Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080208487 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EQUIPMENT REMAINING LIFE ESTIMATION - A method to reduce uncertainty bounds of predicting a remaining life of a probe using a set of diverse models is disclosed. The method includes generating an estimated remaining life output by each model of the set of diverse models, aggregating each of the respective estimated remaining life outputs via a fusion model, and in response to the aggregating, predicting the remaining life, the predicting having reduced uncertainty bounds based on the aggregating. The method further includes generating a signal corresponding to the predicted remaining life of the probe. | 08-28-2008 |
20080215255 | Methods of predicting cavitation damage - A method is provided for predicting the likelihood of cavitation damage occurring on a surface of a hydrodynamic component. The method may include creating a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation of the hydrodynamic component, wherein creating the CFD simulation includes simulating a fluid proximal to the surface of the hydrodynamic component. The method may also include selecting a location on the surface of the hydrodynamic component, wherein the selected location is exposed to the simulated fluid. The method may further include determining the mean pressure and standard deviation, the standard deviation of the rate of change in pressure, the mean void percentage and standard deviation, and the standard deviation of the rate of change in void percentage for the fluid at the selected surface location. The method may also include analyzing at least one of the mean pressure and standard deviation, the standard deviation of the rate of change in pressure, the mean void percentage and standard deviation, and the standard deviation of the rate of change in void percentage for the fluid at the selected surface location to predict the likelihood of cavitation damage occurring at the selected surface location. | 09-04-2008 |
20080228411 | Tire Abrasion Predicting Method, Tire Designing Method, Tire Manufactring Method Tire Abrasion Predicting Sytem, and Program - In a prediction of abrasion characteristic of a tire, a characteristic curve of a tire axis force generated on a tire rotation axis at the slip ratio applied to the tire and changed depending upon the slip ratio is acquired. From the characteristic curve, values of tire dynamic element parameters determining the characteristic curve are derived based on a tire dynamic model constituted by the tire dynamic element parameters. Furthermore, a tire sliding amount based on a sliding region, the sliding region and an adhesive region formed on the contact patch of the tire at the applied slip ratio are calculated by applying the values of the tire dynamic element parameters to the model. Lastly, an abrasion characteristic of a tread part of the tire at the applied slip ratio is predicted by using the tire sliding amount with abrasion characteristic data of a tread rubber of the tread part. According to the prediction results, a tire is designed and produced. | 09-18-2008 |
20080255771 | ROBUST DAMAGE DETECTION - A method of improving damage detection in a structural health monitoring system includes obtaining a baseline set of signals corresponding to a range of values of an environmental effect variable for a plurality of first selected paths between pairs of a plurality of transducers configured in an array attached to a structure. Threshold levels are established for each of the selected paths for determining detection of damage in the structure based on differences in the baseline set of signals for the selected path. A current signal is acquired for each of the selected paths. The plurality of current signals are analyzed based on the threshold levels to detect damage in the structure. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255772 | Method and a control system for monitoring the condition of an industrial robot - An industrial robot diagnostic method including performing a condition analysis utilizing at least two selected input signals, wherein each selected input signal indicates a condition related to a property of the industrial robot, performing an analysis of any combination of the selected input signals utilizing a signal modeling of the signals and outputting from the condition analyzer a result being at least one of: a detection of a malfunction of the robot system, an identification of a root cause failure in the robot system and prediction of a potential malfunction in the robot system. Also an industrial robot system utilizing the method. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255773 | Machine condition monitoring using pattern rules - Pattern rules are created by comparing a condition signal pattern to a plurality of known signal patterns and determining a machine condition pattern rule based at least in part on the comparison of the condition signal pattern to one of the plurality of known signal patterns. A matching score based on the comparison of the condition signal pattern to one of the plurality of known signal patterns as well as a signal pattern duration is determined. The machine condition pattern rule is then defined for nonparametric condition signal patterns as a multipartite threshold rule with a first threshold based on the determined matching score and a second threshold based on the determined signal duration. For parametric signal patterns, one or more parameters of the signal pattern are determined and the machine condition pattern rule is further defined with a third threshold based on the determined one or more parameters. | 10-16-2008 |
20080255774 | DYNAMIC ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE COMPENSATION OF SENSOR DATA IN STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEMS - A method for adjusting signal data detected in a structural health monitoring (SHM) system to compensate for the effects of environmental variables acting thereon includes constructing a baseline data space comprised of sets of signal data. Current signal data sets are collected for comparison to the baseline data space. The collected current signal data sets are amended to best match baseline signal data sets in the baseline data space. A set of indices are computed for comparing the amended current signal data set to the baseline signal data sets. A threshold for detection is determined by outlier detection for the computed indices. A signal in the collected signal data set is determined to be detected on the basis of the threshold. A representation of the detected signal strength is provided on the basis of the computed indices. | 10-16-2008 |
20080262750 | POWER CONVERSION APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ESTIMATING POWER CYCLE LIFE - For applications in a facility where a power conversion apparatus is frequently started and stopped, a power conversion apparatus and a power cycle longevity estimation method are provided which improve an ease of use of the facility. | 10-23-2008 |
20080270043 | System and Method for Generating Three-Dimensional Density-Based Defect Map - A system for mapping a condition of a structure that includes a plurality of support members covered by a wall is disclosed and includes a computer processor having a memory, a two-dimensional model of the structure stored in the memory and a three-dimensional model generator operatively associated with the computer. A density sensor that includes an ultrasonic transducer is operatively connected to the computer processor and provided with an ultra wideband transmitter. A position locating system is provided for determining the position of the ultra wideband transmitter, and hence the density sensor, in a frame of reference and communicating the position to the computer processor which displays indications of density on a three-dimensional model of the structure. A method for mapping a condition of a structure is also disclosed. | 10-30-2008 |
20080288183 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING ENERGY SYSTEM COMPONENTS - A method for estimating an amount of damage sustained by a component operating in an energy system includes generating a transfer function that is dependent upon at least one operating condition of the component, receiving data from at least one sensor coupled to the component, wherein the data relates to the at least one operating condition of the component, inputting the received data into the transfer function to calculate at least one of a crack-initiation time and a crack propagation for the at least one critical region, and recording at least one of the crack-initiation time and the crack propagation on a memory storage device. | 11-20-2008 |
20090006006 | Method and Apparatus For Determining An End of Service Life - A method and apparatus adapted to determine when an end of service life (EOSL) condition exists with respect to a unit under investigation (UUI) is provided. In one embodiment, for example, a method includes receiving data associated with a UUI. determining that the UUI has reached an EOSL condition in response to data indicative of an increasing rate of non-random failures, and invoking an EOSL process in response to the existence of an EOSL condition. The UUI may be any unit under investigation, such as a mechanical, electromechanical, or electrical component, sub-system, or system within, for example, a network. | 01-01-2009 |
20090012724 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE DETERMINATION OF A STRAIN FOR A WIND ENERGY PLANT - A method for the determination of a strain of a wind energy plant ( | 01-08-2009 |
20090018781 | System for Determining the Wear State of a Machine Tool - The invention relates to a system for determining the wear state of a machine tool. It has a machine tool with a controller, a production control computer and the tool database via a respective data connection. Said simulation computer, by means of a simulation process, while taking into account actual machine, production and tool data of the machine tool, is provided for determining data describing the wear state of the machine tool and for feeding said data to a display unit or a further process via a data connection. | 01-15-2009 |
20090037120 | GLOW PLUG DEGRADATION DETERMINATION DEVICE - A glow plug degradation determination device energizes a glow plug immediately after an operation of an internal combustion engine is stopped. When a preset energization time elapses, the device senses a sensing value corresponding to resistance of the glow plug. The device determines degradation of the glow plug based on the sensing value. When the device determines that the glow plug is degraded, the device stores a result of the determination and reports the degradation of the glow plug before a next start. The device provisionally determines the degradation of the glow plug based on the sensing value during the operation of the internal combustion engine. After the device provisionally determines the degradation to be present, the device determines the degradation of the glow plug immediately after the operation of the internal combustion engine is stopped. | 02-05-2009 |
20090048787 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO DEVELOP AN EXPERIENCE-BASED PROBABILISTIC LIFING PROCESS - A method of facilitating a probabilistic lifting process is provided. The method includes obtaining operational data for at least one turbine engine, defining a plurality of cool-down curves for the at least one turbine engine, identifying a plurality of different start types of the at least one turbine engine, and developing a formula for the at least one turbine engine. The method also includes determining an operating strategy and establishing a design useful life for the at least one turbine engine, developing at least one histogram and a probabilistic model using the operational data, and determining a mission mix for the operating strategy by performing a simulation of the probabilistic model combined with cyclic life expenditure data of the at least one turbine engine. | 02-19-2009 |
20090048788 | Rapid determination of fatigue failure based on temperature evolution - A method and apparatus are disclosed for predicting the service life of a metallic structure subjected to cyclic loading. Such structures experience fatigue, which can lead to failure after a number of loading cycles. The disclosed invention allows for an accurate prediction of the number of cycles to failure for a metallic structure by observing the slope of the rise in surface temperature of the structure after the cyclic loading has begun. The method of this invention provides early and accurate predictions of service life and does not require destructive testing. The method and apparatus of the present invention may be installed on working equipment, thus providing service life predictions for materials in real world use. The invention uses an empirically derived relationship that was confirmed using analytical relationships and material properties. The derived formula uses two constants that may be determined empirically using a disclosed process. The constants also may be estimated mathematically. The apparatus may include a wireless temperature sensor mounted on the metallic structure of interest and a data analysis unit to perform the needed calculations. | 02-19-2009 |
20090063057 | Determination of the lifetime of a component - 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. | 03-05-2009 |
20090093974 | Machine-Independent Roller Counting System - 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. | 04-09-2009 |
20090093975 | ROTATING BEARING ANALYSIS AND MONITORING SYSTEM - 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. | 04-09-2009 |
20090112487 | Vehicle dynamic measurement device and method for comprehensive parameters of rail wear - 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. | 04-30-2009 |
20090119029 | Method and Device for Predicting a Life Expectancy of a Product Containing a Plurality of Components - 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. | 05-07-2009 |
20090132179 | Enhanced Rail Inspection - 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. | 05-21-2009 |
20090138211 | Method and Apparatus for Determination of the Life Consumption of Individual Components in a Fossil Fuelled Power Generating Installation, in Particular in a Gas and Steam Turbine Installation - 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. | 05-28-2009 |
20090138212 | STATE GRASPING DEVICE AND OPEN/CLOSURE CONTROLLER HAVING THIS STATE GRASPING DEVICE - 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. The condition-monitoring device comprises a current measurement means for measuring a current flowing through the magnet coils; magnetic-flux measurement means for measuring magnetic flux inside the stationary core; a calculation means for generating a calculated waveform by performing a calculation using a current waveform representing a time variation of an output signal from the current measurement means and a magnetic-flux waveform representing a time variation of an output signal from the magnetic-flux measurement means; and a condition determination means, by finding a distinctive point on the calculated waveform, for determining conditions of the electromagnetic actuator based on information on the distinctive point. | 05-28-2009 |
20090171594 | MACHINE DIAGNOSING METHOD AND DEVICE THEREFOR - A machine diagnosing device | 07-02-2009 |
20090222220 | DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR DETECTING CONTROL VALVE COMPONENT FAILURE - 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. | 09-03-2009 |
20090254286 | Systems and Methods for Modeling Surface Properties of a Mechanical Component - 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. | 10-08-2009 |
20090254287 | METHOD FOR PREDICTING LIFETIME OF PHOTO-SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND DRIVE APPARATUS - 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. | 10-08-2009 |
20090265118 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PROVIDING UNANTICIPATED DEMAND PREDICTIONS FOR MAINTENANCE - 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. | 10-22-2009 |
20090265119 | ASSESSING CONDITIONS OF AIRCRAFT WIRING - 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. | 10-22-2009 |
20090271127 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING VEHICLE RESIDUAL INTEGRITY - A vehicle residual integrity monitoring system leverages the existing onboard vehicle computer network architecture and onboard data communication bus to obtain and process data items generated by various vehicle network modules. The data items are generated in response to the occurrence of events that impact residual value of the vehicle or subsystems of the vehicle. The system maintains a residual integrity score that provides an indication of the residual value of the vehicle, based upon a plurality of intelligently processed factors. By monitoring existing onboard network traffic, information is gathered to form new views of the vehicle condition that can be utilized to better approximate the true overall value of the vehicle. This information can supplement conventionally available information (e.g., odometer readings) and serves as an added benefit to the vehicle operator, used car customers, service technicians, and potentially other users. | 10-29-2009 |
20090276165 | POWER MODULE LIFE ESTIMATION FATIGUE FUNCTION - A system and method for estimating a condition of a power module is provided. In accordance with an embodiment, a motor controller may be maintained by tracking a total proportion of power module life expended by a power module in a variable frequency motor controller based on a minimum junction temperature or a mean junction temperature and a junction temperature change, and indicating when the power module is estimated to fail. | 11-05-2009 |
20090276166 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO PREDICT FATIGUE LIFE IN ALUMINUM CASTINGS - Methods and systems of predicting fatigue life in aluminum castings that combines extreme values of both casting flaws and microstructures with multiscale life models. The multiscale life models account for differing fatigue crack initiation based on the size scale of the defect and microstructure features, including provisions for generally millimeter scale casting flaws, generally micrometer scale second phase particles by cracking or debonding, or submicrometer scale dislocation interactions with precipitates which form persistent slip bands. In the presence of casting flaws, the fatigue initiation life is negligible and the total fatigue life is spent in propagation of a fatigue crack from such flaws. In the absence of casting flaws, however, the total fatigue life is spent in both crack initiation and propagation, except for the case where fatigue cracks initiate from large second phase particles in a coarse microstructure. The extreme values of casting flaws, second phase particles, mean free path through an aluminum matrix or grain sizes are obtained from extreme value statistics when two or three dimensional sizes of casting flaws and microstructure features are provided by either direct measurement or analytical prediction. The upper bound flaw or microstructure feature size is calculated by extreme value statistics. | 11-05-2009 |
20090281735 | METHOD, APPARATUS AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT FOR DETERMINING A FUTURE TIME OF A COMPONENT - A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for determining a future time associated with a component, where the future time can be indicative that some action can be taken with respect to the component. In some embodiments, future time can be indicative of a component's remaining useful life or time until maintenance is required. The future time can be determined as a function of a health indicator and a material constant. In some exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the functional relationship between the future time, the health indicator and the material constant can be based on the functional relationship of Paris' law for fatigue crack growth. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281736 | Method and apparatus for concurrent positive and negative actuation in structural health monitoring systems - Method and systems of monitoring structural health conditions by use of a plurality of patch sensors attached to an object, for concurrent positive and negative actuation for reducing the electromagnetic interference, the power consumption, and the size of the electronic platform in structural health monitoring. The method comprises the steps of generating the first and second actuation signals, the second actuation signal being approximately identical to the inverted signal of the first actuation signal; applying the voltage difference of the first and second actuation signals across two electrical terminals of a transmitter patch, by initiating the first actuation signal to one electrical terminal and at same time the second actuation signal to the other electrical terminal, so as to facilitate the generation of said stress wave within a structure; and receiving the sensor signals from the sensor patches to monitor the health conditions of the structure. | 11-12-2009 |
20090281737 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING PROCESS STATES OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE - For monitoring (unmeasured) process states of a rotating machine having a combustion chamber (e.g. a gas turbine), compositions of educts entering the combustion chamber are measured. Based on the compositions of the educts, the composition of the product produced by the combustion chamber can be determined. Moreover, the mechanical power (P | 11-12-2009 |
20090299654 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF DOWNHOLE TOOLS - A system for assessing the health of a mechanism includes a processor for receiving observation data from at least one sensor, the processor including: a detector receptive to the observation data and capable of identifying whether the mechanism is operating in a normal or degraded mode; a diagnoser to identify a type of fault from at least one symptom pattern; and a prognoser capable of calculating a remaining useful life (RUL) of the mechanism, wherein the prognoser includes a population prognoser for calculating the RUL based on a duration of use of the mechanism, a cause prognoser for calculating the RUL based on causal data, and an effect prognoser for calculating the RUL based on effect data generated from the fault. A method and computer program product for assessing the health of a downhole tool is also disclosed. | 12-03-2009 |
