SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUALITATIVE INDICATION OF CUMULATIVE WEAR STATUS

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/764,528, filed Feb. 13, 2013, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR QUALITATIVE INDICATION OF CUMULATIVE WEAR STATUS (Atty. Dkt. No. VLLC-31589), which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The following disclosure relates to systems and methods for the determination and qualitative indication of cumulative wear status of complex systems, in particular, of systems such as those found on vehicles including boats, automobiles, trucks, trains and aircraft.

It is known to estimate the wear on the individual components of a complex system by the measurement of certain macro-level parameters correlated to wear. For example, the wear on an engine may be estimated by measuring the cumulative hours of running time, the wear on a pump may be estimated by measuring the cumulative gallons transferred, and the wear on a switch may be estimated by measuring the cumulative number of activations. In some cases, these quantitative measurements may be directly displayed as an indication of component wear. In other cases, the quantitative measurements may be used in conjunction with empirical data to display an indirect indication of component wear, which indication may be either quantitative or qualitative.

Complex systems such as those found in vehicles including, but not limited to boats, automobiles, trucks, trains and aircraft may have tens or even hundreds of large components (e.g., engines, motors, generators, pumps, valves, etc.) and hundreds or even thousands of smaller components (e.g., doors, switches, lights, sensors, etc.). It may therefore become impractical to display the wear status of each individual component. Further, even if the wear status of each individual component is displayed, the typical user cannot easily assimilate and evaluate such data to obtain meaningful insight into the wear status of the overall system. In other words, the user cannot easily assess the qualitative “wear and tear” on the system. Such assessments can be useful for a number of reasons, e.g., to determine system fitness or readiness for a particular task, to determine system value (i.e., for purchase or sale), or to assist in the scheduling of preventive maintenance. A need therefore exists, for systems and methods for determining and/or qualitatively indicating the cumulative wear status (i.e., “wear and tear”) of complex systems.

In one aspect thereof, a method for the determination and qualitative indication of cumulative wear status of a complex system having a plurality of individual components, comprises the following steps: measuring a plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status of a plurality of individual components in a system; storing the values of the measured parameters; weighting the values of the measured parameters according to a predetermined formula; calculating a single value from the predetermined formula; and displaying a single indicator indicative of the qualitative wear status of the overall system.

In another aspect thereof, a method for the determination and qualitative indication of cumulative wear status of a complex system having a plurality of individual components comprises the following steps: measuring a plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status of a plurality of individual components in a system, wherein each particular one of the plurality of parameters corresponds to the usage status of a particular one of the plurality of individual components; storing the values of the measured plurality of parameters; weighting the values of the measured plurality of parameters according to at least a first predetermined formula to create a plurality of weighted values; calculating a single wear value from the plurality of weighted values using another predetermined formula, which is different from the predetermined formulas used to create the plurality of weighted values; and displaying a single indicator indicative of the qualitative wear status of the overall system.

In one embodiment, the single indicator indicative of the qualitative wear status of the overall system is a numeric value with the range from V_minto V_max, where V_minis an arbitrarily selected minimum value and V_maxis an arbitrarily selected maximum value.

In another embodiment, neither V_minnor V_maxdirectly correlates to any actual cumulative quantitative value of use or wear for the plurality of individual components.

In still another embedment, neither V_minnor V_maxdirectly correlates to any actual cumulative quantitative number of activations or cycles for the plurality of individual components.

In a further embodiment, the single indicator indicative of the qualitative wear status of the overall system is a displayed color selected from a predetermined finite set of colors.

In another embodiment, the displayed color is a color selected from the set consisting of green, orange and red.

In yet another embodiment, the displayed color is a color selected from the set consisting of green, yellow and red.

In another embodiment, the individual component is an accelerometer and the particular one of the plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status is the occurrence of either (i) 80% of peak measured acceleration or (ii) 100% of accelerometer scale.

In still another embodiment, the individual component is a hull and the particular one of the plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status is the occurrence of a large difference in accelerometer measurements between a bow portion of the hull to a stern portion of the hull.

In a further embodiment, the individual component is an engine having a variable engine oil temperature and a variable engine oil pressure and the particular one of the plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status is the occurrence of (i) a high engine oil temperature at the same time as (ii) a low engine oil pressure.

In another embodiment, the individual component is an engine having a variable engine RPM value and a maximum engine RPM redline value and the particular one of the plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status is the occurrence of (i) the engine RPM value being at or above (ii) the maximum engine RPM redline value.

In yet another embodiment, the individual component is an engine having an engine temperature and the particular one of the plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status is the occurrence of (i) a significant number of engine temperature flucutations.

In another embodiment, the complex system is a boat or ship.

In still another embodiment, the complex system is an automobile.

In a further embodiment, the complex system is an airplane.

In yet another embodiment, the system transmits parameter values via a data network between the system and a remote device; and the qualitative indication of cumulative wear status is displayed on the remote device.

