Wear part monitoring

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018100293-A1
Application number	US-201715834003-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 6, 2017
Priority date	Nov 25, 2013
Publication date	Apr 12, 2018
Grant date	—

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

1 - 47 . (canceled)

48 . A system for monitoring earth working equipment, the system comprising:
a ground-engaging product including a base supported by the earth working equipment and at least one wear part secured to the base; at least one electronic sensor secured to the ground-engaging product for detecting at least one of strain, load and pressure in the ground-engaging product during use, and wirelessly transmitting such information; and a programmable logic device using the transmitted information from the at least one electronic sensor and making an assessment regarding at least one of the status, health and performance of the base and/or wear part.

49 . The system of claim 48 wherein the at least one electronic sensor is secured to the at least one wear part.

50 . The system of claim 49 wherein the at least one electronic sensor detects strain during use.

51 . The system of claim 49 wherein the at least one electronic sensor detects loads during use.

52 . The system of claim 49 wherein the at least one electronic sensor detects pressure during use.

53 . The system of claim 48 wherein the at least one electronic sensor is secured to the base.

54 . The system of claim 53 wherein the at least one electronic sensor detects strain during use.

55 . The system of claim 53 wherein the at least one electronic sensor detects loads during use.

56 . The system of claim 53 wherein the at least one electronic sensor detects pressure during use.

57 . The system of claim 48 wherein the base is an excavating bucket with a digging edge, and the at least one wear part is secured to the digging edge.

58 . A system for monitoring earth working equipment, the system comprising:
a ground-engaging product including a base supported by the earth working equipment and at least one wear part secured to the base; at least one electronic sensor secured to the ground-engaging product for detecting impact on the ground-engaging product during use, and wirelessly transmitting such information; and a programmable logic device using the transmitted information from the at least one electronic sensor and making an assessment regarding the ground-engaging product and/or operation.

59 . The system of claim 58 wherein the base is a bucket with a digging edge, and the at least one wear part is secured to the digging edge.

60 . The system of claim 58 wherein the at least one electronic sensor is secured to the base.

61 . The system of claim 58 wherein the at least one electronic sensor is secured to the at least one wear part.

62 . A system for monitoring earth working equipment, the system comprising a ground-engaging product including a base supported by the earth working equipment and a wear part secured to the base, an accelerometer secured to the ground-engaging product, a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the data generated by the accelerometer, and a programmable logic device using the transmitted data to make an assessment regarding at least one of the status, health and performance of the base and/or wear part.

63 . The system of claim 62 including an inclinometer secured to the ground-engaging product, and wherein the transmitter wirelessly transmits the data generated by the inclinometer, and the programmable logic device uses the inclinometer data to make the assessment.

64 . The system of claim 62 wherein the assessment includes determining impacts experienced by the ground-engaging product.

65 . The system of claim 62 wherein the base is a bucket with a digging edge, and the wear part is secured to the digging edge.

66 . The system of claim 62 wherein the accelerometer is secured to the wear part.

67 . The system of claim 62 wherein the accelerometer is secured to the base.

68 . A system for monitoring earth working equipment, the system comprising a ground-engaging product including a base supported by the earth working equipment and a wear part secured to the base, a strain gauge secured to the ground-engaging product, a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the data generated by the strain gauge, and a programmable logic device using the transmitted data to make an assessment regarding at least one of the status, health and performance of the base and/or wear part.

69 . The system of claim 68 wherein the base is a bucket with a digging edge, and the wear part is secured to the digging edge.

70 . The system of claim 68 wherein the strain gauge is secured to the wear part.

71 . The system of claim 68 wherein the strain gauge is secured to the base.

72 . A system for monitoring earth working equipment, the system comprising a ground-engaging product including a base supported by the earth working equipment and a wear part secured to the base, a load cell secured to the ground-engaging product, a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the data generated by the load cell, and a programmable logic device using the transmitted data to make an assessment regarding at least one of the status, health or performance of the base and/or wear part.

73 . The system of claim 72 wherein the base is a bucket with a digging edge, and the wear part is secured to the digging edge.

74 . The system of claim 72 wherein the load cell is secured to the wear part.

75 . The system of claim 72 wherein the load cell is secured to the base.

76 . A system for monitoring earth working equipment, the system comprising a ground-engaging product including a base supported by the earth working equipment and a wear part secured to the base, a pressure sensor secured to the ground-engaging product, a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the data generated by the pressure sensor, and a programmable logic device using the transmitted data to make an assessment regarding at least one of the status, health and performance of the base and/or wear part.

77 . The system of claim 76 wherein the base is a bucket with a digging edge, and the wear part is secured to the digging edge.

78 . The system of claim 76 wherein the pressure sensor is secured to the wear part.

79 . The system of claim 76 wherein the pressure sensor is secured to the base.

Assignees

• Esco Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• E02F9/2833

  Retaining means, e.g. pins · CPC title

• A01B23/02

  Teeth; Fixing the teeth · CPC title

• E02F3/815

  Blades; Levelling {or scarifying} tools {(E02F3/40 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E02F9/2883

  Wear elements for buckets or implements in general · CPC title

• E02F9/24

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