Pneumatic Or Hydraulic System Patents (Class 702/114)
  • Patent number: 11499547
    Abstract: A hydraulic fracturing machine includes a pump failure detection system. The hydraulic fracturing machine includes a hydraulic fracturing pump with a power end and a fluid end. The power end includes a plurality of roller bearings, and the fluid end includes a flow of fluid. A particle sensor coupled to the power end is configured to transmit particle information regarding a quantity of particles in the fluid. A temperature sensor, also coupled to the power end, is configured to transmit temperature information regarding a temperature of the fluid. A vibration sensor coupled to the power end is configured to transmit vibration information regarding a vibration of each of the plurality of roller bearings. An electronic control module analyzes the particle information, the temperature information and the vibration information, and calculates a failure warning level based on the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Yanchai Zhang, Zhijun Cai, Nathan S. Pauli, Zhaoxu Dong, Yong Sun, Xuefei Hu
  • Patent number: 11486788
    Abstract: A test system for a pressure control equipment (PCE) stack includes a pump for directing fluid into the PCE stack, a drive for operating the pump to control fluid flow into the PCE stack, and a controller communicatively coupled to the drive and a sensor that transmits sensor data indicative of pressure within the PCE stack. The controller instructs the drive to cause the pump to direct fluid into the PCE stack until the sensor data indicates that the pressure within the PCE stack has reached a threshold pressure, blocks fluid flow into and out of the PCE stack upon receiving sensor data indicating the pressure within the PCE stack has reached the threshold pressure, monitors the pressure within the PCE stack over a time interval, and determines a condition of the PCE stack based on a change in the pressure within the PCE stack during the time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Jonathan Haslanger
  • Patent number: 11401927
    Abstract: Disclosed is a status monitoring and fault diagnosis system for a plunger pump, including a monitoring and fault diagnosis device. The monitoring and fault diagnosis device monitors and diagnoses a hydraulic end assembly of a plunger pump. The monitoring and fault diagnosis device further monitors and diagnoses a power end assembly and/or a reduction gearbox assembly. Beneficial effects: The diagnosis system monitors and diagnoses not only a hydraulic end assembly, but also a power end assembly and/or a reduction gearbox assembly, that is, an equipment fault can be accurately predetermined in time for an entire plunger pump, so that high-pressure, large-displacement, and continuous operation requirements on fracturing sites at present are better satisfied, and on-demand maintenance is adopted instead of regular examination and maintenance, thereby saving labor, time, and materials to achieve economic efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: AMERICAN JEREH INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hailong Li, Haiping Cui, Haiping Xing, Jixin Wang, Peng Li, Xiaobin Li
  • Patent number: 10859082
    Abstract: A method includes determining a rotational position of a crankshaft in a multiplex pump from one or more sensors disposed on the crankshaft, determining a position of each of a plurality of pistons along a corresponding pump bore in relation to a total stroke length of each piston and a connecting rod length, calculating an individual theoretical displaced volume of fluid for each of the pump bores in the multiplex pump based on the rotational position of the crankshaft, and summing the individual theoretical displaced volumes to determine a total theoretical pumped volume by the multiplex pump. A calibration method includes determination of the multiplex pump efficiency versus speed and discharge pressure, and the effect of pump leakage and valve closing delay on the pump efficiency. Verification of the pump performance and efficiency may be controlled during pumping to insure the validity of the last calibration data set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Vishwanathan Parmeshwar, Jacques Orban
  • Patent number: 10465936
    Abstract: A method of controlling an air conditioner, including inputting, by an operation command input part, an operation command for the air conditioner through which a refrigerating cycle circulates; sensing, by an outside temperature sensor, an outside temperature; sensing, by an outside humidity recognition part, an outside humidity; sensing, by a low pressure sensor, a low pressure of the refrigerating cycle; recognizing, by a controller, information about the outside temperature, the outside humidity, and the low pressure; entering, by the controller, a changing mode in which a first target high pressure of the refrigerating cycle is changed when the low pressure is less than a first reference low pressure; and changing, by the controller, an operation frequency of a compressor of the air conditioner in response to a range of the low pressure when the changing mode is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Pilhyun Yoon, Yongcheol Sa, Chiwoo Song
  • Patent number: 10443872
