AU2021107014A4

AU2021107014A4 - Field telemetry systtem for an environmental control cabin

Info

Publication number: AU2021107014A4
Application number: AU2021107014A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Gregory Knowles
Original assignee: Work Air Technologies Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Work Air Technologies Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2020-12-04
Filing date: 2021-08-24
Publication date: 2021-12-02
Anticipated expiration: 2029-08-24
Also published as: WO2022115917A1; AU2021277759A1; AU2021392820A1; AU2021392820A9

Abstract

A field telemetry system (10, 200) for an environmental control system (1) of a vehicle (3) comprising at least one sensor (12) for monitoring an element or characteristic of the environmental control system (1); a processing unit (14) in data communication with the at least one sensor (12) for receiving data therefrom and converting such data into packaged telemetry data; and a wireless communications system (16) in data communication with the processing unit (14) for receiving packaged telemetry data therefrom and communicating the packaged telemetry data to a location (8) external to the vehicle (3). Figure 3 A/2,~ 20 $4L'

Description

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"FIELD TELEMETRY SYSTEM FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM" FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a field telemetry system for an environmental control system. The field telemetry system is particularly suited for use in monitoring the environmental control system of vehicle cabins.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0002] The following discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgment or admission that any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in any jurisdiction as at the priority date of the application.

[0003] Monitoring of current vehicle environmental control systems involves the physically connection of the monitoring equipment. This poses issues in terms of transporting the monitoring equipment to the site of the vehicle as well as potential problems in seeking access to the connection ports through which the environmental control system can provide information regarding aspects of its current operational status.

[0004] Furthermore, as this monitoring equipment cannot be physically attached to a vehicle's environmental control system at all time, real-time (or near real time) information on the status of the environmental control system can not be obtained to facilitate the scheduling of preventative maintenance. This has led to the maintenance of environmental control systems fitted to vehicles often being treated as something that only need be attended to as part of the general maintenance of the vehicle of which it forms part.

[0005] More specifically, the assumption on which industry now relies is that the environmental control system operates whenever the vehicle engine is operational and thus the operational hours of the vehicle engine equates to the operational hours of the compressor of the environmental control system. However, this assumption is one of convenience and not one based in fact.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a telemetry system for an environmental control system that can provide data on at least an on demand (if not real-time or near real-time) basis even while the vehicle is moving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Throughout this document, unless otherwise indicated to the contrary, the terms "comprising", "consisting of', and the like, are to be construed as non exhaustive, or in other words, as meaning "including, but not limited to".

[0008] The term "environmental control system" as used in this specification is a reference to any system that is able to perform one or more of the following functions: adjusting the temperature of environmental air; adjusting the flow of environmental air; pressurising environmental air; or filtering environmental air. It is to be further appreciated that a reference to the environmental control system may, in context, also reference the area in which the environmental control system operates, i.e. a cabin of a vehicle or a housing.

[0009] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is a field telemetry system for an environmental control system of a vehicle comprising:

at least one sensor for monitoring an element or characteristic of the environmental control system; a processing unit in data communication with the at least one sensor for receiving data therefrom and converting such data into packaged telemetry data; a wireless communications system in data communication with the processing unit for receiving packaged telemetry data therefrom and communicating the packaged telemetry data to a location external to the vehicle.

[0010] The at least one sensor may measure and/or monitor one or more of the following elements or characteristics of the environmental control system: length of time that a compressor (not shown) have been operating since its last service; length of time pressurisation fans have been operating since last service; air flow through filters; current air pressure; level of particulates or gas build-up; refrigerant pressure; refrigerant temperature; current actual revolutions per minute of fans; evaporator core temperature; cabin pressurisation demand; external air quality; revolutions per minute of the compressor; electrical (current) draw of elements of the environment control system; return air quality.

