DESC:FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patent Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See sections 10 & rule 13)
1. TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SENSING, MONITORING, MEASURING AND RECORDING THE CRAWLING TIME OF A CRAWLER EQUIPMENT
2. APPLICANT (S)
NAME NATIONALITY ADDRESS
BEML LIMITED IN BEML Soudha, No 23/1, 4th Main S.R. Nagar, Bengaluru- 560027, Karnataka, India.
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION:
[001] The present invention relates to the field of crawler equipment monitoring. The present invention in particular relates to a system and method for sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART:
[002] The crawler equipments are mainly intended to use in application where very less movement/travel is required. The crawling time is very useful for deriving/ estimating so many parameters such as life of track chain, life of travel motor and other travel circuit components and unnecessary warranty claims, etc.
[003] Reference may be made to the following:
[004] Publication No. US20110276261 relates to a crane operation evaluation device for evaluating an operation status of an operator of a crane performing a crane work by using drive power of an engine. The crane 100 includes a crawler-type lower propelling body 102, an upper slewing body 104 serving as a crane main body and installed on the lower propelling body 102 so that the upper slewing body can rotate about the vertical axis, a boom 106 serving as a raising/lowering member mounted on the upper slewing body 104 so that the boom can be raised and lowered, and a main hook 108a and an auxiliary hook 108b as suspended loading parts that hang down from a tip of the boom 106. The crane 100 is also provided with an engine 109 (see FIG. 2). In this the calculation unit 16 calculates a moment by multiplying the calculated work radius by the suspended load and calculates the moment-time by multiplying the calculated moment by the corresponding work time”, which represents the swing related operations. Also the publication doesn’t specify the any particular system functionality about the sensing or measuring of the crawler movement and recording/ storing the crawler movement time.
[005] Publication No. CN114458576 relates to a control method and device for engineering machinery, a controller and the engineering machinery. The control method for the engineering machinery comprises the steps that the real-time rotating speed of an engine of the engineering machinery is obtained; acquiring real-time voltage of a power supply of the engineering machinery; determining a preset start-stop state according to the real-time rotating speed and the real-time voltage; acquiring a real-time on-off state of an electric air conditioner of the engineering machinery; and the real-time start-stop state of the electric air conditioner is controlled according to the preset start-stop state and the real-time on-off state.
[006] Publication No. US2005151845 relates to a monitoring display system for use within a cab of an automotive vehicular construction machine to display on a monitor screen picture images of a dead angle monitor camera as a through-view in the back ground of superimposed picture images of instrumentation data indicating readings of various instruments on the machine.
[007] Publication No. CN212623106 relates to a cold chain transportation device capable of remotely monitoring temperature and geographic position in real time, which belongs to the field of cold chain logistics, a GPS (Global Positioning System) positioning module, a GPRS (General packet radio service) communication module and a temperature sensor are respectively and electrically connected with an MCU (Micro programmed control unit) master control module, and the GPS positioning module acquires real-time geographic position data through a GPS positioning antenna. The GPRS communication module performs remote wireless data transmission through the GPRS data transmission antenna, and the temperature sensor acquires real-time temperature data through the low-temperature probe. According to the cold chain transportation device capable of remotely monitoring the temperature and the geographic position in real time, the position or the temperature information of a product in the cold chain transportation process is obtained in real time, the transportation direction and the environment temperature information of the product can be conveniently tracked in time, emergency response is timely and rapid, and the transportation process is safer and more reliable; a client can track the position or temperature information of product transportation in real time, so that the product is used more securely, and the user experience is improved.
[008] Publication No. CN111553640 discloses a method, a system and a device for remotely monitoring cold-chain transportation in real time, which solve the technical problem that a client cannot track the state of a carried product in real time at present, and comprise the following steps of: S1, measuring a temperature data signal of the product in cold-chain transportation and acquiring a geographic position data signal of the product in cold-chain transportation; S2, the temperature data signal is converted into a digital signal which can be processed by a monitoring host through an intermediate circuit module, the monitoring host is in data connection with a server, and the monitoring host receives the digital signal and the geographic position data signal and transmits real-time temperature data and geographic position data of a product to the server; and S3, accessing the server through clients such as a mobile phone, and checking real-time transportation product temperature data and geographic position data. According to the technical scheme, the cold chain transportation parameters are measured and remotely transmitted to the client side, and therefore the purpose of better customer satisfaction is achieved.
