Wear Or Deterioration Evaluation Patents (Class 702/34)
  • Patent number: 7610176
    Abstract: A computing device is provided on which device analysis information is generated. The device analysis information may be generated from the use of diagnostic and monitoring applications and code. The device analysis information is handled by an application/central processor and then stored on a removeable storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Palm, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerome Tu, James Kim, Bennett Chan, Jason Jianxiong Shi
  • Patent number: 7607824
    Abstract: A test system and method of analyzing a pin to circuit connection on a substrate is provided. The method includes applying thermal energy to the pin or the substrate at a location outside of the pin to circuit interface, and measuring infrared radiation near the pin to circuit interface. The method also includes the step of analyzing the measured infrared radiation to determine thermal energy distribution near the pin to circuit interface resulting from thermal conductivity at the interface. The method further includes the step of determining sufficiency of the pin to circuit electrical and mechanical connection based on the determined thermal energy distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Lee Chandler, Frederick F. Kuhlman
  • Publication number: 20090265118
    Abstract: A method for predicting a probability of failure for a component of a platform at a specified time is described. The method includes collecting historical maintenance data relating to the component, selecting, utilizing the collected historical maintenance data, a lifetime distribution model that best fits the historical maintenance data, estimating upcoming component failures using the selected lifetime distribution model, and applying maintenance schedule dates for the platform to the upcoming component failures to determine a likelihood of failure of the component on one of the scheduled maintenance dates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Nicholas A. Guenther, April Y. Nash, Stan A. Kolasa
  • Publication number: 20090265119
    Abstract: A method of assessing potential conditions affecting aircraft electrical wiring systems. Electrical wiring system components potentially affected by a potential failure condition of the aircraft are identified. Probabilistic and/or statistical methods are used to determine exposure of one or more wire segments of the identified component(s) to hazard and whether the exposure meets a predetermined safety threshold. Effects of potential failure modes of the identified segment(s) on a system safety assessment for the electrical wiring systems are evaluated. This method can be used to facilitate compliance with aircraft safety regulations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Ashok K. Bhattacharya, Ingrid Lapins, Phung Dinh Pham, Douglas D. Saltarelli
  • Patent number: 7606671
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for a test and data retrieval method that not only provides an illustration of an object paint condition but also provides a linear numerical data point, that gives the user a quantifiable number to determine the extent of body work and over paint for a painted object that is being appraised, up for bid, or sold in a private treaty sale or auction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Elcometer, Inc.
    Inventor: Joseph J. Walker
  • Publication number: 20090254286
    Abstract: There is a method for modeling the surface fatigue life of a mechanical component. The method has the following steps: a) modeling the surface fatigue life of the mechanical component on an atomistic scale to form an atomistic model, b) modeling the surface fatigue life of the mechanical component on a mesoscale to form a mesoscale model, c) modeling the surface fatigue life of the mechanical component on a macroscale to form a macroscale model, and d) testing the surface fatigue life of the mechanical component. Feedback from the macroscale model is employed at least once to validate the atomistic model. Feedback from the macroscale model is employed at least once to validate the mesoscale model. Feedback from the testing is employed at least once to validate the macroscale model. There is also an interactive, multiscale model for prediction surface fatigue life or degradation rate for a mechanical component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2005
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY
    Inventors: Sonia Tulyani, Alexander Staroselsky, Igor I. Fedchenia, Hongmei Wen, Clark V. Cooper, Susanne M. Opalka
  • Publication number: 20090254287
    Abstract: In a method for predicting the lifetime of a photo-semiconductor device that has a maximum light output value restricted by thermal saturation, the maximum light output value is extracted by measuring the characteristic of light output from the photo-semiconductor device with respect to drive current. The decrease tendency of the maximum output values with respect to drive time is predicted to predict the lifetime of the photo-semiconductor. Further, the predicted lifetime is updated as time passes. Therefore, in this method, even if drive condition changes, or an individual difference of the photo-semiconductor per se is present, it is possible to substantially accurately predict the lifetime of the photo-semiconductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi OHGOH
  • Patent number: 7599804