    Abstract: An air conditioner including an outside unit, which includes a compressor and an evaporator, an outside temperature sensor attached to the outside unit to sense outside temperature, an outside humidity recognition part attached to the outside unit to recognize information about outside humidity, a low pressure sensor that senses an evaporation pressure of the evaporator, and a control part that controls an operation of the compressor, based on both information about dew-point temperature sensed from the outside temperature sensor and the outside humidity recognition part and information about the evaporation pressure sensed from the low pressure sensor. The control part changes an operation frequency of the compressor according to whether the evaporation pressure is not lower than a preset reference low pressure, to prevent frosting of the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Pilhyun Yoon, Yongcheol Sa, Chiwoo Song
  • Patent number: 10060835
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a technique is provided for optimizing selection of hydrants for flow test in a water distribution system. An impact database is built that indicates whether a flow test at each hydrant in the water distribution system has an impact on each pipe of the water distribution system. When a user supplies a number of hydrants to be subject to flow test, a hydrant selection solver application may search for an optimized set of hydrants for flow test that includes the user-supplied number, the searching to include generating candidate sets of hydrants and evaluating the candidate sets of hydrants based on fitness values calculated using the impact database, each fitness value to evaluate performance of a candidate set of hydrants based on flow velocity or hydraulic gradient change in pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Bentley Systems, Incorporated
    Inventors: Zheng Yi Wu, Yuan Song
  • Patent number: 10040343
    Abstract: A hybrid system, consisting of an internal combustion engine (1) with added-on and/or integrated hydraulic pumps (2) to supply consumers (5) and/or the drive unit (12), at least one engine control unit (3) for electronic engine regulation and/or fuel-injection regulation, at least one hydraulic control unit (4) to control at least one hydraulic consumer (5), at least one pressure sustaining valve (6), at least one reversing valve (7) and at least one hydraulic pressure accumulator (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: DEUTZ AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Ralf Kochhan, Taghi Akbarian
  • Patent number: 9335762
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include a test control panel device, system, computer program product, and method for receiving a test input signal; reading a duration of the test input signal; verifying that the signal duration is a valid duration to initiate the test; initiating the test by sending a start test signal to a valve controller device; receiving signals from the valve controller device; indicating that the test control panel device has received a valve controller device signal from the valve controller device; wherein the valve controller device signal is a test acknowledgement signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth William Junk
  • Patent number: 9026397
    Abstract: A diagnosing operation controlling portion compares the magnitude of change of a control instruction value that controls the dislocation of a valve stem to a reference value that has been set in advance, and stops the malfunction evaluation operation in a diagnosing portion if the magnitude of change per unit time in the control instruction value exceeds a reference value. If the magnitude of change per unit time in the control instruction value exceeds the reference value, then the evaluation may be the same as for a case wherein a stick-slip has occurred, even if the operation is functioning properly. In contrast, it is possible to prevent incorrect stick-slip evaluations by stopping the operation of the diagnosing portion when the magnitude of change per unit time in the control instruction value exceeds a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Azbil Corporation
    Inventors: Tetsuya Tabaru, Minoru Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8996328
    Abstract: Example methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to test safety instrumented system (SIS) solenoids are disclosed. A disclosed valve position control apparatus includes a relay to control a state of a solenoid and a valve positioner including a transmitter to transmit a solenoid test signal to the relay, electrical contacts to communicatively couple the solenoid test signal to the relay via one or more wires, and a solenoid tester to generate the solenoid test signal and to monitor a response of the solenoid when the solenoid test signal is transmitted to the relay to verify an operation of the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC
    Inventor: Jimmie L. Snowbarger
  • Patent number: 8942947
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, method and kit for testing fluid flow and pressure is provided. The apparatus, system, method and kit include or include the use of a flow unit which is configured to measure flow rate and/or flow velocity when interfaced with a flow valve or hydrant and a pressure unit configured to measure at least residual pressure when interfaced with a test valve or hydrant. At least one of the units is configured to wirelessly send data transmissions to the other unit which is configured to receive such transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Inventor: Lyndon J. Hurley
  • Patent number: 8939731
