Patents Assigned to Invensys
  • Publication number: 20140116155
    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: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Publication number: 20140116156
    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: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Publication number: 20140114589
    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: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Patent number: 8706430
    Abstract: Motion is induced in a conduit that contains a fluid. The motion is induced such that the conduit oscillates in a first mode of vibration and a second mode of vibration. The first mode of vibration has a corresponding first frequency of vibration and the second mode of vibration has a corresponding second frequency of vibration. At least one of the first frequency of vibration or the second frequency of vibration is determined. A phase difference between the motion of the conduit at a first point of the conduit and the motion of the conduit at a second point of the conduit is determined. A quantity based on the phase difference and the determined frequency is determined. The quantity includes a ratio between the first frequency during a zero-flow condition and the second frequency during the zero-flow condition. A property of the fluid is determined based on the quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Tombs
  • Patent number: 8707399
    Abstract: A security component within a supervisory process control and manufacturing information system comprising a set of user roles corresponding to different types of users within the information system, a set of security groups defining a set of security permissions with regard to a set of objects, wherein each security group includes an access definition relating the security permissions to at least one of the set of user roles, and a set of user accounts assigned to at least one of the defined roles thereby indirectly defining access rights with regard to the set of objects having restricted access within the system. The security permissions within the supervisory process control and manufacturing information system are assigned at an object attribute level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. McIntyre, Robert M. Resnick, Timothy Sowell, Kenneth Kasajian, Pankaj H. Mody
  • Publication number: 20140090484
    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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Maria Jesus De LaFuente
  • Publication number: 20140090978
    Abstract: A potentiometric sensor includes an elongate non-glass, non-metal housing having opposite first and second longitudinal ends and a length extending between the first and second longitudinal ends. The housing defines a lumen extending along the length of the housing. A measuring half-cell assembly is received in the lumen of the housing and secured to the housing. The measuring half-cell assembly includes a glass body having opposite first and second longitudinal ends and a length extending between the first and second ends of the glass body. The second longitudinal end of the glass body is adjacent the second longitudinal end of the housing and a longitudinal extent of the glass body is less than the length of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel G. Tower, III, Steven J. West, Michael Mason Bower, Jose L. Pestana, Zhisheng Sun, Stephen B. Talutis
  • Publication number: 20140091152
    Abstract: A temperature sensor assembly is provided. The temperature sensor includes an aluminum capillary soldered to an actuation unit. The actuation unit operably fluidly couples to the capillary to define an internal cavity storing a working fluid. The working fluid configured to manipulate the actuation unit when the working fluid changes temperature. Solder sealingly couples the capillary to the actuation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Appliance Controls South America
    Inventors: Vilnei Carlos Boschetti, Leonardo Harter Da Paz, André Martins
  • Publication number: 20140076035
    Abstract: A multi-phase fluid is passed through a Coriolis flowmeter and a watercut meter. The multi-phase fluid includes two phases during a first time period and three phases during a second time period. It is determined that the multi-phase fluid includes two phases during the first time period, and a first value of a parameter of the multi-phase fluid is determined using a value measured by the Coriolis flowmeter during the first time period. A second value of a parameter of the multi-phase fluid is determined using a value measured by the watercut meter during the first time period. The first value is compared to the second value, and it is determined, based on the comparison, that the first value and the second value are inconsistent with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Manus P. Henry
  • Publication number: 20140081607
    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: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: INVENSYS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Gang Xu, David Bluck
  • Patent number: 8676756
    Abstract: A multi-tiered replicated process database and corresponding method are disclosed for supporting replication between tiers. The multi-tiered replicated process database comprises a tier one (T1) database server computer including a process history database and a replication service. The replication service includes a set of accumulators. Each accumulator is adapted to render a summary T2 database tag data structure from a set of data values retrieved from the process history database for a specified T1 database tag. The replicated database system also includes a tier two (T2) database server computer comprising a consolidated database that includes process data replicated from a set of T1 database servers. At least a portion of the process data replicated from the set of T1 database servers is summary T2 database tag data rendered by the set of accumulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Erickson, Abhijit Manushree, Yevgeny Naryzhny, Vinay Kamath, Clement Lie, Elliot Middleton
  • Patent number: 8661914
    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: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, Maria Jesus De La Fuente
  • Patent number: 8667017
    Abstract: A method for collaborative management of a process is disclosed herein. The method includes electronically creating a declaration document containing information relating to one or more characteristics of an equipment unit involved in effecting the process. The method further includes electronically creating, at least partially based upon the information contained within the declaration document, an instruction document prescribing changes in one or more operational parameters of the equipment unit. The declaration document may be created by an operator of the equipment unit and the instruction document may be created by a user entity having electronic access to the declaration document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. Forney, Warren T. Ratcliff, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140058710
    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: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Ian H. Boys
  • Publication number: 20140046605
    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: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: INVENSYS SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Terrence McHugh, Errol F. Jacob, Daniel Matthew Wilbers
  • Publication number: 20140041459
    Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure are directed to a flowmeter method and system. In an implementation, a signal is received a signal from a flowmeter and a value is determined based on the signal. The value is compared to a threshold. A heartbeat value is provided when the value is greater than a threshold value. In some implementations, a flow rate of a fluid is based on the heartbeat value. In some implementations, the heartbeat value is monitored and an alarm is selectively generated based on the monitoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Reese, Peter E. Allstrom
  • Publication number: 20140039812
    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: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Invensys Systems, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20140039813
    Abstract: Flowmeters are described in which a sensor signal received from a sensor that is attached to vibratable flowtube, so as to determine properties of a fluid within the flowtube, contains a drive signal component and a Coriolis mode component. The flowmeters are operable to determine drive parameters of the drive signal component, as well as Coriolis parameters of the Coriolis mode component. By analyzing the sensor signal based on the drive signal parameters, and not on the Coriolis signal parameters, the flowmeters are able to provide stable and accurate determinations of the properties of the fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Manus P. Henry
  • Patent number: 8639376
    Abstract: A system is disclosed that simplifies configuring an MES entity corresponding to a SCADA system object representing plant equipment. The system includes an equipment model builder (EMB) that receives a set of configured UCO information for a modeled piece of plant equipment in a SCADA system. The EMB extracts relevant MES information from the utilization capability object and invokes an application interface on an MES database to create a corresponding entity (e.g., a database element). Another aspect of the disclosed system and methods involves the enhancement of a SCADA system object, through a new MES facet, to support acquiring and reporting equipment status received via the SCADA system to a corresponding MES entity. A raw reason code configuration interface is provided by UCO configurator computer software executed on a computer. Each raw reason code is associated with a prioritized logical expression defining circumstances under which the reason code becomes true.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Paul Grove, Steven M. Weinrich, Christopher Justin Miller
  • Publication number: 20140014532
    Abstract: An adjustable insertion assembly for an electrochemical sensor includes an electrode holder to receive the sensor, having a distal aperture to permit process fluid to contact the sensor. A receptacle slidably receives the holder, for a sliding range of motion extending from fully inserted to fully retracted positions. An open distal end portion of the receptacle extends through a wall of a process fluid vessel, so that the aperture is open to the process fluid when fully inserted, and closed when fully retracted. A leverage member is releasably movable relative to the receptacle, and moves with a captured extension. An abutment of the receptacle engages the extension so that movement of the leverage member in opposite directions alternately clamps and releases the electrode holder relative to the receptacle to substantially prevent and permit movement at substantially any point within the range of movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven B. Talutis