20090306907 | DECOMPOSITION MODE MATCHING CHANGE INDEX - A method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for identifying change indices for a structure. In one advantageous embodiment a method receives a response signal in response to a transmission of an interrogation signal into the structure. The response signal is decomposed into a first plurality of modes. The first plurality of modes is compared to a second plurality of modes for a comparison signal to form a comparison. A change index is assigned to the response signal using the comparison. | 12-10-2009 |
20090306908 | DEVICE AND METHOD OF MONITORING AN ENVIRONMENTAL PARAMETER IN REAL TIME - A monitoring device of environmental parameter values of an environment surrounding a system. The device includes a sensor to these parameters, and includes a means of transmission, in real time, of each measurement to a processing unit. The processing unit is installed in the system and includes the means of filtering the transmitted measurements. This processing unit comprises the means for determining cycles from the measurements thus simplified as well as the means for calculation, in real time, of a length of consumed life of the system, from the thus determined cycles. | 12-10-2009 |
20090312956 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING ON-LINE FAILURE OF TURBINE THERMAL BARRIER COATINGS - A method of remotely monitoring the radiant energy ( | 12-17-2009 |
20090319197 | Tilt Correction System and Method for Rail Seat Abrasion - A system and method for determining rail seat abrasion of a rail road track is disclosed. An inspection system comprises lasers, cameras, and processors adapted to determine whether rail seat abrasion is present along the track. The processor employs a mathematics based algorithm which compensates for tilt encountered as the inspection system moves along the track. | 12-24-2009 |
20090326834 | Systems, methods and computer program products for characterizing structural events - Sensor assemblies for non-destructively monitoring a structure to detect a structural event include a plurality of sensor nodes configured to provide at least one sensor signal responsive to a structural event. A signal analyzer is configured to compare the sensor signal to a reference database of signal characteristics corresponding to respective structural events. | 12-31-2009 |
20100023276 | System and method for assessing fluid dynamics - Methods and systems for assessing fluid dynamics aspects of corrosion and shear stress in piping networks are provided. Shear stress hot spots of a piping network may be identified using non-dimensional transfer functions that have been developed for identifying the magnitude and location of these local maxima depending upon the geometrical parameters of commonly used components of piping networks, the fluid properties of the flow, and the operating conditions of the piping network. Upon identification of potential shear stress local maxima, piping network operators may monitor these locations for corrosion or other damage to prevent loss of integrity of the pipes. | 01-28-2010 |
20100030490 | METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR FRICTION PAD WEAR AND BRAKE CONDITION MONITORING - A brake, system, and method are presented. The brake includes friction material, a backing pad, sensor-wear material embedded within the friction material, and an electronics assembly. The electronics assembly is configured to measure a characteristic of the sensor-wear material, such as the electrical resistance or the temperature of the sensor-wear material. The sensor-wear material may be applied to the brake using a variety of approaches. A condition of the brake, such as a brake-wear value or an estimated-mileage value is determined, based on the measured characteristic of the sensor-wear material. A brake-wear state may be determined by comparing the brake-wear value to one or more thresholds. The brake-wear value, estimated-mileage value, and/or the brake wear state may be indicated on a brake-wear indicator. | 02-04-2010 |
20100030491 | Estimating Worst Case Corrosion in a Pipeline - A method and system for estimating the worst case corrosion in a pipeline for which pipeline wall thickness measurements are limited to sampled ultrasonic or radiography (UT/RT) measurements. A data library contains distributions of in-line inspection (IL) measurements for other pipelines, calibrated to correspond to UT/RT measurements as needed. These ILI datasets are randomly sampled multiple times, to obtain multiple sample sets from each ILI dataset. Candidate statistical distributions are evaluated for each sample set to determine which of the candidate statistical distributions most accurately estimates the worst case corrosion measured by ILI. A discriminant function is then derived from sample statistics and pipeline descriptors associated with the sample sets, along with the best candidate statistical distribution for that sample set. Sample statistics and pipeline descriptors for the pipeline with sampled UT/RT measurements are then applied to the discriminant function to determine the best one of the candidate statistical distributions for extreme value estimation, and the worst case corrosion is then determined using that best statistical distribution. | 02-04-2010 |
20100036617 | CHANGE MAPPING FOR STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING - A method is present for mapping changes in a structure. A plurality of responses is collected from a set of transmitter and sensor pairs for the structure. Change metrics for pixels in a plurality of grids are identified from the plurality of responses, wherein a first grid in the plurality of grids is shifted in relation to a second grid in the plurality of grids. A map is generated for the structure using the change metrics. | 02-11-2010 |
20100076697 | Method for determining the wear state - This invention relates to a method for determining a wear state of a chisel, a chisel holder, and/or a chisel holder replacement system equipped with a chisel and chisel holder. For this method to give the user qualitative and quantitative information about the wear, according to one embodiment of this invention, a position of at least one point of the chisel and/or the chisel holder is determined by a contactless measurement method and a corresponding measurement result is compared in a switching unit to a reference value stored in a memory device. | 03-25-2010 |
20100082267 | DATA DRIVEN METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PREDICTING OPERATIONAL STATES OF MECHANICAL SYSTEMS - There is provided an automated data driven method for predicting one or more operational states, such as wear or degradation, of a mechanical system over time. The method comprises the steps of collecting data on the mechanical system from a data recording device, preprocessing the collected data, selecting a training data set that represents a base condition for statistical comparison, fitting a statistical model to the training data set to relate a predicted response to nuisance variables at the base condition, and using an output model to predict what an observed response would have been at the base condition and calculating the difference between the observed response and the predicted response to predict the one or more operational states of the mechanical system. | 04-01-2010 |
20100082268 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING A SWITCHING PROCESS AND RELAY MODULE - An apparatus for monitoring a switching process of a switching element for switching an electrical current for a consumer is provided. The apparatus includes a determination means for determining at least one individual consumption value of the consumer, a comparison means for comparing the at least one consumption value with a reference value, and a prediction means for predicting a maximum number of switching cycles as a function of the comparison result. | 04-01-2010 |
20100100337 | Method to extract parameters from in-situ monitored signals for prognostices - Through the methods of this invention, prognostics tools are provided to more efficiently and more accurately predict when a component product may fail. In a first embodiment a method is described whereby a number of environmental factors are monitored, the provided sensors obtaining raw data, variations in said raw data measured, the parameters of interest extracted and binned according to predetermined criteria, with the raw data thereafter discarded. In a second embodiment of the invention, the same sensor readings are recorded along with the performance characteristics for the component/product and compared to estimated performance for the product. The performance drift is then observed, whereby in monitoring said drift, trends may be determined and time or cycles to failure predicted. | 04-22-2010 |
20100106429 | System and method for monitoring mechanical seals - A mechanical seal monitoring system and method that measure the wear of seal faces of a mechanical seal where the mechanical seal seals a rotating machine portion from another portion of the machine. The system preferably uses a wear probe movable relative to a rotating seal component so that the wear probe can contact the rotating component. The wear of the seal is preferably determined by the relative movement that is required for the wear probe to contact the rotating component. Preferably, stress waves induced by the rubbing between the probe and the rotating component are detected by a stress-wave sensor, processed by a signal processor, and either displayed to the user numerically or reported to a monitoring computer. A signal intensity comparison method is preferably used to make the detection process insensitive to background noise generated by sources other than the contact of the wear probe and the rotating component. | 04-29-2010 |
20100153022 | CUSTOMIZABLE CONTACTOR PROGNOSTICS SYSTEM - A method and apparatus for identifying the health status of a contactor, the method comprising the steps of counting the number of operations performed by the contactor, identifying a closing time of the contactor, using the number of operations and the closing time to assess the health status of the contactor and, where the health of the contactor is a first health status, reporting the health status of the contactor. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153023 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING FILTER SERVICE LIVES - A method for determining a service life for a filter includes measuring exposure data and calculating a service life estimate based on the exposure data. The service life estimate is representative of an estimated exposure time that the filter is exposed to ambient conditions represented by the exposure data before the contaminant passes through the filter at a breakthrough concentration. The method also includes obtaining environmental data and establishing a predicted service life based on the environmental data. The predicted service life is representative of a predicted exposure time that the filter is exposed to the ambient conditions represented by the environmental data before the contaminant passes through the filter at the breakthrough concentration. The method further includes determining the service life for the filter based on a comparison of the estimated and predicted service lives. | 06-17-2010 |
20100174495 | DEGRADATION DETECTION SYSTEM FOR A HOSE ASSEMBLY - A hose fault detection system includes a hose assembly including a hose having first and second conductive layers. The hose assembly has an electrical characteristic. A fault detector is in electrical communication with the first and second conductive layers. The fault detector includes an indicator operatively connected to the hose assembly. A method for monitoring the structural integrity of a hose assembly includes providing a fault detection system having a hose assembly including a hose having a first conductive layer and a second conductive layer. The hose assembly has an electrical characteristic. The electrical characteristic of the hose assembly is compared to a threshold value. A visual indicator in operative communication with the hose assembly is illuminated when the electrical characteristic goes beyond the threshold value. | 07-08-2010 |
20100174496 | PUMP INTEGRITY MONITORING - A method of monitoring integrity of a pump. The method may include recording timing information of the pump during operation while simultaneously sampling acoustic data with a high speed equidistant acquisition mechanism or at a rate based on the speed of the pump in operation. The acquisition of acoustic data is followed by evaluation thereof. Such techniques may improve resolution of acquired data while substantially increasing processor capacity for evaluation. A pump integrity monitor for carrying out such techniques is also described. | 07-08-2010 |
20100179772 | Control device, image forming device, wear detecting method, program, and storage device - A control device includes a transmission unit including a first gear rotating with a motor shaft and a second gear rotating with a rotating roller which drives a rotated body, a speed detecting unit for detecting the rotational speed of the rotated body or rotating roller, a motor controlling unit for maintaining a constant motor shaft rotational speed based on the rotational speed, a converting unit for converting the rotational speed to a relationship between a frequency contained in a variation of the rotational speed in association with time and a variation value of the rotational speed, and a wear detecting unit for detecting a predictor of wear of cogs in at least one of the first and second gears when the variation value at a specified frequency, determined based on the number of the cogs of the first gear and the motor shaft rotational speed, exceeds a threshold value. | 07-15-2010 |
20100179773 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION - A method and system for monitoring the operation of a wind energy installation. State data relating to the wind energy installation is recorded and discrepancies are found between the state data and an associated comparison value. A failure probability of the wind energy installation is determined based on any found discrepancy. An availability value for the wind energy installation is determined from the ratio of the actually produced amount of electrical energy to the total amount of energy which can potentially be produced. The availability value and the failure probability are then combined to form a repair priority, which is associated with the wind energy installation. Accordingly, more uniform operation of wind energy installations can be achieved. | 07-15-2010 |
20100217540 | METHOD FOR ESTIMATING PHYSICAL PROPERTY OF CERAMIC, METHOD FOR ESTIMATING PHYSICAL PROPERTY OF THERMAL BARRIER COATING, METHOD FOR ESTIMATING REMAINING LIFETIME OF THERMAL BARRIER COATING, METHOD FOR ESTIMATING REMAINING LIFETIME OF HIGH-TEMPERATURE MEMBER, AND PHYSICAL PROPERTY ACQUIRING APPARATUS - A method is provided by which physical properties, in particular, the Young's modulus and thermal conductivity of a ceramic layer of a thermal barrier coating formed on a high-temperature member are accurately estimated in a short period of time. A method for estimating a physical property of a ceramic includes a step of calculating the Larson-Miller parameter from the time for which and the temperature at which the ceramic is heated; a step of acquiring the porosity of the ceramic corresponding to the calculated Larson-Miller parameter, based on the calculated Larson-Miller parameter and a diagram correlating the Larson-Miller parameter and the porosity obtained from samples having the same composition as the ceramic; and a step of acquiring the physical property of the ceramic corresponding to the acquired porosity, based on the acquired porosity and a diagram correlating the porosity and the physical property obtained from samples having the same composition as the ceramic. | 08-26-2010 |
20100235108 | USAGE MONITOR RELIABILITY FACTOR USING AN ADVANCED FATIGUE RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT MODEL - According to one non-limiting embodiment, a method includes accessing flight regime rates of occurrence distributions associated with one or more flight regimes for a fleet of aircraft. Using the accessed flight regime distributions, a factor for at least one of the flight regimes is determined that provides a predetermined amount of reliability for a component on each aircraft on the fleet of aircraft known to be affected through at least fatigue damage by the at least one flight regime. | 09-16-2010 |
20100235109 | LOAD MONITOR RELIABILITY FACTOR USING AN ADVANCED FATIGUE RELIABILITY ASSESSMENT MODEL - According to one non-limiting embodiment, a method includes accessing distributions of flight loads associated with one or more flight regimes for a fleet of aircraft. Using the distributions of flight loads, a factor for at least one of the flight regimes is determined that provides a flight load adjustment for a component on each aircraft of a fleet of aircraft known to be affected through at least load damage by the at least one flight regime. | 09-16-2010 |
20100250148 | DETERMINISTIC NDE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COMPOSITE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT AND REPAIR - A deterministic non-destructive evaluation system for composite damage assessment and repair includes structure of interest, non-destructive evaluation data and strength test data obtained on the structure of interest, finite element analysis performed on a structural model modified by the non-destructive data and the strength test data, a strength-to-indication correlation based on the finite element analysis and deterministic non-destructive evaluation predictions and recommendations based on the strength-to-indication correlation. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250149 | MONITORING DEVICE AND MONITORING METHOD - A dummy junction which will break earlier than a target junction is arranged on a board. A history of load applied to the dummy junction until the dummy junction actually breaks is recorded, and an estimated lifetime of the target junction is calibrated when a lifetime of the dummy junction estimated by the history of the load is largely different from an actual lifetime of the dummy junction. The calibration is performed by subtracting a value of an unmeasurable load from the estimated lifetime of the target junction based on load ever applied to the target junction, and the unmeasurable load is calculated based on the difference of the actual lifetime and estimated lifetime of the dummy junction. | 09-30-2010 |
20100250150 | METHOD FOR MEASURING SHAFTING MECHANICAL FATIGUE OF TURBINE GENERATOR SET - A method for measuring mechanical fatigue in shafts forming part of a turbine generator set, which involves determining a lumped mass model of a turbine generator set and its parameters; calculating a model frequency and a mode shape of the turbine generator set; acquiring an angular velocity change at a machine end; calculating a torque at a calculating section of shafting based on the model frequency, a mode shape curve and an equivalent rigidity of the lumped mass model, so as to obtain a torque-time history curve at the calculating section of the shafting; calculating a fatigue damage accumulative value for a dangerous section of a set shafting under a certain malfunction or disturbance, that is, the shafting mechanical fatigue of the turbine generator set. | 09-30-2010 |
20100268481 | Monitoring system and method for electronic device - A system includes a device, a sensor connected to the device, and a processing module connected to the sensor. The sensor detects shock and vibration of the device and stores the shock and vibration data. The processing module receives the shock and vibration data from the sensor and predicts useful life of the vibrating device. | 10-21-2010 |
20100292937 | TURBOCHARGER BEARING HEALTH MONITOR - A method for signaling a failure condition of a bearing of a turbocharger that includes a sensor configured for sensing information on off-axis rotor motion. The method entails receiving a stream of information from the sensor, decomposing the stream of information into a set of components representing different frequencies, using a subset of components that represent a range of frequencies known to be indicative of bearing failure to calculate a probability of failure of the bearing, signaling a failure condition of the bearing if the probability of failure exceeds a critical threshold, and if the present indicia of off-axis rotor motion does not indicate a complete failure condition has occurred, determining a time interval until another probability of failure of the bearing will be calculated. The time interval can vary based upon the rate that the probability of failure has changed over multiple time intervals. | 11-18-2010 |
20100305874 | ELECTRONIC WEAR STATE DETERMINATION IN A VALVE ARRANGEMENT - A method is provided for determining the electronic wear state of a valve arrangement for controlling a process medium flow. A valve element is arranged to move axially within a valve housing, is reset by a spring, and is moved by application of control pressure via an I/P converter. The I/P converter ensures a constant opening cross section at least over a portion of the switching stroke, in the case of which the time at which various positions of the valve element along the ventilating and/or venting distance are reached is determined by means of a position sensor system, and this time is used to mathematically derive the speeds of the valve element prevailing at these positions by means of an evaluation unit. The change profile of the speeds represents a measure of the wear state of the valve mechanism. | 12-02-2010 |
20110004419 | APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF DETERMINING APPARATUS STATE - A state predicting apparatus collects internal information and usage information of an apparatus subjected for failure prediction determination, calculates a state index value using a regression model and the internal information of the apparatus, calculates a usage factor indicating a predicted remaining time period between a time when the state index value is calculated and a time when a failure is predicted to occur using the usage information of the apparatus, and calculates a failure risk based on the state index value and the usage factor. | 01-06-2011 |
