Maintenance Patents (Class 702/184)
  • Patent number: 8370099
    Abstract: Method of calibrating an angular sensor includes a transducer for converting a real value of a physical quantity (?), lying within an overall range of variations, into an electrical signal (VS1) according to a first predefined function f1(VS1=cos 2?+OB1) having a factor (OB1) liable to drift according to an external condition, the method including a first step of measuring known values of the physical quantity within the overall range of variations and with at least two values of an external condition, a step of determining a set of correcting parameters, a second step of measuring a known additional value of the physical quantity chosen in a restricted range of variations, and a step of adjusting the set of correcting parameters from the second measurement step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Continental Automotive France
    Inventors: Michel Bonato, Luc Buron
  • Patent number: 8370109
    Abstract: Machine vibration baselines are synthesized without averaging historical vibration data. Instead machinery configuration information is used, including data about the machine train, the machine's rotating components, and the machine speeds. For each component being considered, a plurality of parameters is identified for deriving baseline portions. The parameters for one component are used to identify baseline vibration amplitude floor values, vibration amplitudes at frequencies corresponding to various harmonics of a rotational speed, and vibration amplitudes corresponding to forcing frequencies and their harmonics/sidebands. Parameters for other components also may be used to identify amplitudes at harmonic frequencies and forcing frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: DLI Engineering Corporation
    Inventors: David J. Van Dyke, William A. Watts, Laurent H. LaPorte
  • Patent number: 8370046
    Abstract: A system for monitoring a gas turbine includes a memory containing information from comparable gas turbines and an input device that generates a unit data signal and a risk signal. A processor in communication with the memory and the input device incorporates the unit data signal into the database, projects information for the gas turbine, and calculates a conditional risk that the gas turbine will reach a limit. An output signal includes repair or maintenance schedules. A method for monitoring a gas turbine includes receiving information from comparable gas turbines, adding information from the gas turbine to the information from comparable gas turbines, and projecting information for the gas turbine. The method further includes calculating a conditional risk that the gas turbine will reach a limit and generating an output signal containing repair or maintenance schedules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Xiaomo Jiang, Michael Edward Bernard, Sameer Vittal
  • Publication number: 20130030766
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a calibration system for electronic devices comprising an electronic calibration device and an electronic device and having a space configured to connect to the electronic calibration device. The electronic calibration device has a calibration parameter storage module configured to pre-store a first standard parameter of a plurality of calibration items of the electronic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: STAR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: CHOON LEONG LOU, VYTENIS VEITAS, PETER DEHOLLAN
  • Patent number: 8364292
    Abstract: A method for isolating a plant device of an industrial plant, wherein at least one safety measure is implemented on the plant device in order for work to be done safely on the plant device is provided. Isolation information is communicated to a control and protection system using a data communication unit having a data input that receives data from the plant device. An interface between the data communication unit and a control and protection system of the industrial plant is used to transmit the isolation information from the data communication unit to the control and protection unit. A device for isolating a plant device of an industrial plant to carry out work on the plant device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Günther Ebner
  • Patent number: 8364441
    Abstract: Surface texture measuring device includes: first pseudo measurement point sequence obtaining means which drives contact piece to trace a surface of reference workpiece having reference shape and obtains locus of certain position of the contact piece as first pseudo measurement point sequence; contact piece model calculating means which calculates, based on first pseudo measurement point sequence and design surface specifying the reference workpiece surface, a contact piece model representing surface shape of the contact piece and placed in pseudo space; second pseudo measurement point sequence obtaining means which places contact piece model such that its surface contacts a reference surface specifying a workpiece surface and it takes the same posture as contact piece in measurement, and calculates reference position of the contact piece model as second pseudo measurement point sequence; and replacement determination means which determines whether to replace contact piece based on second pseudo measurement po
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Mitutoyo Corporation
    Inventor: Tsukasa Kojima
  • Patent number: 8359134
    Abstract: A center control unit (11) of a center unit (4) generates assessment information corresponding to the strictness of the usage conditions for a specified component based on operation data stored in an operation data accumulation unit (13) received by an in-vehicle terminal (2) and assessment regulations stored in an assessment regulation storage unit (14), and generates report information for displaying a report in a form allowing comparison of this generated assessment information to relative comparison assessment information stored in an assessment information storage unit (15). A transmitter-receiver (12) transmits the report information generated by the center control unit (11) to a user terminal (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Isuzu Motors Limited
    Inventor: Noboru Maesono
