near the earth working equipment, including at least one location on the ground engaging product; and
a processor operable to (i) identify presence or absence of areas of temperature contrast near a location of an expected thermal insert, and (ii) identify a characteristic of the ground engaging product based on the identified areas.

8. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 7 , further comprising a plurality of thermal detectors, each coupled to the processor.

9. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 8 , wherein a plurality of the thermal detectors are directed at different parts of the ground engaging product.

10. Monitoring apparatus for detecting a characteristic of a ground engaging product on earth working equipment, the monitoring apparatus comprising:
a thermal detector operable to measure a temperature at a plurality of different locations on or near the earth working equipment, including at least one location on the ground engaging product, and
a processor operable to identify presence or absence of areas of temperature contrast near or at a location of the ground engaging product to identify a characteristic of the ground engaging product based on the identified areas.

11. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the processor is further operable to identify presence or absence of areas of temperature contrast by comparing measurements of a current thermal image of the ground engaging product with measurements of a previously recorded thermal image of the ground engaging product, and detecting any reduction in size of part of the ground engaging product.

12. Monitoring apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the monitoring apparatus comprises a plurality of thermal detectors, each thermal detector being coupled to the processor, and directed towards different parts of the ground engaging product.

Assignees

• Esco Group Llc

Inventors

• Betournay Jason W
• Cowgill Noah D
• Hyde Steven D
• Carpenter Christopher M
• Anderton John M

Classifications

• B64U2201/202

  using tethers for connecting to ground station · CPC title

• B60Y2200/412

  Excavators · CPC title

• E02F9/267

  Diagnosing or detecting failure of vehicles · CPC title

• B64C39/024

  of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV · CPC title

• B64C39/022

  Tethered aircraft · CPC title