Patents Assigned to Invensys Systems, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20150241460
    Abstract: A method and system of determining motion parameters for a rotating machine. A detector is configured to receive a rotary motion input signal and a counter signal and to send a plurality of time values based on the input signal and the counter signal. A memory stores the plurality of time values in an ordered sequence and is coupled to the detector. A logic component selects time values stored in the memory by skipping a predefined number of time values in the ordered sequence, reads the selected time values to determine a coherent set of data values, and sends the coherent set of data values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Jacoby, Yan Zhao, William Boag, Francis W. Walker, JR.
  • Patent number: 9095002
    Abstract: The invention provides, in some aspects, an improved control network (or portion thereof) that includes a plurality of nodes, each associated with respective control devices (e.g., controllers, actuators, sensors, etc.). Each of the nodes also includes one or more radios supporting wireless communications pathways with one or more of the other nodes, which pathways together form at least part of a mesh network. At least a first one of the nodes wirelessly transmits information simultaneously, or substantially simultaneously, over at least two pathways formed in a mesh network to a second one of the nodes. The radio(s) of the first node, according to related aspects of the invention, sends that information wirelessly at different frequencies along each of those pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Williams, Chris W. Rogers
  • Patent number: 9091182
    Abstract: A method comprises heating a feedwater stream in a feedwater heater, boiling the feedwater stream in a boiler to produce a steam stream, superheating the steam stream in the boiler to produce a superheated steam stream, producing power using the superheated steam stream to produce an outlet steam stream, using a first portion of the outlet steam stream to provide heat for the heating step, and modulating the flow of the first portion of the outlet steam stream below a full flow to allow the superheated steam stream to meet a superheated steam set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Labbe
  • Patent number: 9091580
    Abstract: A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Patent number: 9091581
    Abstract: A first apparent property of a multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube. One or more apparent intermediate values associated with the multi-phase process fluid are determined based on the first apparent property. A measure of wetness of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on a mapping between one or more of the apparent intermediate values and the measure of wetness. A second apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid is determined using the differential pressure flowmeter. One or more phase-specific properties of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the measure of wetness and the second apparent property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 9082296
    Abstract: A refrigerated container system is described that includes a wireless personal area network (WPAN) including a plurality of wireless sensor nodes and a coordinator node through which the sensors provide sensor data to a controller for the refrigerated container system. The wireless sensors and the coordinator incorporate a variety of features that ensure efficient utilization of battery life by preventing unintended pairing of sensors with other WPANs and excessive sensor signal processing arising from door chatter. Finally, pairing is performed without pressing a button on the wireless door sensor. Instead, the sensor's magnetic reed switch is enlisted to detect swiping of a magnet by a user to enter a pairing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Alan Johnson, Stephen Michael Pasek, Kimble Allyn Vitkus, Russell Lee Sanders, Mark Daniel Leasure
  • Patent number: 9080909
    Abstract: A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Publication number: 20150192485
    Abstract: A sensing system comprising a sensor for generating an analog electrical signal indicative of a sensed physical property and an A/D converter for converting the analog electrical signal into a digital electrical signal. A control circuit connected to the A/D converter is configured to receive the digital electrical signal and to perform a plurality of sensing system operations including determining a measurement value of the physical property as a function of said received digital electrical signal. A slew rate detection circuit connected to the sensor is configured to detect when the analog electrical signal indicates a slew rate that exceeds a threshold value, and to generate an interrupt electrical signal when the slew rate is detected as exceeding the threshold value. The control circuit determines a measurement value of the physical property in response to receiving the interrupt signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William M. Slechta
  • Patent number: 9075942
    Abstract: A system is provided. The system comprises a computer system comprising at least one processor, a thermodynamic state solver application, and a thermodynamic system solver application. When executed by the at least one processor, the thermodynamic state solver application computes a flash equilibrium state solution for each of a plurality of nodes in a thermodynamic network and determines for each of the plurality of nodes at least one sensitivity of a first thermodynamic property with reference to at least one second thermodynamic property. When executed by the at least one processor, the thermodynamic system solver computes a pressure at each of the nodes and flows between the nodes based at least in part on the sensitivities, wherein a result based on the pressures and flows is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Ian H. Boys
  • Patent number: 9052330
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided comprising a detector, a memory, and a logic component. The detector is configured to receive a rotary motion input signal and a counter signal and to send a plurality of time values based on the input signal and the counter signal. The memory stores the plurality of time values in an ordered sequence and is coupled to the detector. The logic component selects time values stored in the memory by skipping a predefined number of time values in the ordered sequence, reads the selected time values to determine a coherent set of data values, and sends the coherent set of data values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James Jacoby, Yan Zhao, William Boag, Francis W. Walker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9046401
    Abstract: A flowmeter is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a vibratable conduit, and a driver connected to the conduit that is operable to impart motion to the conduit. A sensor is connected to the conduit and is operable to sense the motion of the conduit and generate a sensor signal. A controller is connected to receive the sensor signal. The controller is operable to detect a single-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a first process during the single-phase flow condition to generate a validated mass-flow measurement. The controller is also operable to detect a two-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a second process during the two-phase flow condition to generate the validated mass-flow measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Maria Jesus De LaFuente