  • Patent number: 8356207
    Abstract: A system for condition monitoring and fault diagnosis includes a data collection function that acquires time histories of selected variables for one or more of the components, a pre-processing function that calculates specified characteristics of the time histories, an analysis function for evaluating the characteristics to produce one or more hypotheses of a condition of the one or more components, and a reasoning function for determining the condition of the one or more components from the one or more hypotheses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Brooks Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Hosek, Jay Krishnasamy, Jan Prochazka
  • Patent number: 8355891
    Abstract: A method for the maintenance of a furnace for the catalytic reforming of a hydrocarbon reaction mixture, equipped with tubes filled with catalyst and for which one portion of the tubes is provided with thermocouples, the method comprising a monitoring of the temperature of the tubes is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Jean Gallarda
  • Patent number: 8356096
    Abstract: The APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR A REAL-TIME MULTI-HOP ROUTE REPORTER (“REPORTER”) facilitates generation and provision of relevant and descriptive network performance reports that are efficient, economical and useful to executives, managers and other non-IT professionals and/or personnel. The REPORTER may be implemented as a multi-tiered web application that may collect, analyze and update database records which facilitate generation of the descriptive report. The REPORTER may include facilities for establishing correlations between various devices in the same network in order to evaluate and report the network performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Marc Evens Gracieux
  • Patent number: 8352216
    Abstract: A method for advanced condition monitoring of an asset system includes sensing actual values of an operating condition for an operating regime of the asset system using at least one sensor; estimating sensed values of the operating condition by using an auto-associative neural network; determining a residual vector between the estimated sensed values and the actual values; and performing a fault diagnostic on the residual vector. In another method, an operating space of the asset system is segmented into operating regimes; the auto-associative neural network determines estimates of actual measured values; a residual vector is determined from the auto-associative neural network; a fault diagnostic is performed on the residual vector; and a change of the operation of the asset system is determined by analysis of the residual vector. An alert is provided if necessary. A smart sensor system includes an on-board processing unit for performing the method of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajesh Venkat Subbu, John Erik Hershey, Xiao Hu, Robert James Mitchell, Jr., Avinash Vinayak Taware, Piero Patrone Bonissone
  • Patent number: 8347957
    Abstract: A method of servicing a wellbore, comprising establishing a pumping profile having a performance plan, determining a remaining life estimate for a first wellbore servicing device, wherein the first wellbore servicing device is suitable for impacting conformance to the performance plan, and selecting a second wellbore servicing device in response to the remaining life value for the first wellbore servicing device, wherein the second wellbore servicing device is suitable for impacting conformance to the performance plan. A wellbore servicing system, comprising a first device suitable for impacting conformance to a performance plan, a first sensor configured to monitor an operational characteristic of the first device, and a controller in communication with the first sensor, the controller being configured to calculate at least one of a remaining life estimate of the first device and a probability of survival estimate of the first device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley V. Stephenson, Ronald Edward Dant, Herb John Horinek, Max Lynn Phillippi
  • Patent number: 8346505
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining which one or more time series parameters of a plurality of time series parameters relating to operation of a system are correlated with a first operation state of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: European Space Agency
    Inventors: José Antonio Martinez-Heras, Alessandro Donati, Kar Lam Yeung
  • Patent number: 8346519
    Abstract: A method of optimising a processing system comprising a plurality of apparatuses includes defining a system model indicative of a predetermined range of apparatus options within a processing system, constraints indicative of feasible interconnections between each apparatus and another apparatus, and parameters indicative of performance criteria associated with each apparatus. The system model is analysed with respect to predetermined criteria to determine a preferred arrangement of apparatuses within the processing system. A parameter relating to at least one apparatus is indicative of the availability and/or the reliability of the apparatus expressed as a function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: Qiying Yin, Nan Zhang
  • Publication number: 20120330613
    Abstract: A medical robotic system comprises a number of components that may be monitored to determine their preventive maintenance needs by recording usage-related information for the monitored components into associated non-volatile memories. When usage of the component exceeds a specified usage threshold, the system displays a warning message on its display screen to have preventive maintenance performed for the component. If the usage continues without such maintenance and exceeds a higher usage threshold, the system displays an error message on its display screen and the system transitions into an error state during which medical procedures are not allowed to be performed. The usage-related information may also be communicated to a remote computer which gathers and processes usage-related information from a number of medical robotic systems to estimate resource requirements for timely performing preventive maintenance on the medical robotic systems, and anticipated service revenues from such maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra Sillman, Gregory K. Toth, Thomas Nixon, Robert P. Sundstrom