    Abstract: A character parameters obtaining method for a displacement control mechanism of a hydraulic pump and a detecting device for carrying out the method are disclosed. The method involves constructing a hydraulic system; outputting hydraulic energy by the hydraulic pump driven by a primary motor; detecting pressure of a displacement control mechanism; obtaining middle parameters by obtaining the time required for preset change of the pressure at the output end of the displacement control mechanism; obtaining character parameters of the displacement control mechanism according to the middle parameters. The method can obtain the character parameters of the displacement control mechanism by the pressure detection, so that the performance of the displacement control mechanism can be judged according to the obtained character parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hunan Sany Intelligent Control Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiang Zhou, Xianli Cao
  • Patent number: 8898024
    Abstract: A method for determining a lack of capacity of a pump, actuated by an electric motor, of a hydraulic brake system of a motor vehicle comprises the steps of generating a hydraulic pressure in a first brake circuit of the brake system by means of a plurality of pump elements of the pump that are assigned to the first brake circuit, limiting the generated hydraulic pressure to a test pressure and simultaneously acquiring a motor-related parameter, and determining a lack of capacity of at least one of the pump elements on the basis of a comparison of the parameter with a comparison value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Lucas Automotive GmbH
    Inventor: Leo Gilles
  • Patent number: 8886403
    Abstract: A suspension system and a method for controlling a suspension system for a muscle-powered two-wheeled vehicle having a damper device with a first damper chamber and a second damper chamber coupled with one another via a controllable damping valve. A sensor is provided for capturing data about a current operational state. An electric control device and a data storage device for controlling the damper device are provided, such that at least one damping characteristic of the damper device can be influenced by a signal from the control device. The control device is configured and organized to provide a teaching mode in which route-related data are stored in the memory. The control device is furthermore configured and organized to provide a repeat mode in which the damper device is controlled according to the route-related data stored in the memory device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: DT Swiss, Inc.
    Inventors: Stefan Battlogg, Martin Walthert, Gernot Elsensohn, Jürgen Pösel
  • Patent number: 8874035
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for maintaining critical medical equipment for stockpile applications are provided. The apparatus, system and method of the present disclosure can be used to monitor and maintain critical medical equipment in a continuous state of readiness. The apparatus includes a storage case which protects a medical device disposed therein and the accessories required for its immediate application while also providing for constant or intermittent charging of the device's internal battery and serial data monitoring of the primary systems. The system and method also incorporate design features in the medical device which enable performance testing via a remote interface while the device is secured within the storage case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Impact Instrumentation, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie H. Sherman, George Beck, Denise Eizadkhah, Dorian LeCroy
  • Patent number: 8868354
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for testing a valve control system in an aircraft fuel supply system having a plurality of control valves, wherein the control system includes a processor adapted to receive feedback signals from each of the plurality of control valves, the method comprising the steps of: connecting a test device to the control system such that the test device is connected for signal transmission to the processor; outputting a signal to the processor simulating a feedback signal from at least one of the control valves; detecting a control signal which is output by the processor to the at least one of the control valves; and identifying the detected control signal which is output by the processor to the control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Lohmann
  • Patent number: 8862425
    Abstract: A sensing and control system terminates a cycle test when it senses the part being cycle tested is about to fail. The sensing and control system uses a sensor for generating a signal each time the test part completes a motion cycle. The sensing and control system uses a controller, responsive to the sensor, for determining whether a failure is about to occur and stopping the cycle test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian A. Trager, Michael J. Niel
  • Patent number: 8805633
    Abstract: A flow testing system comprises a flow unit for interfacing with a flow hydrant, a pressure unit for interfacing with a test hydrant, a transmitter in a first one of the units to transmit data to a second one of the units, a receiver in the second unit to receive data from the transmitter, and a data storage medium in the second unit to record data. A method includes providing flow and pressure units, interfacing the pressure unit to a test hydrant and the flow unit to a flow hydrant, measuring static pressure by the pressure unit, initiating water flow through the flow hydrant, measuring pitot pressure in the flow, measuring residual pressure in the test hydrant, transmitting the residual pressure measurement from the pressure to the flow unit, and recording the pitot and residual pressure measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Lyndon J. Hurley
