Wear part monitoring

Abstract

A process and tool for monitoring the status, health, and performance of wear parts used on earth working equipment. The process and tool allow the operator to optimize the performance of the earth working equipment. The tool has a clear line of site to the wear parts during use and may be integrated with a bucket or blade on the earth working equipment.

1 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A ground-engaging product for earth working equipment comprising a digging edge for working the ground during use of the earth working equipment, and a recess in the digging edge, characterized by a monitoring device in the recess including an electronic device for identifying a characteristic of the digging edge and a communication device for wirelessly communicating information about the characteristic to a remote device. 
     
     
         49 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , which is a bucket including a bottom wall, a rear wall and sidewalls to define a cavity for gathering earthen material during use of the earth working equipment. 
     
     
         50 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , which is a lip including an elongate structural body with a front edge adapted to mount ground-engaging products and a rear edge adapted to be welded into a bucket. 
     
     
         51 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , including an elongate structural body with a front edge adapted to contact the ground and a rear edge adapted to be secured to the earth working equipment. 
     
     
         52 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein the monitoring device identifies and communicates an amount of wear existing in the product. 
     
     
         53 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein the monitoring device identifies and communicates the part ID of the product. 
     
     
         54 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein the monitoring device identifies and communicates the condition of the product. 
     
     
         55 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein the monitoring device identifies and communicates the usage of the product. 
     
     
         56 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein the monitoring device identifies and communicates the performance of the product. 
     
     
         57 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein the monitoring device identifies any one of a part ID, condition, presence, usage and performance of the product. 
     
     
         58 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein the monitoring device includes a battery and a body, and the body holds the electronic device, the communication device and the battery together. 
     
     
         59 . A ground-engaging product in accordance with  claim 48 , wherein the electronic device and the communication device are included in a single component.