  • Publication number: 20120323531
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for determining the health of an engine. The method includes a plurality of standard noise spectra collected from engines with known defects. A noise spectrum of the engine being monitored is sensed and compared to the plurality of standard noise spectra from the engines with known defects. From the comparison, a type and a degree of defect is identified based upon the comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Victor Pascu, Jay M. Francisco
  • Patent number: 8327367
    Abstract: An information service providing device selects a combination, all sensors contained in which are available and which has the highest priority, from within the combinations of sensors, which are for implementing an information service. In addition, the information service providing device selects an appropriate parameter for the sensors and processing program selected so as to be provided appropriately in response to the environment in which an information service has been implemented, and sets the parameter to these. By selecting sensors and processing program, and setting parameters, the information service providing device with only the receipt of the designation of desired information service by a user, various information services by appropriately combining various kinds of sensors and a plurality of processing programs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventors: Kosuke Takano, Naofumi Yoshida, Shuichi Kurabayashi
  • Publication number: 20120296606
    Abstract: Provided is a system including sensors to measure objects to obtain first measurement values, respectively. A first server computes a correlation among the first measurement values based on the first measurement values. A proxy computes an actual measurement value of a second measurement value based on the first measurement values and a given function. A second server verifies the sensors by setting one or more sensors as verification target sensors in turn at predetermined timing. The second server computes a predicted value of the second measurement value based on the correlation and the first measurement values obtained from the other sensors except the verification target sensors among the plurality of sensors. The first or second servers and the proxy outputs the predicted value of the second measurement value instead of the actual measurement value thereof during the verification of the verification target sensors if an anomalous sensor is identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karim Hamzaoui, Shohei Hido, Shoko Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20120296605
    Abstract: Provided is a method applied to a system including a plurality of sensors, a proxy, and a server. The method includes: measuring objects by the plurality of sensors to obtain first measurement values; computing a correlation among the first measurement values by the server based on the first measurement values; computing an actual measurement value of a second measurement value by the proxy based on the first measurement values and a given function; verifying the plurality of sensors by setting one or more sensors as verification target sensors in turn by the server at predetermined timing; computing a predicted value of the second measurement value by the server based on the correlation and the first measurement values obtained from the other sensors; and outputting the predicted value of the second measurement value instead of the actual measurement value thereof at least during the verification of the verification target sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Karim Hamzaoui, Shohei Hido, Shoko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8311698
    Abstract: Radio frequency identification is used in cooperation with the computer system aboard a motor vehicle to track service and maintenance activities relating to the vehicle. Each component or part of the vehicle that may require maintenance is provided with a unique passive identification tag. The output data from the tag is read by a reader placed in proximity to the tag, and the data is transmitted to an on-board computer module where it is processed, and the service record is updated. A data stream converter may be used to process the information read by the reader into a format that is acceptable to the on-board computer. The data from the on-board computer is stored in a device external to the computer. Provisions are included for notification to the user, the auto dealer or service other agency as needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory J. Boss, Peter G. Finn, Rick A. Hamilton, II, Brian M. O'Connell, James W. Seaman, Keith R. Walker
  • Patent number: 8311775
    Abstract: A defect repair apparatus includes a defect detection unit, a database, a defect repair unit, and a control unit. The defect detection unit inspects a multilayer substrate on which a repetitive pattern is formed and extracts positional information on a defect in the repetitive pattern and feature information on the defect. In the database, a plurality of defect repair techniques are registered. The defect repair unit repairs the defect of the multilayer substrate by a defect repair technique specified. The control unit reads a defect repair technique for the defect detected by the defect detection unit and controls the defect repair unit that repairs the defect by using the defect repair technique.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Akiko Tsutsui
  • Patent number: 8306943
    Abstract: In one embodiment, we describe a method that generates seasonality rules for anomaly detection for a hierarchical/tree based data structure. A new algorithm for processing nodes in hierarchy, as well as business rules for nodes, is described. Variations and examples are given to describe different scopes and embodiments of the invention. Exclusion criteria and children nodes are used as some examples for the implementations, with flow charts to describe the methods of application, as examples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: NTelx, Inc.