    Abstract: A method for detecting structure-borne noise events in a roller bearing, wherein a measuring signal M of a pressure or dilatation sensor arranged on a roller bearing is fed to a frequency filter for filtering out undesired signal parts. A first variance value is calculated from digital values of the frequency filter output signal and at least one second variance value is calculated from other digital values of the frequency filter output signal and a weighted arithmetic average of the at least two variance values is calculated with the aid of a recursive calculation of the variance value. If the weighted arithmetic variance average value exceeds a pre-selected variance threshold value, then it is assessed that a structure-borne noise event provoked by mechanical damage to the roller bearing has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: FAG Kugelfischer AG
    Inventor: Alfred Pecher
  • Patent number: 7596456
    Abstract: A system and methods for the evaluation of the integrity of a wafer cassette and the disposition thereof are based upon evaluation of wafer measurement data obtained using a wafer sorter cassette mapping system utilized in-line during wafer sorting operations. In one embodiment, wafers are placed into slots in the wafer cassette. A wafer sorter cassette mapping sensor is scanned over the wafers in the wafer cassette. The positions of the wafers are measured while scanning the sensor over the wafers. The wafer position measurements are evaluated using a modeling system to determine slot positions, and a determination of the integrity of the cassette is generated. If the integrity determination indicates that the cassette is deformed beyond a predetermined value, the cassette is replaced. The measurement data may be stored in a data base for further trend analysis or for replacement forecasting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Kelly C. Mollenkopf, Chris D. Atkinson, Richard L. Guldi
  • Patent number: 7596457
    Abstract: The invention diagnoses an electrically operated valve, which is provided with a spring cartridge expanding and contracting in response to a reaction force acting on an axial direction of a worm in a valve element driving section, at both the opening and closing operations of the valve. A correlation between a driving force output signal from the valve element driving section and a driving force from a compression state of the spring cartridge is provided in a database. Then, a correlation between a driving force input signal to the valve element driving section and the driving force output signal is acquired in order to monitor a change in transmission efficiency of the driving force. Then, a driving force corresponding to a measured yoke stress is read out from the database for use in diagnosing the driving force of the electrically operated valve is diagnosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Shikoku Research Institute
    Inventors: Takeki Nogami, Shigeya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7585677
    Abstract: It is an object to establish a test method that enables a high-concentration ammonium bisulfide environment to be reproduced at a laboratory level, and enables the corrosivity of a material to be evaluated easily and highly accurately. According to the test method, when evaluating the corrosion resistance of a material under an ammonium bisulfide environment, the corrosion resistance of the material is evaluated by simulating the relationship between the ammonium bisulfide concentration of a test solution and the pressure in advance, and then determining the ammonium bisulfide concentration from the pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignees: Petroleum Energy Center, Toyo Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Hirohito Iwawaki
  • Publication number: 20090222220
    Abstract: The claimed method and system identifies faults and/or deterioration of components in a process control valve. The system may use different sensor combinations to provide the necessary data to compute irregular component integrity. Alerts may be generated to indicate potential component integrity problems. In particular, the system may detect potential deterioration and/or faults in actuator springs, pneumatic tubing and piping, and bellows seals. The claimed system may be communicatively coupled to a process control network to provide a more elaborate alarm system. Moreover, additional statistical methods may be used to refine the detection accuracy of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: FISHER CONTROLS INTERNATIONAL LLC
    Inventor: Galen D. Wilke
  • Patent number: 7584061
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system comprising an integrated sensor for measurement of permeate flow and permeate conductivity of individual membrane elements while they are in operation in an RO unit. The flow and conductivity measuring integrated sensor is of a small size that enables it to be inserted into the permeate tube of connected membrane elements during RO unit operation. Measured flow and conductivity information is transferred to the recording device through electric wires or through wireless transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignees: Hydranautics, Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Wilf, Rich Franks, Craig Bartels, Norio Ikeyama
  • Patent number: 7578176