In still another embodiment, the remote device is a mobile device.

In another embodiment, the mobile device is a smartphone or tablet device.

In another aspect thereof, a method for execution on a computing device for the determination and qualitative indication of cumulative wear status of a complex system is provided. The complex system has a plurality of individual components, and the computing device has a processor, a display device operatively coupled to the processor, a memory operatively coupled to the processor, and a signal interface operatively coupled to the processor for receiving signals from sensors in the complex system. The method comprises the following steps: measuring, using a processor and a signal interface operatively coupled to the processor for receiving signals from sensors in a complex system, a plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status of a plurality of individual components in a system, wherein each particular one of the plurality of parameters corresponds to the usage status of a particular one of the plurality of individual components; storing, using a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the values of the measured plurality of parameters; weighting, using the processor and the memory, the values of the measured plurality of parameters according to at least a first predetermined formula to create a plurality of weighted values; calculating, using the processor, a single wear value from the plurality of weighted values using another predetermined formula, which is different from the predetermined formulas used to create the plurality of weighted values; and displaying, using a display device operatively coupled to the processor, a single indicator indicative of the qualitative wear status of the overall system.

In still another aspect thereof, a system for the determination and qualitative indication of cumulative wear status of a complex system is provided, the complex system having a plurality of individual components. The system comprises: a computing device having a processor, a display device operatively coupled to the processor, a memory operatively coupled to the processor, and a signal interface operatively coupled to the processor for receiving signals from sensors in a complex system. The processor and the signal interface are operable to measure a plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status of a plurality of individual components in a system, wherein each particular one of the plurality of parameters corresponds to the usage status of a particular one of the plurality of individual components. The memory is operable to store the values of the measured plurality of parameters. The processor and the memory are operable to weight the values of the measured plurality of parameters according to at least a first predetermined formula to create a plurality of weighted values. The processor is operable to calculate a single wear value from the plurality of weighted values using another predetermined formula, which is different from the predetermined formulas used to create the plurality of weighted values. The display device is operable to display a single indicator indicative of the qualitative wear status of the overall system.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a boat status display screen for a computer including a system wear indicator in accordance with one aspect of the invention. The display screen 100 may be a conventional screen (i.e., used with a mouse or other pointing device) or it may be a touch-activated screen (“touch screen”). The screen 100 may include one or more menu buttons 102 for selecting additional screens. The screen 100 may include a main information section 104 including indicators for fuel consumption 106, distance traveled since last trip 108, estimated miles to go 110, and a cumulative wear status indicator 112. The screen 100 may further include a fuel information section 114 including individual indicators 116 for displaying the fuel levels in individual fuel tanks

The wear status indicator 112 in this embodiment is titled “Wear and Tear Score” (also “Wear&Tear” or “W&T”). The wear status system and method of this embodiment may collect more than one hundred data parameters from engines, fuel systems, stability systems (bilge, trim tabs) and, importantly, vibration sensors on all modular endpoints incorporated into the system. The wear status indicator 112 may display a numeric value 118 for the qualitative indication of cumulative wear status. The Wear&Tear Score 118 in this embodiment uses twenty operating parameters to assess the impact of operating behavior on a population of similar vessels. In other embodiments, different numbers of operating parameters may be used to assess the Wear&Tear Score 118. The score 118 is different from other scores because it measures data from across the operating systems in the vessel, not just a few.

The Wear&Tear score 118 in a system according to the invention may range from an arbitrarily selected maximum value (“V_max”) to an arbitrarily selected minimum value (“V_min”), wherein V_maxand V_minare considered arbitrary because they do not directly correlate to any actual cumulative quantitative value of use or wear for a component, nor to any actual cumulative quantitative number of activations or cycles for a component. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the system Wear&Tear score 118 ranges from V_min=0 (low wear and tear) to V_max=20 (very high wear and tear). Other ranges may be used in other embodiments. While numeric, this score 118 may be considered qualitative because it represents the quality of the system rather than the measurement of the actual quantity or amount of wear. In some embodiments, the Wear&Tear score 118 is measured on a “per trip” basis, calculated as engine RPM moves above “Idle” for extended periods of time. In some embodiments, Wear&Tear scores 118 are weighted by operating time, so single “bad” (i.e., high wear and tear) events slowly get averaged out of the cumulative Wear&Tear score for the vessel.

As with other predictive measures of asset life, the Wear&Tear score 118 weights some parameters highly and uses others to confirm or change the weighting. In some embodiments for use in boats, significant Wear&Tear data parameters include: 1) accelerometer high events, i.e., both 80% of peak and 100% accelerometer events (markers of use in very heavy conditions and collision or grounding); 2) large accelerometer differences bow to stern (marker of significant hull flex); 3) high engine oil temperature combined with low engine oil pressure; 4) extended engine RPM at or above rated redline; and/or 5) significant number of engine temperature fluctuations. Supporting Wear&Tear score parameters may include: 1) total engine operating time; 2) total operating time for pumps; and, to a lesser degree, 3) total vehicle operating events (switch changes, winch time, etc.). In some embodiments, the Wear&Tear score 118 may also account for engine maintenance actions.