  • Patent number: 8788236
    Abstract: The systems and methods for testing a medical device, as described herein, provide a novel approach for determining if the medical device is functioning properly without having to connect the medical device to a patient. For example, these systems and methods test the functionality of a medical device without utilizing an artificial lung or controlling pressure and flow monitored by the medical device and without making any hardware changes to the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Rohit Vij, Douglas K. McClure, Michael Ekaireb
  • Publication number: 20140188424
    Abstract: A fan test device is connected to an interface of a fan under test on a motherboard. The fan test device includes a connector, a power test unit, a signal test unit, a single chip microcontroller (SCM), and a keyboard. The power test unit includes a first contact and a second contact. The first contact is connected to a ground pin of the connector. The second contact is connected to a power pin of the connector. The signal test unit includes a third contact and a fourth contact. The third contact is connected to the first contact. The fourth contact is connected to a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal pin of the connector. The keyboard is connected to the SCM to input a max speed and a preset duty cycle of the fan.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicants: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD., HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (ShenZhen) CO., LTD
    Inventor: XIANG-WEN KUANG
  • Publication number: 20140166271
    Abstract: A technique involves monitoring a hydraulic system having a hydraulic pump coupled to a hydraulic motor which can be used to drive well related equipment. The system and methodology utilize sensors positioned to monitor parameters related to operation of the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor. A processor system is coupled to the sensors to obtain data output by the sensors. The processor system analyzes the sensor data for failure signatures that can be used to determine a failure or potential failure in the hydraulic system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Evgeny Khvoshchev, Sarmad Adnan
  • Patent number: 8718966
    Abstract: The control apparatus acquires an ideal velocity characteristic of a control surface, and the temperature of pressure oil of the actuator to be tested and the operating speed of the control surface when the actuator is attached to the control surface. The control apparatus corrects the ideal velocity characteristic of the control surface by using the pressure oil temperature and the control surface operating speed. The control apparatus sets an upper limit and a lower limit by using a predicted value for a fluctuation range for a fluctuation factor that causes a fluctuation of the control surface operating speed, with reference to the corrected ideal velocity characteristic, measures the pressure oil temperature and the operating speed by actuating the control surface, with the actuator to be tested placed in a damping mode, and determines whether the measured value falls within the range between the upper limit and the lower limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: NABTESCO Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukui, Kazuyuki Suzuki, Toshiaki Ogawa, Atsushi Mori
  • Patent number: 8706306
    Abstract: An exemplary system includes a hydraulic device configured to operate at a fluid pressure. A sensor is configured to measure fluid pressure in the hydraulic device and generate a pressure signal representative of the measured fluid pressure. An actuator configured to regulate fluid flow to the hydraulic device. A control module is configured to identify a fault pending condition based on the measured fluid pressure, increase the fluid pressure in the hydraulic device during the fault pending condition, and iteratively enable and disable the actuator during the fault pending condition to determine if the actuator has failed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: James R. Bartshe, Syed Naqi
  • Patent number: 8573241
    Abstract: Systems and processes may provide field-initiated testing and/or control of fluid regulatory systems. In one aspect, a fluid regulatory testing system may include a field test initiator and a fluid regulator control system. The field test initiator may alter control signal delivered to the fluid regulator control system upon activation of a user input device. The fluid regulator control system may receive control signals from the field test initiator and generate fluid regulator control signals. The fluid regulator control system may also detect whether a control signal has been altered, and initiate a fluid regulator testing sequence, if the control signal has been altered. The fluid regulator control system may include a latch mode. When a latch mode is commenced, generation of fluid regulator control signals based on received control signals and/or alteration of a position of a fluid regulator may be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Dresser, Inc.