    Inventors: Lusine Yepremyan, Amrinder Arora, Christopher Kakovitch
  • Patent number: 8301403
    Abstract: The present invention is a hand held gauge for use with refrigeration systems. The gauge includes a service port connector, a display screen, and user interfacing buttons. The gauge also includes electronic storage of the pressure-to-saturation temperature data for different refrigerants. The gauge allows for the measuring of temperature and pressure of refrigeration systems. After a user inputs a refrigerant type, the gauge uses the pressure and the saturation data to determine the saturation temperature. The saturation temperature is compared to the measured temperature to get the superheat or subcooling. These results may all be displayed on the display screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Inventor: Brian K. Weick
  • Patent number: 8301412
    Abstract: A method includes defining a hierarchy associated with a test system including a plurality of test units for testing integrated circuit devices. At least some of the test units have a plurality of sockets. The hierarchy includes a first level including a first plurality of entities each associated with one of the sockets and at least a second level including a second plurality of entities each associated with a grouping of the sockets. State data associated with operational states of the sockets is received. A set of state metrics is generated for each entity at each level of the hierarchy based on the state data. Each set of state metrics identifies time spent in the operational states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Eric O. Green, Morgan R. Bickle, Yeo-Ming Sk Koh
  • Patent number: 8296105
    Abstract: A system for remotely diagnosing and repairing a computer controlled asset, includes an access point connected to a computer controlled asset thereby allowing electronic access to the computer system of the computer controlled asset. A service center remotely connected to the access point provides diagnostic review and repair of the computer controlled asset. An interface linking the access point to the service center allows the service center to communicate with the computer controlled asset via the access point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Inventor: Joanna E. Gasperson
  • Patent number: 8296104
    Abstract: An infrastructure is provided for gathering diagnostic data that is relevant to an error or other conditions detected in a monitored system. A diagnosability framework is provided that automates the gathering of relevant diagnostic data upon occurrence of the condition in the monitored system. In one embodiment, context data is determined for the condition detected in the monitored system. A rule-based engine is provided that is configured to automatically determine one or more actions to be performed for the condition detected in the monitored system based on the determined context data. The actions may include performing tasks that gather diagnostic data that is relevant to the detected condition, store the gathered diagnostic data in a repository, recommend one or more diagnostic actions to a user, and other diagnostic related actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Ramacher, Gary Ngai, Benoit Dageville, Karl Dias, Yair Sarig, Marcus Fallen, Ajith Kumar Mysorenagarajarao
  • Patent number: 8296197
    Abstract: Turnkey maintenance of a customer's aircraft fleet is managed by a single management service provider (MSP) controlling integrated maintenance and materials services from a central operations site. The MSP converts data received directly from on-board aircraft systems into information it uses to manage maintenance service providers and parts suppliers. The MSP contracts with and manages maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations (MROs) who perform the maintenance on the customers' aircraft at line and base stations. The MSP either remotely manages part inventories at the customer's site, or manages suppliers who deliver the parts to the MROs. Maintenance planning, scheduling and execution information is exchanged between the MSP, MROs, part suppliers and the customers through a shared data communication network controlled by the MSP. The MSP charges the customer for the maintenance services based on a flat rate per unit of aircraft flying time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert L. Avery, Wendy Cronie, Erik Fromm, Margaret Nomi, Cheryl Khera, Paula M. Kirkish, David R. Leonhardi, Jay P. Maloney, Matthew Bueser, Grant T. Thacker, Stephen T. Lane
  • Patent number: 8285517
    Abstract: A medical robotic system comprises a number of components that may be monitored to determine their preventive maintenance needs by recording usage-related information for the monitored components into associated non-volatile memories. When usage of the component exceeds a specified usage threshold, the system displays a warning message on its display screen to have preventive maintenance performed for the component. If the usage continues without such maintenance and exceeds a higher usage threshold, the system displays an error message on its display screen and the system transitions into an error state during which medical procedures are not allowed to be performed. The usage-related information may also be communicated to a remote computer which gathers and processes usage-related information from a number of medical robotic systems to estimate resource requirements for timely performing preventive maintenance on the medical robotic systems, and anticipated service revenues from such maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Debra Sillman, Gregory K. Toth, Thomas Nixon, Robert P Sundstrom
  • Patent number: 8285507
