Monitoring ground-engaging products for earth working equipment
A product and system for identifying and monitoring a characteristic including the part ID, presence, condition, usage and/or performance of ground-engaging products used on various kinds of earth working equipment.
1. A monitoring system for monitoring ground-engaging product secured to an earth working equipment, the monitoring system comprising:
a ground-engaging product including a front end, a rearward-opening cavity to receive a projecting portion of the earth working equipment, the cavity being defined by a top surface, a bottom surface and opposing side surfaces, and a recess having at least one open end positioned laterally outward of the top, bottom and side surfaces of the cavity;
a monitoring device secured in the recess and including a sensor for detecting a characteristic of the ground-engaging product, a communication device for wirelessly communicating information about the characteristic at least partly through the open end of the recess, and a battery; and
a remote device remote from the ground-engaging product to receive the information transmitted by the monitoring device.
2. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensor, the communication device and the battery are included in a body.
3. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the characteristic relates to one or more of a part ID, condition, presence, usage and/or performance of the ground-engaging product.
4. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 3 including a processor for processing the information transmitted from the monitoring device to make a determination regarding one or more of the part ID, condition, presence, usage and/or performance of the ground-engaging product.
5. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the characteristic relates to whether the ground-engaging product is present on the projecting portion of the earth working equipment.
6. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the characteristic relates to an amount of wear existing in the ground-engaging product.
7. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the remote device is secured to the earth working equipment.
8. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the remote device is separate from the earth working equipment.
9. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the ground-engaging product is a wear part attached to a digging edge of a bucket.
10. A monitoring system in accordance with claim 9 wherein the wear part is a component of an excavating tooth.
11. A ground-engaging product for attachment to an earth working equipment comprising:
a front end;
a rearward-opening cavity to receive a projecting portion of the earth working equipment, the cavity being defined by a top surface, a bottom surface and opposing side surfaces,
a recess having at least one open end positioned laterally outward of the top, bottom and side surfaces of the cavity; and
a monitoring device secured in the recess and including a sensor for detecting a characteristic of the ground-engaging product, a communication device for wirelessly communicating information about the characteristic at least partly through the open end of the recess, and a battery.
12. A ground-engaging product in accordance with claim 11 wherein the sensor, the communication device and the battery are included in a body.
13. A ground-engaging product in accordance with claim 11 wherein the characteristic relates to one or more of a part ID, condition, presence, usage and/or performance of the ground-engaging product.
14. A ground-engaging product in accordance with claim 13 including a processor for processing the information transmitted from the monitoring device to make a determination regarding one or more of the part ID, condition, presence, usage and/or performance of the ground-engaging product.
15. A ground-engaging product in accordance with claim 11 wherein the characteristic relates to whether the ground-engaging product is present on the projecting portion of the earth working equipment.
16. A ground-engaging product in accordance with claim 11 wherein the characteristic relates to an amount of wear existing in the ground-engaging product.
17. A ground-engaging product in accordance with claim 11 wherein the remote device is secured to the earth working equipment.
18. A ground-engaging product in accordance with claim 11 wherein the remote device is separate from the earth working equipment.
19. A ground-engaging product in accordance with claim 11 wherein the ground-engaging product is a wear part attached to a digging edge of a bucket.
20. A ground-engaging product in accordance with claim 19 wherein the wear part is a component of an excavating tooth.