    Inventor: Sandro Esposito
  • Patent number: 8540211
    Abstract: A method for partially stroking an emergency valve apparatus is provided. The emergency valve apparatus comprises an actuator (103) and a valve member (101). The apparatus is movable between a first position and a second position. The method comprises the step of initiating a partial stroke movement of the apparatus from the first position towards the second position. A parameter of the fluid acting on the apparatus is measured. Once the measured parameter reaches a threshold value, the partial stroke movement is reversed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Norgren Limited
    Inventors: Christopher John Wheater, David Horsfield
  • Patent number: 8437975
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monitoring system and method for accumulator banks including at least two pressure accumulators, the accumulator bank is coupled to a device and being adapted to provide a pressurized fluid into the device at pressure reductions in said device. The monitoring system comprises at least one sensor for detecting a chosen parameter in the accumulator bank at chosen intervals of time, and a recording unit for recording the sampled measured parameters, a storage device for storing predetermined characteristic information related to the pressure development in the accumulator bank during pressure reductions at the device and representing different numbers of active accumulators in the accumulator bank, and calculation means for comparing the recorded measured parameters with the stored characteristic information, and determining from this comparison the number of active accumulators in the accumulator bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Aker Subsea AS
    Inventors: Hallgeir Melbo, Klas Goran Eriksson, Kristin Falk
  • Patent number: 8423313
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for testing a valve control system in an aircraft fuel supply system having a plurality of control valves, wherein the control system includes relay means for outputting control signals to each of the plurality of control valves. The method includes providing connection means for electrically connecting a test device to the control system relay means, connecting a test device to the relay means such that the test device is adapted to receive control signals output by the control system to any one of the plurality of control valves, detecting an electrical control signal output from the relay means to any one of the plurality of control valves, and identifying the particular one of the plurality of control valves to which a detected control signal is output by the relay means and identifying the nature of the control signal output to that particular control valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Airbus Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Lohmann
  • Patent number: 8401811
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, method and kit for testing fluid flow and pressure is provided. The apparatus, system, method and kit include or include the use of a flow unit which is configured to measure flow rate and/or flow velocity when interfaced with a flow valve or hydrant and a pressure unit configured to measure at least residual pressure when interfaced with a test valve or hydrant. At least one of the units is configured to wirelessly send data transmissions to the other unit which is configured to receive such transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Lyndon J. Hurley
  • Patent number: 8354029
    Abstract: A control device for a filtration unit for filtering a fluid, the control device comprising an integrity test unit for performing an integrity test for checking the functional integrity of the filtration unit, and a reaction unit for determining a reaction based on a result of the integrity test.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Seccua GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Hank
  • Publication number: 20120310582
    Abstract: A system for on-line testing of an emergency shut-off valve includes a first emergency shut-off valve (first valve) and a flow control valve (second valve), with the system being configured to allow the second valve to serve as a combination flow control and second emergency shut-off valve. A subsystem is also provided for testing the first valve without fully closing the first valve in response to a signal from the control. In this subsystem, a solenoid valve bleeds off pressurized fluid to move the first valve from a fully opened to a partially closed position. A bypass around the second valve allows it to be tested as the second emergency shut-off valve, allowing the second valve to close completely without shutting down the process. The use of the two emergency shut-off valves in series wherein either valve can shut down the process provides a level 3 safety integrity level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventor: TAREQ NASSER AL-BUAIJAN
  • Publication number: 20120215466
    Abstract: Methods of and devices for testing medical pumps via tracking induced single or multiple bubble trajectories within a fluid flow conduit (60) and methods of synchronized (600) corrections (604) of flow data estimates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventors: KARL A. RUITER, MIRIK HOVSEPIAN