20110004420 | Method for Identification of an Electric Drive System to be Modeled as a Multimass Oscillator and/or for Detection of Damage in Bearings and/or on Elements Susceptible to Wear and a Corresponding Device and Electric Drive System - A method for identification of an electric drive system to be modeled as a multimass oscillator and/or for detection of damages in bearings and/or on elements susceptible to wear in an electric drive system, whereby a mechanical angular velocity of the electric drive system is determined in a sensorless method as part of the present method, and signal processing is performed on the basis of correlograms and/or Welch's method, using the mechanical angular velocity determined without a sensor, such that the frequency response of the mechanics of the electric drive system is determined as part of the signal processing, the data thereof being used for determination of at least one parameter of the electric drive system. | 01-06-2011 |
20110010108 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING HEALTH OF AIRFOILS - A system is presented. The system includes a data acquisition system that generates time of arrival (TOA) data corresponding to a plurality of blades in a device, a central processing subsystem that determines features of each of the plurality of blades utilizing the TOA data, and evaluates the health of each of the plurality of blades based upon the determined features. | 01-13-2011 |
20110040495 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR BEARING CONDITION MONITORING - An electrical motor bearing condition monitoring system includes an assembly that includes a shaft, a first bearing race coupled to the shaft, a plurality of bearing balls, and a second bearing race coupled to the first bearing race via the plurality of bearing balls. A portion of the assembly has a magnetic field encoded thereon. The monitoring system includes a magnetic field sensor positioned proximately to the magnetized assembly and configured to measure the magnetic field, and a processing unit configured to detect changes in the magnetic field via the magnetic field sensor that occur due to passage of electrical current through the bearing balls. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040496 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING DAMAGE IN A STRUCTURE - Detecting damage in a structure without comparing sensor signals to a baseline signal. Once a structure is interrogated, a process based on a Gaussian Mixture Model is applied to the resulting data set, resulting in quantities for which Mahalanobis distances and Euclidian distances can be determined. A damage index is then determined based on the calculated Euclidian distance. A high value of this damage index coupled with an abrupt change in Mahalanobis distance has been found to be a reliable indicator of damage. Other embodiments may employ a baseline, but determine damage according to ratios of energy values between current and baseline signals. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040497 | METHOD FOR SENSING STRAIN IN A COMPONENT IN A WIND TURBINE, OPTICAL STRAIN SENSING SYSTEM AND USES THEREOF - The invention relates to a method for sensing strain in a component in a wind turbine comprising an optical sensor system. The method comprises the step of inputting a optical signal into at least one optical fibre of said sensor system comprising one or more fibre Bragg grating sensors. Further, the method comprises the step of measuring the transmitted optical signals of said one or more sensors with at least one light detector connected to the other end of said at least one optical fibre, and processing the measured signals in a control unit in order to establish a value of the strain for the component. The invention also relates to an optical strain sensing system for a component in a wind turbine and uses hereof. | 02-17-2011 |
20110040498 | Passive Wireless Antenna Sensor for Strain, Temperature, Crack and Fatigue Measurement - An apparatus and method is provided for monitoring a condition of a structure using a passive wireless antenna sensor having a known resonant frequency when mounted on the structure. A series of radio frequency signals are transmitted with sweeping frequencies around the known resonant frequency to the passive wireless antenna sensor. The passive wireless antenna sensor includes a dielectric substrate disposed between an antenna pattern and a ground plane such that a change in the condition of the structure will cause a change in one or more characteristics of the passive wireless sensor. A signal is received from the passive wireless antenna sensor and a resonant frequency of the passive wireless antenna sensor is determined based on the received signal. The determined resonant frequency is then compared to the known resonant frequency, whereby a change in the resonant frequency indicates a change in the condition of the structure. | 02-17-2011 |
20110046897 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE FATIGUE OF A PUMP ROTOR OF A GAS TURBOPUMP - A method for determining the fatigue of the pump rotor of a gas turbopump comprises the following method steps:
| 02-24-2011 |
20110054806 | Component Adaptive Life Management - A framework for adaptively managing the life of components. A sensor provides non-destructive test data obtained from inspecting a component. The inspection data may be filtered using reference signatures and by subtracting a baseline. The filtered inspection data and other inspection data for the component is analyzed to locate flaws and estimate the current condition of the component. The current condition may then be used to predict the component's condition at a future time or to predict a future time at which the component's condition will have deteriorated to a certain level. A current condition may be input to a precomputed database to look up the future condition or time. The future condition or time is described by a probability distribution which may be used to assess the risk of component failure. The assessed risk may be used to determine whether the part should continue in service, be replaced or repaired. A hyperlattice database is used with a rapid searching method to estimate at least one material condition and one usage parameter, such as stress level for the component. The hyperlattice is also used to rapidly predict future condition, associated uncertainty and risk of failure. | 03-03-2011 |
20110060535 | Method of Operating a Rotatable Part - One embodiment of the present patent application is a method of operating a rotatable part. The method includes providing a system including a rotatable part, a magnet, an emf generating circuit, a processor, and a transmitter. The magnet and the emf generating circuit are mounted for relative rotational motion there between while the rotatable part is rotating. The processor is connected to receive a signal derived from the emf generating circuit and provide data for transmission by the transmitter. The method further includes rotating the rotatable part and generating an emf in the emf generating circuit while the rotatable part rotates. The method also includes using a signal derived from the emf to acquire data indicating a change in a mechanical property of the rotatable part while the rotatable part is rotating in which the data indicating a change in the mechanical property indicates a condition for maintenance The method further includes transmitting information related to the data with the transmitter and providing maintenance to the system based on the information. | 03-10-2011 |
20110077873 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CALCULATING TRANSIENT-BASED FATIGUE USAGE FACTOR USING CHARACTERISTIC FATIGUE USAGE CURVE - The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for calculating a fatigue usage factor with respect to fatigue generated in the material of a mechanical device depending upon changes of an operation environment during operation of the mechanical device. A fatigue usage factor U | 03-31-2011 |
20110087442 | PROCEDURE FOR THE PROGNOSTIC OF A STRUCTURE SUBJECT TO LOADS - A method for prognostics of a structure subject to loads, particularly an aircraft structure, includes, detecting the state (strains) of the structure at multiple primary points and additional points. The loads acting on the structure associated with the state detected in the primary points are determined. Based on the determined loads, the state of the structure in the additional points is estimated. The estimated state of the structure is compared with the state detected in the additional points. A soundness state of the structure is assessed if the estimated and detected values of the state quantity are in agreement, or a defectiveness state of the structure if such values differ. | 04-14-2011 |
20110093218 | CONVEYOR CHAIN MONITORING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system for monitoring the wear of a moving conveyor chain includes a first detector for detecting a leading end of a first link of the chain and providing a first signal corresponding thereto, a second detector for detecting a trailing end of the first link and providing a second signal corresponding thereto, and a third detector for detecting a leading end of a third link of the chain and providing a third signal corresponding thereto. The system processes the signal so as to determine a first distance D | 04-21-2011 |
20110093219 | Methods for modeling the structural health of a civil structure based on electronic distance measurements - Methods are disclosed wherein the structural health of a civil structure, such as, but not limited to, a bridge or the like is measured by electronic distance measurement (EDM) from a plurality of stable locations to a plurality of cardinal points on the structure in a methodical manner. By measuring the coordinates of the cardinal points, the dynamic and long-term static behavior of the structure provide an indication of the health of the structure. Analysis includes: comparison to a Finite Element Model (FEM); comparison to historical data; and modeling based on linearity, hysteresis, symmetry, creep, damping coefficient, and harmonic analysis. | 04-21-2011 |
20110118989 | METHOD FOR ESTIMATING TIRE WEAR AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING TIRE WEAR - The degree of tire wear is estimated with constancy and accuracy even when the road surface becomes rough during a vehicular run. The deformation speeds V | 05-19-2011 |
20110125417 | STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM HAVING INTEGRATED POWER SUPPLY - A self-sufficient structural health monitoring system that can monitor a structure without need for external power input. Embodiments of the invention provide a structural health monitoring system with a power supply integrated within, so that the system relies on itself for operational power. Systems with such an on-board electrical power source, independent of an external power source (and in particular, independent of the power system(s) of the structure being monitored), are much more self-contained and self-sufficient. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125418 | METHOD FOR ESTIMATING FAN LIFE - A method for estimating a fan life includes the following steps. Fans to be checked at a number of M are provided. A working temperature and a test temperature of a fan are set, and the test temperature is greater than the working temperature. An acceleration factor is set, which has a fixed value. The fans are kept in an operating state at the test temperature, and a number of the damaged fans is detected and recorded at intervals of a check time, until N damaged fans are detected. A distribution of time points when the fans are damaged is simulated with a Weibull distribution model, and a shape parameter and a characteristic life of the Weibull distribution model are calculated. A life value of the fans at the test temperature is calculated. A life value of the fans at the working temperature is calculated by using the acceleration factor. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125419 | DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR CONDITION-BASED MAINTENANCE - Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125420 | INFRARED IMAGING FOR MONITORING COMPONENT PERFORMANCE - A system and method for enhancing inspections using infrared cameras through in-field displays and operator-assisted performance calculations. A handheld infrared imaging system typically includes an infrared camera having a programmed computer and an interactive user interface suitable for displaying images and prompting response and accepting input from the infrared camera operator in the field during an inspection. An operator may designate at least one thing of interest on a displayed infrared image; and the programmed computer may uses a performance algorithm to estimate performance associated with the thing of interest. The programmed computer may extract information or parameters from previously measured data. The programmed computer may vary the way in which it displays new measurements based on the information extracted from the stored data. One or more of the parameters extracted from the IR image may be adapted to provide an automated alert to the user. | 05-26-2011 |
20110137575 | Method and system for real-time prognosis analysis and usage based residual life assessment of turbine engine components and display - A method and system for performing continuous (real-time) physics based prognostics analysis as a function of actual engine usage and changing operating environment. A rule-based mission profile analysis is conducted to determine the mission variability which yields variability in the type of thermal-mechanical loads that an engine is subjected to during use. This is followed by combustor modeling to predict combustion liner temperatures and combustion nozzle plane temperature distributions as a function of engine usage which is followed by off-design engine modeling to determine the pitch-line temperatures in hot gas path components and thermodynamic modeling to compute the component temperature profiles of the components for different stages of the turbine. This is automatically followed by finite element(FE) based non-linear stress-strain analysis using an real-time FE solver and physics based damage accumulation, life consumption and residual life prediction analyses using microstructural modeling based damage and fracture analysis techniques. | 06-09-2011 |
20110144924 | COMPUTATIONAL METHOD FOR LOAD ENHANCEMENT FACTORS - The computation of a Load Factor, a Life Factor or a Load Enhancement Factor using Modified Joint Weibull Analysis may include retrieving a test data set from at least one database and analyzing the data retrieved for fit with a Weibull distribution model for the data. The test data may be analyzed to determine if at least two coupons have been tested and if both the applied loads and duration of testing at the component-level were varied. At least one shape parameter may be calculated for the Weibull distribution model after which the shape parameter may be stored. At least one scale parameter may be calculated for the Weibull distribution of the data after which the scale parameter may be stored. A stress to life cycle relationship may also be calculated to account for scatter in the data through the Weibull distribution data. At least one of the Life Factor, the Load Factor and the Load Enhancement Factor may be calculated based on the stress to life cycle relationship to account for scatter in the Life Factor, the Load Factor or the Load Enhancement Factor. | 06-16-2011 |
20110166798 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SERVICE-LIFE MONITORING - In the case of a device and a method for monitoring the service life of an engine or of a turbine having a compressor blisk and/or a turbine blisk, momentary stresses of blisk substructures, such as the blade ( | 07-07-2011 |
20110172932 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE REPLACEMENT STATE OF WEAR OF A SUPPORT MEANS OF AN ELEVATOR - A method for determining the degree service life end of a support cable of an elevator, wherein the support cable is routed over a drive sheave and/or one or more return pulleys and connects a car to a counterweight, includes the steps of: the support cable is subdivided into a plurality of sections; and for each of the sections, a determination is made as to whether the section passes over the drive sheave and/or one or more of the return pulleys during a trip, and if this is the case, a usage level representing the degree of service life use is increased accordingly. | 07-14-2011 |
20110178724 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CHARACTERIZING WEAR DAMAGE ON A ROLLING-ELEMENT BEARING - Methods and systems for characterizing and estimating the wear damage of a rolling-element bearing are provided. At least one geometric attribute, such as the length, of a damage feature (e.g., a spall cavity) on the rolling-element bearing is calculated based on a geometry of the rolling-element bearing. An accumulated mass of damage particles ejected from the rolling-element bearing during operation of the rolling-element bearing is determined. When the accumulated mass of the damage particles exceeds a predetermined threshold, an indication or a signal is generated. The predetermined threshold of the accumulated mass is based on the at least one geometric attribute of the damage feature. The calculation of the at least one geometric attribute may be based on, for example, a depth of the damage feature, a radius of the rolling elements in the bearing, a radius of an outer race of the bearing as measured from an inner surface thereof, and the number of rolling elements in the bearing. | 07-21-2011 |
20110184661 | VISUAL INSPECTION-BASED GENERATOR RETENTION ASSEMBLY TIGHTNESS DETECTION - A method and apparatus for visually detecting and measuring retention assembly tightness are disclosed. In an embodiment, an optical device is used to obtain at least an image of a retention assembly, the optical device being insertable into a slot between two stator core laminations and directable toward a side view of the retention assembly. The image is displayed on a display, and a measurer is used to determine a tightness of a retention assembly. | 07-28-2011 |
20110196621 | Method of Maintaining a Pipeline - A method of maintaining a pipeline, including estimating a corrosion rate of a pipeline segment, is provided. The method includes analyzing a first data set obtained by inspecting the pipeline segment at a first time and a second data set obtained by inspecting the pipeline segment at a second time subsequent to the first time. A plurality of matched features that include a feature in the first data set and a feature in the second data set is identified. A confidence metric for each of the matched features is calculated. A subset of the matched features is selected based on the confidence metric, a size of the matched features, and/or a desired size of the subset. The corrosion rate of the pipeline segment is calculated based on changes in a geometric characteristic of features within the subset of the matched features between the first time and the second time. | 08-11-2011 |
20110213568 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSESSING GENERATOR ROTORS - Methods, systems and computer program products for assessment of a generator rotor are provided. A method includes receiving crack data for the generator rotor from at least one inspection; computing a crack propagation rate based on the crack data and at least one parameter, wherein the at least one parameter comprises an operating condition of the generator rotor or a design parameter of the generator rotor; and providing at least one recommendation associated with the generator rotor based on the computed crack propagation rate. | 09-01-2011 |
20110224917 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETECTING INCIPIENT BEARING FAILURES - Methods and systems for estimating wear damage of a rolling-element bearing system including at least one rolling-element bearing are provided. A first number of first condition indicators representative of the wear damage of the at least one rolling-element bearing are generated. A second number of second condition indicators are generated based on the first plurality of first condition indicators. The second number is less than the first number an indication of the wear damage of the at least one rolling-element bearing is generated based on the second number of second condition indicators. | 09-15-2011 |
20110231110 | Fiber Optic Sensor System for Detecting Surface Wear - One or more optical fibers ( | 09-22-2011 |
20110231111 | TURBINE-GENERATOR HYDROGEN SEAL OIL SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS - A hydrogen cooled generator having a system for diagnosing problems associated with a seal oil system. Included is a shaft having a turbine end and a collector end; a first shaft seal located about the shaft at the turbine end; a second shaft seal located about the shaft at the collector end; a first set of sensors for measuring seal oil pressure differentials across both shaft seals; a second set of sensors for measuring seal oil temperature differentials across both shaft seals; a third sensor for measuring a hydrogen side seal oil flow rate; and a system for analyzing data collected from at least two sensors to diagnose the shaft seals. | 09-22-2011 |
20110246093 | PREDICTING REMAINING USEFUL LIFE FOR A COMPUTER SYSTEM USING A STRESS-BASED PREDICTION TECHNIQUE - One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for predicting a remaining useful life (RUL) for a component in a set of components within a computer system. The system starts by collecting values of at least one degradation-related parameter associated with the operation of a monitored component within the computer system. Note that the degradation-related parameter is a direct measurement of a degree of degradation of the monitored component. The system additionally collects values of at least one stress-based parameter from the computer system. Note that the stress-based parameter measures an accumulative stress in the operating environment of the set of components which can cause degradation of the set of components. The system then uses the values of the at least one degradation-related parameter and the values of the at least one stress-based parameter to predict an RUL for a component in the set of components. | 10-06-2011 |