[009] Publication No. CN211004297 relates to a monitoring system of a crawler crane, and relates to the field of hoisting equipment. The system comprises at least one display arranged in a cab of the crawler crane; the controller is electrically connected with the display; the sensing assembly is connected with the controller, and specifically comprises an inclination angle sensor, a data processing module and a data processing module, and the inclination angle sensor is arranged on a large arm of the crawler crane; the encoder is arranged on the big arm; the pressure sensor is arranged on a pull arm of the crawler crane; the tension sensor is arranged on a pull rope of the crawler crane and is close to the pull arm; the wind speed sensor is arranged at the top of the big arm; the sensor assembly sends collected data to the controller. Compared with the prior art, the device has the advantages of being convenient to install, high in measurement accuracy, good in stability and high in integration degree, greatly reducing cost, and meanwhile guaranteeing whole vehicle operation safety of the crawler crane.
[010] Patent No. US5890553 relates to an automated crawling robot system including a platform, a first leg assembly, a second leg assembly, first and second rails attached to the platform, and an onboard electronic computer controller. The first leg assembly has an intermittent coupling device and the second leg assembly has an intermittent coupling device for intermittently coupling the respective first and second leg assemblies to a particular object. The first and second leg assemblies are slidably coupled to the rail assembly and are slidably driven by motors to thereby allow linear movement. In addition, the first leg assembly is rotary driven by a rotary motor to thereby provide rotary motion relative to the platform. To effectuate motion, the intermittent coupling devices of the first and second leg assemblies alternately couple the respective first and second leg assemblies to an object. This motion is done while simultaneously moving one of the leg assemblies linearly in the desired direction and preparing the next step. This arrangement allows the crawler of the present invention to traverse an object in a range of motion covering 360 degrees.
[011] Publication No. CN109656240 relates to a vehicle path tracking control device, method and vehicle. The vehicle path tracking control device includes a navigation control module and a drive module. The navigation control module is used for determining the position offset of a controlled vehicle deviating from a target path based on the current driving state information of the controlled vehicle and information of a generated target path, generating a control command based on the position offset and sending the control command to the drive module. The drive module receives the control command and drives the controlled vehicle based on the control command to steer so as to modify the position offset and enable the controlled vehicle to drive along the target path. According to the invention, automatic modification can be conducted after a vehicle deviates from the target path during the driving process, so that the aim of making the vehicle drive along the target path is realized.
[012] Patent No. US6424966 relates to a method and system for the processing and maintenance of electronic information retrieved from electronic documents stored on a computer network. The gatherer program of the present invention employs a crawler to crawl a portion of the computer network to retrieve electronic documents found during the crawl and that meet a set of crawl restriction rules. Some or all of the data contained in the copies of electronic documents is then stored in a data store such as an index. The invention keeps the data in the data store current by accepting notifications of when a previously retrieved document has changed. The notifications are sent by a notification source that monitors a space containing the previously retrieved documents for changes occurring after the document was last retrieved by the gatherer program. Because the document is being monitored for changes by the notification source, the gatherer program only needs to retrieve the document again when the gatherer program has been notified that the document has changed. If the notification source experiences a discontinuity, such as a system shutdown, the notification source requests that the gatherer perform an initialization crawl to retrieve any documents that changed while the notification source was not operational.
[013] Publication No. CN105035976 relates to a crawling crane gravity center control system and a control method thereof. The system comprises a crawling crane, two track shoes and four pressure monitoring units, wherein a supporting surface of the crawling crane is constituted by a rectangle formed by the peripheries of the two track shoes, a movable balance weight of the crawling crane is placed on a balance weight slide of a main machine, and is connected with the main machine by a balance weight telescopic oil cylinder, the pressure monitoring units are symmetrically distributed at four corners of the two track shoes of the crawling crane and are close to end parts, when the crawling crane lifts a weight or performs amplitude variation action, the gravity center of the whole crane would change, and the change can be offset by pushing or pulling a balance weight structure close in real time by using the balance weight telescopic oil cylinder according to pressure signal changes detected by the pressure monitoring units at the four corners, so that the gravity center of the whole crawling crane is always in the center of a quadrangle. The crawling crane gravity center control system and the control method can improve the safety and reliability of the whole crawling crane, play a roll of preventing rollover and greatly enhance the safety and reliability of the whole crawling crane.
[014] Hence no crawling hour meter is available for crawler equipment which can estimate the crawling time of a crawler equipment.
[015] In order to overcome above listed prior art, the present invention aims to provide a system and method for sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment. The present invention generates an electrical control signal when crawler equipment is moving and running a standalone hour meter/customized hour meter with the control signal.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION:
[016] The principal object of the present invention is to provide to a system for sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment.