  • Patent number: 9046400
    Abstract: A control and measurement system for a coriolis flowmeter having a flowtube, a driver adapted to vibrate the flowtube, and a pair of sensors adapted to generate signals indicative of movement of the flowtube when it is being vibrated by the driver, wherein the sensors are positioned relative to one another so the signals from the sensors are indicative of a mass flow rate of fluid through the flowtube. A digital drive signal generator is adapted to generate a variable digital drive signal for controlling operation of the driver. The digital drive signal generator can be adapted to cause the driver to resist motion of the flowtube during a first time period and amplify motion of the flowtube during a second time period. The digital drive signal generator can also be adapted to initiate motion of the flowtube by sending one or more square wave signals to the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Patent number: 9037422
    Abstract: A method for detecting a leak in a fluid conducting conduit is disclosed. Inlet and outlet flowrates are measured for calculating a time derivative of average temperature of the fluid flowing in the fluid conducting conduit. A predicted difference in flowrate between a flowrate of fluid in the fluid conducting conduit adjacent the inlet and a flowrate of fluid in the fluid conducting conduit adjacent the outlet is calculated based on the calculated time derivative of the average temperature of the fluid flowing in the fluid conducting conduit. The predicted difference in flowrate is compared to a difference between the measured inlet flowrate and the measured outlet flowrate to determine whether a leak exists in the fluid conducting conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Terrence McHugh, Errol F. Jacob, Daniel Matthew Wilbers
  • Patent number: 9031892
    Abstract: A system and method assesses and manages risk of an operation of a user. A rules engine of computer executable instructions stored in the storage device determines at least one of a safety risk measurement based on key performance indicators, an operational safety risk measurement for the operation as a function of the operational safety risk measurement information stored in a storage device and/or a conditional safety risk measurement for the operation as a function of the conditional safety risk measurement information stored in the storage device. A processor connected to the storage device executes the rules engine. An output interface connected to the processor indicates the determined safety risk for the operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Martin, Steve Elliott, Ajay Mishra
  • Patent number: 9021892
    Abstract: A flowmeter is disclosed. The flowmeter includes a vibratable conduit, and a driver connected to the conduit that is operable to impart motion to the conduit. A sensor is connected to the conduit and is operable to sense the motion of the conduit and generate a sensor signal. A controller is connected to receive the sensor signal. The controller is operable to detect a single-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a first process during the single-phase flow condition to generate a validated mass-flow measurement. The controller is also operable to detect a two-phase flow condition and process the sensor signal using a second process during the two-phase flow condition to generate the validated mass-flow measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Maria Jesus De La Fuente
  • Patent number: 9026413
    Abstract: A method of modeling phase characteristics of thermodynamic systems utilizing pseudo-properties strategy and a reduced number of variables is disclosed herein. The method describes a means of determining the probability of phase splitting of mixtures of materials at a given temperature, pressure, and composition by characterizing the functions that describe the system via pseudo-properties, and also by describing the system in n?1 or fewer variables, where n represents the number of components in the system of interest. In an embodiment, a multi-component system is characterized in one variable, thereby providing simplified thermodynamic models in a time-efficient manner. In addition, the information generated by this reduced-variable calculation can further be used as a starting point for calculations of equations of state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Xu, David Bluck
  • Patent number: 9016382
    Abstract: A fingerboard latch assembly includes a latch configured for operational engagement with a fingerboard for lockingly retaining at least one tubular to the fingerboard. The latch is movable within a range of motion extending from at least a locked position to an unlocked position. A positioner operatively engaged with the latch is communicably couplable to a process control network (PCN), and is sized and shaped for receipt within a latch channel of the fingerboard. The positioner is configured to move the latch within the range of motion in response to signals received from the PCN, to capture position data for the latch, including the position of the latch at a plurality of points within the range of motion, and to communicate the captured position data to the PCN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Braxton
  • Patent number: 9014994
    Abstract: A multi-phase process fluid is passed through a vibratable flowtube. Motion is induced in the vibratable flowtube. A first apparent property of the multi-phase process fluid based on the motion of the vibratable flowtube is determined, and an apparent intermediate value associated with the multi-phase process fluid based on the first apparent property is determined. A corrected intermediate value is determined based on a mapping between the intermediate value and the corrected intermediate value. A phase-specific property of a phase of the multi-phase process fluid is determined based on the corrected intermediate value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 9014997
    Abstract: Drive techniques for a digital flowmeter are described. The drive techniques account for delays caused during digital signal processing of sensor signals that correspond to a motion of a flowtube, as well as drive signals that impart motion to the flowtube. Such delays may be caused by a variety of factors, including delays associated with analog/digital conversion of the signals and/or filtering of the signals. The techniques include open-loop techniques and closed-loop techniques, which can be used separately or together during the start-up and operation of the digital flowmeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Mayela E. Zamora
  • Patent number: 9013324
    Abstract: A refrigerated container system is described that includes a wireless personal area network (WPAN) including a plurality of wireless sensor nodes and a coordinator node through which the sensors provide sensor data to a controller for the refrigerated container system. The wireless sensors and the coordinator incorporate a variety of features that ensure efficient utilization of battery life by preventing unintended pairing of sensors with other WPANs and excessive sensor signal processing arising from door chatter. Finally, pairing is performed without pressing a button on the wireless door sensor. Instead, the sensor's magnetic reed switch is enlisted to detect swiping of a magnet by a user to enter a pairing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignees: Invensys Systems, Inc., Thermo King Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Alan Johnson, Stephen Michael Pasek, Kimble Allyn Vitkus, Russell Lee Sanders, Mark Daniel Leasure