Wear part monitoring

1. A tool for monitoring wear parts used on earth working equipment, the tool comprising at least one electronic sensor, a securement mechanism for securing the at least one electronic sensor to a first earth working wear part to monitor the first wear part and a second earth working wear part secured to the first wear part, a programmable logic device receiving information from the at least one electronic sensor and making a determination of at least one of presence, wear, impact, fill, and performance of the first wear part and the second wear part.

2. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the securement mechanism is adapted to attach the at least one electronic sensor to a bucket.

3. A tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the securement mechanism attaches the at least one electronic sensor to an interior surface of the bucket.

4. A tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the securement mechanism attaches the at least one electronic sensor to an exterior surface of the bucket.

5. A tool in accordance with claim 2 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one electronic sensor to determine a cycle time of a digging cycle.

6. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one electronic sensor to determine when the second wear part has been worn to a state indicating that the second wear part should be replaced.

7. A tool in accordance with claim 6 wherein the at least one electronic sensor recognizes special features on the second wear part that have no earth working function, and the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one sensor regarding the special features to determine wear on the second wear part.

8. A tool in accordance with claim 6 including a second sensor secured to the second wear part, wherein the second sensor communicates with the programmable logic so that information from both the electronic sensor and the at least one said second sensor is used to make a determination of at least one of presence, wear, impact, fill, and performance of at least one of the first wear part and the second wear part.

9. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one electronic sensor to determine when the second wear part has detached from the first wear part.

10. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the securement mechanism is adapted to attach the at least one electronic sensor to a truck body.

11. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the securement mechanism is adapted to attach the at least one electronic sensor to a blade.

12. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one electronic sensor to determine when the second wear part has been worn to a state that the second wear part should be replaced.

13. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one electronic sensor to calculate an operational efficiency of the first and second wear parts.

14. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one electronic sensor to determine a fill level of the first wear part.

15. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the said sensors is chosen from a group consisting essentially of a camera, a laser range finder, and an ultrasonic sensor.

16. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one electronic sensor to determine a high impact event of the first wear part.

17. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the said sensors is chosen from a group consisting essentially of a pressure sensor, a stain gauge, a load cell, and an accelerometer.

18. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least one of the said sensors is chosen from a group consisting essentially of an inclinometer and GPS.

19. A tool in accordance claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one electronic sensor to generate an alert based on the information received from the at least one electronic sensor.

20. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one electronic sensor and the programmable logic communicates the information with a database.

21. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one electronic sensor and the programmable logic communicates the information to a computer system that is remote to the first wear part.

22. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the tool has a vibration dampening device and the at least one electronic sensor is mounted to the vibration dampening device.

23. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said electronic sensor has a housing with an aperture, and the tool includes a cover for protecting the aperture.

24. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device is located remote from the first and second wear parts.

25. A tool in accordance with claim 1 wherein the programmable logic device is located on the first wear part.

26. A bucket for use with excavating equipment, the bucket comprising:

a plurality of walls defining a containment portion for gathering earthen material to be excavated;

a leading edge to initially contact the earthen material, the leading edge extending along one of the said walls defining the containment portion; and

at least one electronic sensor mounted to one of the said walls of the bucket to monitor at least one of impact, fill, and performance of the bucket.

27. A bucket in accordance with claim 26 wherein the electronic sensor is mounted to an interior wall of the bucket.

28. A bucket in accordance with claim 26 wherein the electronic sensor is mounted to an exterior wall of the bucket.

29. A bucket in accordance with claim 26 including a programmable logic device to receive information from the at least one sensor to determine the at least one of impact, fill and performance of the bucket.

30. A bucket in accordance with claim 29 including a programmable logic device to receive information from the at least one sensor to determine the fill of the bucket for each digging cycle.

31. A bucket in accordance with claim 30 wherein the programmable logic device receives information from the at least one sensor to determine efficiency of the digging operation based on amount of earthen material moved per time of digging.

32. A bucket in accordance with claim 26 wherein the at least one electronic sensor is chosen from a group consisting essentially of a camera, a laser range finder, and an ultrasonic sensor.

33. A bucket in accordance with claim 26 wherein at least one of the said sensors is chosen from a group consisting essentially of a pressure sensor, a stain gauge, a load cell, and an accelerometer.

34. A bucket in accordance with claim 26 wherein at least one of the said sensors is chosen from a group consisting essentially of an inclinometer and GPS.

35. A wear assembly used on earth working equipment, the wear assembly comprising:

a base secured to the earth working equipment, the base having a unique feature having no supporting function and detectable by an electronic sensor when visible;

a wear member including a front end and a rear end, the rear end having a mounting portion to receive the base; and

a securement mechanism to releasably secure the wear member to the base wherein the unique feature is hidden when the wear member is mounted on the base and the unique feature is visible when the wear member is not mounted on the base to indicate the absence of the wear member.

36. A bucket for use with excavating equipment, the bucket comprising:

a plurality of walls defining a containment portion for gathering earthen material to be excavated;

a leading edge to initially contact the earthen material, the leading edge extending along one of the said walls defining the containment portion;

wear parts secured along the leading edge; and

at least one electronic sensor mounted to one of the said walls of the bucket to monitor at least one of presence or wear of a plurality of the wear parts.

37. A bucket in accordance with claim 36 including a programmable logic device to receive information from the at least one electronic sensor to determine the expected useable life of the wear parts until they should be replaced.

38. A bucket in accordance with claim 36 including a programmable logic device to receive information from the at least one electronic sensor to determine when any of the wear parts has detached from the leading edge.

39. A bucket in accordance with claim 36 including a programmable logic device to receive information from the at least one electronic sensor, wherein the at least one electronic sensor recognizes special features on the wear parts that have no earth working function, and the programmable logic device determines the presence or wear of each of wear parts based on the sensing of the special features.

40. A bucket in accordance with claim 36 including a programmable logic device to receive information from the at least one electronic sensor to monitor the fill of the bucket on each digging cycle.

41. A bucket in accordance with claim 36 wherein the at least one electronic sensors is chosen from a group consisting essentially of a camera, a laser range finder, and an ultrasonic sensor.

42. A bucket in accordance with claim 36 including a vibration dampening device supporting the at least one electronic sensor.

43. A bucket in accordance with claim 36 including a housing with an aperture to enclose the at least one electronic sensor.