[017] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for sensing crawling time monitoring for crawler equipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[018] The present invention relates to a system and method for sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment.
[019] In Hydraulic crawler equipment the travel operation is done mostly by using either hydraulic travel motors 12, 13. According to this invention, the electrical system includes a sensing device 14 and hour meter 15. The sensing device 14 senses the pressure of hydraulic flow by all means at travel logic block 9 in which it is responsible for the movement of the equipment. The sensed signal is used to run the travel hour meter / clock 15 and measure the cumulative hours the equipment travels. In Electrically operated crawler equipment, the movement of left / right/ both tracks movement is controlled by power supply to the electric travel motors 19, 20 by all means. According to this invention, the electrical system includes a sensing device 21 and hour meter 15. The sensing device 21 senses the control signal of electric travel motor 19, 20 by all means in which it is responsible for the movement of the equipment. The sensed signal is used to run the travel hour meter / clock 15 and measure the cumulative hours the equipment travels.
[020] The crawling time monitoring system for use in crawler equipment helps in sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment. The system includes an electrical system is described which includes a sensing device and hour meter. The sensing device senses the hydraulic flow / control signal of the hydraulic / electric travel motor / respected aggregates in a hydraulically / electrically / electro-hydraulically operated crawler equipment. The sensed signal is utilized directly/indirectly by converting to another electrical signal. The electrical signal sends a controlling signal to clock/hour meter in which it cumulatively measures and records the crawling time of the equipment.
BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[021] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
[022] FIGURE 1 shows the typical logic circuit of this invention schematically with the electrical and hydraulic aggregates in hydraulically / electro - hydraulically operated crawler equipment.
[023] FIGURE 2 shows the typical logic circuit of this invention schematically with the electrical aggregates in electrically operated crawler equipment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
[024] The present invention provides a system and method for sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment. This is a crawling time monitoring system for crawler equipment. Referring to figure 1, the system comprises the electrical control circuit to measure, monitor and record the movement time of crawler equipment.
[025] In crawler equipment the travel operation is done by mostly by using either hydraulic motors or electric motors.
[026] In an aspect, hydraulically/ electro hydraulically operated crawler equipment the movement of left / right/ both tracks movement is controlled by flow of hydraulic oil to the travel hydraulic motor. Sensing device is used to sense the hydraulic flow to the hydraulic motor and gives an electrical signal. This electrical signal is used to run the clock and measures the cumulative hours the equipment travelled or moved.
[027] In another aspect, electrically operated crawler equipment the movement of left / right/ both tracks movement is controlled by power supply to the travel electric motor. The control signal to the travel motor is utilized directly/indirectly by converting to other electrical signal. This electrical signal is used to run the clock and measures the cumulative hours the equipment travelled or moved.
[028] In another aspect the equipment which are having track chains (crawlers) are such as but not limited to the hydraulic excavators, electric excavators, electric shovels, electro hydraulic shovels, walking draglines, special recovery vehicles, special recovery & repair vehicles, special purpose tanks, crawler dozers, crawler cranes, etc.
[029] The invention proposes a method of measuring and recording crawling/travel time of a crawler equipment. A digital signal is used to run an hour meter and record how much time the crawler equipment was moving during its entire / Per day usage. The digital signal needs to be generated only when the equipment is moving.
[030] In crawler equipment the crawling/travel operation is done by the operator, either with travel levers or with joystick. Whenever travel lever is operated then Hydraulic oil flow/current will be going to the travel motors then equipment will move. A sensing device is provided in the travel line to sense the hydraulic oil flow/current and provides the digital signal whenever flow/current is going to the travel motor. This digital signal will be used to run the hour-meter.
[031] Figure 1 shows block diagram a system and method for sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment. The system comprises engine provides the required power to drive the Pumps and other aggregates. The PTO is a mechanical device that transfers power from the engine by driveshaft, to another piece of equipment or machinery. The PTO provides rotational power to drive external attachments such as pumps. The hydraulic tank’s primary purpose is to hold excess hydraulic fluid as the system’s oil volume changes and pumps in and out of the hydraulic cylinder.
