Caterpillar Inc.

Satish M Shetty

David R Schricker

Craig L Koehrsen

Rolland D Scholl

David G Young

Adam J Gudat

Lonnie J Devier

Daniel E Henderson

Jagannathan Sarangapani

Karl W Kleimenhagen

William C Sahm

Gregory R Harrod

Donna J Murr

N Keith Lay

Ronald J Siroky

A communications system and method for fleets of earthworking machines. The system and method includes a global communications level for communicating over long range distances, at least one site communications level for communicating over medium range distances, and at least one theater communications level for communicating over short range distances. The system and method also includes at least one local communications level for communicating between earthworking machines, and a fleet manager for coordinating communications of the earthworking machines as a function of at least one of the global communications level, the site communications level, the theater communications level, and the local communications level.

System and method for communicating information for fleets of

An apparatus for determining a position of a work implement of a work machine in a site coordinate system. The position of the work implement is defined as the position in the site coordinate system of two fixed points located on the work implement. The apparatus includes first and second position sensors mounted on the work implement. A pitch sensor connected to the work implement senses a pitch of the work implement and responsively produces a pitch signal. A cross slope sensor connected to the work implement senses a cross slope of the work implement and responsively produces a cross slope signal. A rotation sensor connected to the work implement senses a rotation of the work implement and responsively produces a rotation sensor. A controller, coupled to the first and second GPS receivers, the pitch sensor, the cross slope sensor and the rotation sensor, receives the first and second position, pitch, cross slope, and rotation signals, determines the position of the work implement in the site coordinate system as a function of the first and second position signals and the pitch signal if the first and second position signals are valid and determines the position of the work implement in the site coordinate system as a function if one of the first and second position signals and the pitch, cross slope and rotation signals if an other of the first and second position signals is not valid.

Apparatus and method for determining the position of a work implement

The present invention provides a site database structure for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a control system on a work machine. The work machine operates at a work site. The data representing a parameter of the work site. A data structure is stored in the memory. The data structure includes information resident in a database used by the application program. A plurality of data objects are associated with the data structure. Each data object represents a defined section of the work site and is represented by a set of predefined coordinates. At least one layer object is associated with each data object. Each layer object has a predefined number of cell objects. Each cell object has an associated value of the parameter.

System and method for representing parameters in a work site database

A method for providing information relating to a machine to a user is provided. The method includes the steps of sensing predetermined events relating to the machine and producing corresponding event signals, delivering the event signals to a remote site, comparing the event signals to a profile of events corresponding to the user, and delivering a notification signal to the user if the event signals match the profile.

Method for providing information relating to a mobile machine to a user

An apparatus for comparing one machine in a fleet of machines is provided. The apparatus senses a plurality of characteristics of each machine in the fleet and responsively determines a set of fleet data. The apparatus further determines a set of reference machine data as a function of the fleet data, compares the data for the machine with the reference machine data, and responsively produces a deviation signal.

Method and apparatus for comparing machines in fleet

A method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring similar machine components loaded in parallel to produce trend information useful in diagnosing and predicting component degradation or failure. The invention is illustrated for engine cylinder exhaust port and manifold temperature measurements. In one embodiment split exhaust manifolds are each provided with a sensor to produce signals indicating the exhaust temperature. A computer-based trending module receives the parallel temperature information, periodically determines a difference between the temperatures, and averages the differential temperature readings over a predefined trend period to generate a trend values. A trend based on a plurality of the trend points is generated and monitored for changes which indicate the possible degradation of one of the measured components. A trap window (trend definition) comprising one or more machine operating parameter levels which must be met to generate a trend value can be used to improve the diagnostic value of the trending. The trap window can be further refined with a trap-lag period allowing the measured components to reach a steady state when a new trap window is entered before trend values are generated. The invention can be used with both stationary and mobile machines, with the data trending and monitoring performed either onboard or remotely from the machine.

Method and apparatus for machine health inference by comparing two like

An apparatus is provided for indicating a fault condition in a machine having a plurality of parameters each having levels being dependent upon machine performance. The apparatus includes a sensor adapted to produce an electrical signal in response to the level of one of the of parameters; and a processor for identifying a trend in the parameter level in response to the electrical signal, calculating the duration and slope of the trend; and determining whether a first warning threshold is exceeded in response to the duration and slope of the trend, the first warning threshold being a function of duration and slope.

Method and apparatus for indicating a fault condition

A method for reduces the amount of information relating to the status of a vehicle relayed from the vehicle to a remote location over a communications data link. The method includes the steps of generating a fault code, delivering the fault code to the remote location across the data link, and receiving the fault code at the remote location and responsively generating a data request signal. The data request signal is delivered to the vehicle over the data link, and vehicle information is generated and delivered to the remote location over the data link.

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East Peoria, IL, United States of America

Satish M Shetty