Patents Assigned to Invensys
  • Patent number: 8445289
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining concentration of components in a liquid hydrocarbon mixture including hydrocarbons and water flowing through an alkylation process. A fluid flow path conveys the liquid continuously from the alkylation process through a first instrument configured for measuring a property of the liquid mixture, and having responsivities to concentration of the components, which are independent of the concentration of the water. A temperature detector generates temperature data for the liquid, and a second instrument measures another property of the liquid mixture. The instruments have mutually distinct responsivities to concentrations of the components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Marcus Trygstad, Bruce Keen, Russell Jackson
  • Patent number: 8447534
    Abstract: A controller for a flowmeter includes an input module operable to receive a sensor signal from a sensor connected to a vibratable flowtube. The sensor signal is related to a fluid flow through the flowtube. The controller also includes a signal processing system operable to receive the sensor signal, determine sensor signal characteristics, and output drive signal characteristics for a drive signal applied to the flowtube. An output module is operable to output the drive signal to the flowtube and a control system is operable to modify the drive signal and thereby maintain oscillation of the flowtube during a transition of the flowtube from a substantially empty state to a substantially full state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Manus P. Henry, David W. Clarke, James H. Vignos
  • Publication number: 20130124175
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating simulations for a distributed control system is disclosed herein. A programmed process model generator automatically incorporates a variety of process model data from pre-defined model libraries into descriptions of process equipment including control devices to render simulation models of various degrees of fidelity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Invensys Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8392592
    Abstract: A DCS protocol message addressed to a remote DCS station is generated at a local distributed control system (DCS). The DCS protocol message is received at a local tunneling device. The local tunneling device packages the DCS protocol message into a SCADA protocol message. The SCADA protocol message is transmitted from the local tunneling device to a remote tunneling device. The remote tunneling device receives the SCADA protocol message. The SCADA protocol message is unpackaged into a DCS protocol message at the remote tunneling device, and the DCS protocol message is placed on to a remote DCS such that it flows to the remote station. The DCS protocol message is received at the remote station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander Johnson, Chris J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130041598
    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 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc
    Inventor: Manus P. Henry
  • Publication number: 20130032405
    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: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Braxton
  • Patent number: 8368640
    Abstract: Connection objects or other such data structures facilitate establishing and configuring connections between objects that model components in a process control system. A first set of data structures (e.g., the object connection type structures) identify valid types for component-to-component pairings and the respective roles of each component in the pairing (e.g., parent or child, source or sink). A second set of data structures (e.g., the parameter connection type structures) supply similar information for parameter-to-parameter connections. Together, these data structures can be used, for example, to validate component-to-component connections suggested by the user and to automatically configure parameter-to-parameter connections. Actual connections, both at the component or parameter level, are reflected using parameter overrides within the parameterized object model—with which the connection objects are constructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Dardinski, Keith Eldridge, Robert Hall, Mark Johnson, Brian Mackay, Paul Meskonis, Scott Volk
  • Patent number: 8364300
    Abstract: A software agent is described that receives an information request to retrieve information based on a name defined by a configured manufacturing data model. The agent serves the request by relating data coming from one or multiple backend systems and adding contextual data (Metadata). A result set is prepared to correspond to the format and filtering criteria defined in the information request, and the agent produces a response in a normalized format. The response contains the requested data and metadata used for navigation and contextualization purposes. The response in the normalized format is transmitted by the agent synchronously or asynchronously based on criteria specified in the request.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolas Pouyez, Keynon Basinger, Nicholas Beets, Stephane Bischoff, James Eric O'Hearn, Ravi Kumar Herunde Prakash, Patrick Parsy, Christian-Marc Pouyez
  • Patent number: 8364316
    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 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Xu, David Bluck
  • Publication number: 20130008094
    Abstract: A mounting arrangement 10 for mounting a utility 26 to an end 16 of a post 17. The mounting arrangement 10 includes an attachment member 11 for attachment to the post 17 fixed against rotation when attached to the post 17. A rotatable member 12 is connected to the attachment member 11 and is rotatable relative to the attachment member 11 about the axis of the post 17. The rotatable member 12 includes a connection arrangement 13 for connecting a utility 26 to the rotatable member 12, so that the utility 26 can rotate with the rotatable member 12. The rotatable member 12 is rotatable between first and second positions. A cooperating arrangement comprising at least one abutment 35, 37, 38, 42 is provided for cooperation with the rotatable member 12 to facilitate accurate return of the rotatable member 12 from the second position to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Invensys Rail Pty Limited
    Inventors: Daniel Wood, Dion Marriott
  • Patent number: 8347227
    Abstract: A system and method are described that simplify defining/designing graphical display interfaces for graphically displaying related data elements. The displays provide both depictions of the data elements and the relationships between the data elements in accordance with a pre-defined data element display scheme including both element template (for particular data element types) and relationship view (spatial relationships within a display) definitions. A relationship view displays a set of provided data elements of specified type according to the element template and relationship view definitions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward S. Urbalejo, Anthony Keith Crouch, Eric Paul Grove, Diana Ivanov, Philippe Lalonde, Steven Michael Weinrich
