Patent · US11898330B2 · B2 · US

Heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus and system and method for use of same

(11) Publication number

US11898330B2

(21) Application number

17/558,241

(22) Filing date

2021-12-21

(30) Priority date

2019-09-12

(43) Publication date

2024-02-13

(45) Date of grant

2024-02-13

(51) IPC

B60Q 9/00; B66C 15/06; B66F 17/00; E02F 9/24; E02F 9/26; E04G 21/24

(52) CPC

E02F Dredging; soil-shifting: 9/261, 9/2054, 9/24, 9/245, 9/267
B60Q Arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general: 9/00
B66C Cranes; load-engaging elements or devices for cranes, capstans, winches, or tackles: 15/06, 15/065, 23/88
B66F Hoisting, lifting, hauling or pushing, not otherwise provided for, e.g. devices which apply a lifting or pushing force directly to the surface of a load: 17/003, 17/006
E04G Scaffolding; forms; shuttering; building implements or AIDS, or their use; handling building materials on the site; repairing, breaking-up or other work on existing buildings: 21/24

(72) Inventors

Jim D. Wiethorn

(54) Title

Heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus and system and method for use of same

(57) Abstract

A heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus for a piece of heavy equipment at a site and a system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus, the location of the heavy equipment is monitored by the heavy equipment warning apparatus and analyzed with reference to a hazard safety site plan of the site that identifies a hazard such as existing utilities, for example. An alert notification is initialized in response to the heavy equipment encroaching on a hazard geofence around the hazard. A shutdown notification is initialized in response to the heavy equipment being proximate to the hazard.

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Claims (20)

A heavy equipment hazard warning system, the system comprising: a programming interface being configured to communicate with a heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus located on a piece of heavy equipment at a site, the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus having a processor, non-transitory memory, a global positioning system unit communicatively interconnected in a busing architecture; and the non-transitory memory being accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive a hazard safety site plan of the site, the hazard safety site plan being a site plan of the site augmented with locationing information for a hazard with a hazard geofence therearound, the hazard geofence being a virtual boundary around the hazard, monitor, without data interaction with the hazard, a location of the heavy equipment with the global positioning system unit, analyze, without data interaction with the hazard, the location of the heavy equipment with respect to the hazard safety site plan, and initialize, without data interaction with the hazard, an alert notification at the heavy equipment in response to the heavy equipment encroaching on the hazard geofence.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus further comprises an audiovisual alert output, an override output, and a wireless transceiver thereat, the audiovisual alert output being disposed in communication with an audiovisual alert device associated with the heavy equipment, the override output being disposed in communication to an override associated with the heavy equipment, the override at least partially causing an equipment shutdown of the heavy equipment.
The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to initialize, without data interaction with the hazard, the alert notification via the audiovisual alert output at the heavy equipment in response to the heavy equipment encroaching on the hazard geofence.
The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the audiovisual alert output further comprises an audible alert at the heavy equipment.
The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the audiovisual alert output further comprises a visual alert at the heavy equipment.
The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to initialize, without data interaction with the hazard, a shutdown notification via the override output at the heavy equipment in response to the heavy equipment being proximate to the hazard.
The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the audiovisual alert device associated with the heavy equipment further comprises a device selected from the group consisting of sirens, warning lights, instrument panels, and displays.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the heavy equipment further comprises a piece of equipment selected from the group consisting of earthwork equipment, construction equipment, drilling rigs, cranes, concrete pumps, dump trucks, aerial lifts, scissor lifts, high reach equipment, forklifts, scissor lift trucks, track hoes, back hoes, and large ditching machines.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hazard safety site plan further comprises a plan created by an operator interacting with the site, the operator having a smart device and an application thereat for building the hazard geofence using the site plan with at least one hazard documented therein.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hazard further comprises an existing utility at the site.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hazard further comprises an infrastructure selected from the group consisting of electrical power infrastructure, gas infrastructure, water infrastructure, cable infrastructure, and telecommunications infrastructure.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hazard further comprises overhead power lines.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus further comprises a pairing with a proximate smart device.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-transitory memory further includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to capture and store heavy equipment data for analysis in an event of an incident occurring.
The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the heavy equipment data further comprises vehicle tracking information for the heavy equipment.
The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the heavy equipment data further comprises vehicle operating information for the heavy equipment.
The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to provide a visual of the hazard site plan to an operator of the heavy equipment via an output communicatively interconnected to the busing architecture.
A heavy equipment hazard warning system, the system comprising: a programming interface being configured to communicate with a heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus located on a piece of heavy equipment at a site, the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus having a processor, non-transitory memory, a global positioning system unit communicatively interconnected in a busing architecture; and the non-transitory memory being accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive a hazard safety site plan of the site, the hazard safety site plan being a site plan of the site augmented with locationing information for a hazard with a hazard geofence therearound, the hazard geofence being a virtual boundary around the hazard, monitor, without data interaction with the hazard, a location of the heavy equipment with the global positioning system unit, analyze, without data interaction with the hazard, the location of the heavy equipment with respect to the hazard safety site plan, and initialize, without data interaction with the hazard, a shutdown notification at the heavy equipment in response to the heavy equipment encroaching on the hazard geofence.
The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus further comprises an audiovisual alert output, an override output, and a wireless transceiver thereat, the audiovisual alert output being disposed in communication with an audiovisual alert device associated with the heavy equipment, the override output being disposed in communication to an override associated with the heavy equipment, the override at least partially causing an equipment shutdown of the heavy equipment.
A heavy equipment hazard warning system, the system comprising: a programming interface being configured to communicate with a heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus located on a piece of heavy equipment at a site, the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus having a processor, non-transitory memory, a global positioning system unit communicatively interconnected in a busing architecture; and the non-transitory memory being accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive a hazard safety site plan of the site, the hazard safety site plan being a site plan of the site augmented with locationing information for a hazard with a hazard geofence therearound, the hazard geofence being a virtual boundary around the hazard, monitor, without data interaction with the hazard, a location of the heavy equipment with the global positioning system unit, and initialize, without data interaction with the hazard, an alert notification at the heavy equipment in response to the heavy equipment encroaching on the hazard geofence.