20110246094 | TURBULENCE SENSOR AND BLADE CONDITION SENSOR SYSTEM - The invention comprises a turbulence sensor and sensor system for determining the condition of a wind turbine blade. A turbulence sensor comprises a sensor membrane provided in the surface of a wind turbine blade. A light source and light detector provided in a sensor cavity in the blade illuminate the sensor membrane and detect the light reflected back. The reflected light is mixed with non-reflected light to give an interference pattern indicative of the quality of the airflow, whether it is laminar or turbulent. The turbulence sensor can be used in a sensor system for detecting the accumulation of unwanted matter, such as dirt or ice, on the blade. | 10-06-2011 |
20110257901 | Quantification of condition indicators in the presence of synchronous noise - Determining health of a component includes using at least one processor to perform processes including mapping a plurality of condition indicator functions for condition indicator values into a health indicator function for the health indicator value, determining a probability distribution function for the health indicator function based on the probability distribution functions for the condition indicator functions, acquiring a plurality of measured values corresponding to the condition indicator values, removing synchronous noise components from the measured values to provide revised measured values, and using the revised measured values to determine condition indicator values. Removing synchronous noise components may includes determining a predicted value thereof using covariance and autocovariance of the measured values. The component may be a split torque gearbox. | 10-20-2011 |
20110257902 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE POTENTIAL FRICTION BETWEEN A VEHICLE TYRE AND A ROLLING SURFACE - A method and system of determining the potential friction between a vehicle lyre and a rolling surface, includes detecting at least one signal representative of a deformation of a portion of an inner surface of a tyre; processing the at least one signal for identifying at least one significant point on a curve representative of the signal; determining as a function of at least one coordinate of at least one of the significant points, a parameter representative of the grip between the tyre and rolling surface; and determining as a function of the parameter, the potential friction between the tyre and rolling surface. | 10-20-2011 |
20110288790 | Path-Dependent Cycle Counting And Multi-Axial Fatigue Evaluation Of Engineering Structures - A method is provided for performing fatigue evaluation of a fatigue prone location of a tangible structure by converting multi-axial loading data of the fatigue prone location of the tangible structure to a set of equivalent constant amplitude loading data for the tangible structure. According to the method, a multi-axial load locus representing the tangible structure is generated. Time-dependent interior turning points R and any corresponding projected turning point R* art identified along the loading path from the point of origin P to the point of termination Q. Half cycles in the loading path are counted by referring to the interior and projected turning points R, R* along the loading path and to the point of origin P and the point of termination Q on the load locus. A stress range Δσ | 11-24-2011 |
20110301870 | VIBRATOR MOTOR SPEED DETERMINATION IN A MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE - One embodiment relates to testing and verifying vibrator motor operation during manufacturing of a device and during in-the-field use. The test relies on an integrated motion sensor or other mechanical measurement circuitry, such as, for example, an accelerometer. In one embodiment, a speed determination for a vibrator motor performance during initial manufacture of the device. Subsequently, when vibration is detected during the in-the-field use, the vibration may be sampled using the integrated mechanical measurement circuitry. Once sampled, a speed may be determined based on a resonance of the sampled signal. Over time, the various speed determinations for the vibrator motor may be analyzed to determine an overall health of the vibrator motor. A threshold for detecting when the overall health of the vibration motor over time has degraded may be predetermined. A notification of a degradation of vibrator motor performance is sent to either a manufacturer or user of the mobile communications device. Other embodiments are described and claimed. | 12-08-2011 |
20110301871 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A STATE OF AT LEAST ONE COMPONENT OF A CONTROL UNIT - A method for determining a state of at least one component of a control unit, in which a temperature of the at least one component is determined, a type of temperature change being detected and recorded for a number of temperatures which are determined over a time period, recorded temperature changes being used to determine the state. Also described is a system for determining a state of at least one component of the control unit, a control unit, a computer program and a computer program product. | 12-08-2011 |
20110301872 | ANALYSIS SYSTEM - Method for analyzing the condition of a machine having a slowly rotating part, includes:
| 12-08-2011 |
20110313683 | COATED OPTICAL-FIBER BEND-FATIGUE AND RELIABILITY TESTER - Apparatus and methodology for testing coated optical-fiber bend fatigue and operational reliability by subjecting a coated optical-fiber carrying an optical signal to bending motion. The motion can be either: (1) in the same angular direction for multiple revolutions or (2) alternating clockwise and counterclockwise directions for repetitive single revolutions. The motions are achieved by using either a single conical-cylindrical form or two conically-shaped forms separated from each other by a constant gap width with the coated optical-fiber under test strung in the gap between the forms. With the two cones, the fiber is wrapped over each form in an alternating manner by a rotating arm that makes only single revolutions in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. With either embodiment, varied circumferences are controllably presented to the optical fiber resulting in varying bend radii. Fiber tension, signal strength and optical wavelength are parameters that can also be varied under computer control, the computer providing spreadsheet data for clear analysis. | 12-22-2011 |
20110320137 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING HEALTH OF AIRFOILS - A method for monitoring the health of one or more blades is presented. The method includes the steps of determining a delta TOA corresponding to each of the one or more blades based upon respective actual time of arrival (TOA) of the one or more blades, determining a normalized delta TOA corresponding to each of the one or more blades by removing effects of one or more operational data from the delta TOA, and determining a corrected delta TOA corresponding to each of the one or more blades by removing effects of reseating of the one or more blades from the normalized delta TOA. | 12-29-2011 |
20110320138 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING HEALTH OF AIRFOILS - A method for monitoring the health of a plurality of blades is presented. The method includes determining delta TOAs corresponding to the plurality of blades, determining a standard deviation utilizing the delta TOAs corresponding to the plurality of blades, determining a delta sigma | 12-29-2011 |
20120010826 | STYLUS ABRASION DETECTION METHOD AND SURFACE PROPERTY MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A stylus abrasion detection method includes obtaining a measurement curve of a standard specimen in which an unevenness that changes periodically is formed on a surface, by causing a stylus to trace along the surface of the standard specimen, detecting a displacement of the stylus in a direction perpendicular to the tracing direction, and using the displacement for obtaining the measurement curve; performing a frequency analysis on the measurement curve; calculating an abrasion amount of the stylus from a result of the frequency analysis; and displaying the abrasion amount calculated by the abrasion amount calculation. | 01-12-2012 |
20120022797 | SWITCHING-DEVICE REMAINING LIFETIME DIAGNOSIS METHOD AND APPARATUS - There are provided a switching-device remaining lifetime diagnosis method and a switching-device remaining lifetime diagnosis apparatus, wherein as status amount history data, there are accumulated status amounts related to a deterioration status of a switching device, estimated based on measurement data obtained through measurement of performance characteristics of the switching device; based on the accumulated status amount history data, there are created a plurality of system data pieces in which the status amounts are arranged with the respective abscissas of an elapsed time during an operation period of the switching device, the number of operations of the switching device, an inoperative time of the switching device, and an accumulated operation time of the switching device; based on the created system data pieces, the remaining lifetime of the switching device is estimated. | 01-26-2012 |
20120029838 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A WIND TURBINE GEARBOX - A system and method are provided to monitor the health of a wind turbine gearbox. The system includes a plurality of sensors coupled to the wind turbine gearbox and a controller coupled to the plurality of sensors. The controller is configured to acquire vibration information from a vibration sensor, acquire a tachometer signal, convert the tachometer signal and the vibration information into a cycle domain signal, and perform an order analysis on the cycle domain signal, the order analysis providing information that identifies potential and actual damage within the wind turbine gearbox. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029839 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ESTIMATING REMAINING LIFE FOR A DEVICE - A system and method for estimating a remaining life period for a device. The system includes a sensor coupled to the device, wherein the sensor is configured to facilitate measuring an operating parameter of the device and generate a measurement signal that is representative of the operating parameter. The system includes a database comprising an upper limit value, a lower limit value and a reference parameter. A processor of system includes circuitry coupled to the sensor and coupled to the database The processor is configured to correlate measurements of the operating parameter with the reference parameter to facilitate estimating a remaining life period of the device. | 02-02-2012 |
20120029840 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING LIFETIME OF WIND TURBINE BLADE - A method for monitoring stress on a wind turbine blade during loading is disclosed. The method includes capturing multiple images at respective locations of the blade. The method also includes measuring temperature at the respective locations based upon captured images. The method further includes calculating stress applied on the blade at the respective locations based upon the measured temperature. The method also includes calculating stress applied on the blade at the respective locations based upon the measured temperature. The method further includes comparing the calculated stress with respective theoretical stress in a finite element model to predict lifetime of the blade. The method also includes alerting an operator in event that the calculated stress at one or more of the respective locations is above a pre-determined limit. | 02-02-2012 |
20120035861 | BLADE MONITORING SYSTEM - A system including a turbine including a compressor having at least one row of a plurality of blades; a sensor for sensing a blade passing signal of at least one of the plurality of blades; an analog signal transmitter for transmitting an analog signal for the blade passing signal; a signal splitter for splitting the analog signal into at least two split analog signals; at least two analog-to-digital (AD) converters, each AD converter converting each split analog signal to at least two digital waveform samples; and a blade monitoring system that: calculates at least two interpolated threshold crossings, each interpolated threshold crossing calculated from at least two digital waveform samples from each AD converter; and calculates an average threshold crossing (ATC) of the at least two interpolated threshold crossings. | 02-09-2012 |
20120065900 | LIFE MONITOR FOR ELECTRIC MACHINE - A method for monitoring remaining life of an electric machine for a motor vehicle includes sensing a temperature of a component of the electric machine at one or more time intervals. A percentage of life of the component consumed at each time interval is calculated and the percentages of life consumed are summed to determine a total percentage of life consumed. The total percentage of life consumed is compared to a selected threshold. A life monitor system for an electric machine for a vehicle includes a temperature sensor secured to a component of the electric machine. An engine control unit is operably connected to the temperature sensor and is configured to calculate a remaining life of the component of the electric machine compared to a selected threshold, based on temperature data from the temperature sensor. | 03-15-2012 |
20120065901 | DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM FOR CONDITION-BASED MAINTENANCE - Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components. | 03-15-2012 |
20120072129 | LIFE PREDICTING METHOD FOR SOLDER JOINT, LIFE PREDICTING APPARATUS FOR SOLDER JOINT AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A life predicting method for a solder joint includes a step of referring to a temperature history of a measurement object having a solder joint, a step of examining at least one physical quantity selected from the group consisting of amplitude, a cycle number, a mean temperature, and a periodic length of a temperature variation with a cycle count method from the temperature history, a step of calculating a strain range by utilizing a previously prepared response surface from the physical quantity examined with the cycle count method, and a step of calculating a strain range increasing rate from a strain range with reference to a previously obtained damage index and a strain variation history of the strain range. | 03-22-2012 |
20120084018 | PARTICULATE FILTER SERVICE LIFE PREDICTION - A method for determining the service interval of a particulate filter including the steps of determining a normalized current pressure differential across the particulate filter and determining a normalized pressure differential across the particulate filter for clean conditions. The clean pressure normalized pressure differential is subtracted from the current differential and divided by the time between regeneration to determine a current factor. A maximum factor is predetermined and compared to the current factor to determine service life for the particulate filter. | 04-05-2012 |
20120089346 | PREDICTION OF REMAINING LIFE IN A HEAT EXCHANGER - In one embodiment, a method implemented by a processor that receives a first set of inputs comprising values associated with wall thickness, the values ascertained through an inspection method for a first zone of a heat exchanger, the first zone comprising a plurality of inspected and uninspected tubes; computes a respective estimate of a likelihood of a leak occurring at the plurality of inspected and uninspected tubes over a time continuum based on the first set of inputs, an age of the inspected tubes, and an accuracy of the inspection method; and provides a visualization of an estimate for a total likelihood of a leak for the heat exchanger based on the estimate for the first zone. | 04-12-2012 |
20120095701 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING ONLINE STRESS AND LIFE CONSUMPTION OF A HEAT RECOVERY STEAM GENERATOR - Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for determining online stress and life of a heat recovery steam generator. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for assessing components of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) is provided. The method includes receiving HRSG design parameters; monitoring thermal stress data from one or more temperature sensors in communication with one or more HRSG components; and determining cycle-related life consumption data associated with the one or more HRSG components based at least in part on the HRSG design parameters and the monitored thermal stress data. | 04-19-2012 |
20120101742 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IN-SITU MONITORING OF CATHODE ERSOSION AND PREDICTING CATHODE LIFETIME - A method of controlling operation of an indirectly-heated cathode (IHC) ion source comprises a step of measuring a rate of loss of cathode weight of the IHC ion source that occurs during operation using a first cathode configuration and under a first set of operation conditions. A maximum weight loss for the first cathode configuration is determined, and a cathode lifetime is calculated based upon the rate of cathode weight loss and the maximum weight loss. A further method comprises receiving a minimum source bias power value for operation of a cathode in a first configuration, measuring a rate of decrease in source bias power for a cathode in the first configuration, and calculating a lifetime of the cathode based upon the minimum source bias power and rate of decrease in source bias power. | 04-26-2012 |
20120109539 | SPINDLE CONDITION DETECTION DEVICE FOR MACHINE TOOL - A spindle condition detection device for a machine tool includes: bearing load detecting means for detecting a load on a bearing that rotatably supports a spindle of a machine tool; and present usage ratio calculating means for calculating, based on the load detected by the bearing load detecting means, a present usage ratio that is a ratio of usage of the bearing with respect to a prescribed operating life of the bearing, which is achieved over a period until a present moment. | 05-03-2012 |
20120116692 | GIS ENABLED PIPELINE UPGRADING SYSTEM - Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems and methods for evaluating pipeline using GIS data. According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method is provided for evaluating pipeline using geographical information system (GIS) data. The method can include receiving component information from a GIS database for one or more components in a pipeline; determining a modified maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOPm) for the one or more components; determining an uprating pressure (MAOPm*) that the one or more components can withstand; and outputting a upgrade recommendation or an uprate recommendation based at least in part on the MAOPm and the MAOPm*. | 05-10-2012 |
20120123698 | Customizable Contactor Prognostics System - A method and apparatus for identifying a health status of a contactor includes a processor coupled to a computer readable media. The processor is coupled to the contactor to instruct the contactor to open and close. A database stored in the computer readable media includes operation count variables for the contactor, closing time variables for the contactor, and health status rules for the contactor. The operation count variables and the closing time variables may be inputs to the health status rules to identify the health status of the contactor. A customization program may also be stored in the computer readable media. The customization program enables an operator to modify at least one of the operation count variables, the closing time variables, and the health status rules to affect the identified health status of the contactor. | 05-17-2012 |
20120130650 | Path-Dependent Cycle Counting And Multi-Axial Fatigue Evaluation Of Engineering Structures - A method is provided for performing fatigue evaluation of a fatigue prone location of a tangible structure by converting multi-axial loading data of the fatigue prone location of the tangible structure to a set of equivalent constant amplitude loading data for the tangible structure. According to the method, a multi-axial load locus representing the tangible structure is generated. Time-dependent interior turning points R and any corresponding projected turning point R* art identified along the loading path from the point of origin P to the point of termination Q. Half cycles in the loading path are counted by referring to the interior and projected turning points R, R* along the loading path and to the point of origin P and the point of termination Q on the load locus. A stress range Δσ | 05-24-2012 |
20120136587 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MACHINE CONDITION MONITORING - A method and system for monitoring a condition of a machine are provided. The machine monitoring system includes a housing mounted to a surface of a machine, a plurality of sensors configured to generate respective output signals for a parameter indicative of a condition of the machine, and a voting module positioned within the housing and configured to generate a corrected output based on the respective output signals. The machine monitoring system also includes a memory device including a store location configured to store manual input functions relating to a construction of the machine, a life calculator communicatively coupled to the voting module and the memory device wherein the life calculator is configured to determine a life remaining in the machine using the corrected output and the manual input functions, and a display positioned within the housing and configured to display the life remaining in the machine. | 05-31-2012 |
20120143519 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING HEALTH OF A FLUID SEAL MEMBER - A system and for determining health of a fluid seal member including a fluid seal member; a transducer in force transmitting contact with the fluid seal member to generate an output signal based on an amount of force and/or pressure applied to the transducer; a radio frequency (RF) transponder operably coupled to the transducer to store the output signal of the transducer; a reader within an operable distance from the RF transponder to transmit electromagnetic energy to the RF transponder and receive the output signal of the transducer stored in the RF transponder through a radio frequency communication link; and a processor coupled to the reader, to determine health of the fluid seal member. | 06-07-2012 |