[0011] The at least one sensor preferably includes a sensor located in a cabin of the vehicle. If the vehicle is a manned vehicle, it is desirable that the sensor be located within an area defined as the area where an operator between a predetermined minimum height and a predetermined maximum height would draw and expel breath when properly seated in an operator's seat located within the cabin. Alternatively, if the vehicle is autonomous, it is desirable that the sensor be located proximate an air intake port or air exhaust port of the autonomous control system used to control the vehicle.

[0012] The processing unit may be in command communication with the at least one sensor, thereby allowing the processing unit to command the sensor to provide data on a periodic or on-demand basis. Additionally, the processing unit may be in data and control communication with interface means. The interface means can be used to display packaged telemetry data by way of the interface means and receive commands from the operator.

[0013] The processing unit may incorporate data storage means, the processing unit further operable to record the packaged telemetry data in the data storage means for audit purposes and to record packaged telemetry data which has been delayed for transmission. In this respect, the processing unit may be in data communication with at least one GPS sensor and the processing unit delays transmission of the packaged telemetry data when the GPS sensor records the location of the vehicle as being in a designated communication blackspot. Alternatively, the wireless communications system may measure the strength of a communication signal sent by the external location and delay transmission of the packaged telemetry data when the strength of the communication signal is equal to or below a threshold value.

[0014] The processing unit may incorporate an expert system, the expert system operable to create diagnostic data from the data received from the at least one sensor and the processing unit include the diagnostic data as part of the packaged telemetry data.

[0015] In a desirable configuration, at least one element of the environmental control system incorporates an electronic identification tag where the electronic identification tag being associated with one or more sensors and data provided by each associated sensor includes a unique identifier associated with the electronic identification tag.

[0016] In its most preferred configuration, the vehicle has a vehicle telemetry system and where the wireless communications system has a first communications subsystem and a second communications subsystem, the first communications subsystem operable to communicate packaged telemetry data to the vehicle telemetry system and the second communications subsystem operable to communicate packaged telemetry data to the external location. In such a configuration, it is preferable that the wireless communications subsystem operates to communicate the packaged telemetry data to the external location by way of the second communications subsystem if the first communications subsystem does not receive notification of successful transmission of the packaged telemetry data by way of the vehicle telemetry system within a predetermined timeframe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic of a field telemetry system for an environmental control system according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic of a field telemetry system for an environmental control system according to a second embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a flowchart of the operation of a field telemetry system as shown in Figure 2.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0018] In accordance with a first embodiment of the invention there is a field telemetry system 10 for an environmental control system 1. The field telemetry system comprises sensors 12, a processing unit 14 and a communications system 16.

[0019] The environmental control system 1 of this embodiment operates to supply filtered and conditioned air to the cabin 2 of a vehicle 3. In this embodiment, the cabin 2 is a manned cabin, i.e. one in which the vehicle 3 is controlled by a person. This means that the cabin 2 has at least one point of entry in the form of a door 4 and includes a seat 5. Filtered and conditioned air is also supplied to the interior of the cabin 2 by way of vents 6. In this embodiment, the environment control system 1 incorporates an air filtration and conditioning system according to the invention as described in US Patent 9,440,515 also filed by the applicant.

[0020] In this embodiment, the seat 5 is height adjustable so as to allow a person to set an appropriate vertical position at which they can control the vehicle 3.

[0021] Sensors 12 are divided into cabin sensors 18 and equipment sensors 20. The cabin sensors 18 are located at fixed positions about the cabin 2. In this embodiment, the cabin sensors 18 are primarily located forward of the seat 5 and seek to define a "breathing zone". The "breathing zone" in this embodiment represents the area from which a manned operator between a predetermined minimum height and a predetermined maximum height would draw and expel breath during normal operation of the vehicle 3 (i.e. while the manned operator is properly seated in seat 5).

[0022] Additional cabin sensors 18 may be located in the cabin outside of the "breathing zone" for calibration purposes. In this manner, the sensors 18 outside of the "breathing zone" can be used to determine whether an anomalous measurement or event actually occurs, or is the result of a failing or erroneous cabin sensor 18 within the "breathing zone".

