IP Library Granted Patent US 10,134,012
Granted Patent B1
US 10,134,012 · App. 13/247,729 · Granted Nov 20, 2018

System and method for utilization-based computing of emissions attributable to specific equipment

Inventor: Kevin J. Groman (Scottsdale, AZ)
Assignee: United Rentals (North America), Inc.
G06Q10/20G06Q50/02G06Q50/04G06Q50/08G06Q50/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,134,012
App. No.
13/247,729
Granted
Nov 20, 2018
Kind
B1
Abstract

A method of determining emissions from a one or more equipment operated by a user for a period. The method includes storing engine data for of the one or more equipment and receiving the utilization of each of the one or more equipment over the period. The emissions are then calculated for each of the one or more equipment based, at least in part, on each of the engines' utilization and engine data. The total of the calculated emissions is then determined.

Claims (187)

1. A method of determining emissions by a lessor for lease equipment operated by a lessee over a period of time, each lease equipment comprising an engine producing emissions, the period of time being a lease, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) storing an original equipment manufacturer's recommended oil change frequency interval for a particular engine in a particular vehicle in the lease equipment, the interval measured in hours;

(b) storing engine data by the lessor, in a computer database, for each respective engine of the lease equipment;

(c) leasing the lease equipment from the lessor to the lessee;

(d) receiving automatically over a network by the lessor, actual utilization data of the lease equipment over the lease, the actual utilization data comprising an amount of use of the engine during the lease;

(e) storing, by the lessor, the actual utilization data in the computer database, and

(i) establishing a first window with a first range of hours corresponding to the recommended oil change frequency interval for the particular engine;

(ii) establishing a second window with a second range of hours corresponding to an amount of hours exceeding the first range of hours,

(iii) assigning a first preventive maintenance factor value to the first window and a second preventive maintenance factor to the second window, wherein the first preventive maintenance factor value is higher than the second preventive maintenance factor value,

(iv) storing, in a memory in operative communication with a processor, an operative maintenance factor, the operative maintenance factor corresponding to the first preventive maintenance factor or the second preventive maintenance factor based on an observed level of preventive maintenance;

(v) performing an overhaul of the particular engine; and

(vi) resetting the value of the operative preventive maintenance factor from the second preventive maintenance factor to the first preventive maintenance factor in response to determining that the particular engine has been overhauled;

(f) calculating, by a processor, emissions for the lease equipment based, at least in part, on the actual utilization data and the engine data for the lease equipment during the lease, and on the operative preventive maintenance factor; and

(g) totaling, by said processor, the calculated emissions to obtain a total emissions during the lease.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lease equipment comprises a fleet of equipment.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of performing preventive maintenance on at least some of the lease equipment over the lease, and step f comprises adjusting said calculated emissions for the lease equipment based on which said performance of preventive maintenance meets a predetermined standard of preventive maintenance.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the engine data comprises engine load factor, fuel consumption, density conversion, emission factors or horse power/tier level.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing the total emissions to the lessee.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of providing the total emissions to the lessee on an invoice.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of making a website available to the lessee, the website generating reports of the emission during the lease.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein step f comprises use of the following formula:

(Emissions GHG,CO2-e )=[1×(Emissions CO2 )]+[21×(Emissions CH4 )]+[310×(Emissions N2O )]

9. The method of claim/wherein said carbon dioxide emissions is calculated using the formula:

(Emissions CO2 )=(FuelConsumption)×(EF CO2 )×(0.001)

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said fuel consumed is calculated using the formula:

(

FuelConsumption

)

=

(

Hrs

)

×

(

BFC

ma

x

)

×

(

LF

CatClass

)

(

Factor

PM

)

×

(

Factor

p

)

.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said methane emissions is calculated using the formula:

(Emissions CH4 )=(FuelConsumed)×(EF CH4 )×(0.001)

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said nitrous oxide emissions is calculated using the formula:

(Emissions N2O )=(FuelConsumed)×(EF N2O )×(0.001)

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein step f comprises use of the following formula:

(

Emission

HC

)

=

(

Hrs

)

×

(

EF

HC

)

×

(

HP

)

×

(

LF

CatClass

)

(

Factor

PM

)

×

(

0.002205

)

.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein step f comprises use of the following formula:

(

Emission

NOx

)

=

(

Hrs

)

×

(

EF

NOx

)

×

(

HP

)

×

(

LF

CatClass

)

(

Factor

PM

)

×

(

0.002205

)

.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein step f comprises use of the following formula:

(

Emission

CO

)

=

(

Hrs

)

×

(

EF

CO

)

×

(

HP

)

×

(

LF

CatClass

)

(

Factor

PM

)

×

(

0.002205

)

.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein step f comprises use of the following formula:

(

Emission

PM

)

=

(

Hrs

)

×

(

EF

CO

)

×

(

HP

)

×

(

LF

CatClass

)

(

Factor

PM

)

×

(

0.002205

)

.

Assignments (9)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAME OF THE ASSIGNEE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 061930 FRAME 0721. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE SECURITY INTEREST. Recorded Feb 13, 2023
From: UNITED RENTALS, INC.; UNITED RENTALS (NORTH AMERICA), INC.
To: TRUIST BANK
Reel/Frame 062815/0975 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 30, 2022
From: UNITED RENTALS, INC.; UNITED RENTALS (NORTH AMERICA), INC.
To: TRUST BANK
Reel/Frame 061930/0721 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 16, 2018
From: UNITED RENTALS, INC.; UNITED RENTALS (NORTH AMERICA), INC.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 047528/0588 →
SUPPLEMENT TO AMENDED AND RESTATED U.S. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 13, 2018
From: UNITED RENTALS, INC.; UNITED RENTALS (NORTH AMERICA), INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 047510/0315 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 31, 2018
From: UNITED RENTALS (NORTH AMERICA), INC.; UNITED RENTALS, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 047368/0862 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 8, 2018
From: RSC EQUIPMENT RENTAL, INC.
To: RSC HOLDINGS III, LLC
Reel/Frame 047093/0666 →
MERGER AND CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 8, 2018
From: UR FINANCING ESCROW CORPORATION; UR MERGER SUB CORPORATION
To: UNITED RENTALS (NORTH AMERICA), INC.
Reel/Frame 047093/0734 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 8, 2018
From: RSC HOLDINGS III, LLC
To: UR MERGER SUB CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047093/0701 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 28, 2011
From: GROMAN, KEVIN J
To: RSC EQUIPMENT RENTAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 026985/0543 →
Continuity (1)
Provisional Application 61390901 · Oct 7, 2010