System for Monitoring Machine Components of Track-Type Mobile Machines

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for monitoring the status of machine components of a track-type mobile machine. The method and apparatus includes a sensor system on or within a machine component of a track-type mobile machine that monitors the status or a characteristic of the machine component. The sensor system transmits the information relating to the status or characteristic to an ECU of the track-type mobile machine and the ECU performs an action based thereon.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A track-type mobile machine including an operator alert system comprising:
 a track-type mobile machine having an engine, the engine having an ECU operatively connected to the engine, and an undercarriage, the undercarriage including a track;   a transmitter located on a portion of the track for transmitting information; and   a transceiver located on a portion of the track type-mobile machine and operatively connected to the ECU, for receiving information from the transmitter and communicating the information to the ECU.   
     
     
         2 . The track-type mobile machine of  claim 1  wherein the engine includes a torque converter, the ECU monitors a torque converter input speed and a torque converter output speed, the transmitter transmits information relating to a track speed to the transceiver, and the ECU calculates an undercarriage load based thereon. 
     
     
         3 . The track-type mobile machine of  claim 2  wherein an alert is displayed to an operator of the track-type mobile machine if the undercarriage load or track speed exceeds a predetermined limit. 
     
     
         4 . The track-type mobile machine of  claim 3  wherein if the undercarriage load or track speed is not reduced below the predetermined limit after a predetermined period of time, the ECU reduces engine power to a predetermined level. 
     
     
         5 . The track-type mobile machine of  claim 1  wherein the information transmitted by the transmitter includes at least one of a serial number for the track-type mobile machine and a track part number. 
     
     
         6 . The track-type mobile machine of  claim 5  wherein the ECU compares the transmitted serial number or track part number to an expected serial number or track part number, and if the expected serial number or track part number does not match the transmitted serial number or track part number, or no serial number or track part number is received, the ECU disables undercarriage-related electronics. 
     
     
         7 . The track-type mobile machine of  claim 1  wherein the transmitter is a BLE transmitter and the transceiver is a BLE transceiver. 
     
     
         8 . The track-type mobile machine of  claim 1  wherein the track is a loop comprised of a plurality of coupled track links, the track links are coupled by a track pin, at least one track pin having a sealing cavity, and wherein the transmitter is positioned in the sealing cavity. 
     
     
         9 . A method for monitoring the status of machine components of a track-type mobile machine, the method comprising:
 installing a sensor system on or within a machine component of a track-type mobile machine;   installing the machine component with the sensor system on the track-type mobile machine, and operably connecting the sensor system to an ECU for the track-type mobile machine;   collecting information with the sensor system while the track-type mobile machine is performing work on a worksite, the information relating to a characteristic experienced by the machine component;   transmitting the information with the sensor system to the ECU;   comparing the information collected by the sensor system with predetermined parameters stored within the ECU related to the characteristic experienced by the machine component; and   performing an action in response to the information collected based upon the relationship of the information to the predetermined parameters.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the characteristic is at least one of wear, temperature, fluid level, fluid pressure, speed, or load experienced by the machine component. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9  wherein an alert is displayed to an operator of the track-type mobile machine if the collected information falls outside the predetermined parameters. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the ECU reduces an engine power of the track-type mobile machine to a predetermined level if the collected information falls outside the predetermined parameters. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the collected information is at least one of a serial number for the track-type mobile machine and a machine component part number. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the ECU compares the serial number or machine component part number to an expected serial number or machine component part number, and, if the expected serial number or track part number does not match the received serial number or machine component part number, or no serial number or machine component part number is received, the ECU disables predetermined machine component-related functions. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the sensor system includes a BLE transmitter and a BLE transceiver. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the machine component is an undercarriage of a track-type mobile machine and the information collected is a speed of a track used in connection therewith. 
     
     
         17 . A method for monitoring the status of an undercarriage of a track-type mobile machine, the method comprising:
 selecting a track-type mobile machine having an engine, the engine having an ECU operatively connected to the engine, and an undercarriage, the undercarriage including a track;   installing a transmitter on a portion of the track for transmitting information;   installing a transceiver on a portion of a track type-mobile machine operatively connected to the ECU, for receiving information from the transmitter and communicating the information to the ECU;   collecting information with the transmitter while the track-type mobile machine is performing work on a worksite, the information relating to a characteristic experienced by the track.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein an alert is displayed to an operator of the track-type mobile machine if the information relating to a characteristic experienced by the track is outside of predetermined parameters stored in the ECU. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the information transmitted by the transmitter includes at least one of a serial number for the track-type mobile machine and a track part number. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising comparing the transmitted serial number or track part number to an expected serial number or track part number, and if the expected serial number or track part number does not match the transmitted serial number or track part number, or no serial number or track part number is received, disabling a predetermined undercarriage-related function.