[0023] Equipment sensors 20 in this embodiment are integral to the environment control system 1. The equipment sensors 20 operate to determine such characteristics of the environment control system 1 as the:

• length of time that a compressor (not shown) has been operating since its last service; • length of time pressurisation fans has been operating since last service; • amount of air flowing through filters; • current air pressure of both the cabin and the external environment; • measured level of particulates or gas build-up (such as CO 2 );

• refrigerant pressure and/or temperature; • current actual RPM of fans, including but not limited to, condenser fans; • temperature and/or current draw of fans; • evaporator core temperature; • cabin pressurisation demand; * external air quality; • RPM of the compressor; • electrical (current) draw of elements of the environment control system 1, such as fans, compressor, etc; and * return air quality.

[0024] The processing unit 12 is in data and control communication with each of the sensors 12 (both cabin sensors 18 and equipment sensors 20). For those sensors 12 that are intended to periodically perform their intended measurements, the processing unit 14 sends control commands at the required time intervals based on the time values of a real-time clock 22. For those sensors 12 that operate on an event basis, the processing unit 14 may send diagnostic signals periodically to ensure that the sensors 12 are operating correctly.

[0025] Data received from the sensors 12 is received by the processing unit 14 and stored in temporary memory 24 for further processing. Depending on the data received, the further processing may involve the immediate packaging of the data to create packaged telemetry data. Alternatively, the further processing may involve the packaging of data received in an intervening time period to create packaged telemetry data.

[0026] The communications system 16 is in data and control communication with the processing unit 14. The communications system 16 in this embodiment is able to wirelessly communicate with a remote source 8 using any communication protocol as would be readily apparent to the person skilled in the art, such as 4G or G communications protocols or enhanced WiFi. It is to be further appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the reference to a remote source 8 is a reference to a location external of the vehicle 3, i.e. the invention is not directed towards wireless communication of data by inter-vehicle systems.

[0027] This embodiment of the invention will now be described in the context of its intended use.

[0028] The processing unit 14 operates in standby mode. In standby mode, the processing unit 14 periodically checks the current time as recorded by the real-time clock 22. The current time value is then cross-referenced against a list of periodic time intervals to determine if any sensors 12, or set of sensors 12, ae scheduled to take measurements.

[0029] If the cross-reference determines one or more sensors 12 need to take measurements, the processing unit 14 operates to send a control signal to these sensors 12 to initiate recordal of the appropriate measurement by the sensor 12. Once the appropriate measurement has been recorded by the sensor 12, the sensor 12 operates to return the measurement to the processing unit 14.

[0030] At the same time, those sensors 12 that operate on an event basis wait in standby until such time as the appropriate event occurs. On determining that the monitored event has occurred, the sensor 12 operates to record the appropriate measurement, or raise a flag indicating that the monitored event has occurred, and return the measurement or flag (as appropriate) to the processing unit 14.

[0031] When the processing unit 14 receives a measurement, or a flag, from any sensor, the processing unit 14 operates to store the measurement, or flag value, in temporary memory 24 for further processing. In this example, the measurement received is intended for immediate transmission and thus the further processing involves immediately packaging the data to create packaged telemetry data.

[0032] Once the packaged telemetry data has been created, the packaged telemetry data is passed to the communications system 16. The communications system 16 encapsulates the packaged telemetry data as required to meet the required communications protocol used by the communications system 16. Once encapsulated, the communications system 16 then operates to transmit the packaged telemetry data to the remote source 8.

[0033] When the remote source 8 receives the packaged telemetry data, it makes appropriate checks to ensure the data has been transmitted correctly. The result of this check is then transmitted back to the communications system 16 as a means of acknowledging receipt of the packaged telemetry data and allowing the communications system 16 to initiate such corrective action as may be required in the event that there has been an error in communication of the packaged telemetry data.

[0034] In a second, preferred, embodiment of the invention, where like numerals reference like parts, there is a field telemetry system 200 for a cabin air system 1. The field telemetry system 200 is identical in construction to the field telemetry system 10 except for the communications system 16.