Description

This invention relates, in general, to heavy equipment and, in particular, to a heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus and a system and method for use of the same for earthwork equipment, construction equipment, and the like, that enables crane owners, operators, and manufacturers to provide a means to evaluate potential known hazards, such as existing utilities at a site, to avoid catastrophic events and protect workers.

Without limiting the scope of the invention, the background will be described with reference to crane accidents, as an example. Crane accidents and operational issues are very dramatic and very visible, often resulting in viral videos and media attention. Worse, crane accidents may cause property damage, injury, and even death. Crane accident research data, consensus national standards and state and local municipalities prescribe certain safety practices and equipment to enable safe operating procedures. Identifying and avoiding hazards such as existing utilities like overhead power lines is critical to ensuring safe crane operation. There is a continued need for improved systems and methods to identify and avoid hazards such as existing utilities.

It would be advantageous to mitigate the risks of operating heavy equipment such as earthwork equipment and construction equipment. It would also be desirable to enable a computer-based and mechanical-based solution that is easily and quickly deployed without the need for a complex technical analysis.

Citations (24)

US20070262881A1
US20030169185A1
US9703002B1
US7482973B2
US8081112B2
US9292813B2
US8290204B2
US20110279261A1
US9081109B1
US9672713B2
US9547969B2
US9633537B2
US9607496B2
US9542824B2
US20130013251A1
US20140200863A1
US20160224029A1
US20150253776A1
US10671089B2
US20160343140A1
US10405070B2
US20170265029A1
US20190325174A1
US20210079628A1