20120158319 | UTILIZING RESONANCE INSPECTION OF IN-SERVICE PARTS - Various embodiments relating to resonance inspections and in-service parts are disclosed. One protocol ( | 06-21-2012 |
20120166102 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ONLINE CREEP MONITORING - A method and system for monitoring creep in a moving object are provided. The creep monitoring system includes a creep sensor assembly formed onto a surface of an object rotatable about an axis, the creep sensor assembly includes at least one of an image pattern and a radio frequency interrogatable circuit. The creep monitoring system also includes an online monitoring system communicatively coupled to the creep sensor assembly. The online monitoring system configured to collect information from the creep sensor assembly relative to an amount and a rate of creep of the object. The creep monitoring system also includes a processor programmed to receive the information, correct the information for movement of the creep sensor assembly during the collection, and determine a creep rate, a crack presence, and a temperature of the object simultaneously. | 06-28-2012 |
20120166103 | Fault Interrupting and Reclosing Device - A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed. | 06-28-2012 |
20120197547 | Freeze Thaw Damage Resistance Testing for Cementitious Compositions - An apparatus and method for predicting freeze-thaw durability of a cementitious composition specimen including cycling the specimen below and above the freezing point of water contained in the specimen and identifying the contraction and/or expansion of the specimen during the cycling. | 08-02-2012 |
20120197548 | TIRE RUBBER INDEX CALCULATING METHOD, DEVICE, AND COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM - To precisely calculate the rubber index of a tire. | 08-02-2012 |
20120203473 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MEASURING SEMICONDUCTOR CARRIER LIFETIME - In a semiconductor carrier lifetime measuring apparatus A | 08-09-2012 |
20120209537 | ELECTRONIC DEVICE - According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a circuit board with an electronic component mounted thereon. The device, includes a measuring unit, a first database, a determination unit, and a presentation unit. The measuring unit measures an value of state of the electronic component. The first database stores data indicating correlation. The determination unit determines one of ways of applying a load to a junction, based on the value of state of the electronic component measured by the measuring unit, and referring to the first database. The presentation unit presents the determined way of applying the load to the junction. | 08-16-2012 |
20120245859 | METHOD OF DETERMINING SIDEWALL AGGRESSION PERFORMANCE PARAMETERS - A powered massaging assembly includes a handle and a massage head each having an enclosure that presents a chamber. The massage head includes a drive shaft that extends into and out of the chamber. The massage head also includes a driven massage element drivingly attached to the drive shaft and mounted outside the chamber to manipulate tissue. The enclosures include connectors rotatably attached to each other to provide a swivel joint that rotatably interconnects the handle and head. | 09-27-2012 |
20120253694 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR JUDGING STATUS OF MECHANICAL SYSTEM - A method for judging the status of a mechanical system is provided. First, a vibration signal related to the mechanical system is provided. Subsequently, an empirical mode decomposition process is performed on the vibration signal, so as to generate a plurality of intrinsic mode functions. Plural target intrinsic mode functions are selected from the intrinsic mode functions. Based on the target intrinsic mode functions, the status of the mechanical system is judged. | 10-04-2012 |
20120253695 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE WEAR ON A CONTACT ELEMENT - A method for determining the wear on a contact element of an electrical switch, for example, of a switching installation for high or medium voltage, includes recording electrical values which represent an electrical variable, which is relevant to an arc occurring at the switch during a switching operation, as a function of time, and calculating a wear value, which represents the wear on the contact element, from a plurality of wear contribution values. The wear contribution values are calculated from a plurality of subsets of the recorded electrical values using a plurality of wear contribution calculation rules, with the result that each of the wear contribution values is calculated from a respective one of the subsets of values according to a respective one of the wear contribution calculation rules. At least two of the wear contribution calculation rules differ from one another. | 10-04-2012 |
20120265450 | METHOD FOR INSPECTING CORROSION UNDER INSULATION - A method for inspecting corrosion under insulation simply and precisely at a low cost is provided. The method for inspecting CUI is characterized by obtaining signals from a fiber optical Doppler sensor attached to equipment and counting a waveform for a predetermined time before and after a point where an amplitude is over a threshold value as one acoustic emission (AE) signal, recording the AE signals and the maximum amplitudes thereof, subjecting the AE signals to a filtering process to remove noise signals, determining a frequency distribution of the AE signal hits relative to various maximum amplitude values, determining a regression line of the number of the AE hits relative to the maximum amplitudes from a scattering diagram which is obtained by double logarithmic expression of the frequency distribution, and judging existence or nonexistence of the corrosion based on a gradient of the regression line. | 10-18-2012 |
20120271564 | Lightning Protection and Detection System - A lightning protection and detection system includes a non-conductive substrate material of an apparatus; a sensor formed of a conductive material and deposited on the non-conductive substrate material of the apparatus. The sensor includes a conductive trace formed in a continuous spiral winding starting at a first end at a center region of the sensor and ending at a second end at an outer corner region of the sensor, the first and second ends being open and unconnected. An electrical measurement system is in communication with the sensor and receives a resonant response from the sensor, to perform detection, in real-time, of lightning strike occurrences and damage therefrom to the sensor and the non-conductive substrate material. | 10-25-2012 |
20120283963 | METHOD FOR PREDICTING A REMAINING USEFUL LIFE OF AN ENGINE AND COMPONENTS THEREOF - A method for predicting the remaining useful life of an engine ( | 11-08-2012 |
20120290225 | Systems, Methods, and Apparatus for Determining Online Stress and Life Consumption of a Heat Recovery Steam Generator - Certain embodiments of the invention may include systems, methods, and apparatus for determining online stress and life consumption of a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG). According to an example embodiment of the invention, a method for assessing components of a HRSG is provided. The method includes receiving HRSG design parameters; determining thermal stress data associated with the one or more HRSG components based at least in part on one or more historical, real-time, or calculated temperature sensor data associated with the one or more HRSG components; and determining cycle-related life consumption data associated with the one or more HRSG components based at least in part on the HRSG design parameters and the determined thermal stress data. | 11-15-2012 |
20120303293 | Fatigue Monitoring - A method and system are provided to reconstruct vibration responses such as stress and fatigue damage at desired locations in a structure from a limited number of vibration measurements at a few locations in the structure. Vibration response measurements can be of any type, e.g. acceleration, angular velocity, strain, etc. The desired locations can be anywhere within the domain of the structure and may include the entire structural domain. Measured vibration responses may be of uniform type or combinations of different types. | 11-29-2012 |
20120303294 | System and Method for Developing Fault Diagnostics and Failure Prognosis of Spline Wear in a Drive System - A diagnosis system and method to detect wear between a first set of teeth of a first gear and a second set of teeth of a second intermeshing gear, the diagnosis system having a first target associated with the first set of teeth, a second target associated with the second set of teeth, a first sensor adapted to detect the location of the first target, a second sensor adapted to detect the location of the second target, and a processing system in data communication with the first sensor and the second sensor, the processing system being adapted to process a spatial relationship between the first target relative to the second target after a time lapse of rotation between the first set of teeth and the second set of teeth. | 11-29-2012 |
20130006540 | ABNORMALITY DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE FOR ROLLING BEARING, WIND TURBINE GENERATION APPARATUS AND ABNORMALITY DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM - An effective value operation unit calculates an effective value of a vibration waveform of a hearing, the vibration waveform being measured by using a vibration sensor. An envelope processing unit performs envelope processing on the vibration waveform measured by using the vibration sensor, thereby generating an envelope waveform of the vibration waveform. An effective value operation unit calculates an effective value of an AC component of the envelope waveform generated by the envelope processing unit. A diagnostic unit diagnoses an abnormality of the bearing based on the effective value of the vibration waveform calculated by the effective value operation unit and the effective value of the AC component of the envelope waveform calculated by the effective value operation unit. | 01-03-2013 |
20130006541 | Method for Detecting Foreign Object Damage in Turbomachinery - The present invention relates to systems and methods for real-time health monitoring of engines to monitor turbomachinery blades during engine operation and report anomalous behavior and shape of the blades if it occurs, such as damage by FOD. The system comprises sensor(s) for obtaining a blade reflection profile from a blade passing by the sensor(s) during a revolution of the rotor in combination with a processor for performing timing calculations and/or fingerprint comparisons with reference data to identify a change in blade fingerprint relative to the reference data, which may indicate blade damage. Such systems can reduce operational costs, enhance safety and improve operational readiness by facilitating condition-based maintenance of engine rotors as opposed to schedule-based solutions. The invention can prevent the needless loss of life and assets caused by undetected minor levels of blade damage that may lead to unexpected catastrophic failure of an engine. | 01-03-2013 |
20130006542 | ASSESSMENT OF SHEAR FATIGUE PROPERTY OF ROLLING CONTACT METAL MATERIAL AND ESTIMATION OF FATIGUE LIMIT MAXIMUM CONTACT PRESSURE USING SAME ASSESSMENT - Included are a testing step (S | 01-03-2013 |
20130035874 | System for Acquiring Data from a Component - In one aspect of the present invention, a system has a data acquisition device for acquiring data from a component. The component has an identification transmitter. The data acquisition device has an image acquisition mechanism to capture an image of the component and a receiver to receive a signal from the identification transmitter. The data acquisition device also has a processor to process data from the image acquisition mechanism and the receiver. | 02-07-2013 |
20130035875 | System for Acquiring Data from a Component - In one aspect of the present invention, a system has a data acquisition device for acquiring data from a component. The component has an identification transmitter. The data acquisition device has an image acquisition mechanism to capture an image of the component and a receiver to receive a signal from the identification transmitter. The data acquisition device also has a processor to process data from the image acquisition mechanism and the receiver. | 02-07-2013 |
20130060487 | AUTONOMOUS REMAINING USEFUL LIFE ESTIMATION - The equipment comprises at least one computer and a material features acquisition system operable to detect a plurality of material features. The features are then evaluated according to rules that capture the multidiscipline knowledge of experts and are already inputted into the computer. The computer iterations are processed until an acceptable conclusion is made regarding the condition of the material under evaluation, thus alleviating the need for multidiscipline experts to examine and analyze all the material data manually. | 03-07-2013 |
20130066566 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE EARLY DETECTION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF DAMAGE IN A BEARING - A method for early detection of developing damage in a bearing caused by flow of a bearing current includes evaluating a long-term measurement of a measured variable representative of a bearing current amplitude of a bearing current during a bearing operation, representing—based on the evaluation—measurement results in form of a histogram which displays a number of bearing currents per time interval in each interval of the bearing current amplitude, and evaluating the histogram representation of the measurement results through pattern comparison. A device for carrying out the method is also disclosed. | 03-14-2013 |
20130066567 | Method and 3D Detector for Measuring a Vector of Mechanical Oscillations - A method and 3D detector for measuring a vector of mechanical oscillations. The invention relates to the field of measurement technology and particularly to measurement of parameters of mechanical oscillations over a wide frequency band. The proposed method for detection and conversion of a vector of mechanical oscillations is realized using a 3D detector in the form of an equilateral trihedral pyramid with the faces isoclinic to the pyramid base at specified angles φ, and that detachable detection units (oscillation dipoles) are located in the center of each face at a specified point of its symmetry axis, which makes it possible to spatially, physically and electrically align information on the vector components and reliably measure the vector of mechanical oscillations. The invention can be used for measurement of wave parameters of mechanical oscillations of various objects in | 03-14-2013 |
20130073222 | COST-OPTIMIZED MODEL-BASED EXTENSION OF SYSTEM LIFE - A method includes recording a current performance signature for first and second components in a system, recording a calibrated baseline performance signature for the components, and processing the performance signatures through an aging model to determine a future performance signature for each component. The future performance signatures are processed through a system function model to determine the state of function of the system for each possible repair case. A cost-optimal repair case is then determined from among the possible repair cases, and recorded in memory. An apparatus includes first and second components of a system, and a host machine configured for processing the current and baseline performance signatures through the aging and system function models as noted above. The cost-optimal repair case is determined from among all possible repair cases, and then recorded in memory. An example system may be a cranking system with a starter motor and battery. | 03-21-2013 |
20130073223 | Turbine-To-Turbine Prognostics Technique For Wind Farms - Methods and systems for predicting an end of life of a wind turbine component including receiving environmental conditions indicative of natural surroundings of wind turbines within a wind turbine farm, receiving component performance metrics indicative of an operation of wind turbines within a wind turbine farm, and distributing the wind turbines into peer-clusters such that the wind turbines within each of the peer-clusters have similar environmental conditions. The methods and systems further include identifying a low performing wind turbine and a remaining portion of wind turbines within one of the peer-clusters based upon a predicted performance model, processing the component performance metrics of the low performing wind turbine, identifying a critical component of the low performing wind turbine and predicting the end of life of the critical component of the low performing wind turbine. | 03-21-2013 |
20130116936 | Method for Detecting Damage to Bearing - A bearing damage detection method, comprising: executing frequency analysis for a vibration waveform of the vibration at the bearing obtained through measurement by sensor; setting at least two frequency ranges each substantially equal to a range defined by a rotation frequency fr of the moving ring which do not overlap, based upon results of the frequency analysis; obtaining peak frequencies, each manifesting in one of the plurality of frequency ranges having been set; and determining that the bearing is to be damaged upon deciding that the difference between the peak frequencies and the k multiple of the rotation frequency fr having been compared with each other may be regarded to be matched. | 05-09-2013 |
20130158892 | METHOD FOR SELECTING A RESOURCE FROM A PLURALITY OF PROCESSING RESOURCES SO THAT THE PROBABLE TIMES TO FAILURE OF THE RESOURCES EVOLVE IN A SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICAL MANNER - A method for selecting, from a plurality of processing resources capable in an information-processing system of carrying out one and the same type of process, one of the resources so that it carries out a process of said type, the method including estimating the probable time to failure for each of the resources, the resource being selected so that the probable times to failure of the resources evolve in a substantially identical manner. | 06-20-2013 |
20130158893 | Systems and methods projecting available runtimes of emergency power supply systems - Aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to systems and methods for managing and monitoring a plurality of emergency power supply systems (EPSS's) at a facility via an emergency power management system (EPMS). The EPMS generally comprises EPSS equipment, a management computer system for managing, monitoring, and testing the operational characteristics of the EPSS equipment, and a plurality of interface modules for providing unified communication capabilities between the management computer system and the EPSS equipment. Additional aspects relate to methods for easily and efficiently creating and installing an EPMS at a facility. Further aspects are directed to providing predictive analyses related to the EPSS equipment. Also, aspects of the present disclosure relate to normalizing EPSS equipment information across varying vendors, makes, and models of equipment so as to provide a unified view of all equipment across a given facility. | 06-20-2013 |
20130158894 | MEASURING APPARATUS AND MEASURING METHOD OF TRAIN WHEEL WEAR - Provided is a measuring apparatus and method of train wheel wear, the apparatus including a speed measuring unit measuring speed of a train, a position measuring unit measuring a position of the train, and a calculation unit calculating abrasiveness of a train wheel on a train based on the measured speed and position of the train, whereby status of the train wheel can be accurately learned to minimize the number of devices that may be additionally installed, and to quickly measure abrasiveness of the train wheel as well. | 06-20-2013 |
20130173181 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING COMBUSTION HARDWARE DAMAGE - A power generation plant including a plurality of combustor cans, one or more sensors configured to measure acoustic vibrations from the plurality of combustor cans, and a controller that includes a processor. The processor is programmed to identify a dominant tone of the measured acoustic vibrations, the dominant tone being a frequency where a highest amount of energy lies, determine, for each of the plurality of combustor cans, a frequency of the dominant tone at predefined time intervals, and determine a degradation status of at least one of the plurality of combustor cans based on the frequency of the dominant tone at each of the predefine time intervals for the at least one of the plurality of combustor cans. | 07-04-2013 |
20130191038 | METHOD FOR QUANTIFYING CORROSION AT A PRESSURE CONTAINING BOUNDARY - A method for determining the amount and rate of corrosion which has occurred on the surface of a process unit by measuring corrosion with a corrosion sensor and measuring at least one parameter inside the process unit. Corrosion on the internal surfaces of a process unit can then be determined. | 07-25-2013 |
20130191039 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF DETERMINISTIC FATIGUE LIFE PREDICTION FOR ROTOR MATERIALS - A method of fatigue life prediction including: calculating a critical crack size of an object of interest; identifying a first flaw in ultrasound data of the object of interest; determining that the first flaw interacts with a second flaw, the first flaw is to be merged with the second flaw, or the first flaw is isolated; calculating an initial crack size based on the determination; and calculating an increase in the initial crack size due to fatigue and creep to determine a number of load cycles until the initial crack size reaches the critical crack size. | 07-25-2013 |
20130197820 | Method For Determining The Wear State - This invention relates to a method for determining a wear state of a chisel, a chisel holder, and/or a chisel holder replacement system equipped with a chisel and chisel holder. For this method to give the user qualitative and quantitative information about the wear, according to one embodiment of this invention, a position of at least one point of the chisel and/or the chisel holder is determined by a contactless measurement method and a corresponding measurement result is compared in a switching unit to a reference value stored in a memory device. | 08-01-2013 |
