External Sensor Monitoring for Ground-Engaging Product Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for monitoring ground-engaging products on earth working equipment face challenges in accurately detecting wear, presence, and separation, leading to reduced efficiency and increased wear on equipment due to heavy loading and abrasive conditions, which can result in premature wear and damage.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring system comprising sensors and wireless communication devices placed externally on ground-engaging products, secured to locks or lifting eyes, to detect part identification, presence, condition, and usage, providing real-time data and alerts to operators to prevent unnecessary wear and equipment damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If sensors are placed inside the mounting cavity of ground-engaging products, then the products can be monitored for wear and condition, but the monitoring system becomes vulnerable to damage from heavy loading and abrasive conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring device is extracted from the vulnerable mounting cavity environment and relocated to the lock or lifting eye, which are external components that protect the monitoring device from direct exposure to heavy loading and abrasive conditions while still enabling effective monitoring of the ground-engaging product
2Measurement precision
If existing monitoring systems are used to detect wear and presence, then part monitoring is enabled, but the systems fail to provide accurate detection leading to reduced equipment efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring device provides continuous real-time feedback about the ground-engaging product's wear, presence, and condition to the operator, enabling timely decisions to maintain or replace products before they fail, thus maintaining high equipment efficiency and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables preliminary detection of wear and condition issues before they lead to product failure or separation, allowing operators to take preventive action to maintain equipment efficiency
3Loss of time
If ground-engaging products are not monitored accurately, then operators cannot detect separation timely, but this leads to damage to downstream processing equipment and increased downtime
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring device provides immediate feedback when a ground-engaging product becomes separated or fails, enabling operators to respond quickly and prevent damage to downstream equipment while minimizing downtime
Data Source
AI summary
A product and system for identifying and monitoring a characteristic including the part ID, presence, condition, usage and/or performance of ground-engaging products used on various kinds of earth working equipment.