System and method of estimating fatigue in a lifting member

1. A system of estimating fatigue in a lifting member, the system including:

a first sensor configured to measure a first load related to a ram, the ram being connected to the lifting member; and

a calculating device configured to:

determine an actuator load based on the first load;

determine a first force based on the actuator load;

estimate a unit of fatigue life based on the first force; and

estimate a fraction of total fatigue life consumed for a portion of the lifting member based on the unit of fatigue life and a fatigue life adjustment value.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the calculating device estimates the first force based on the actuator load by applying a first constant to the actuator load.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the calculating device estimates the unit of fatigue life based on the first force with a fatigue relationship.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the fatigue relationship includes determining the cyclic effect of the first force and dividing the cyclic effect by a critical damage factor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the calculating device estimates the fraction of fatigue life consumed for the portion of the lifting member by applying the fatigue life adjustment to the unit of fatigue life.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the fatigue life adjustment value is an estimated value that adjusts the unit of fatigue life based on the first force to a unit of fatigue life estimated in the portion of the lifting member.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the calculating device is configured to:

determine further actuator loads based on further first loads and/or further first related loads;

determine further forces based on the further actuator loads;

estimate units of fatigue life based on the further forces; and

estimate the fraction of total fatigue life consumed for the portion of the lifting member based on the units of fatigue life and the fatigue life adjustment value.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the calculating device is configured to define the first force and the further forces as a sequence of peak forces and valley forces.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the calculating device is configured to count a number of cycles and/or a number of half cycles for peak forces and valley forces of substantially equal force magnitude.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the calculating device is configured to:

multiply the number of cycles and/or the number of half cycles by their substantially equal force magnitude to form force-cycle values;

divide the force-cycle values by their respective critical damage values to form the units of fatigue life; and

sum the units of fatigue life and apply the fatigue life adjustment value to estimate the fraction of total fatigue life consumed for the portion of the lifting member.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein in summing the units of fatigue life and applying the fatigue life adjustment value to estimate the fraction of fatigue life consumed for the portion of the lifting member, the calculating device is configured to exclude units of fatigue life that are below an endurance limit.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the endurance limit is in the form of a value where the portion of the lifting member is substantially unaffected by the first force and/or the further forces in terms of fatigue.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the lifting member includes an excavator arm and a bucket.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator load related to the ram is in the form of a pressure.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein a first related sensor is configured to measure a first related load associated with the ram.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the actuator load is in the form of a pressure difference between the first load and the first related load measured by the first related sensor.

17. A method of estimating fatigue in a lifting member, the method including the steps of:

determining an actuator load related to a ram, the ram being associated with the lifting member;

determining a first force based on the actuator load;

estimating a unit of fatigue life based on the first force; and

estimating a fraction of total fatigue life consumed for a portion of the lifting member based on the unit of fatigue life and a fatigue life adjustment value.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the step of estimating the fraction of total fatigue life consumed for the portion of the lifting member based on the unit of fatigue life and the fatigue life adjustment value includes applying the fatigue life adjustment to the unit of fatigue life.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the fatigue life adjustment value is an estimated value that adjusts the unit of fatigue life based on the first force to a unit of fatigue life estimated in the portion of the lifting member.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the method further includes the steps of triggering an alarm when the fraction of total fatigue life consumed for the at least one portion reaches a critical cumulative damage value.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the lifting member includes an excavator arm and a bucket.