Determining idler wear based on position of idler assembly
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorEric J. Johannsen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some implementations, a controller may receive, from a sensor system of the machine, sensor data indicating a movement of an idler block of an idler assembly of an undercarriage of the machine. The controller may determine, based on the sensor data, that the idler block has moved from a first position to a second position. The controller may determine an amount of wear of an idler of the idler assembly based on the idler block moving from the first position to the second position. The controller may determine whether the amount of wear satisfies a wear threshold. The controller may cause the machine to perform an action based on determining whether the amount of wear satisfies the wear threshold.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a sensor system, of an idler assembly of an undercarriage of a machine, configured to:
- detect movement of an idler block, of the idler assembly, in a lateral direction from a first position to a second position that is closer to a track link, of the undercarriage, along the lateral direction than the first position, and
- generate sensor data indicating the movement of the idler block in the lateral direction from the first position to the second position that is closer to the track link along the lateral direction than the first position;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive the sensor data;
- determine an amount of wear of an idler of the idler assembly based on the sensor data indicating the movement of the idler block in the lateral direction from the first position to the second position that is closer to the track link along the lateral direction than the first position;
- and
- cause the machine to perform an action based on determining the amount of wear.
A method performed by a controller of a machine, the method comprising:
- receiving, from a sensor system of the machine, sensor data indicating a movement of an idler block, of an idler assembly of an undercarriage of the machine;
- determining, based on the sensor data, that the idler block has moved in a lateral direction from a first position to a second position that is closer to a track link, of the undercarriage, along the lateral direction than the first position;
- determining an amount of wear of an idler of the idler assembly based on the idler block moving in the lateral direction from the first position to the second position;
- determining whether the amount of wear satisfies a wear threshold;
- and
- causing the machine to perform an action based on determining whether the amount of wear satisfies the wear threshold.
A machine, comprising:
- an undercarriage assembly;
- an idler assembly comprising an idler, one or more wear components, and an idler block;
- a sensor system that includes a switch component and a switch magnetic component,
- wherein the switch component is provided, in a wear component of the wear components, at a location corresponding to the second position,
- wherein the switch magnetic component is provided in the idler block, and
- wherein the switch component is configured to:
- generate, based on detecting a magnetic field generated by the switch magnetic component, sensor data indicating a movement of the idler assembly from a first position to a second position;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- receive the sensor data from the sensor system;
- determine, based on the sensor data, that the idler assembly has moved from the first position to the second position;
- determine an amount of wear of the idler assembly based on the idler assembly moving from the first position to the second position;
- determine whether the amount of wear satisfies a wear threshold;
- and
- cause the machine to perform an action based on determining whether the amount of wear satisfies the wear threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.