US 4,035,621 AGranted

Excavator data logging system

AssigneeGeneral Electric Company

InventorKenneth A. Kemp

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Abstract

A system for measuring, storing, and analyzing excavator parameters in order to classify excavator activity. A rotary position sensor is coupled to the drag drum, the hoist drum, and the center pindle of an excavator in order to generate analog signals that are a function of the drag cable length, the hoist cable length, and the swing angle, respectively. Shunts are placed in circuit with the drag motor armature and the hoist motor armature in order to generate signals proportional to the drag motor current and the hoist motor current, respectively. A watts transducer connected to the power input generates a signal that is proportional to the amount of power being consumed by the excavator. A control panel is provided whereby an operator can set in the month, day, and the shift, and codes identifying the excavator, the operator and any delay or special activities. The six excavator signals are converted into digital form and recorded along with time and the control panel data on a magnetic tape. The information recorded on the tape is analyzed by a digital computer which provides a printed report summarizing and analyzing the activities of the excavator.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A system for analyzing the performance of a power operated excavator having a lower frame member and a boom rotatable with respect to the lower frame member, a bucket controlled by means of a motor driven drag cable and a motor driven hoist cable, the system comprising:

(a) drag sensor means for generating a signal representative of the drag cable length;
(b) hoist sensor means for generating a signal representative of the hoist cable length;
(c) swing angle sensor means for generating a signal representative of the angle of the boom relative to the lower frame member;
(d) first shunt means in circuit with the drag motor for generating a signal proportional to the drag motor current;
(e) second shunt means in circuit with the hoist motor for generating a signal proportional to the hoist motor current;
(f) memory means for storing the sensor and shunt means signals;
(g) a multi-switch control panel for generating codes identifying excavator delay or special excavator activities, the excavator, and its time period of operation, said memory means being operably connected to said control panel for storing the identifying codes;
(h) a computer including computer means for accessing instructions that control the computer;
to scan said memory means and compare the sensor and shunt signals and said codes stored therein with certain of said instructions to analyze the recorded data, to generate indicia of selected operating cycles performed by the excavator during said time period of operation, and to calculate certain end-of-time-period parameters;
and
(i) means for transferring said analyzed data and parameters to a print-out that is readable by an operator to classify the activity of the excavator during said time period.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.