    Abstract: A scanning probe microscope's probe tip dimensions as they exist or existed for a certain data or measurement are inferred based on probe activity taking place since a probe characterization procedure was performed. The inferred probe tip dimensions can be used to correct nanoscale measurements taken by the probe to account for changes in the probe's geometry such as wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Veeco Metrology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tianming Bao, Hao-Chih Liu, Gregory A. Dahlen, Rohit Jain
  • Patent number: 7580802
    Abstract: A method for determining the condition of a turbine blade (2, 4) in a compressor and utilizing the collected information in an estimation of the lifetime of the turbine blade (2, 4), whereby a measured value reflecting the condition of the turbine blade (2, 4) is generated by a vibration sensitive sensor (10) connected to the compressor's (1) casing (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Dynatrend AS
    Inventor: Lyder Moen
  • Patent number: 7577532
    Abstract: A tire wear detection system includes a detection unit (70) which detects acceleration applied to a wear bar (40) arranged in a groove of a tread section of a pneumatic tire (10), and a wear judgment unit (82) which judges that a tire has been worn based on the acceleration detected by the detection unit (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Hiromitsu Ichikawa, Hiromasa Hada
  • Patent number: 7577548
    Abstract: Described is a system for diagnosis and prognosis of a component. The system is configured to receive a signal from a component. The signal is representative of a current health observation of the component. The system also computes a present likelihood of the component failure based on the signal. Additionally, the system computes a future likelihood of failure of the component for a given future mission. Through diagnosis, a user can determine the present health of the component, and based on the present health and future mission, determine whether or not the component will fail in the future mission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories
    Inventors: Krzysztof W Przytula, Shubha Kadambe, Narayan Srinivasa
  • Patent number: 7577555
    Abstract: A method of designing a roller bearing is disclosed upon clarifying mechanisms of damage patterns in respect of two kinds of brinelling, involved in the bearing, wherein white-banded flaking (brittle flaking) is a plastic instability phenomenon appearing under high-speed deformation accompanied by adiabatic shear deformation status with the resultant occurrence of adiabatic shear band (also called white band) inside material of the bearing. This enables all of the damage patterns to be determined upon making comparison between shear strain and shear strain rate, occurring inside the bearing, and discriminated values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Umeda, Tsutomu Shiga, Kouichi Ihata
  • Patent number: 7571058
    Abstract: A system to monitor the health of the structure, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system can include multiple health monitoring sensor nodes positioned to monitor parameters of a portion of the body of the structure. Sensor elements of the sensor nodes are spatially positioned along the body of structure at related or complementary locations to form a special correlative relationship between sensor nodes. The system can also include a data collector having a transceiver positioned to gather sensed parameter data from each of the sensor nodes, and a central computer including in memory, parameter process program product adapted to analyze the sensed parameter data, correlate the sensed parameter data to infer a state of health of the structure responsive to the correlation, and to detect or otherwise determine a type, severity, and/or location of damage to or incipient failure of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Charles Scott Sealing, Ertugrul Berkcan, Emad Andarawis Andarawis
  • Patent number: 7571059
    Abstract: A mechanism is disclosed for determining an accelerated test for a device. The method comprises calculating an estimated amount of damage that an element of the device would suffer if the device were operated under a set of specified conditions over a certain period of time (e.g., expected lifetime of the device). The method further comprises determining an accelerated test to which to subject the element in order to cause the element to suffer an actual amount of damage that is approximately equal to the estimated amount of damage. The accelerated test may be an accelerated test cycle, such as an accelerated temperature cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ron Zhang, Bidyut Sen
  • Patent number: 7567887
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for detecting an abnormal event for process units of a Fluidized Catalytic Cracking Unit. The method compares the operation of the process units to a statistical and engineering models. The statistical models are developed by principle components analysis of the normal operation for these units. In addition, the engineering models are based on partial least squares analysis and correlation analysis between variables. If the difference between the operation of a process unit and the normal model result indicates an abnormal condition, then the cause of the abnormal condition is determined and corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Kenneth F. Emigholz, Sourabh K. Dash, Stephen S. Woo
  • Patent number: 7565267