[0035] In this embodiment, the communications system 16 has a primary communications sub-system 202 and a secondary communications sub-system 204 and external data storage 206. Furthermore, the vehicle 3 has a vehicle telemetry system 9.

[0036] The primary communications sub-system 202 is in data and control communication with the vehicle telemetry system 9. The secondary communications sub-system 204 is identical to the communications system 16.

[0037] The external data storage 206 takes the form of a removable data storage medium as would be readily known to the person skilled in the art (for example, aSDTM card as readily used as storage by phones and cameras).

[0038] This embodiment will now be described in the context of its intended use, but limited to the nature in which telemetry data is communicated to the remote source 8.

[0039] The communication system 16 packages the telemetry data for communication by way of the primary communications sub-system 202. This packaging of the telemetry data is in accordance with any predefined communications protocols that may have been established for data and/or control communications with the vehicle telemetry system 9.

[0040] The primary communications sub-system 202 then communicates the packaged telemetry data to the vehicle telemetry system 9 along with the appropriate command(s) to transmit the packaged telemetry data by way of the vehicle telemetry system 9.

[0041] The primary communications sub-system 202 then initiates a first countdown timer. This first countdown timer is stopped on receipt of an appropriate acknowledgment signal from the vehicle telemetry system 9 indicating that the packaged telemetry data has been received and is being processed for on-forwarding to the remote source 8.

[0042] Stopping of the first countdown timer initiates a second countdown timer. The second countdown timer is stopped on receipt of a further acknowledgment signal from the vehicle telemetry system 9 indicating that the packaged telemetry data has been successfully communicated to the remote source 8. Stopping the second countdown timer also finishes the communications session until the next set of telemetry data need be communicated to the remote source 8.

[0043] If either the first countdown timer or the second countdown timer expires without receipt of the appropriate signal, the communications system 16 repackages the telemetry data for communication by way of the secondary communications sub system 204. This repackaging of the telemetry data is in accordance with any predefined communications protocols that may have been previously established for data communication with the remote source 8.

[0044] The secondary communications sub-system 204 then transmits the repackaged telemetry data to the remote source 8. Transmission of the repackaged data initiates a third countdown timer. The third countdown timer is stopped on receipt of an acknowledgement signal from the remote source 8 indicated that the repackaged telemetry data has been successfully received. Stopping the third countdown timer again finishes the communications session until the next set of telemetry data need be communication to the remote source 8.

[0045] If the third countdown timer expires without receipt of the appropriate signal, the communications system 16 assumes that there is some sort of communication problem with the remote source 8. In response, the communications system 16 acts to store the original telemetry data on the external data storage 206. At the same time, the communications system 16 sets a flag indicative that a communications problem exists and the current time as determined by the processing unit 14.

[0046] The setting of this flag impacts on further processing of telemetry data by the communications system 16. To elaborate, on receipt of each further set of telemetry data, the communications system 16 checks this flag to determine whether it has been set and, if so, the time at which it was set.

[0047] Assuming, as is the case for the purposes of this example, that the flag has been set, the communications system 16 obtains the current time as determined by the processing unit 14. The current time as determined by the processing time is then compared to the time at which the flag was set. If this time is equal to or exceeds a predefined retry timeframe, the communications system 16 again seeks to transmit the latest telemetry data as described above. However, if the time is less than the predefined retry timeframe, the communications system 16 simply operates to store the received set of telemetry data on the external data storage 206.

[0048] If the communications system 16 again seeks to transmit the latest telemetry data, the communications system 16 monitors the success of the transmission. If successful, the communications system 16 operates to reset this flag to its initial value, i.e. indicating that communication with the remote source 8 has been restored. However, if communication remains unsuccessful, the communications system 16 updates the time associated with the flag to the current time as determined by the processing unit 14. In this manner, the time until the next attempt to transmit telemetry data is reset.

[0049] In a variation of this second embodiment, resetting the flag to its initial value may initiate a process whereby the backlog of telemetry data stored on the external data storage 206 is again processed and packaged for transmission to the remote source 8.