[032] The main hydraulic pump is responsible for generating hydraulic power that operates various hydraulic systems. The pump pressurizes hydraulic fluid, usually oil, which is then distributed through a network of hoses and valves to actuate cylinders and motors. Pilot pumps are small, self-contained pumps that are used to provide hydraulic fluid power to operate a larger hydraulic pump. The pilot pump is used to provide hydraulic fluid pressure to the inlet side of the larger hydraulic pump, which creates a flow of hydraulic fluid through the larger pump. Pilot-operated valves work by controlling the inlet and outlet ports of a main valve. The LH travel pedal in an equipment controls the machine’s movement for left hand direction. When the operator presses the travel pedal, it activates the hydraulic system, which is going toward left propel system of equipment, in turn propels the equipment forward or backward, depending on the direction selected. The RH travel pedal in an equipment controls the machine’s movement for right hand direction. When the operator presses the travel pedal, it activates the hydraulic system, which is going toward right propel system of equipment, in turn propels the equipment forward or backward, depending on the direction selected.
[033] Junction box serves as a central hub for the hydraulic system, allowing for the distribution and control of hydraulic fluid to various components and functions of the equipment. The hydraulic travel logic block in an equipment is responsible for controlling the direction, speed, and safety features of the machine's travel functions. The logic block receives input signals from various sensors, switches, and by all means and uses this information to make decisions regarding the operation of the travel control valve.
[034] LH hydraulic travel control valve is responsible for regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid to the LH travel motors, which in turn control the rotation of the tracks or wheels on the equipment, enabling precise control over the machine's movement, direction, and speed. The hydraulic travel control valve typically consists of spools or pistons that move within a housing. These spools or pistons have different ports that allow hydraulic fluid to enter or exit, depending on the desired movement. By positioning the spools or pistons in specific configurations, the valve can direct hydraulic fluid to; motors, enabling precise control over the equipment's motion.
[035] RH hydraulic travel control valve is responsible for regulating the flow of hydraulic fluid to the RH travel motors, which in turn control the rotation of the tracks or wheels on the equipment, enabling precise control over the machine's movement, direction, and speed. The hydraulic travel control valve typically consists of spools or pistons that move within a housing. These spools or pistons have different ports that allow hydraulic fluid to enter or exit, depending on the desired movement. By positioning the spools or pistons in specific configurations, the valve can direct hydraulic fluid to motors, enabling precise control over the equipment's motion.
[036] LH travel hydraulic travel motor is responsible for providing the necessary power and control for the machine's movement. It converts hydraulic energy into mechanical energy, allowing the equipment to move forward, backward, and turn in Left Hand directions.
[037] RH travel hydraulic travel motor is responsible for providing the necessary power and control for the machine's movement. It converts hydraulic energy into mechanical energy, allowing the equipment to move forward, backward, and turn in right hand directions.
[038] The sensing device in an equipment senses the signal from the travel motor or control valve or by all other means and generates an electrical signal that can be interpreted by the control system. The hour meter is a device that measures and records the cumulative movement time of track chain of the machine by sensing the p sensor signal.
[039] Figure 2 shows flow diagram.The three-phase supply powers the motors and other electrical aggregates that drives the equipment allowing for smooth and efficient operation. The drive system is responsible for providing the necessary power, control, and manoeuvrability to the equipment, allowing it to efficiently carry out these tasks. It consists of various mechanical and electrical components that work together to ensure the smooth operation of the machine. the drive system is crucial for enabling precise control over the propel system which allows operators to navigate through challenging terrain with ease, enhancing overall productivity. Control Block helps to regulate and control the movement of the equipment. The control block is designed to manage the positioning and direction of movement of the Equipment by controlling power supply of all travel motor drives, ensuring that it operates safely and effectively. LH Travel motor is a prime mover for left hand side crawler of the equipment which helps the in movement. The power supply and control signal for operation of LH travel motor is provided through control block. RH Travel motor is a prime mover for right hand side crawler of the equipment which helps the in movement. The power supply and control signal for operation of RH travel motor is provided through control block. The sensing device in an equipment senses the signal from the Travel motor or control block or Drive system or by all other means and generates an electrical signal that can be interpreted by the control system to run the hour meter.
[040] In hydraulic crawler equipment the travel operation is done mostly by using either hydraulic travel motors 12, 13. According to this invention, the electrical system includes a sensing device 14 and hour meter 15. The sensing device 14 senses the pressure of hydraulic flow by all means at travel logic block 9 in which it is responsible for the movement of the equipment. The sensed signal is used to run the travel hour meter/ clock 15 and measure the cumulative hours the equipment travels. In Electrically operated crawler equipment, the movement of left/ right/ both tracks movement is controlled by power supply to the electric travel motors 19, 20 by all means. According to this invention, the electrical system includes a sensing device 21 and hour meter 15. The sensing device 21 senses the control signal of electric travel motor 19, 20 by all means in which it is responsible for the movement of the equipment. The sensed signal is used to run the travel hour meter / clock 15 and measure the cumulative hours the equipment travels.
