Rigging Installation State Detection for Automatic Sensor Recalibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Uninstalling and reinstalling the rigging system and/or boom in pipelayer machines can degrade sensor accuracy and reliability due to missed calibrations, leading to misleading data and resource wastage, as operators often forget to recalibrate sensors after installation changes.

Innovation Solution

A controller equipped with sensors detects the installation state of the rigging system by monitoring positional information of movable components, enabling automatic recalibration and adjusting operations accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the rigging system is uninstalled and re-installed, then the machine can be adapted for storage, transportation, or limited clearance areas, but sensor accuracy and reliability are degraded due to missed calibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability of rigging systemVSAvoidreliability of sensor measurements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The controller receives feedback from sensors about the installation state of the rigging system and automatically adjusts operations or notifies the operator to recalibrate, ensuring sensor reliability is maintained after installation changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects installation state changes and triggers recalibration procedures without requiring manual operator intervention, allowing the system to self-correct and maintain reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If the operator manually calibrates sensors after rigging system re-installation, then sensor accuracy is maintained, but operator workload increases and calibration may be forgotten

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of sensor readingsVSAvoidease of sensor calibration

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically performs calibration procedures or triggers them without operator intervention, eliminating the burden of manual calibration while ensuring accuracy is maintained

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The controller proactively detects installation state changes and initiates calibration before operations proceed, ensuring accuracy is maintained without requiring operator recall or action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the controller continues to perform operations with uninstalled rigging system data, then processing resources are consumed, but the data is misleading and operations are inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontroller processing efficiencyVSAvoidaccuracy of operational data

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The controller uses feedback from installation state detection to determine when to accept or reject sensor data, preventing processing of misleading information while maintaining productivity when rigging is properly installed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and removes invalid data from processing when the rigging system is detected as uninstalled, preventing resource waste on misleading information while maintaining operational productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12528672B2Detection of a rigging installation state

Publication Date: 2026.01.20 CATERPILLAR INC

AI summary

In some implementations, a controller may obtain sensor data indicating positional information of a movable component of a machine. The controller may determine, based on the sensor data, an installation state associated with a rigging system of the machine. The controller may perform, based on the installation state, an action associated with the machine.