    Abstract: An environment sensor is mounted in a measurement unit. The measurement unit is adapted to be transported by a transportation apparatus. Measurement data from the environmental sensor is stored in a data format suitable for associating the measurement data with a state of the measurement unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsumi Matsuba
  • Patent number: 8285513
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and system for detecting an abnormal on-line analysis or laboratory measurement and for predicting an abnormal quality excursion due to an abnormal process condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: Kenneth F. Emigholz
  • Patent number: 8280686
    Abstract: A system including an environmental sensor that can travel with a product within a carrier's logistics network. The environmental sensor being configured to sense an environmental condition capable of affecting the product to generate product environment data. The system includes a scanner configured to read product environment data from the environmental sensor. The system also includes a hub control unit configured to communicate with the scanner and receive the product environment data from the scanner and determines whether the product environment data transcends a limit of exposure of the product to an environmental condition. The hub control unit is also configured to generate a transporting instruction to redirect transport of the product to an alternate destination different from its original destination if the hub control unit determines that the product environment data indicates the environmental condition of the product has transcended the limit of exposure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: United Parcel Service of America, Inc.
    Inventor: Nagesh Kadaba
  • Patent number: 8280685
    Abstract: An improved solution for performing an inspection is provided, in which a user can use a handheld computing device to obtain and/or record the set of attributes required for the inspection. In particular, an inspection schedule can be initiated on the handheld computing device and the user can be prompted for the various attributes based on the inspection schedule. Various solutions can be incorporated for receiving the attributes on the handheld computing device, including manual entry, audible entry and/or one or more data sensing devices. Subsequently, the set of attributes can be communicated to a base station for further processing and/or more permanent storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: International Electronic Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zahid F. Mian, Jeremy C. Mullaney, Ryk E. Spoor
  • Patent number: 8275642
    Abstract: A method and system of predicting a maintenance schedule and estimating a cost for warranty service of systems, for example, hardware systems, is provided. The method and system in one aspect may collect component usage data and obtain component reliability data for each of the plurality of components. A component life distribution module (CLDM) may be constructed based on the real time component usage data and the component reliability data, and from CLDM a mean time to fail data may be obtained. A system life distribution model (SLDM) may be selected and the mean time to fail data input into the SLDM to obtain an operating environment index that represents the effect of environment conditions on the lifetime and reliability. A maintenance schedule may be predicted and an adjusted cost of warranty service may be calculated based on the operating environment index for each of the plurality of components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hoi Yeung Chan, Trieu Can Chieu, Lawrence Shungwei Mok
  • Patent number: 8275580
    Abstract: A method for an output of maintenance information of an automation component in an automation arrangement is provided. The automation arrangement includes the automation component, an automation controller and a local control unit which is functionally associated with the automation component. In a first step status information relating to the automation component is formed in the automation controller, in a second step the status information is used by the automation controller to generate or change the maintenance information, and in a third step the maintenance information is transmitted from the automation controller to the control unit and is output there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Stefan Dausend, Dieter Helmig, Christoph Plattner, Josef Schindler
  • Publication number: 20120221190
    Abstract: A control process, which may be known as a toolset, for control of part or all of a maintenance method based on reliability centred maintenance (RCM) includes: a significant item selection (SIS) element a failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) element; an algorithm element; a tasks element; a sampling element; and a reports element. The SIS element produces one or more of the following: reference data; and progress data. The SIS element makes use of input from design approved organisation functionality. The FMEA element makes use of input from maintenance approved organisation functionality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS PLC
    Inventor: Matthew Derek BELL
  • Patent number: 8255178
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting an operational status of a semiconductor equipment includes an audio frequency signal receiving unit and an analysis and determination unit. The audio frequency signal receiving unit is used for receiving an audio frequency signal from the semiconductor equipment while the semiconductor equipment is working. The analysis and determination unit is used for analyzing the audio frequency signal to determine statuses of components of the semiconductor equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Inotera Memories, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu-Chang Huang, Chia-Wei Fan