    Abstract: A counting unit counts a current supplying duration for a component which determines a life of a device. A prediction unit predicts the device life based on an integrated current supplying duration integrated by the counting unit and a lifetime of the component. A monitoring unit monitors an efficient operating condition of the device based on a prediction signal outputted from the life prediction unit. The counting unit and the life prediction unit is provided at a short-life fan and a long-life component respectively, and the life prediction unit predicts the life of the device based on information on the short-life fan and the long-life component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Kanji Warizaya
  • Patent number: 7559240
    Abstract: Degradation of the lubricant due to contamination of the lubricant with wear particles or moisture, which greatly affects the service life of rolling bearings, can be detected in a cost-effective manner through the use of a resonance frequency band signal or high-frequency signal of an accelerometer, and the service life of a rolling bearing can be estimated with high precision at an early stage on the basis of the detected state of the wear particles and lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignees: Chugoku Electric Power Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Takuzo Iwatsubo, Isao Shiromaru, Makoto Tanaka, Yoshibobu Akamatsu, Hideko Nagayasu, legal representative, Shingo Boda, Yoji Nagayasu
  • Patent number: 7561976
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the performance of a pipe containing a pressurised fluid. The pipe is made up of at least one current zone and singular zones. A predetermined number of singular zones are monitored, in order to obtain circumferential expansion information; and the calculation of the effective stiffness of the pipe and of the measured residual steel section of the pipe, using this circumferential expansion information. The pipe is dynamically monitored, in order to obtain information relating to the natural vibration frequencies and modes thereof. The information thus gained indicates whether a maintenance operation need be performed on the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Oxand
    Inventors: Olivier Bernard, Bruno Gerard
  • Publication number: 20090171594
    Abstract: A machine diagnosing device 20 includes a drive object driving force estimating unit 21 for estimating drive object driving force based on a torque command value toward a servo motor 3 which is acquired using a position command value, an elastic deformation error estimating unit 23 for estimating an elastic deformation error of a ball screw 4 with the drive object driving force, and a positional deviation calculating unit 22 for calculating a positional deviation using a rotation position of the servo motor 3 and the position of a table 2, and a machine damage diagnosing unit 24 for diagnosing a machine damage by calculating a machine damage coefficient using the elastic deformation error and the positional deviation, comparing the obtained machine damage coefficient with a previously set threshold value, and diagnosing a damage state of the drive object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Okuma Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi NORIHISA
  • Patent number: 7543492
    Abstract: The present invention provides a vacuum line for pumping gas from a process chamber, the vacuum line comprising at least: a pump unit comprising a pump body and a motor; a gas exhaust system; first measurement means for measuring a functional parameter relating to the motor; second measurement means for measuring a functional parameter relating to the exhaust system; and prediction means for calculating the duration of use of the vacuum line. The prediction means calculate the duration of utilization of the vacuum line prior to failure of the pump unit from the measurement of a functional parameter relating to the motor provided by the first means and the measurement of a functional parameter relating to the exhaust system provided by the second means. In a variant, the vacuum line further includes third measurement means for measuring a functional parameter relating to the pump body, and the prediction means calculate the duration of use while taking account of the measurement of this parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Nicolas Becourt
  • Patent number: 7546211
    Abstract: A condition detection apparatus comprising an AE sensor 1 that detects AE waves, which elastically-occur when a plurality of balls included in an LM system self-rotate and revolve within a circulation section at the same time, and generates detection signals Sae, and a signal processing unit 4 that generates a first parameter indicating an intensity of the AE waves based on the generated detection signals Sae, generates based on the detection signals Sae a second parameter by weighting only detection signals Sae temporally-continuously detected among the detection signals Sae, generates based on the detection signals Sae a third parameter by weighting only detection signals Sae temporally-discontinuously detected in correspondence with the movement of the balls among the detection signals Sae, and judges contents of an operational condition of the LM system using any one of the first, second or third parameter, is provided to enable prognosis of occurrences of failures in the LM system, to improve maintainabi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: THK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeo Yoshioka, Yoshiyuki Honjo, Shigeo Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20090136288