[0050] While both embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of a manned vehicle 3 (i.e. one which requires a driver), the invention is equally as applicable to use in autonomous vehicles. However, when used in autonomous vehicles, the cabin sensors 18 are arranged close to the air intake and exhaust ports of the autonomous system rather than the driver's "breathing zone".

[0051] It should be appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the above invention is not limited to the embodiments described. In particular, the following modifications and improvements may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention:

• [0052] The telemetry data packaged for transmission to the remote site 8 may be raw data taken from the applicable sensors or such data as further processed by the processing unit 14 or both. • [0053] The communications system 16 may allow for two-way control communication and thereby facilitate the processing unit 14 performing on demand measurement of one or more of the cabin sensors 18 or equipment sensors 20. * [0054] The first embodiment of the invention may be suitable modified to also include external data storage 206. The external data storage 206 may then be used to store each transmitted data package and thereby act as an independent audit trail for such data. • [0055] The packaged telemetry data sent to the vehicle telemetry system 9 may be on-transmitted to the remote source 8 either on an "as is" basis or as part of a larger data package that also includes telemetry data from other systems of the vehicle 3. • [0056] The equipment sensors 20 may be located interior to the cabin 2 or may be external thereto. Similarly, the communications system 16 may need to be located remote from the cabin 2 to facilitate clear and/or unrestricted communication with the remote source 8. • [0057] The field telemetry system 10, 200 may also incorporate operational controls for the components which it monitors. In this manner, the remote source 8 may use the telemetry data to make decisions as to the operation of these components and initiate commands to the processing unit 14 that execute such decisions. This can also allow the remote source 8 to override operational settings as inputted by the driver. • [0058] As foreshadowed in the previous paragraph, the telemetry data may form the input for an expert system which may be located either locally to the vehicle or at the remote source. The expert system may use the telemetry data as either a diagnostic tool (and thus facilitate preventative maintenance schedules for the environment control system 1) or as an optimisation tool or both.

• [0059] Either embodiment may be modified to incorporate GPS sensors. The GPS sensors may then be used to determine when the vehicle 3 is in a location that does not allow for successful communication back to the remote source 8 and therefor circumvent the communication processes mentioned above until such time as the vehicle 3 returns to a location where successful communication is possible. This variation of the invention has particular use in underground mining activities. • [0060] Similarly, the communications system may operate to determine the strength of a communication signal emitted by the remote source 8 and, if the signal is of a strength less than a predetermined level, again circumvent the communication processes mentioned above until such time as the vehicle 3 starts receiving the communication signal at a strength greater than the predetermined level. • [0061] One or more of the elements forming part of the environment control system 1 may have an embedded or attached RFID tag and be associated with one or more equipment sensors 20. Ideally the association is created by allocating a unique identifier to the RFID tag and associating this unique identifier with the relevant equipment sensor 20 through programmed association or by way of broadcast of the relevant identifying information to the equipment sensor 20. * [0062] In a first configuration of a system in which an element of the environment control system 1 is fitted with an RFID tag, any measurement or event data provided by an associated equipment sensor 20 also incorporates the associated unique identifier. In this manner, performance data as recorded by the associated equipment sensor 20 can be recorded in an external database. Furthermore, by using the same unique identifier of the RFID tag, equipment sensors 20 directed to measuring different characteristics or events relating to the element concerned can be grouped together in the external database to give a complete history of that element's performance. • [0063] In a second configuration of a system in which an element of the environment control system 1 is fitted with an RFID tag, the RFID tag may further incorporate data storage means. In this manner, any measurement or event data provided by an associated equipment sensor 20 may also be broadcast back to the RFID tag for recordal with the data storage means. In this manner, the different characteristics or events measured by the various associated equipment sensors 20 are stored locally as part of the RFID tag. This also allows the performance data of the element to cover its whole operational life - even when the element is transferred between environmental control systems 1. • [0064] The communications system 16 may communicate the packaged telemetry data by way of a mobile telephone network, such as a public mobile telephone network, or a wireless data network (either public or private). • [0065] The sensors 20 may operate autonomously as smart sensors or semi-autonomously (i.e. by independently operating to take measurements or monitor events at predetermined intervals).