Record as JSON

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  "publication_number": "US11898330B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus and system and method for use of same",
  "abstract": "A heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus for a piece of heavy equipment at a site and a system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment of the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus, the location of the heavy equipment is monitored by the heavy equipment warning apparatus and analyzed with reference to a hazard safety site plan of the site that identifies a hazard such as existing utilities, for example. An alert notification is initialized in response to the heavy equipment encroaching on a hazard geofence around the hazard. A shutdown notification is initialized in response to the heavy equipment being proximate to the hazard.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A heavy equipment hazard warning system, the system comprising: a programming interface being configured to communicate with a heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus located on a piece of heavy equipment at a site, the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus having a processor, non-transitory memory, a global positioning system unit communicatively interconnected in a busing architecture; and the non-transitory memory being accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive a hazard safety site plan of the site, the hazard safety site plan being a site plan of the site augmented with locationing information for a hazard with a hazard geofence therearound, the hazard geofence being a virtual boundary around the hazard, monitor, without data interaction with the hazard, a location of the heavy equipment with the global positioning system unit, analyze, without data interaction with the hazard, the location of the heavy equipment with respect to the hazard safety site plan, and initialize, without data interaction with the hazard, an alert notification at the heavy equipment in response to the heavy equipment encroaching on the hazard geofence.",
    "2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus further comprises an audiovisual alert output, an override output, and a wireless transceiver thereat, the audiovisual alert output being disposed in communication with an audiovisual alert device associated with the heavy equipment, the override output being disposed in communication to an override associated with the heavy equipment, the override at least partially causing an equipment shutdown of the heavy equipment.",
    "3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to initialize, without data interaction with the hazard, the alert notification via the audiovisual alert output at the heavy equipment in response to the heavy equipment encroaching on the hazard geofence.",
    "4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the audiovisual alert output further comprises an audible alert at the heavy equipment.",
    "5. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the audiovisual alert output further comprises a visual alert at the heavy equipment.",
    "6. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to initialize, without data interaction with the hazard, a shutdown notification via the override output at the heavy equipment in response to the heavy equipment being proximate to the hazard.",
    "7. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein the audiovisual alert device associated with the heavy equipment further comprises a device selected from the group consisting of sirens, warning lights, instrument panels, and displays.",
    "8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the heavy equipment further comprises a piece of equipment selected from the group consisting of earthwork equipment, construction equipment, drilling rigs, cranes, concrete pumps, dump trucks, aerial lifts, scissor lifts, high reach equipment, forklifts, scissor lift trucks, track hoes, back hoes, and large ditching machines.",
    "9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hazard safety site plan further comprises a plan created by an operator interacting with the site, the operator having a smart device and an application thereat for building the hazard geofence using the site plan with at least one hazard documented therein.",
    "10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hazard further comprises an existing utility at the site.",
    "11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hazard further comprises an infrastructure selected from the group consisting of electrical power infrastructure, gas infrastructure, water infrastructure, cable infrastructure, and telecommunications infrastructure.",
    "12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the hazard further comprises overhead power lines.",
    "13. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus further comprises a pairing with a proximate smart device.",
    "14. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-transitory memory further includes processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to capture and store heavy equipment data for analysis in an event of an incident occurring.",
    "15. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the heavy equipment data further comprises vehicle tracking information for the heavy equipment.",
    "16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the heavy equipment data further comprises vehicle operating information for the heavy equipment.",
    "17. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the processor-executable instructions further comprise instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to provide a visual of the hazard site plan to an operator of the heavy equipment via an output communicatively interconnected to the busing architecture.",
