US 5,680,328 AGranted

Computer assisted driver vehicle inspection reporting system

AssigneeEaton Corporation

InventorsJeffrey H. Skorupski, William H. Lueckenbach

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Abstract

A computerized electronic system (10) for use in conjunction with a fleet of vehicles for complying with pre- and post-trip vehicle inspection reporting requirements while improving fleet maintenance and operations efficiency. An on-board computer (OBC) (12) having integrated or interfaced communications capability is used to receive and store data input by the driver and maintenance personnel. The OBC (12) may electronically store at least the current driver's inspection report and previous driver's inspection report to satisfy regulatory requirements. A copy of these reports can be produced on the vehicle in either electronic or paper form as required by an inspector. A ground support system (GSS) (16) may receive certain inspection information from an OBC (12) on a real time basis and thereby is provided ready access to pertinent vehicle data. The GSS provides necessary archival capabilities as well as use of the OBC data to automate routing and maintenance scheduling as well as to generate statistical information.

Claims18

Dependent claims

An electronic pre- and post-trip inspection reporting system for a fleet of vehicles comprising:

an on-board computer associated with at least one of said vehicles in said fleet, said on-board computer including means for receiving data input by the previous driver of said vehicle, a service person who has serviced said vehicle in response to an input of said previous driver and a next driver, said processor being adapted for:
receiving data input by said previous driver of said vehicle, said data including a unique identifier assigned to said previous driver and indication of vehicle problems known to said previous driver, and for a response by said previous driver indicative of a known vehicle problem;
receiving data input by said service person, said data including a unique identifier assigned to said service person and confirmation that said indicated problem has been resolved;
and
receiving data input by a next driver of said vehicle, said data including confirmation that said problem has been resolved;
and
receiving data input by said next driver of said vehicle, said data including a unique identifier assigned to said next driver;
at least one ground station computer installed at a base for said fleet of vehicles;
and
data communication means for transmitting said data entered into said on-board computer to said ground station computer.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.