    Abstract: A ball and socket joint is provided for a motor vehicle that has a joint housing (1), in the interior space of which a ball shell (2) is arranged. The ball (3) of a ball pivot (4) is accommodated in the ball shell (2). A sensor device (7), for measuring forces and loads, is arranged on a flexurally elastic printed circuit board (6). The printed circuit board is fastened in the joint housing (1) in a flexurally mobile manner. The sensor device (7) measures deflections and mechanical stresses of the sensor printed circuit board (6). A transmission device introduces forces or a bending moments into the sensor printed circuit board (6) in case of a deformation of the ball shell (2). The process makes possible the permanent determination of the state of wear of the ball and socket joint via measurement of the prestressing force of the ball shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Metin Ersoy, Joachim Spratte, Michael Klank, Peter Hofmann
  • Publication number: 20090138211
    Abstract: There is described a method for prior determination of a life consumption of individual components in a fossil-fuelled power generating installation, with respect to a load cycling process to be carried out. An apparatus can be provided for prior determination of a life consumption of individual components in a fossil-fuelled power generating installation, with respect to a load cycling process to be carried out. Actual variables which characterize the state of the power generating installation before a load cycling process are determined. A driving gear of the power generating installation which creates the load cycling process is set in advance. The load cycle time is calculated based upon the driving gear and the characterizing variables. A predicted life consumption for at least one of the individual components for the selected driving gear is also calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Edwin Gobrecht, Rainer Newald, Eva Windecker
  • Publication number: 20090138212
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to obtain a high-accuracy condition-monitoring device of low cost and small size, and to obtain a switch-control device provided with such condition-monitoring device. A condition-monitoring device of the invention, which is provided in an electromagnetic actuator including a stationary core, a moving core, magnet coils; and a permanent magnet, monitors condition of the electromagnetic actuator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akihiko MARUYAMA
  • Patent number: 7539596
    Abstract: A method and a device for diagnosis and state monitoring of a wear and functional state of a junction, a crossing, a crossroads, rail joints, and/or track nonuniformities of a rail traffic path made of several tracks measures and stores swing acceleration in at least one direction when overtaking a rail vehicle on a junction, crossings or crossroads, in addition to rail joints or track nonuniformities on at least one rail vehicle component, the swing acceleration being produced on the rail vehicle component when overtaking the rail vehicle at the junction, crossing or crossroads, rail joints, track nonuniformites. The method also measures and stores the rail vehicle speed and determines and stores the travel direction and the place of the junction, crossing or crossroads, rail joints, track nonuniformities, carries out a control as to whether characteristic, predetermined threshold values of the measured swing accelerations have been exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Deutsche Bahn AG
    Inventors: Andreas Zoll, Daniel Lüke
  • Publication number: 20090132179
    Abstract: Rail inspection is discussed that employs a monitor vehicle running on one or more tracks of a rail system that performs physical rail inspection in combination with monitoring and analysis of other system parameters that accompany the physical rail.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Chih-Chieh Fu, Ming Wang, Chih-An Wei, Kevin Hsu
  • Publication number: 20090125206
    Abstract: An automated computer-implemented steam turbine engine monitoring and control arrangement provides continual monitoring and performs ongoing analysis of turbine system operational parameters to identify turbine internal component degradation. Current operational data for selected parameters are compared with accumulated past operational parameter data on a continuing basis to detect gradual changes occurring over an extended period of turbine operation. Based upon a comparison of some or all of the particular monitored turbine system operational parameters, and on the amount or rate of detected change occurring over time, a determination is made as to whether internal component degradation has progressed to a significant degree and to which particular turbine internal components are most likely to have incurred damage or degradation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Nicholas Tisenchek, Peter J. Eisenzopf
  • Publication number: 20090119029