In some embodiments, the system and method may report the Wear&Tear score 118 and/or summaries of the W&T scores to additional devices via a data network (e.g., a LAN, a vehicle network, the Internet, etc.) using various communications technology (e.g., twisted pair cables, coaxial cables, hybrid twisted pair/coaxial cables, fiber optic networks, cellular networks and/or Wi-Fi). The additional devices may be other computers, servers and/or mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and personal computers. The additional devices may display W&T score(s) 118 or summaries of the scores.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a boat status display system for a mobile device including a system wear indicator in accordance with another aspect of the invention. The display screen 200 of this embodiment is incorporated into a mobile device application (“app”) called “MyBoat”. The application may be run remotely from the monitored system (in this case, the boat) so that the mobile device user can remotely monitor the system and remotely display the system wear status indicator 210 and other parameters. In other embodiments, the display screen may be accessed and displayed on a remote computer, e.g., via the Internet.

The screen 200 may include one or more menu buttons 202 for selecting additional screens. The screens 200 may include a main information section 204 including indicators for fuel consumption 206, time of last trip 208, and a cumulative wear status (“W&T”) indicator 210. The screen 200 may further include a fuel and battery information sections 212, 214.

The Wear&Tear score 210 in the system of this embodiment is based on the same 0-20 scale as described in connection with FIG. 1. However, in this embodiment, the W&T score 210 is expressed in terms of three colors, namely green, orange and red. In other embodiments, different colors and/or numbers of colors may be used. In this embodiment, a W&T score of 7 or less displays indicator 210 in “green”, a W&T score of 8-14 displays indicator 210 in “orange”, and a W&T score of 15 or greater displays indicator 210 in “red”. Other ranges may be used in other embodiments.

Example of Wear&Tear parameters and score formula:

WT_score=(1000K+5J+10I+50M)/N.

Example of Wear&Tear score calculation:

Referring now to FIGS. 3-6, there are illustrated additional screens 300, 400, 500 and 600 of a mobile device according to various embodiments. Referring in particular to FIG. 6, the screen 600 may displays historical data 602 regarding various system parameters that were measured and used to calculate the cumulative wear status indicator 210. In this embodiment, the recorded system parameters include: 1) speed; 2) engine output-1; 3) engine output-2; 4) engine output-3; 5) engine output-4; 6) acceleration; and 7) engine output 5. In some embodiments, graphical representations 604 of the recorded system parameters used for determining the system wear indicator are provided.

It will be appreciated that methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention may be implemented, performed and/or executed on computing devices including, but not limited to computers, tablet computers, smartphones, microcomputers or other such devices. Such a computing device (not shown) may have a processor, a display operatively coupled to the processor, a memory operatively coupled to the processor, and a signal interface operatively coupled to the processor for receiving signals from sensors in the complex system.

When thus implemented, performed and/or executed on a computing device, the method comprises the following steps: measuring, using a processor and a signal interface operatively coupled to the processor for receiving signals from sensors in a complex system, a plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status of a plurality of individual components in a system, wherein each particular one of the plurality of parameters corresponds to the usage status of a particular one of the plurality of individual components; storing, using a memory operatively coupled to the processor, the values of the measured plurality of parameters; weighting, using the processor and the memory, the values of the measured plurality of parameters according to at least a first predetermined formula to create a plurality of weighted values; calculating, using the processor, a single wear value from the plurality of weighted values using another predetermined formula, which is different from the predetermined formulas used to create the plurality of weighted values; and displaying, using a display operatively coupled to the processor, a single indicator indicative of the qualitative wear status of the overall system. The single display indicator may be any of the display indicators previously described.

In accordance with other aspects and embodiments, a system for the determination and qualitative indication of cumulative wear status of a complex system may be provided. In one embodiment, the system 100 comprises: a computing device having a processor, a display device operatively coupled to the processor, a memory operatively coupled to the processor, and a signal interface operatively coupled to the processor for receiving signals from sensors in a complex system. The processor and the signal interface are operable to measure a plurality of parameters corresponding to the usage status of a plurality of individual components in a system, wherein each particular one of the plurality of parameters corresponds to the usage status of a particular one of the plurality of individual components. The memory is operable to store the values of the measured plurality of parameters. The processor and the memory are operable to weight the values of the measured plurality of parameters according to at least a first predetermined formula to create a plurality of weighted values. The processor is operable to calculate a single wear value from the plurality of weighted values using another predetermined formula, which is different from the predetermined formulas used to create the plurality of weighted values. The display device is operable to display a single indicator indicative of the qualitative wear status of the overall system. The single display indicator may be any of the display indicators previously described.

Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail in connection with a system for use on a boat, it will be easily appreciated that other embodiments may be used for other vehicle systems including automobiles, trucks, trains and airplanes. Further, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.