  • Patent number: 8249830
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically determining an optimal re-training interval for a fault diagnoser based on online monitoring of the performance of a classifier are disclosed. The classifier generates a soft measure of membership in association with a class based on a training data. The output of the classifier can be utilized to assign a label to new data and then the members associated with each class can be clustered into one or more core members and potential outliers. A statistical measure can be utilized to determine if the distribution of the outliers is sufficiently different than the core members after enough outliers have been accumulated. If the outliers are different with respect to the core members, then the diagnoser can be re-trained; otherwise, the output of the classifier can be fed to the fault diagnoser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Rajinderjeet Singh Minhas, Vishal Monga, Wencheng Wu, Divyanshu Vats
  • Patent number: 8249829
    Abstract: A method for online condition-based monitoring (CBM) of a tank farm including a plurality of storage tanks includes providing a tank model including a diagnostic and/or predictive tank model based on calculated tank metrics that is derived from historical data including tank operation data. The calculated tank metrics include tank operational metrics based on the tank operational data for the storage tanks and tank condition metrics based on tank inspection or maintenance data for the storage tanks. The tank model provides relationships between the tank condition metrics and the tank operational metrics. Results are generated using the tank model including at least one failure indicia for at least a first of the storage tanks using the calculated tank metrics and current measured data for the first tank as inputs to the tank model. The failure indicia is processed for scheduling at least one maintenance task for the first tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jiri Vass, Petr Stluka, Bin Sai
  • Publication number: 20120209539
    Abstract: Devices, methods, and systems for turbine fault analysis are described herein. One computing device implemented method for turbine failure analysis includes collecting a first set of data associated with wind turbine performance, via a computing device, analyzing the first set of data to determine whether the first set of data can indicate a fault condition, and reviewing a second set of data associated with wind turbine performance to determine if a fault condition exists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventor: Kyusung Kim
  • Patent number: 8244499
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing aquifer operation are included. An exemplary method includes receiving at an analysis computing device, one or more water measurements from a plurality of sites in an aquifer, wherein water measurements are received at a plurality of time points. A site may include one or more groundwater extraction wells. The method may further include calculating well operational data for at least one groundwater extraction well based on the water measurements, wherein the well operational data includes a well efficiency over a time period. Further, the method may include receiving an aquifer objective input via a graphical user interface presented on the analysis computing device. The method may further include generating a pump operation signal based on the well operational data and the aquifer objective input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Aquifer Resource Management, Inc.
    Inventors: John M. Lambie, John E. Dustman
  • Patent number: 8244501
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing an electrically controllable pop-off valve of a turbo-charging device of an internal combustion engine, which pop-off valve is situated in a pop-off pipe bypassing the compressor, includes: providing a reading regarding an air mass flow supplied by an air supply channel to the internal combustion engine; after the activation of the pop-off valve in order to switch over the pop-off valve, analyzing the time curve of the air mass flow reading in order to determine, within a specified time after the beginning of the activation of the pop-off valve, a local maximum of the air mass flow indicated by the air mass flow reading; and detecting a fault of the electrically controllable pop-off valve if the local maximum of the air mass flow is not able to be determined within the specified time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Heinkele, Patrick Menold, Michael Drung
  • Publication number: 20120203509
    Abstract: A maintenance information output system is provided that includes an iron amount detecting device, a receiver, a maintenance information output apparatus, and a controlling portion. The iron amount detecting device is attached to a speed reducer, and detects an amount of iron in a lubricant in the speed reducer. The receiver receives data of the amount of iron detected by the iron amount detecting device. The maintenance information output apparatus has an outputting portion which outputs maintenance information of the speed reducer. The maintenance information output apparatus has a receiving portion which receives the data from the receiver. When the amount of iron is equal to or larger than a threshold value, the controlling portion causes the outputting portion to output the maintenance information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Applicant: NABTESCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tetsuya INOUE, Koji NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8239167