    Abstract: A method and a device are for predicting a life expectancy of a product, which includes at least two components. The life expectancy is ascertained as a function of an assumed field loading of the product. The components of the product are acted upon by different loadings and are operated, in each instance, at the different loadings until they fail. An end-of-life curve of the component is recorded on the basis of the load-dependent failure times of a component. An EOL curve of the product is ascertained such that at the different loadings, it includes the EOL curve of the components which has, in each instance, the shortest failure time at the corresponding loading. The anticipated service life of the product is determined as a functional value of the EOL curve of the product as a function of the predefined loading of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Voigtlaender, Johannes Duerr, Rolf Becker, Reinhold Muench, Ivica Durdevic, Uwe Wostradowski, Christopher Hahn, Joerg Breibach, Philippe Jaeckle, Hendrik Ehrhardt, Thomas Rupp, Antoine Chabaud
  • Publication number: 20090112487
    Abstract: The invention discloses a vehicle dynamic measurement device for comprehensive parameters of rail wear, which comprises a vision sensor, a computer and a milometer. A high-speed image acquisition card and a measurement module are installed in the computer. The vision sensor comprises imaging system for rail cross-section and a raster projector which can project more than one light plane perpendicular to the measured rail. The measurement module is used for calculating vertical wear, horizontal wear, the amplitude and wavelength of corrugation wear. The invention also discloses a vehicle dynamic measurement method for comprehensive parameters of rail wear. The invention can increase the sampling rate of image sensing and acquisition hardware equipment with no need of improving the performance of it, thereby satisfy high-speed on-line dynamic measurement requirements for corrugation wear, and the amplitude and wavelength of corrugation wear can be calculated more precisely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: BEIHANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Guangjun Zhang, Junhua Sun, Zhenzhong Wei, Fuqiang Zhou, Qingbo Li, Zhen Liu, Qianzhe Liu
  • Patent number: 7526409
    Abstract: A technique for automatically generating a report comprising normalized differences in performance statistics between two separate periods. In one embodiment of the invention, database performance statistics are collected on a periodic basis over various time periods. In order to accurately compare database system performance between two discrete periods of time, the difference in the performance statistics of each period are normalized prior to comparing the two periods with each other. By normalizing the statistical differences in each period prior to comparing the differences, periods of different lengths of time as well as different levels of database system load may be compared. In one embodiment, a report is automatically generated which lists the performance statistics being evaluated, the difference in the statistic between each period, the value of each statistical difference as normalized by database time, and the difference between the normalized values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Mark C. Ramacher, Cecilia Gervasio Grant, Graham Stephen Wood, Konstantina Dialeris Green, Russell John Green
  • Patent number: 7519481
    Abstract: A method and system for selecting fluids for compatibility with specified metals exposed to oil field environments. Metal specimens are tested for corrosion and/or cracking behavior by exposing them to fluids under stressful test conditions. The testing is conducted under variable temperature, pressure, pH, fluid density, metallurgical stress, additives, cover gases and combinations thereof. The results from the stress testing are stored in a database. The test results are evaluated using encoded logic embedded in software media. Fluid compatibility evaluation software, developed from the stress test results, is executed to determine the cracking susceptibility of metals exposed to fluids under stressful conditions. A cracking susceptibility index can be developed to provide a quantitative indicator of cracking susceptibility. Fluid recommendation reports utilize the cracking susceptibility index values to rank compatible fluids. The reports also list optional additives to be used with the fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Inventors: Glenn Perrin, Jeffrey McKennis, Thomas S. Carter, Surendra K. Mishra
  • Publication number: 20090093975
    Abstract: A method of analyzing vibrations of a rolling element bearing installed in a rotating machine includes accessing vibration data corresponding to the bearing to be analyzed, determining a degraded condition factor BD for the bearing, selecting an expected designer-determined mean-time-to-failure MTTF of the bearing operating under a design load in the operating environment of the rotating machine, selecting a forecast time period, calculating a reduced mean-time-to-failure RMTTF of the bearing using the expected designer-determined mean-time-to-failure MTTF and the degraded condition factor BD, calculating a probability of failure of the bearing in the forecast time period using the reduced mean time to failure RMTTF, accessing cost data corresponding to a cost of failure of the bearing in the rotating machine, calculating a financial risk from the calculated probability of failure in the forecast time period and the cost data, and displaying the financial risk for the selected time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: DYNAMIC MEASUREMENT CONSULTANTS, LLC
    Inventor: John E. Judd