20130197821 | ROTATING ELECTRICAL MACHINE - Provided is a rotating electrical machine, including: temperature information acquisition means for acquiring information on a temperature of a brush; rotation information acquisition means for acquiring information on a rotation angle of a rotation shaft; and a wear amount calculation section for acquiring the temperature of the brush based on temperature information including output information of the temperature information acquisition means, and for calculating a total wear amount of the brush by integrating a product of a value corresponding to the temperature of the brush, the value being a wear amount function defined as a wear amount per unit sliding distance of the brush with the temperature of the brush used as a variable, and a value including an rotational speed of a rotor, with respect to time from immediately after start of use of the brush to a current time. | 08-01-2013 |
20130204541 | INTERPOLATION ENGINE FOR ANALYSIS OF TIME-VARYING LOAD DATA SIGNALS - A method for analyzing fatigue life of an elastomeric component includes a step of conducting a finite element analysis to obtain a base state. A plurality of case vectors are then selected to represent a space of possible loading states that occur within a time-varying load data signal based on measurement of the elastomeric component or vehicle dynamics. For at least a portion of the case vectors, a finite element analysis is conducted at a plurality of discrete gridpoints along the case vectors starting at the base state and tracking the case vector. Using an interpolation engine, desired local solution variables for a current state may be interpolated from the finite element analyses at the plurality of discrete gridpoints. A damage calculation may then be calculated based on the desired local solution variables for the current state. | 08-08-2013 |
20130211735 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING USEFUL LIFE OF A SEAL - Methods and apparatus for estimating useful life of a seal in a process control device are disclosed. An example method includes establishing a plurality of travel ranges of a stem or shaft of a process control device. Each travel range corresponds to different values corresponding to stresses experienced by the seal of the process control device during an operational cycle. The example further includes determining a count of operational cycles associated with each of the travel ranges and estimating a total amount of useful life of the seal consumed based on the counts. | 08-15-2013 |
20130211736 | TIME-VARYING INTENSITY MAP GENERATION FOR RETICLES - An optical reticle inspection tool is used during a first inspection to obtain, for each set of one or more patch areas of the reticle, a reference average of multiple reference intensity values corresponding to light measured from sub-areas of each patch area. After using the reticle in photolithography processes, the optical reticle inspection tool is used during a second inspection to obtain, for each set of one or more patch areas, an average of multiple test intensity values corresponding to light measured from the of sub-areas. The first and second inspections use the same tool setup recipe. A difference intensity map is generated, and such map comprises map values that each corresponds to a difference between each average of the test and reference intensity values for each set of one or more patches. The difference intensity map indicates whether the reticle has degraded over time more than a predefined level. | 08-15-2013 |
20130211737 | FREQUENCY-ADAPTABLE STRUCTURAL HEALTH AND USAGE MONITORING SYSTEM - A structural health monitoring system comprising intelligent sensors, wherein the intelligent sensors are individually programmable and can be tuned to listen to specific frequencies based on a scaling factor based on the sensor's location in the system being monitored, a set of pre-known frequencies based on the sensor's location in the system being monitored, and the output of a central frequency-based system sensor. | 08-15-2013 |
20130226470 | DETERIORATION ANALYSIS METHOD - The present invention provides deterioration analysis method which allows a detailed analysis of deterioration, especially deterioration of surface conditions, of a polymer material. The present invention relates to a deterioration analysis method, including irradiating a polymer material with high intensity X-rays, and measuring X-ray absorption while varying the energy of the X-rays, to analyze deterioration of the polymer. | 08-29-2013 |
20130226471 | AUTOMATIC MONITORING AND ALARMING DEVICE BASED ON LARGE STRAIN OF POWER TRANSMISSION TOWER - An automatic monitoring and alarming device based on large strain of a power transmission tower comprises a solar cell ( | 08-29-2013 |
20130231872 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MONITORING AGEING OF ELECTRIC EQUIPMENT - The method for monitoring ageing of at least one electric equipment unit comprises:
| 09-05-2013 |
20130238256 | METHOD AND SYSTEM TO MODEL RISK OF UNPLANNED OUTAGES OF POWER GENERATION MACHINE - A method to determine a risk of failure for a machine including: generating a first value for a risk of failure of the machine, wherein the first value is determined by a first model receiving as an input a condition of the machine and the first model includes a relationship derived from historical machine failures and correlating the input condition of the machine to a value for the risk of failure; generating a second value of the risk of failure of the machine, wherein the second value is determined by a second model receiving as an input information regarding wear or degradation of the machine and the second model includes a relationship correlating the input information regarding wear or degradation to a value for the risk of failure, and determining a total risk of failure based on the first and second values of the risk of failure. | 09-12-2013 |
20130268214 | PROBABILISTIC FATIGUE LIFE PREDICTION USING ULTRASONIC INSPECTION DATA CONSIDERING EIFS UNCERTAINTY - A method for probabilistically predicting fatigue life in materials includes sampling a random variable for an actual equivalent initial flaw size (EIFS), generating random variables for parameters (ln C, m) of a fatigue crack growth equation | 10-10-2013 |
20130275055 | INTEGRITY MONITORING SYSTEM AND A METHOD OF MONITORING INTEGRITY OF A STATIONARY STRUCTURE - The invention concerns an integrity monitoring system for monitoring integrity of at least a part of a stationary structure. The system comprises a vibration sensor for sensing vibration as a function of time, a computer, transmitting means for transmitting vibration data from the vibration sensor to the computer, means for acquiring position as a function of time data of a movable object, such as a vessel, a vehicle or a digging tool, where the movable object comprises a transmitter, and transmitting the position as a function of time data to the computer when the movable object is within a selected distance to a monitoring site. The monitoring site comprises the part of the stationary structure to be monitored and the vibration sensor is arranged to sense vibrations within the monitoring site. The computer comprises hardware and software for comparing the vibration data with the position as a function of time data. | 10-17-2013 |
20130275056 | COMPONENT FAILURE DETECTION SYSTEM - An apparatus for detecting fatigue induced failure of an assembly having a single flexible element or a series of flexible elements stacked in juxtaposed engagement, for transmitting power from one component to another, the assembly having a cyclic operating speed frequency includes at least one sensor mounted in proximity to said assembly, the sensor providing an analogue signal corresponding to an airborne acoustic signal emitted by the assembly, means for amplifying the analogue signal, filter means to reduce background noise from the analogue signal, an analogue to digital converter for converting the analogue signals to a digital signal, means for sampling the digital signals in respect of the operating speed frequency of the assembly and means for analysing the digital signals and providing an output upon the occurrence of one or more digital signal spikes in an operating cycle. | 10-17-2013 |
20130311111 | DAMAGE ASSESSMENT SYSTEM AND METHODS OF OPERATING SAME - A computer-implemented method includes receiving damage information by a user interface device and quantifying at least one parameter of the damage. A structural analysis is performed to determine a damage allowability based on the parameter. An output result of the structural analysis is displayed from the user interface device. The system includes a compliance system having a database of structural information relating to the structure. A computer enabled user interface device is coupled to the compliance system. The user interface device includes a processor configured to access the structural information and display a location of the damage based on the structural information. The processor is configured to quantify at least one parameter of the damage. The processor is further configured to perform a structural analysis to determine a damage allowability based on the parameter and display a maintenance instruction based on the damage allowability. | 11-21-2013 |
20130317759 | VALVE SERVICING CONTROLLING DEVICE AND CONTROLLING METHOD - An evaluation indicator is calculated to determine whether or not servicing is required, from data for evaluation for a valve that is subject to servicing. An ID of the valve is recorded in a recording area AR | 11-28-2013 |
20130332087 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MEASURING CORROSION OF MOBILE BODY - A mobile body corrosion measuring apparatus having a corrosion sensor installed in at least one portion of a mobile body, the corrosion sensor measuring a corrosion state at the portion and outputting corrosion data; a vehicle (mobile body) running speed sensor installed in the mobile body, the running speed sensor measuring a running speed of the mobile body and outputting the running speed data; and a data collection unit that acquires the corrosion data from the corrosion sensor and the running speed data from the vehicle speed sensor at the same time and collects the corrosion data and the running speed data with the corrosion data and the running speed data associated with each other. Due to above structure, a corrosion state specific to the mobile body can be accurately measured. | 12-12-2013 |
20130332088 | DEVICE FOR PIPE INSPECTION AND METHOD OF USING SAME - A device is described that includes a sensor portion and a chassis portion. The sensor portion includes a plurality of sensing devices. The chassis portion is connected to the sensor portion and includes a first track and a second track. The second track is positioned adjacent the first track. The first and second tracks cooperate to substantially cover an entire width of the chassis portion. | 12-12-2013 |
20140012517 | Structural damage estimation based on measurements of rotations - Structural damage to a building is assessed based on measurement of point rotations using MEMS accelerometer sensors attached to structural columns of a building. The measured point rotations are wirelessly transmitted to a central unit which estimates residual drifts of the structural columns using a model of plastic deformation of the columns that incorporates empirically predetermined structural parameters of the columns such as a height of a column plastic bending point or a column curvature coefficient. The structural damage to the building is then estimated by determining a damage state from performance-based earthquake engineering performance thresholds that relate residual drift to damage. In some embodiments, multiple sensors are attached to each structural column of the building and measure corresponding point rotations at multiple points along the height of the column. | 01-09-2014 |
20140025315 | BASELINE PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE METHOD FOR TARGET DEVICE AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT THEREOF - A baseline predictive maintenance method for a target device (TD) and a computer program product thereof are provided. Fresh samples which are generated when the target device produces workpieces just after maintenance are collected, and a new workpiece sample which is generated when the target device produces a new workpiece is collected. A plurality of modeling samples are used to build a TD baseline model in accordance with a conjecturing algorithm, wherein the modeling samples include the new workpiece sample and the fresh samples. A TD healthy baseline value for the new workpiece is computed by the TD baseline model, and a device health index (DHI), a baseline error index (BEI) and baseline individual similarity indices (ISI | 01-23-2014 |
20140039806 | ESTIMATING REMAINING USEFUL LIFE FROM PROGNOSTIC FEATURES DISCOVERED USING GENETIC PROGRAMMING - A method for estimating a remaining useful life of a system includes monitoring sensor data from sensors deployed within a system. A plurality of features are extracted from the sensor data. Tree graphs are generated including mathematical operators and features as nodes and a advanced feature is produced from each of the tree graphs by transforming the tree graphs into equations. A recursive operation including analyzing a fitness of each of the advanced features, performing crossover/mutation on the tree graphs, producing advanced features from the altered tree graphs, and analyzing the fitness of the altered tree graphs to produce at least one final advanced feature is performed. A remaining useful life of the system is calculated based on the final advanced feature. | 02-06-2014 |
20140039807 | ASSESSING REMAINING USEFUL LIFE FOR PORTIONS OF WIND TURBINE SUPPORT STRUCTURES - Methods for assessing the useful life that may remain for a portion of a wind turbine support structure. The methods may include identifying an overall expected useful life for the portion of the support structure and estimating an expended life from the extent of loading that has occurred to the portion of the support structure during the operative life of a wind turbine. The useful life remaining for the portion may be determined by subtracting the expended life from the overall expected useful life. | 02-06-2014 |
20140039808 | METHOD FOR ASSESSING WEAR IN MOLDING MACHINE - A first chromium mass concentration and a first reference mass concentration are extracted from a first test substance made by adding a predetermined amount of calcium to a predetermined amount of pellets; a reference value is calculated on the basis thereof. A second chromium mass concentration and a second reference mass concentration are extracted from a second test substance made by adding, to a predetermined amount of the substance contained in the molded part, an amount of calcium identical to the amount added to the pellets; a comparative value is calculated on the basis thereof. A screw can be determined to have wear whenever the comparative value is not less than a numerical value 60 times that of the reference value, whereas the screw can be determined not to have wear whenever the comparative value is less than a numerical value 60 times that of the reference value. | 02-06-2014 |
20140067284 | STRUCTURAL MONITORING - System for monitoring a structure includes at least one monitoring arrangement attached at a respective location to the structure, each monitoring arrangement having at least one inertial measurement unit (IMU) that measures acceleration and/or angular motion in any direction and rotation about any axis, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver that determines its location, and a wireless communication system that transmits information derived from acceleration and/or angular motion measured by the IMU and a location determination by the GNSS receiver. Further, each monitoring arrangement may include a microphone, chemical sensor, a visual or IR light sensor, a radiation sensor, a magnetic sensor, and/or a strain sensor. As an alternative, the monitoring arrangements may include only IMUs or only GNSS receivers. | 03-06-2014 |
20140067285 | Fatigue Monitoring for Composite Materials - Fatigue failure in composite materials can be successfully modeled and predicted by monitoring irreversible gains in entropy. Permanent degradations in composites are marked by irreversible processes that are characterized by increases in entropy. By measuring changes in entropy, one can model and predict the deterioration and failure of composites. The technique may be used to predict the deterioration and failure of composites under essentially any type of loading—constant, variable, bending, torsion, tension, compression, or other. | 03-06-2014 |
20140081583 | METHOD FOR DETERMINISTIC STRESS BASED RISK REDUCTION - A deterministic risk reduction method for product reliability comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of parameters associated with at least one of a goal concept,desired functionality and performance criteria for said product; performing an analysis of said product, said analysis comprising levels of cause and effect for identifying and quantifying key performance factors and failure mechanisms associated with said product;developing test protocols and subjecting said product to stress tests corresponding to said test protocols to determine at least one operating limit for said product, whereby a relationship between said stress and expected life of said product is provided; and estimating said product life based on said key performance factors and said stress tests. | 03-20-2014 |
20140088886 | METHOD AND DEVICE TO ASSESS THE WEAR OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER UNIT - Method to estimate the wear state of wiper blades ( | 03-27-2014 |
20140088887 | DETERMINING REMAINING USEFUL LIFE OF ROTATING MACHINERY INCLUDING DRIVE TRAINS, GEARBOXES, AND GENERATORS - A method for predicting remaining useful life of a wind or water turbine or component determines in step ( | 03-27-2014 |
20140088888 | DETERMINING DAMAGE AND REMAINING USEFUL LIFE OF ROTATING MACHINERY INCLUDING DRIVE TRAINS, GEARBOXES, AND GENERATORS - A method for predicting remaining useful life of a wind or water turbine or component determines in step ( | 03-27-2014 |
20140107945 | METHOD FOR THE DYNAMIC QUANTITATIVE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE AGEING OF SOLID MATERIALS - A method, starting from acoustic emission signals of a material under examination, for determining parameters dynamically characterizing an ageing state of a material is described. The method focuses on solid material properties that are widely sub-microscopic and as such are non-observable by any other known experimental method. | 04-17-2014 |
20140107946 | System and Method for Determining the Mileage and Wear of a Tire - A system includes an acceleration sensor for detecting a centrifugal acceleration, and a processing unit, which is coupled to the acceleration sensor and which is configured to determine numerical values from measured values of the centrifugal acceleration. The determined numerical values are representative of a mileage of a tire and/or wear of the tire and/or an installation radius of the system in the tire. | 04-17-2014 |
20140107947 | AUTONOMOUS NON-DESTRUCTIVE INSPECTION - Autonomous non-destructive inspection equipment provides automatic and/or continuous inspection and evaluation of a material under inspection. The inspection equipment comprises at least one detection sensor and at least one detection sensor interface for a computer. The signals are communicated from the sensor to the computer. The signals are then conditioned and evaluated according to knowledge already inputted into the computer. The computer iterations are processed until an acceptable conclusion is made regarding the type of imperfection that is detected. | 04-17-2014 |
20140114587 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING ROTOR BLADES IN COMBUSTION TURBINE ENGINE - In accordance with one embodiment, a method for monitoring the health of blades in a combustion turbine engine is provided. Sensors mounted around the circumference of a rotor sense and record the passage of blades during turbine operation. Analysis of information from the sensors indicates whether a blade is damaged. Analysis of blade vibration and amplitude, as measured by the sensors, is used to predict the number of cycles the blade can undergo before replacement or maintenance. | 04-24-2014 |
20140121997 | METHOD FOR THE UNAMBIGUOUS DETECTION OF THE WEAR THRESHOLD OF A TYRE - The wear detection method applies to a tyre ( | 05-01-2014 |
20140129154 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INSPECTING A ROUTE DURING MOVEMENT OF A VEHICLE SYSTEM OVER THE ROUTE - A sensing system includes a leading sensor, a trailing sensor, and a route examining unit. The leading sensor is onboard a first vehicle of a vehicle system that is traveling along a route. The leading sensor measures first characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The trailing sensor is disposed onboard a second vehicle of the vehicle system. The trailing sensor measures second characteristics of the route as the vehicle system moves along the route. The route examining unit is disposed onboard the vehicle system and receives the first characteristics of the route and the second characteristics of the route to compare the first characteristics with the second characteristics. The route examining unit also identifies a segment of the route as being damaged based on a comparison of the first characteristics with the second characteristics. | 05-08-2014 |
20140156207 | SOOT MONITORING METHOD AND ALERT SYSTEM - A system and method of monitoring regeneration of a particulate matter filter for a stationary diesel engine is disclosed. The system monitors exhaust temperature and operating time of an engine to calculate accumulated operating time below a critical temperature. Upon reaching a maximum allowed accumulated operation time, the system initiates a warning signal to inform the operator to increase exhaust temperatures for passive regeneration of the filter. During regeneration, the system periodically measures filter pressure differential and the exhaust temperature to calculate a difference in pressure differentials measured at two different times and determine whether the difference is below a critical value to inform the operator that regeneration is complete. | 06-05-2014 |