  • Publication number: 20120197580
    Abstract: This disclosure describes systems and methods for testing a medical device. The disclosure describes a novel approach determining if the ventilator system is functioning properly without having to connect the medical device to a patient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: Nellcor Puritan Bennett LLC
    Inventors: Rohit Vij, Douglas K. McClure, Michael Ekaireb
  • Publication number: 20120150455
    Abstract: A leak detection system includes a coupled to a pressure system to sense a first pressure at time t0. A fluid pumping system then provides a selected volume of test fluid to the pressure system. The sensor senses a test pressure at time t1 and at selected intervals ‘n’ to time t(n+1) and transmits a signal reflect of the pressures at each time to a computer. The computer system is configured to calculate a leak detection value, which is a function of a ratio of the first pressure at time t0 and the test pressure at time t1; the test pressure at time t1 and the test pressure at time t2; and so on, to a test pressure at the timen and the test pressure at the time t(n+1). A graphical output is displays the leak detection value as a function of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Charles M. FRANKLIN, Richard A. CULLY
  • Publication number: 20120126989
    Abstract: A method is provided for diagnosing a fault in a selective catalytic reduction system having an electric driven transportation device that provide a mass flow of a Diesel Exhaust Fluid into the selective catalytic reduction system. The method includes, but is not limited to applying an electric signal to the transportation device for establishing the mass flow, monitoring a parameter value of the electric signal, monitoring the mass flow provided into the selective catalytic reduction system caused by the transportation device when it is driven with the signal, determining, for the monitored mass flow, the difference between the corresponding parameter value, and a corresponding parameter value stored in a data map.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Roberto VERNASSA, Ignazio DENTICI
  • Publication number: 20120029859
    Abstract: The control apparatus acquires an ideal velocity characteristic of a control surface, and the temperature of pressure oil of the actuator to be tested and the operating speed of the control surface when the actuator is attached to the control surface. The control apparatus corrects the ideal velocity characteristic of the control surface by using the pressure oil temperature and the control surface operating speed. The control apparatus sets an upper limit and a lower limit by using a predicted value for a fluctuation range for a fluctuation factor that causes a fluctuation of the control surface operating speed, with reference to the corrected ideal velocity characteristic, measures the pressure oil temperature and the operating speed by actuating the control surface, with the actuator to be tested placed in a damping mode, and determines whether the measured value falls within the range between the upper limit and the lower limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Atsushi FUKUI, Kazuyuki SUZUKI, Toshiaki OGAWA, Atsushi MORI
  • Patent number: 8102139
    Abstract: An indicating instrument includes a step motor having a field winding, a pointer, a reduction gear mechanism having gears, a stopper device for stopping the pointer at a stopper position, a detecting device for detecting induced voltage of the winding at each of detecting points that include a zero point corresponding to the stopper position, a control device for controlling a drive signal, and an updating device for updating the zero point based on the induced voltage during zero-reset control performed by the control device. The control device performs return control, whereby the pointer rotates to a return point in an indication value increasing direction and then returns to a waiting point in a zero-reset direction to stand by at the waiting point, prior to zero-reset control, whereby the pointer rotates from the waiting point in the zero-reset direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Hideyuki Nakane
  • Patent number: 8019569
    Abstract: A valve has a valve piston, at least one coil and at least one magnetized component. An induction voltage is induced in the at least one coil, by a movement of the valve piston in the valve through a magnetic field produced by the magnetized component. A reference point is acquired, which is representative of a start of a current activation cycle of the valve. In the current activation cycle a point is determined as a function of a characteristic pattern of the induction voltage, which is representative of an end of a movement process of the valve piston in the valve. A current response time is determined as a function of the point and the reference point. At least one error condition is determined as a function of the response time. An error is identified, when the at least one error condition is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Stephan Bolz
  • Patent number: 7983869