  • Publication number: 20090093974
    Abstract: Roller cutting die comprises a body with substantially cylindrical outer surface defining a cutting pattern extending outwardly from the surface and a recess. Secured within the recess is a data recorder sensor module adapted to count rotations past the anvil roller. The sensor module includes an electromagnetic proximity sensor for generating a signal responsive to passage near the anvil roller, a processor coupled to the proximity sensor, a power use manager at least partially defined by the processor and the proximity sensor, and a power source for the processor and the sensor. A count of rotations is stored in a substantially non-volatile memory coupled to the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Inventors: James Glass, Josh Rieder
  • Patent number: 7516022
    Abstract: A system and method for assessing the quality of spot weld joints between pieces of metal includes an ultrasound transducer probing a spot weld joint. The ultrasound transducer transmits ultrasonic radiation into the spot weld joint, receives corresponding echoes, and transforms the echoes into electrical signals. An image reconstructor connected to the ultrasound transducer transforms the electrical signals into numerical data representing an ultrasound image. A neural network connected to the image reconstructor analyzes the numerical data and an output system presents information representing the quality of the spot weld joint. The system is trained to assess the quality of spot weld joints by scanning a spot weld joint with an ultrasound transducer to produce the data set representing the joint; then physically deconstructing the joint to assess the joint quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Chrysler LLC
    Inventors: Hsu-Tung Lee, Roman Gr. Maev, Elena Yu Maeva, Serguei A Titov
  • Patent number: 7515973
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, the present technique provides a method for servicing an imaging device having a cryogenic cooling system. In the exemplary embodiment, servicing of an MRI scanner may be scheduled via a model correlating a measured condition of the MRI scanner's cryogenic cooling system to a kind of imaging device event. According to another embodiment, the present technique provides a method for developing a model for predicting a cryogenic cooling system event by analyzing data from a population of similar cryogenic cooling systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: GE Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Chan
  • Patent number: 7512500
    Abstract: A method for initializing a chain of non-initialized data collectors is disclosed. The chain of non-initialized data collectors are coupled to a controller. In a first step communication between the controller and each data collector in the chain of non-initialized collectors is disabled, except for an active non-initialized data collector, The active non-initialized collector is coupled to the controller and any remaining non-initialized data collectors. Next, the active non-initialized data collector is initialized by assigning an identification number to the active non-initialized data collectors. The active non-initialized collector becomes an initialized data collector. Then, communication is restored between the initialized data collector and a next active non-initialized data collector in the chain of non-initialized data collectors. The method repeats until all non-initialized data collectors are initialized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas J. Wilt, Steven R. Thompson, Scott Gray
  • Patent number: 7509238
    Abstract: A computer program for operating a computer to perform various steps. In one step, the program causes the computer to display to a user of the computer a first hierarchical level representative of one or more companies, where each company of the one or more companies has respective water treatment needs. In another step, and for each company of the one or more companies, the program causes the computer to display to the user of the computer a second first hierarchical level representative of one or more facilities for the respective company. In another step, and for each facility of each company of the one or more companies, the program causes the computer to display to the user of the computer a third hierarchical level representative of one or more water treatment systems for the respective facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: H2tr0nics, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Dumler, Blaine Nagao, Adam Dumler, David Hollabaugh
  • Patent number: 7509235
    Abstract: A method and system of forecasting reliability of an asset is provided. The method includes identifying peer units of the asset by using selected criteria, performing a search for the peer units based upon the selected criteria, and constructing local predictive models using the peer units. The method also includes estimating the future behavior of the asset based upon the local predictive models and dynamically updating the local predictive models to reflect at least one change in the criteria.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Piero Patrone Bonissone, Kareem Sherif Aggour, Anil Varma
  • Patent number: 7505871
    Abstract: Systems and methods for diagnosing faults in well servicing operations and determining appropriate remedial action to remedy such faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Varco I/P, Inc.