    "18. A heavy equipment hazard warning system, the system comprising: a programming interface being configured to communicate with a heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus located on a piece of heavy equipment at a site, the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus having a processor, non-transitory memory, a global positioning system unit communicatively interconnected in a busing architecture; and the non-transitory memory being accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive a hazard safety site plan of the site, the hazard safety site plan being a site plan of the site augmented with locationing information for a hazard with a hazard geofence therearound, the hazard geofence being a virtual boundary around the hazard, monitor, without data interaction with the hazard, a location of the heavy equipment with the global positioning system unit, analyze, without data interaction with the hazard, the location of the heavy equipment with respect to the hazard safety site plan, and initialize, without data interaction with the hazard, a shutdown notification at the heavy equipment in response to the heavy equipment encroaching on the hazard geofence.",
    "19. The system as recited in claim 18, wherein the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus further comprises an audiovisual alert output, an override output, and a wireless transceiver thereat, the audiovisual alert output being disposed in communication with an audiovisual alert device associated with the heavy equipment, the override output being disposed in communication to an override associated with the heavy equipment, the override at least partially causing an equipment shutdown of the heavy equipment.",
    "20. A heavy equipment hazard warning system, the system comprising: a programming interface being configured to communicate with a heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus located on a piece of heavy equipment at a site, the heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus having a processor, non-transitory memory, a global positioning system unit communicatively interconnected in a busing architecture; and the non-transitory memory being accessible to the processor, the non-transitory memory including processor-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to: receive a hazard safety site plan of the site, the hazard safety site plan being a site plan of the site augmented with locationing information for a hazard with a hazard geofence therearound, the hazard geofence being a virtual boundary around the hazard, monitor, without data interaction with the hazard, a location of the heavy equipment with the global positioning system unit, and initialize, without data interaction with the hazard, an alert notification at the heavy equipment in response to the heavy equipment encroaching on the hazard geofence."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "This invention relates, in general, to heavy equipment and, in particular, to a heavy equipment hazard warning apparatus and a system and method for use of the same for earthwork equipment, construction equipment, and the like, that enables crane owners, operators, and manufacturers to provide a means to evaluate potential known hazards, such as existing utilities at a site, to avoid catastrophic events and protect workers.\n\nWithout limiting the scope of the invention, the background will be described with reference to crane accidents, as an example. Crane accidents and operational issues are very dramatic and very visible, often resulting in viral videos and media attention. Worse, crane accidents may cause property damage, injury, and even death. Crane accident research data, consensus national standards and state and local municipalities prescribe certain safety practices and equipment to enable safe operating procedures. Identifying and avoiding hazards such as existing utilities like overhead power lines is critical to ensuring safe crane operation. There is a continued need for improved systems and methods to identify and avoid hazards such as existing utilities.\n\nIt would be advantageous to mitigate the risks of operating heavy equipment such as earthwork equipment and construction equipment. It would also be desirable to enable a computer-based and mechanical-based solution that is easily and quickly deployed without the need for a complex technical analysis.",
  "cpc": [
    "E02F 9/261",
    "B60Q 9/00",
    "B66C 15/06",
    "B66C 15/065",
    "B66C 23/88",
    "B66F 17/003",
    "B66F 17/006",
    "E02F 9/2054",
    "E02F 9/24",
    "E02F 9/245",
    "E02F 9/267",
    "E04G 21/24"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60Q 9/00",
    "B66C 15/06",
    "B66F 17/00",
    "E02F 9/24",
    "E02F 9/26",
    "E04G 21/24"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Jim D. Wiethorn"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-12-21",
  "publication_date": "2024-02-13",
  "grant_date": "2024-02-13",
  "priority_date": "2019-09-12",
  "application_number": "US-202117558241-A",
  "family_id": "74867216",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US20070262881A1",
    "US20030169185A1",
    "US9703002B1",
    "US7482973B2",
    "US8081112B2",
    "US9292813B2",
    "US8290204B2",
    "US20110279261A1",
    "US9081109B1",
    "US9672713B2",
    "US9547969B2",
    "US9633537B2",
    "US9607496B2",
    "US9542824B2",
    "US20130013251A1",
    "US20140200863A1",
    "US20160224029A1",
    "US20150253776A1",
    "US10671089B2",
    "US20160343140A1",
    "US10405070B2",
    "US20170265029A1",
    "US20190325174A1",
    "US20210079628A1"
  ]
}

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