    Abstract: A flow testing system comprises a flow unit for interfacing with a flow hydrant, a pressure unit for interfacing with a test hydrant, a transmitter in a first one of the units to transmit data to a second one of the units, a receiver in the second unit to receive data from the transmitter, and a data storage medium in the second unit to record data. A method includes providing flow and pressure units, interfacing the pressure unit to a test hydrant and the flow unit to a flow hydrant, measuring static pressure by the pressure unit, initiating water flow through the flow hydrant, measuring pitot pressure in the flow, measuring residual pressure in the test hydrant, transmitting the residual pressure measurement from the pressure to the flow unit, and recording the pitot and residual pressure measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Inventor: Lyndon J. Hurley
  • Publication number: 20110172944
    Abstract: An object is to set an appropriate evaluation index based more closely on reality by appropriately evaluating durability/strength necessary for operating a wind turbine. Provided is an evaluation-index setting method including a first step of obtaining time-series data of a load that acts on an evaluation target portion of a wind turbine, when operating under a predetermined operating condition, and of obtaining stress time-series data from this load time-series data and a second step of obtaining a fracture toughness value which is a value that is minimally necessary for the evaluation target portion to maintain predetermined strength for a case in which the evaluation target portion is subjected to stress based on the stress time-series data over a compensation operating period, and of determining, on the basis thereof, a required fracture toughness value that serves as an index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shin Nakayama, Masuo Tada
  • Patent number: 7962295
    Abstract: A method for detecting and predicting total hydraulic fluid level for aircraft hydraulic systems includes determining an estimated value for a parameter indicative of total fluid level or mass. Each new value is combined with an historical indication (e.g., from previous flights) to provide a prediction for the future value of total quantity indication. With the same combination, one can provide an estimated value for total system leakage or level loss. An alert can be generated if hydraulic fluid level or mass is predicted to fall below a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Assignee: Embraer Empresa Brasileira De Aeronautica S.A.
    Inventor: Wlamir Olivares Loesch Vianna
  • Patent number: 7949478
    Abstract: An in-situ lifespan is predicted for a hydraulic or pneumatic hose assembly for a particular installation, so that the hose assembly may be replaced before failure. A user of the apparatus, e.g. whilst on-site, is prompted to enter basic hose data together with a rating for a number of lifespan factors. The apparatus then determines a basic hose assembly lifespan based on the input hose data, and modifies the basic lifespan based on the ratings for the various lifespan factors. A hose assembly grading system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Australasian Steel Products Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Leigh W Morrison
  • Patent number: 7945414
    Abstract: A method for detecting abnormality in a fluid supply line is provided that uses a fluid control apparatus with a pressure sensor so that abnormality of malfunction and sheet leaks of a plurality of valves incorporated into the fluid supply line can be checked easily, promptly and accurately by operating the flow rate control apparatus possessing the pressure sensor. Specifically, using a fluid supply line provided with the flow rate control apparatus possessing the pressure sensor equipped with a flow rate setting mechanism, a flow rate/pressure display mechanism, and/or a flow rate self-diagnosis mechanism, abnormality of the control valves, installed with the flow rate control apparatus and on the upstream side and downstream side thereof, is detected by using the pressure value displayed and/or the value diagnosed with a self-diagnosis mechanism of the flow rate control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Fujikin Incorporated
    Inventors: Masaaki Nagase, Ryousuke Dohi, Nobukazu Ikeda, Kouji Nishino, Kaoru Hirata, Katsuyuki Sugita, Atsushi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7941290
    Abstract: In a method for error containment and diagnosis in a fluid power system the fluid volumetric flow in the overall system or at least a part thereof and the fluid pressure (P) is detected as a measurement quantity in each case during a duty cycle and is compared with stored references. In each case at the point in time of a deviation or a change in the deviation from the reference it is determined at which component or at which components (10 through 14) of the system an event has occurred influencing fluid consumption in order to recognize same as subject to error. Guide value quantities (Q/P) are derived from the respective volumetric flow values (Q) and the measured pressure (P) and are integrated or summated over the duty cycle to form guide values (KD), a corresponding guide value reference curve (KDref) as a reference being chosen from a stored selection matrix, which has the guide value reference curves (KDref) or time dependent guide values for different operating conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan Bredau, Reinhard Keller