  • Patent number: 8334142
    Abstract: Closed-loop control of a hydrocarbon process is provided by an analyzer including an instrument configured for measuring a property of the liquid mixture, and having responsivities to concentrations of one of the components, independent of concentrations of others of the components. A temperature detector generates temperature data for the liquid mixture, and a processor captures data generated by the temperature detector and the instrument, and uses the data in combination with a model of responsivities to various concentrations of the components at various temperatures, to determine a temperature compensated concentration of the components while the liquid mixture flows continuously through the analyzer. A process control module including a process model of the hydrocarbon process, is coupled to the analyzer and is couplable to the hydrocarbon process, to receive the temperature compensated concentration and to generate at least one output configured to affect operation of the hydrocarbon process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Marcus Trygstad, Russell Jackson, Bruce A. Keen
  • Patent number: 8332193
    Abstract: A method and system for automatically generating simulations for a distributed control system is disclosed herein. A programmed process model generator automatically incorporates a variety of process model data from pre-defined model libraries into descriptions of process equipment including control devices to render simulation models of various degrees of fidelity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory McKim, Prashant Karbhari
  • Patent number: 8331855
    Abstract: A control network carries information between nodes in a control system. For example, in one aspect of the invention, a control network includes first and second nodes, each of which is associated with at least one device in a control system, such as a controller, actuator, sensor, or otherwise. The first node is configured to wirelessly transmit information for simultaneous, or substantially simultaneous, transfer to the second node over at least two pathways. Those pathways can be made up of one or more network segments that interconnect nodes in the control network. In some cases, at least one of the at least two pathways is through a third and/or further nodes. Further, the first node can employ different radio channels, e.g., using different frequencies from one another, over at least one of the at least two pathways to transmit information to the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Williams, Chris W. Rogers
  • Patent number: 8321790
    Abstract: A system management human-machine interface application for use in a process control system is described herein that enables users to view/monitor information regarding system status and performance and to initiate changes to the operation of system equipment, checkpoint control stations and execute diagnostics. A system management graphical user interface includes a number of features that enhance the accessibility of system status information to users. Such enhancements include rendering selectable diagnostic information (e.g., online/offline status) on a system component navigation view. The GUI also provides access to a variety of system information including: alarms, messages, watched system management parameters, and a legend for symbols displayed in a system management navigation tree.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Dean Sherrill, Maria Dao Nguyen, Donald James Wayland, Jr., Kristen L. Garrison, Brian James Barry, Naredla Maharaj Kumar Murty
  • Patent number: 8321045
    Abstract: A production information reporting/recording system is disclosed herein including a number of features to ensure efficient, flexible and reliable recording of production data in a manufacturing system. Such features include validating the content of event messages to ensure compliance of event report information with a standard. The system also supports caching IDs associated with particular aspects of an event message (e.g., a production request, a process segment) as well as a unique ID corresponding to the ID assigned by the production event database to reduce the need to access the database when assigning unique database IDs to received events. The production event messaging system also supports both asynchronous and synchronous transactional messaging between the sources of events and the production database service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Weinrich, James C. Long, Eric P. Gove, Donald Tunnell, George E. Bachman
  • Patent number: 8299811
    Abstract: A terminal board is part of a terminal board assembly for terminating and testing of railroad wires. The board includes a first terminal block with a front post and a back post installed on a plane, along with a plurality of terminal blocks with front posts. A control test link, with an insulating material lining one of three holes, is installed on the front posts of terminal blocks. A test nut, connectable to the front post of the first terminal block, has a face with a depression formed therein to contact the test link when installed on the front post of the first terminal block over the insulating material. First wiring is attached on the plane's front, and second wiring is terminated on the plane's back. A surge protection component and the control test link are pre-installed on the front of the plane, providing for easy removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Invensys Rail Corporation
    Inventors: Barden J. Wing, Zhenzhong Long, Rakesh Malhotra
  • Patent number: 8301408
    Abstract: A system and method is pro vided for predicting a physical quality such as temperature, the measurement of which tends to be hindered by a time-related impediment. A single sensor is configured to detect, in real time, the physical quality Qdetect, and one or more infinite impulse response filters are configured with time constants correlated to the time-related impediment. The infinite impulse filter(a) are configured to filter Qdetect to output a filtered quality measurement (Qfiltered). A processor is configured to calculate, in real time, the estimated or predicted quality Qestimate using Qdetect and Qfiltered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Spencer K. Howe
  • Patent number: 8285807
    Abstract: A computer implemented system comprises a remote industrial factory automation control system tool stored in a non-transitory computer readable media that, when executed by a processor, configures the processor to modify a web browser to include a control object; request industrial factory automation control system data from a local control system; receive the industrial factory automation control system data; display, by the web browser, the industrial factory automation control system data; and send control instructions to the local control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Slavin, Jay S. Cook, Hatem K. El-Sabaaly
  • Publication number: 20120239312
    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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: Invensys Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. Tombs