20140163904 | Data Acquisition System for Condition-Based Maintenance - Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components. | 06-12-2014 |
20140172325 | LIFE MONITORING IN SOLID-STATE DRIVE - An embodiment is a method and apparatus for a technique to report remaining life information of a non-volatile memory array. Information on expected life of a non-volatile memory array is received from a solid-state drive (SSD) processor. The information is converted into remaining life information according to a pre-defined format. The remaining life information is transmitted to an indicator or a communication device. | 06-19-2014 |
20140188405 | PREDICTING A TIME OF FAILURE OF A DEVICE - The present disclosure relates generally to the field of predicting a time of failure of a device. In various examples, predicting a time of failure of a device may be implemented in the form of systems, methods and/or algorithms. | 07-03-2014 |
20140188406 | SCALABLE VEHICLE MODELS FOR INDOOR TIRE TESTING - Tire testing systems and methods are disclosed for indoor simulation testing of tires of a wide range of sizes on a scalable vehicle model (“SVM”). | 07-03-2014 |
20140200827 | RAILWAY TRACK GEOMETRY DEFECT MODELING FOR PREDICTING DETERIORATION, DERAILMENT RISK, AND OPTIMAL REPAIR - Geo-defect repair modeling is provided. A method includes logically dividing a railroad network according to spatial and temporal dimensions with respect to historical data collected. The spatial dimensions include line segments of a specified length and the temporal dimensions include inspection run data for inspections performed for each of the line segments over a period of time. The method also includes creating a track deterioration model from the historical data, identifying geo-defects occurring at each inspection run from the track deterioration model, calculating a track deterioration condition from the track deterioration model by analyzing quantified changes in the geo-defects measured at each inspection run, and calculating a derailment risk based on track conditions determined from the inspection run data and the track deterioration condition. The method further includes determining a repair decision for each of the geo-defects based on the derailment risk and costs associated with previous comparable repairs. | 07-17-2014 |
20140200828 | ASSET FAILURE PREDICTION WITH LOCATION UNCERTAINTY - Geo-defect repair modeling with location uncertainty is provided. A method includes logically dividing a railroad network into segments each of a specified length. The method also includes identifying, via a computer processor, geo-defects and approximated locations of the geo-defects occurring at each inspection run for each of the segments. The method also includes calculating, via the computer processor, a rate of increase in amplitude of each of the geo-defects for each of the segments between inspection runs, determining a correlation of the geo-defects between the inspection runs as a function of the approximated locations, and predicting a deterioration rate for each of the geo-defects based on the calculating. | 07-17-2014 |
20140200829 | ASSET FAILURE PREDICTION WITH LOCATION UNCERTAINTY - Geo-defect repair modeling with location uncertainty is provided. A method includes logically dividing a railroad network into segments each of a specified length. The method also includes identifying, via a computer processor, geo-defects and approximated locations of the geo-defects occurring at each inspection run for each of the segments. The method also includes calculating, via the computer processor, a rate of increase in amplitude of each of the geo-defects for each of the segments between inspection runs, determining a correlation of the geo-defects between the inspection runs as a function of the approximated locations, and predicting a deterioration rate for each of the geo-defects based on the calculating. | 07-17-2014 |
20140200830 | RAILWAY TRACK GEOMETRY DEFECT MODELING FOR PREDICTING DETERIORATION, DERAILMENT RISK, AND OPTIMAL REPAIR - Geo-defect repair modeling is provided. A method includes logically dividing a railroad network according to spatial and temporal dimensions with respect to historical data collected. The spatial dimensions include line segments of a specified length and the temporal dimensions include inspection run data for inspections performed for each of the line segments over a period of time. The method also includes creating a track deterioration model from the historical data, identifying geo-defects occurring at each inspection run from the track deterioration model, calculating a track deterioration condition from the track deterioration model by analyzing quantified changes in the geo-defects measured at each inspection run, and calculating a derailment risk based on track conditions determined from the inspection run data and the track deterioration condition. The method further includes determining a repair decision for each of the geo-defects based on the derailment risk and costs associated with previous comparable repairs. | 07-17-2014 |
20140207390 | Coiled Tubing Useful Life Monitor And Technique - A system and technique for dynamically and historically evaluating useful life of coiled tubing. Methods are detailed wherein a monitor and system are equipped for enhanced evaluating of coiled tubing fatigue life based in part on the orientation of the coiled tubing during use. This may be obtained through the tracking of a seamweld of the coiled tubing. Additionally, reliability of the coiled tubing over various uses may be determined on an ongoing basis as a result of acoustically acquired data during operations. In either case, the monitor may be of a magnetic flux data detection variety. | 07-24-2014 |
20140257715 | Robust Power Flow Methodologies for Distribution Networks with Distributed Generators - A method predicts power flow in a distributed generation network of at least one distributed generator and at least one co-generator, where the network is defined by a plurality of network nonlinear equations. The method includes applying an iterative method to the plurality of network nonlinear equations to achieve a divergence from a power flow solution to the plurality of network nonlinear equations. The method also includes applying the iterative method to find a first solution to a plurality of simplified nonlinear equations homotopically related by parameterized power flow equations to the plurality of network nonlinear equations. The method further includes iteratively applying the iterative method to the parameterized power flow equations starting with the first solution to achieve the power flow solution to the plurality of network nonlinear equations. | 09-11-2014 |
20140257716 | METHODS FOR ESTIMATING REMAINING LIFE OF A MONITORED STRUCTURE - A computer-implemented method is provided for estimating the remaining life of a structure being monitored by a sensor. The method includes: receiving data from a sensor, where the data is indicative of strain experienced by a structure and is reported as a plurality of cumulative distribution functions; extracting a probability density function from the data received from the sensor; computing a damage index for the structure from parameters of the probability density function, where the damage index is indicative of damage to the structure accumulated over time; and estimating a remaining life of the structure using the damage index. | 09-11-2014 |
20140278148 | VIRTUAL IN-LINE INSPECTION OF WALL LOSS DUE TO CORROSION IN A PIPELINE - In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method for predicting a material deterioration state of a pipeline is disclosed. The computer-implemented method can be stored on a tangible and non-transitory computer readable medium and arranged to be executed by one or more processors that cause the one or more processors to receive data related to the pipeline, create a mathematical model of pipeline wall corrosion and use the mathematical model to determine sections of pipeline that should be physically inspected. | 09-18-2014 |
20140278149 | RELIABILITY MAINTAINING SERIAL NUMBER CREDIT PROCESS - Embodiments are directed to receiving, by a computing device comprising a processor, an anticipated usage input, a load input and a strength input associated with a unit, calculating, by the computing device, a baseline reliability value based at least in part on the anticipated usage input, the load input and the strength input, receiving, by the computing device, usage data associated with use of the unit, generating, by the computing device, an updated reliability value based on at least some of the inputs used to calculate the baseline reliability value and the usage data, and determining, by the computing device, a lifetime for the unit based on the updated reliability value. | 09-18-2014 |
20140278150 | UTILITY POLE CONDITION SENSORS - An apparatus and methods involved in the process of assessing utility pole condition and, in particular, the apparatus and methods involved in the use of sensors to assess utility pole fatigue in response to age, weather, wear, impact and other potential damage events. A utility pole sensor system is provided for rapidly and efficiently assessing utility pole fatigue in response to passively induced environmental movements prior to a natural or man-made failure of the utility pole. | 09-18-2014 |
20140288855 | Temporary Uprating of Wind Turbines to Maximize Power Output - A control strategy for uprating the rated power of a wind turbine at times during the design life includes measuring an operating parameter for a component of the wind turbine as the wind turbine operates at a design rated speed and a design rated torque, and calculating an actual accumulated damage amount for the component based on a measured value of the operating parameter. The strategy may further include calculating an updated rated speed and an updated rated torque for the wind turbine based on the actual accumulated damage amount, a wind speed, a wind turbulence and a remaining design life amount of the wind turbine, and causing the wind turbine to operate at the updated rated speed and the updated rated torque. | 09-25-2014 |
20140288856 | SHOE WEAR-OUT SENSOR, BODY-BAR SENSING SYSTEM, UNITLESS ACTIVITY ASSESSMENT AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A system assesses activity and displays a unitless activity value. A detector senses activity of a user. A processor reads sensed activity data from the detector. A display displays the unitless activity value. An enclosure houses the detector and the processor. The processor periodically reads the sensed activity data from the detector and processes the data to generate an activity number, the number being used to generate the unitless activity value based upon a maximum number and a display range. | 09-25-2014 |
20140324363 | SYSTEM RELIABILITY ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT USING PHYSICS-BASED MODELS EMBEDDED IN A BAYSIAN NETWORK - A method for assessing reliability in a gas turbine engine system includes using a processor to carry out instructions from a memory to propagate a physics-based model through a Bayesian network to assess reliability for the gas turbine engine system. A system for assessing reliability for a gas turbine engine system includes a memory including instructions to propagate a physics-based model through a Bayesian network to assess reliability for a gas turbine engine system. The system also includes a processor operatively connected to the memory to carry out the instructions. A network interface can be operatively connected to the processor to receive reliability data from operation of gas turbine engines, wherein the memory includes instructions for updating data module or modules based on reliability data. | 10-30-2014 |
20140324364 | Method For Determining The Wear State - This invention relates to a method for determining a wear state of a chisel, a chisel holder, and/or a chisel holder replacement system equipped with a chisel and chisel holder. For this method to give the user qualitative and quantitative information about the wear, according to one embodiment of this invention, a position of at least one point of the chisel and/or the chisel holder is determined by a contactless measurement method and a corresponding measurement result is compared in a switching unit to a reference value stored in a memory device. | 10-30-2014 |
20140330525 | System and Method for Predicting Distortion of a Workpiece Resulting from a Peening Machine Process - A method for predicting distortion and residual stress in a workpiece resulting from a peening process may include the steps of providing a coupon including residual stress induced in a coupon surface by the peening process, calculating a moment coefficient representative of residual stress induced in the coupon surface, calibrating a stress function to the moment coefficient, applying the stress function to a workpiece model of the workpiece, and computing at least one of predicted distortion and residual stress of the workpiece resulting from application of the calibrated stress function to the workpiece model. | 11-06-2014 |
20140330526 | ASSESSING THE ROAD QUALITY OF ONE OR MORE ROAD SEGMENTS IN A ROAD NETWORK - A road quality of one or more road segments in a road network may be assessed. Motion data may be obtained via a plurality of mobile devices associated with a plurality of vehicles traveling in the road network. The road network may include a plurality of road segments. The obtained motion data may be analyzed. The analyzing may include normalizing the obtained motion data. The road quality of one or more of the plurality of road segments in the road network may be determined based on the analyzing. | 11-06-2014 |
20140336954 | Calculating Fatigue and Fatigue Failure of Structures - The durability performance of a structure is virtually predicted, enabling the optimization of the durability performance. In a first act, the structure is modeled by a series of calculation points. Then, for each point, the stresses and strains brought by load cycles and defining hysteresis branches are determined. Then, an accumulated damage due to the load cycles is predicted and stored. For the prediction, first, using a hysteresis operator, a change in the stress along a portion of a hysteresis branch is calculated as a function of a change in the load in time, and, second, using the change in the stress and the stored accumulated damage, a change in the damage is calculated. Hence, also a change in the properties, including the stiffness, of the structure is calculated. Then, a further change in the stresses and strains is calculated on the basis of the change in these properties to determine a new adapted hysteresis branch. Then, a further change in the stress along a further portion of the adapted hysteresis branch is calculated as a function of a further change in the load in time. At the end of the process, the structure is manufactured accordingly. | 11-13-2014 |
20140343874 | COMPUTERISED SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A LIFE EXPECTANCY ANALYSIS REPORT RELATED TO A LOW OR MEDIUM VOLTAGE SWITCHING DEVICE - The invention relates to a computerized system and method for generating a life expectancy analysis report related to a low or medium voltage switching device. In the computerized system and method of the invention: first data ( | 11-20-2014 |
20140379280 | Remaining Life Assessment Method for Heat-Resisting Steel Member - A remaining life assessment method for a heat-resisting steel member to be used under a high temperature includes the steps of: determining a hardness of each of a simply heated material and a damaged portion from creep rupture tests and creep interruption tests of a heat-resisting steel material constituting the heat-resisting steel member under conditions of various heating temperatures, loaded stresses and heating periods, calculating a damage rate and a time-temperature parameter, and obtaining a relationship between the hardness of each of the simply heated material and the damaged portion, and the damage rate or the time temperature parameter; calculating a difference between the hardness of the simply heated material and the hardness of the damaged portion, and obtaining a relationship between the difference and the damage rate; measuring an initial hardness in an unused state of the heat-resisting steel member to be assembled into an actual machine; calculating an initial value of the time-temperature parameter corresponding to the initial hardness; calculating an equivalent parameter of the actual machine; and calculating the damage rate by some prescribed calculations. | 12-25-2014 |
20150019142 | DAMAGE EVALUATION METHOD AND MAINTENANCE EVALUATION INDEX DECISION METHOD - A first measured value of a specific physical quantity at a target portion is correlated with a damage evaluation index to calculate a damage degree corresponding to the first measured value. The specific physical quantity is measured at least once at a position corresponding to the first measurement position in another time period having a different usage elapsed time from that of the first measurement, and these second and subsequent measured values are correlated with damage degrees calculated based on temporal changes corresponding to the second and subsequent measurements. A new damage evaluation index is approximately calculated based on a relationship between the first, second, and subsequent measured values and the damage degrees corresponding to the first, second, and subsequent measured values. | 01-15-2015 |
20150019143 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING A CONDITION OF A SEAL OF A ROTARY VALVE - Methods and apparatus for estimating a condition of a seal of a rotary valve are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a housing and a processor positioned within the housing. The processor is to determine a seal wearing cycle of a flow control member of a rotary valve, the seal wearing cycle includes movement of the flow control member between a first position in contact with a seal and a second position. The processor is to determine a torque of an actuator operating the flow control member for the seal wearing cycle and estimate a condition of the seal based on the torque. | 01-15-2015 |
20150032388 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, TRANSMISSION APPARATUS, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - A method of controlling a transmission apparatus, executed by a processor, the transmission apparatus including a plurality of ports capable of connection to an optical module, the method includes receiving operating time information of the optical module, and monitor information including at least one of information on temperature of the optical module, optical output power, and a bias current value of a semiconductor laser at predetermined time intervals, when the optical module is coupled to a first port; calculating a deterioration point based on the operating time information and the monitor information at the predetermined time intervals; calculating an accumulated deterioration point by adding the deterioration point at the predetermined time intervals; and determining a deterioration degree of the optical module based on the accumulated deterioration point, when the optical module is recoupled to the first port, or when the optical module is coupled to a second port. | 01-29-2015 |
20150032389 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ANALYSING THE CONDITION OF A MACHINE HAVING A ROTATING PART - An apparatus for analyzing the condition of a machine having a rotating part, includes:
| 01-29-2015 |
20150039244 | Failure Rate Estimation From Multiple Failure Mechanisms - A computerized method for estimating reliability of a system at normal operating conditions. The computerized method includes enables of selection of a plurality of failure mechanisms FM | 02-05-2015 |
20150046099 | PIPELINE MANAGEMENT SUPPORTING SERVER AND PIPELINE MANAGEMENT SUPPORTING SYSTEM - The present invention provides a pipeline management supporting server capable of unifying management of attribute data of a pipe component and location information on a pipe network, efficiently detecting an abnormality of a pipeline remotely, and diagnosing the degradation state of the pipeline. The pipeline management supporting server ( | 02-12-2015 |
20150051845 | SMART RAZOR HANDLE - Smart razor handle with scanner, pressure sensor, processing unit, memory, programming keys, and integrated screen is aimed to enhance performance, ease of use, and provide additional comfort to the user while using shaving cartridge. The smart handle provides the user with important information regarding the shaving cartridges through the integrated screen, and speaker. | 02-19-2015 |
20150051846 | BEARING LIFE DETERMINATION DEVICE - A corrected rotation amount, based on conversion to a rotation amount at a reference rotational speed, is obtained by multiplying a command speed read in each period by a period time and a coefficient value corresponding to the rotational speed. An integrated corrected rotation amount is obtained by integrating the corrected rotation amount. If this integrated corrected rotation amount exceeds a life limit value, the life of a bearing is determined to be exhausted. | 02-19-2015 |
20150057951 | Scalable Vehicle Models for Indoor Tire Testing - A method for reducing vehicle bias when testing a tire for use with a market segment of vehicles by creating a vehicle model that is scalable by vehicle weight. A market segment of vehicles is defined, at least one of a vehicle model parameter is defined, data is collected for the at least one vehicle model parameter from at least one vehicle in the market segment, the at least one vehicle model parameter is characterized through regression analysis as a function of total weight of a scalable vehicle model, the scalable vehicle model parameter is applied to a multibody vehicle dynamics simulation, at least one maneuver is applied to the scalable vehicle model, and the tire load histories generated by the multibody vehicle dynamics simulation are provided to a tire test machine to obtain tire wear data representative of the vehicles in the market segment. | 02-26-2015 |