[0066] It should be further appreciated by the person skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Additions or modifications described, where not mutually exclusive, can be combined to form yet further embodiments that are considered to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

We Claim:

1. A field telemetry system for an environmental control system of a vehicle comprising: at least one sensor for monitoring an element or characteristic of the environmental control system; a processing unit in data communication with the at least one sensor for receiving data therefrom and converting such data into packaged telemetry data; a wireless communications system in data communication with the processing unit for receiving packaged telemetry data therefrom and communicating the packaged telemetry data to a location external to the vehicle.

2. A field telemetry system according to claim 1 where the at least one sensor measures and/or monitors one or more of the following elements or characteristics of the environmental control system: length of time that a compressor (not shown) have been operating since its last service; length of time pressurisation fans have been operating since last service; air flow through filters; current air pressure; level of particulates or gas build-up; refrigerant pressure; refrigerant temperature; current actual revolutions per minute of fans; evaporator core temperature; cabin pressurisation demand; external air quality; revolutions per minute of the compressor; electrical (current) draw of elements of the environment control system; return air quality.

3. A field telemetry system according to any preceding claim, where the at least one sensor includes a sensor located in a cabin of the vehicle.

4. A field telemetry system according to claim 3, where the sensor is located within an area defined as the area where an operator between a predetermined minimum height and a predetermined maximum height would draw and expel breath when properly seated in an operator's seat located within the cabin.

5. A field telemetry system according to claim 3, where the vehicle is controlled by way of an autonomous control system having at least one of an air intake port or an air exhaust port and the sensor is located proximate the air intake port or air exhaust port.

6. A field telemetry system according to any preceding claim, where the processing unit is also in command communication with the at least one sensor, the processing unit operable to command the sensor to provide data on a periodic or on-demand basis.

7. A field telemetry system according to any preceding claim, where the processing unit incorporates data storage means, the processing unit further operable to record the packaged telemetry data in the data storage means.

8. A field telemetry system according to any preceding claim, further incorporating interface means in data and control communication with the processing unit, the processing unit operable to display packaged telemetry data byway of the interface means and receive commands therefrom.

9. A field telemetry system according to any preceding claim, where the processing unit incorporates an expert system, the expert system operable to create diagnostic data from the data received from the at least one sensor and the processing unit include the diagnostic data as part of the packaged telemetry data.

10.A field telemetry system according to any preceding claim, where the processing unit is in data communication with at least one GPS sensor, the processing unit operable to delay communication of the packaged telemetry data when the GPS sensor records the location of the vehicle as being in a designated communication blackspot.

11.A field telemetry system according to any preceding claim, where the wireless communications system measures the strength of a communication signal sent by the external location and delay communication of the packaged telemetry data when the strength of the communication signal is equal to or below a threshold value.

12.A field telemetry system according to any preceding claim, where at least one element of the environmental control system incorporates an electronic identification tag where the electronic identification tag being associated with one or more sensors and data provided by each associated sensor includes a unique identifier associated with the electronic identification tag.

13.A field telemetry system according to any preceding claim, where the wireless communications system communicates the packaged telemetry data by way of a mobile telephone network or a wireless data network.

14.A field telemetry system according to any preceding claim, where the vehicle has a vehicle telemetry system and where the wireless communications system has a first communications subsystem and a second communications subsystem, the first communications subsystem operable to communicate packaged telemetry data to the vehicle telemetry system and the second communications subsystem operable to communicate packaged telemetry data to the external location.

15.A field telemetry system according to claim 14, the wireless communications subsystem operates to communicate the packaged telemetry data to the external location by way of the second communications subsystem if the first communications subsystem does not receive notification of successful transmission of the packaged telemetry data by way of the vehicle telemetry system within a predetermined timeframe.