    Abstract: An infrastructure is provided for gathering diagnostic data that is relevant to an error or other conditions detected in a monitored system. A diagnosability framework is provided that automates the gathering of relevant diagnostic data upon occurrence of the condition in the monitored system. In one embodiment, context data is determined for the condition detected in the monitored system. A rule-based engine is provided that is configured to automatically determine one or more actions to be performed for the condition detected in the monitored system based on the determined context data. The actions may include performing tasks that gather diagnostic data that is relevant to the detected condition, store the gathered diagnostic data in a repository, recommend one or more diagnostic actions to a user, and other diagnostic related actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Ramacher, Gary Ngai, Benoit Dageville, Karl Dias, Yair Sarig, Marcus Fallen, Ajith Kumar Mysorenagarajarao
  • Patent number: 8234037
    Abstract: A method and device for detecting oscillatory faults relating to an aircraft airfoil slaving chain. The device includes units that count the number of overshoots of a threshold value by the current value of a quantity related to the positional slaving of an airfoil. Oscillatory fault is detected based on the number of overshoots of the threshold value being greater than the current value by a predetermined number.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Airbus Operations SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Goupil, Jean-Jacques Aubert
  • Patent number: 8234095
    Abstract: A remote maintenance system has a monitoring computer for monitoring a facility and a monitoring center computer for maintenance management. The monitoring computer has a database for storing image data of the monitored facility. The monitoring center computer a database for storing CAD data for the monitored facility. The monitoring center computer provides coordinates to the image data sent from the monitoring computer, and superposes the image coordinate data and CAD coordinate data for the CAD. The center computer locates a needed maintenance location on the basis of the result of the superposition processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoyuki Nagafuchi, Hidenori Inoue, Toshihiro Morikawa, Jinichiro Goto, Masatoshi Takada
  • Patent number: 8234138
    Abstract: Methods and systems for identifying devices having a specified utilization are disclosed. A selected minimum utilization and maximum utilization defining a utilization band may be received. Device information for each of a plurality of accounts, including a device model and utilization information for each device associated with an account, may also be received. A utilization may be determined for each device based on the utilization information. For each device model in an account, a number of devices in an account having the device model and a utilization in the utilization band may be determined. A plurality of clusters may be identified for device model-account pairs, and at least one device model-account pair may be assigned to a cluster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: John C. Handley, Jeffrey R. Earl
  • Patent number: 8229704
    Abstract: A method for measuring efficiency improvement in a heating system. The method includes the following steps: temperature sensors sense an outflow temperature. A controller records the temperature and a call time at a thermostat burner call. Software calculates a percentage of the reduction of fuel consumption, that the efficiency improvement saves. A display displays the percentage saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Inventor: Jack Hammer
  • Patent number: 8219276
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for aiding the maintenance of a system, the system comprising a set of networked elements, the system being accompanied by indications defining subsets of networked elements Ei, each subset of networked elements Ei being associated with a probability of failure Pi, the including the steps of calculating a first value Ti for each subset of networked elements Ei, the first value Ti including an estimation of the maintenance time related to the repair of the subset of networked elements Ei, calculating a second value Fi for each subset of networked elements Ei, the second value Fi including a representation of a compromise between the estimation of the maintenance time Ti related to the repair of the subset of networked elements Ei and the probability of failure Pi of the subsets of networked elements Ei, and sorting the designated sets of items of equipment Ei in order of decreasing second value Fi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Francois Fournier, Christian Sannino, Carine Bailly
  • Patent number: 8219341
    Abstract: System and method for implementing wafer acceptance test (“WAT”) advanced process control (“APC”) are described. In one embodiment, the method comprises performing an inter-metal (“IM”) WAT on a plurality of processed wafer lots; selecting a subset of the plurality of wafer lots using a lot sampling process; and selecting a sample wafer group using the wafer lot subset, wherein IM WAT is performed on wafers of the sample wafer group to obtain IM WAT data therefore. The method further comprises estimating final WAT data for all wafers in the processed wafer lots from IM WAT data obtained for the sample wafer group and providing the estimated final WAT data to a WAT APC process for controlling processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Andy Tsen, Sunny Wu, Wang Jo Fei, Jong-I Mou
  • Publication number: 20120173173
    Abstract: A deployable ram air turbine assembly includes a rotatable turbine, a drivetrain mechanically connected to the rotatable turbine, and a flux regulated permanent magnet generator operably connected to the drivetrain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventor: Todd A. Spierling