  • Patent number: 7917325
    Abstract: In a method for error containment and diagnosis in a fluid power system the fluid volumetric flow of the overall system or at least a part thereof or a quantity dependent thereon is detected as a measurement quantity respectively during an operating cycle and is compared with stored references. In each case at the point in time of a deviation or change in the deviation from the reference the method finds at which component or at which components (10 through 14) in the system an event has occurred influencing the fluid consumption in order to then to recognize same as subject to error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Festo AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jan Bredau, Reinhard Keller
  • Patent number: 7917324
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, method and kit for testing fluid flow and pressure is provided. The apparatus, system, method and kit include or include the use of a flow unit which is configured to measure flow rate and/or flow velocity when interfaced with a flow valve or hydrant and a pressure unit configured to measure at least residual pressure when interfaced with a test valve or hydrant. At least one of the units is configured to wirelessly send data transmissions to the other unit which is configured to receive such transmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Inventor: Lyndon J. Hurley
  • Patent number: 7912563
    Abstract: A safety control system includes a plurality of safety control stations connected to a control bus to communicate with each other and with a distributed control system including a plurality of control stations connected to the control bus, wherein each of the plurality of safety control stations has an interface through which each of the plurality of safety control stations is connected to the control bus for transmitting own data of each of the plurality of safety control stations to all other safety control stations by broadcasting at a fixed cycle via the control bus and for receiving by each safety control station transmitted data from all other safety control stations, and wherein the interface implements a safety layer used to generate and diagnose safety information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Satoru Oosako
  • Patent number: 7871237
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring a gas turbine engine (20) to predict maintenance requirements. Particles suspended in a gas flow (24, 32) of the engine (20) are monitored and quantified to predict a particle accumulation rate. Monitoring may be done using particle flow sensors (61-63) in a diverted portion (33) of the working gas flow (24), such as in the cooling gas flow (32). Particle sampling (S1-S3) may be done to determine particle size and composition distributions. Particle mass flow rates may then be continuously monitored per engine operating condition, and compared to predetermined values such as a normal upper limit per engine operating condition. An integrated particle mass flow may be used in conjunction with an instantaneous mass flow rate to predict a maintenance requirement. Multiple locations (L1-L3) may be monitored to recognize a maintenance requirement by flow section or component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard H. Bunce, Francisco Dovali-Solis
  • Patent number: 7869889
    Abstract: This invention relates to safety instrumented systems (“SIS”) for monitoring and controlling chemical and other industrial process field devices, and that are responsive to signals for the emergency shutdown of the process or system. The patent will significantly improve the reliability of communications within an emergency shutdown system, reduce unwanted trips, and adapt to process conditions by failing to a safe mode in dynamic conditions that are not considered by prior art logic solvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Patrick S. Flanders, Abdelghani Daraiseh
  • Patent number: 7862003
    Abstract: Both improved protection against explosions and the possibility of performing diagnoses even when the I/P converter has been disconnected are to be provided by a position controller (5) for a pressure medium-operated actuating system, the controller being designed to be connected by a pneumatic line to a pneumatic drive (4)-equipped actuator (1) of an actuating element, especially an actuating element of a safety valve (2), where the actuator (1) has an electric power line (6) for controlling an I/P converter (7) according to the live-zero principle, and where the I/P converter (7) can be driven by an electrically controlled switch (10). The goal is achieved in that the switch (10) is designed to be driven by an additional circuit (11), which is connected to the power line (6) and installed in the position controller and which monitors the current in the power line (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Samson AG
    Inventors: Thomas Karte, Joerg Kiesbauer