[041] The system includes electrical control circuit to measure, monitor and record the movement time of crawler equipment, sensing device 14 is used to sense the hydraulic flow to the hydraulic motor 12, 13 by all means and gives an electrical signal which is used to run the clock 15 and measures the cumulative hours the equipment travelled or moved. The crawler equipment left/ right/ both tracks movement is controlled by the electrically operated travel motors 19, 20. The travel hour meter 15 is run/ activated by the signal generated by sensing the movement of the travel motor 19, 20 or from the control signal generated by the travel drive system 17 or control block 18 or by all means. The signal can be generated for individual travel motors (LH 12/ RH 13) to monitor and record the running/ operation time of each motor discretely. The signal is used to run the hour meter 15 and record the cumulative hours, the crawler equipment was moving.
[042] In accordance with the preferred embodiment of this invention the Hydro-electrical system shown schematically in FIG 1 and Electrical system in FIG 2 of drawing is a measuring system of equipment movement time, suitable for use on crawler equipment. In an aspect, hydraulically/ electro-hydraulically operated crawler equipment which is depicted in FIG 1, having an engine 1, hydraulic control means actuated by hydraulic fluid under pressure. The main pump 4 and pilot pump 5 is driven by PTO 2 which is directly coupled with the engine 1 to provide hydraulic fluid under pressure from hydraulic tank/ reservoir 3 for actuating such controls. When the movement of the equipment is initiated by Left hand 6/Right hand 7 travel pedal, the pilot pump 5 makes the pressurized pilot hydraulic fluid to flow through junction box 8 to Logic block travel 9. The logic block travel 9 controls the main flow of the hydraulic fluid in the LH 12/ 13 RH travel motor using the LH 10 /RH 11 travel control valve which having the precise control over the hydraulic flow.
[043] The system senses and monitors the hydraulic flow which is being used to control the hydraulic fluid to the LH 12/RH 13 travel motor using a sensing device 14 and generates an electrical signal. This signal is utilized directly / indirectly / by all means to run the clock/Travel hour meter 15 which measures and records the cumulative hours the equipment travelled or moved.
[044] In an aspect, electrically operated crawler equipment which is depicted in FIG 2, having LH 19/RH 20 travel motors for the movement of equipment in any direction. In which the travel motors 19, 20 are controlled by power supply through power electronic drive system 17 in the equipment. whenever the movement is required in any direction, the drive power system 17 sends a control signal to control block 18 of travel motors 19, 20 in which the travel motors 19, 20 will be engaged in movement. The sensing device 21 that senses the movement of the travel motors 19, 20 by all means and generates the signal to run the travel hour meter 15. The signal to run the travel hour meter 15 can also be generated / taken from the control signal of the travel drive system 17 or control block 18 or from both.
[045] The invention senses and monitors the either of the parameters like speed, power supply of travel motor 19, 20 and control signal to travel motor 19, 20 aggregates which are the indications of travel/ movement of the equipment using a sensing device 21. Thereby the sensing device 21 converts the measurements into electrical signal. This electrical signal is used to run the clock 22 and measures the cumulative hours the equipment travelled or moved.
[046] Numerous modifications and adaptations of the system of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and thus it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and adaptations which fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A system and method for sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment comprises the electrical control circuit to measure, monitor and record the movement time of crawler equipment, sensing device 14 is used to sense the hydraulic flow to the hydraulic motor 12, 13 by all means and gives an electrical signal which is used to run the clock 15 and measures the cumulative hours the equipment travelled or moved.
2. The system and method for sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment, wherein the crawler equipment left/ right/ both tracks movement is controlled by the electrically operated travel motors 19, 20. The travel hour meter 15 is run/ activated by the signal generated by sensing the movement of the travel motor 19, 20 or from the control signal generated by the travel drive system 17 or control block 18 or by all means.
3. The system and method for sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment, as claimed in claim 1 & 2, wherein the signal can be generated for individual travel motors (LH 12/ RH 13) to monitor and record the running/ operation time of each motor discretely.
4. The system and method for sensing, monitoring, measuring and recording the crawling time of a crawler equipment, as claimed in claim 1 & 2, wherein the signal is used to run the hour meter 15 and record the cumulative hours, the crawler equipment was moving.