    Inventors: James Simspon Grant, Randy Lee Scates, James Cavitt Garrett, Jeff A Lambert, Marco Antonio Calzada, Guy Lamonte MClung, III
  • Patent number: 7502670
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus are disclosed for determining rail safety limits. A first example method is disclosed for determining rail safety limits, including identifying a target rail neutral temperature for a portion of continuous welded rail. The method also includes monitoring a longitudinal stress for the portion of continuous welded rail and monitoring an ambient rail temperature for the portion of continuous welded rail. The method further includes determining a present rail neutral temperature based on the longitudinal stress and the ambient rail temperature. According to the example method, the present rail neutral temperature is compared to the target rail neutral temperature to determine whether a failure of the portion of continuous welded rail has occurred, and an alert is reported if the difference between the present rail neutral temperature and the target rail neutral temperature is within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Salient Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold Harrison
  • Patent number: 7502717
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for predicting ice formation on and shedding from blades of an air cycle machine (“ACM”) turbine. The method comprises generating operational condition data representative of ACM turbine operating conditions using a software model of the ACM, determining an amount of ice formation on the blades of the ACM turbine, and determining an amount of ice shed from the blades of the ACM turbine. The apparatus comprises means for generating operational condition data representative of ACM turbine operating conditions using a software model of the ACM, means for determining an amount of ice formation on the blades of the ACM turbine, and means for determining an amount of ice shed from the blades of the ACM turbine. In some embodiments, the means and apparatus may also involve predicting ACM wear, based at least in part on the predicted ice formation and shedding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Elpern, Sunil K. Menon, Alex Morando, Girija Parthasarathy, Jon E. Schryver
  • Publication number: 20090063057
    Abstract: Method and arrangement for determining the remaining lifetime of a component of a power electronics appliance, such as a frequency converter, in which the lifetime data that is dependent on the ambient conditions and operation as specified by the manufacturer of the component is used, in which method at least one magnitude connected to ambient conditions, such as temperature, is determined, at least one loading magnitude of the component, such as speed of rotation, is determined and the calculation of the remaining lifetime is performed on the basis of at least one magnitude connected to ambient conditions, such as temperature, and of at least one loading magnitude of the component, such as speed of rotation, as well as of the lifetime data that is dependent on these ambient conditions and loading as specified by the manufacturer of the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 5, 2009
    Inventor: Osmo Miettinen
  • Patent number: 7497137
    Abstract: In a method for monitoring and/or determining the condition of a force-measuring device with at least one housing that has an interior space and with at least one force-measuring cell installed in the interior space of the at least one housing, at least one parameter of the atmospheric climate of the interior space is measured with at least one sensor that is arranged in the interior space of the housing or with at least one sensor that is arranged at the housing, wherein said parameter is of a kind that has an influence on the operating lifetime of the force-measuring cell; and a sensor signal corresponding to the measured parameter of the atmospheric climate of the interior space is transmitted to a computing unit and/or to a data output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Jean-Maurice Tellenbach, Daniel Aepli, Helmut Bäumel
  • Patent number: 7496454
    Abstract: An inspection system for removably mounting to a platform movable in relation to a generally upright mast for inspection of the mast has a mounting support assembly removably fixable to the platform. The mounting support assembly for scanning the mast carries a detector device and collecting mast scanned information. A power supply is carried by one or more of the mounting support assembly or the detector device and is connected to the detector device. A communications device is carried by one or more of the mounting support assembly or the detector device and is connected to the detector device for receiving and relaying the collected mast scanned information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: University of Virginia Patent Foundation
    Inventors: Peter F. Rogers, David S. Ellis, Pradip N. Sheth, Dominick T. Montie