20150073728 | PREDICTED CONDITION STATE AND REMAINING SERVICE LIFE OF A MANAGED ASSET - A method of improving a prediction of the remaining service life of a managed asset or a component of said asset by providing an adjusted Condition Index Curve using inspector applied expert knowledge. | 03-12-2015 |
20150081230 | METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT & SYSTEM - A method for predicting the residual life of a bearing comprising the steps of measuring contact forces and/or high frequency stress waves emitted by rolling contact of the bearing, recording the measurement data as recorded data, and predicting the residual life of the bearing using the recorded data and an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) bearing life model whereby load is determined from measurements of contact forces and/or lubrication quality is determined from the high frequency stress waves emitted by rolling contact, rather than by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) rolling-element bearing life model. | 03-19-2015 |
20150088434 | VALVE PROGNOSTICS FOR POLYMERIC COMPONENTS BASED ON ACCELERATED AGING TECHNIQUES - The claimed method and system develops accelerated aging test protocols for a component of a process control device, such as a polymeric component of a valve assembly, where the accelerated aging test protocol is specifically developed in response to expected operating conditions to be used during operation of the process control device in a process plant installation. Test data from the developed accelerated aging tests is analyzed to determine a projected lifetime profile of the component that profiles the component through failure under those expected operating conditions. Particular profiling for polymeric features includes oxidation failure profiling and other fatigue conditions. | 03-26-2015 |
20150106036 | DETECTION OF CORROSION RATES IN PROCESSING PIPES AND VESSELS - For a monitored corrosion sensor, such as a sensor based on one or more mechanical oscillators disposed in a fluid flow, one or more values are measured over time. The values can be measured at a desired frequency, such as a once per second, once per minute, or another convenient frequency. The measured data can then be analyzed as a time series. The goal of the analysis is to identify variations in the time series data that are sufficiently unexpected relative to the prior behavior of the time series within a given time window. The identified variations can then, for example, be excluded from consideration when determining a corrosion-related value for the sensor. | 04-16-2015 |
20150120215 | NON-CONTACT SIGNAL PROPAGATION PROPERTY EVALUATION OF SYNTHETIC FIBER ROPE - A non-contact evaluation system for evaluating a synthetic rope. The system includes a first transducer, a second transducer, and a processor. The first transducer is located at a first position and configured to convert a first electrical signal into a wave directed toward the synthetic rope under test. The wave has characteristics such that at least of a portion of the wave passes around a perimeter of the synthetic rope. The second transducer is located at a second position opposite the first position and radially aligned with the first transducer. The second transducer is also configured to receive and convert the portion of the wave into a second electrical signal. The processor is configured to determine a structural health measure of the synthetic rope based on the second electrical signal. | 04-30-2015 |
20150134271 | LIFE EXPIRATION PREDICTING METHOD, LIFE EXPIRATION PREDICTING APPARATUS, LIFE EXPIRATION PREDICTING SYSTEM, LIFE EXPIRATION CALCULATING APPARATUS, AND ROTARY MACHINE - A vibration waveform output by a gyro sensor set in a main pump is received. The vibration waveform is subjected to a frequency analysis and a frequency spectrum is calculated. A feature value is calculated from the frequency spectrum. Life expiration of the main pump is determined using the feature value. When the feature value is represented as R, a sum of squares of amplitudes in the frequency spectrum is represented as D, and a sum of squares of the amplitudes exceeding a first determination value is represented as P, R=√(P/D). | 05-14-2015 |
20150142337 | INTEGRITY OF A CIVIL STRUCTURE - This disclosure relates to the integrity of a civil structure, and in particular the assessment of the integrity of one or more joints of a civil structure. Two or more sensors ( | 05-21-2015 |
20150322789 | REAL-TIME MONITORING OF GAS TURBINE LIFE - A system, method and computer-readable medium for monitoring a life of a gas turbine component is disclosed. A numerical model of the gas turbine component is created and parameter measurements are obtained in real-time for at least a portion of the gas turbine component. The parameter measurements are fused with a subset of the numerical model corresponding to the portion of the gas turbine component to obtain a subset of a fused parameter model corresponding to the portion of the gas turbine component. The subset of the fused parameter model is expanded to obtain the fused parameter model that corresponds to at least a location outside of the portion of the gas turbine component. The life of the gas turbine component is monitored using the fused temperature model. | 11-12-2015 |
20150323442 | FILTRATION MEMBRANE FOULING INDEX MEASURING METHOD - A filtration membrane fouling index measuring method including: (a) serially connecting two filtration membranes having the same membrane properties, and sequentially passing influent water therethrough; (b) measuring the flow volume that has passed through the first of the filtration membranes; (c) measuring the flow volume that has passed through the second of the filtration membranes; (d) measuring the cumulative pass-through volume that has passed through the first or the second filtration membrane; and (e) determining the fouling index of the filtration membrane, based on the flow volume that has passed through the first filtration membrane, the flow volume that has passed through the second filtration membrane and the cumulative pass-through volume. The method eliminates pore-blocking-induced measurement errors that occur with measurement methods involving Modified Fouling Index which is a fouling index for filtration membranes. | 11-12-2015 |
20150328568 | System for Monitoring and Indicating Filter Life - Disclosed are systems, methods, and algorithms for monitoring and indicating filter life. In particular, the disclosed systems, methods, and algorithms may be utilized for monitoring and indicating the useful life of a filter in an internal combustion engine. | 11-19-2015 |
20150338312 | Systems and Methods for Implementing Engine Cycle Count - Systems and methods for implementing engine cycle counts are disclosed. One method may include determining, by at least one processor, a plurality of cycles and partial cycles associated with an engine; and predicting, by at least one processor, a life cycle associated with the engine based at least in part on the plurality of cycles and partial cycles. | 11-26-2015 |
20150361840 | Virtual Filter Condition Sensor - A system and method for determining a condition of a filter filtering fuel associated with an engine. Input information relating to the operation of the engine is provided by a plurality of sensors. At least some of the input information is used to determine a plurality of input variables, the plurality of input variables representing a plurality of engine operating conditions including engine run time, engine torque and engine speed. An algorithm incorporating the input variables is used to determine the condition of the filter. Information concerning the condition of the filter may be output to a user such as an operator or service provider. | 12-17-2015 |
20150363750 | A METHOD FOR PROVIDING MAINTENANCE DATA - A method for providing data related to the operating condition of a machine part of a liquid processing system is provided. The method comprises the steps of: selecting at least one machine part of the liquid processing system; calculating an expected remaining usable time based on an estimated life time of the machine part; determining at least one real-time operating condition of the at least one machine part; and providing the expected time for maintenance and the at least one operating condition as data for enabling a decision whether to perform maintenance of the machine part or not. | 12-17-2015 |
20150369236 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HEALTH DETERMINATION OF A MACHINE COMPONENT - A system for determining health of a component is provided. The system includes an operational parameter module associated with the component and in communication with a controller. The controller is configured to receive an operating parameter signal from the operational parameter module. The controller is configured to monitor a change of the operating parameter over a predetermined time period. The controller is configured to compare the monitored operating parameter with a first predetermined threshold. The controller is configured to determine a rate of change of the monitored operating parameter over the predetermined time period. The controller is also configured to compare the determined rate of change with a second predetermined threshold. The controller is further configured to determine the health of the component based, at least in part, on the comparisons with the first and second predetermined thresholds respectively and one or more additional parameters associated with the component. | 12-24-2015 |
20150369697 | METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT & SYSTEM - A method for predicting the residual life of a bearing comprising the step of: measuring frequency of occurrence of events that result of high frequency stress waves emitted by rolling contact of the bearing, recording measurement data as recorded data, and predicting the residual life of the bearing using the recorded data and a mathematical residual life prediction model, whereby accumulated fatigue damage is determined from the measurements of the frequency of occurrence of events that result in high frequency stress waves being emitted by rolling contact of the bearing. | 12-24-2015 |
20150371454 | System and Method for Severity Characterization of Machine Events - A method for severity characterization of machine events is provided. The method includes receiving, at a processor, a plurality of inputs corresponding to measurements from a plurality of accelerometers placed on a machine component based upon a geometry of the machine component. The method includes determining a displacement time series based upon the plurality of inputs. The method includes comparing the displacement time series with coordinate locations of a plurality of corners of the machine component. The method includes characterizing severity of a machine event for the machine component, based upon said comparing. | 12-24-2015 |
20160003695 | RELIABILITY DESIGN ASSISTANCE DEVICE, RELIABILITY DESIGN ASSISTANCE METHOD, AND RELIABILITY DESIGN ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - A relational expression calculator calculates a relational expression by performing approximation calculation for data strings each of which associates the value of a subject factor, which varies according to a user or an environment, with an input stress measurement value that is measured when a subject device is used. An input stress calculator calculates an input stress, which is input to the subject device, according to the relational expression and to index data on the subject factor. A failure rate calculator calculates a failure rate of the subject device according to the input stress and to a characteristic value distribution of the subject device. | 01-07-2016 |
20160003708 | WIRELESS HEALTH AND USAGE MANAGEMENT OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL SYSTEM - A method includes receiving, by a first wireless device integrated into a management facility from a second wireless device integrated into a detection device, environmental conditions produced by a structure and detected by the detection device attached to the structure; and processing, by the management facility, the environmental conditions to detect a deviation from an expected operation of the structure. | 01-07-2016 |
20160003884 | Residual Life Measuring Device for Transformer - The present invention provides a residual life measuring device for transformer. When using this residual life measuring device to measure a residual life of a transformer, a phase cable of the power transformer is inserted into and passed through a sensing channel of a Hall effect module, and then the phase current of the phase cable is calculated by a process module immediately; meanwhile, the process module is able to further calculate a residual life of the transformer based on the obtained phase current. This residual life measuring device provides a user without having engineering backgrounds to measure the residual life of the power transformer by himself; therefore, according to the measured residual life, the user can determine whether the currently used power transformer needs to be replaced with a new one or not, without completing any complex analysis of the dissolved gas concentration in the insulating oil. | 01-07-2016 |
20160010628 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING LIFE OF A WIND TURBINE | 01-14-2016 |
20160010977 | CHAIN WEAR MONITORING DEVICE | 01-14-2016 |
20160011076 | METHOD, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT & SYSTEM | 01-14-2016 |
20160016574 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A BRAKE SYSTEM - Systems and methods are described for monitoring the brake performance of a vehicle. A modeled deceleration of the vehicle may be calculated based on a master cylinder pressure of the vehicle brake system. The modeled deceleration may be compared to a measured deceleration of the vehicle. A notification may be initiated when a difference between the modeled deceleration and the measured deceleration exceeds a threshold. | 01-21-2016 |
20160018362 | TOTAL INTEGRATED TUBE ANALYSIS - The invention relates to improved systems and methods for inspecting the tubes of a steam generator of a nuclear reactor that involves modeling the steam generator, comparing signals of a tube from an eddy current sensor with aspects of the model to determine whether further analysis is required, employing primary and secondary analysis processes, and producing a combined report of the primary and secondary analyses results. | 01-21-2016 |
20160033368 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ANALYZING TIRE TREAD PARAMETERS - Systems and methods for analyzing tire tread data to assess tire tread parameters, such as irregular wear characteristics of a tire tread, are provided. More particularly, an automated and robust flattening process c be performed to transform tire tread data, such as a tread surface map, into flattened tire tread data. The flattened tire tread data can provide tread heights defined in a measurement direction that is normal to the surface of the tire tread, as opposed to parallel to a radial axis of the tire. The flattened tread data can be analyzed to assess one or more parameters of the tread of the tire. For instance, local height indicators for the flattened tread data can be determined using a local maximum as a reference. Because the local height indicators are relative heights determined from a local maximum, quantification of tread depth can be more easily obtained. | 02-04-2016 |
20160048810 | EXTRACTING METHOD, RECOMMENDING METHOD, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DECISION SUPPORT ON ROAD REPAIR METHOD - A method for extracting a road construction method executed by a computer as a process includes acquiring measured data of a volume of traffic on a specific road surface when extracting a candidate of a road construction method to be applied to the specific road surface out of a plurality of road construction methods including at least repair work from a foundation of a road and repair work of a surface layer of a road, and extracting the candidate of a road construction method to be applied to the specific road surface based on the acquired measured data. | 02-18-2016 |
20160054381 | FUNCTIONAL ELECTRONICS MODULE, OPERATING METHOD FOR A FUNCTIONAL ELECTRONICS MODULE AND SYSTEM HAVING A FUNCTIONAL ELECTRONICS MODULE - An operating method is provided for a functional electronics module for autonomous signal processing. The module is suitable for assembly on a mounting rail and has at least one input and/or at least one output. According to the method, a signal is received at the at least one input and the signal is autonomously processed. A signal is emitted to the output. The signal received at the input and/or emitted at the output is detected and emitted in digital form via a first interface via a communication module of the functional electronics module. A service life of a system component is determined based on the signal received at the input and/or emitted at the output. The service life may also be determined based on measured operating parameters of the functional electronics module A functional electronics module suitable for carrying out the method and a system including at least one such functional electronics module and one gateway are also provided. | 02-25-2016 |
20160076972 | METHOD OF ANALYZING BONDED PART DURABILITY TEST RESULT DATA - A method of analyzing bonded part durability test result data provides a guide line for how much the thickness of a steel sheet forming a bonded part may be decreased while maintaining original equivalent durability of the bonded part. The method includes steps of: calculating a reference durability lifespan approximation function capable of estimating a durability lifespan value of a bonded part using a thickness value of at least one of two steel sheets; calculating a target durability lifespan approximation function capable of estimating the durability lifespan value of the bonded part; calculating an inverse function of the target durability lifespan approximation function capable of deriving a thickness value of the at least one steel sheet; and calculating any target steel sheet thickness value by substituting any target lifespan value into the inverse function of the target durability lifespan approximation function. | 03-17-2016 |
20160076976 | Automated Prognostics Systems and Methods - An automated prognostics system includes a sensor system configured to obtain measurement data by monitoring one or more parameters at one or more locations on each of one or more movable components of an object when the object is subjected to a first mode of operation. The system also includes a computing device having an input interface and a processor. The input interface receives input information such as spatial coordinates information associated with the one or more locations, the measurement data obtained by the sensor system, operational data associated with the first mode of operation, and structural data associated with the object. The processor processes the input information and generates a prognostics report on at least a first component of the one or more movable components, the prognostics report including at least one of a failure prognostic or a likelihood-of-failure prognostic of the first component. | 03-17-2016 |
20160085724 | LIFE TIME ESTIMATION DEVICE AND METHOD - A life time estimation device according to an embodiment includes a benchmark work amount calculator, an assumed work amount calculator, an assumed load coefficient calculator, an assumed environment coefficient calculator, and an assumed life time calculator. The benchmark work amount calculator calculates a benchmark work amount of a target apparatus based on a design condition. The assumed work amount calculator calculates an assumed work amount of the target apparatus based on a load condition. The assumed load coefficient calculator calculates an assumed load coefficient indicating a degree of an operation load on the target apparatus based on the benchmark work amount and the assumed work amount. The assumed environment coefficient calculator calculates an assumed environment coefficient based on an environmental condition. The assumed life time calculator calculates an assumed life time of the target apparatus based on the assumed load coefficient and the assumed environment coefficient. | 03-24-2016 |
20160091393 | Computer-Implemented Method And System For Machine Tool Damage Assessment, Prediction, And Planning In Manufacturing Shop Floor - A self-aware machine platform is implemented through analyzing operational data of machining tools to achieve machine tool damage assessment, prediction and planning in manufacturing shop floor. Machining processes are first identified by matching similar processes through an ICP algorithm. Machining processes are further clustered by Hotelling's T-squared statistics. Degradation of the machining tool is detected through a trend of the operational data within a cluster of machining processes by a monotonicity test, and the remaining useful life of the machining tool is predicted through a particle filter by extrapolating the trend under a first-order Markov process. In addition, process anomalies across machines are detected through a combination of outlier detection methods including SOMs, multivariate regression, and robust Mahalanobis distance. Warnings and recommendations are flexibly provided to manufacturing shop floor based on policy choice. | 03-31-2016 |
20160097699 | ESTIMATING REMAINING USAGE OF A COMPONENT OR DEVICE - Disclosed are a system, a computer-readable storage medium storing at least one program, and a computer-implemented method of remaining use estimation. An interface module receives measurement data indicative of a level of usage of an apparatus. A filter engine, based on first model data, generates a first value indicative of a probability that the RU of the apparatus reached a threshold RU value. The filter engine, based on second model data, generates a second value indicative of a probability of the received measurement data given that the RU of the apparatus reached the threshold RU value. The filter engine, based on the first and second values, generates output data that is indicative of a probability that the RU of the apparatus reached the threshold RU value. | 04-07-2016 |
20160109325 | METHOD FOR CALCULATING DAMPING BASED ON FLUID INERTIA EFFECT AND FATIGUE TEST METHOD AND APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A method for calculating damping based on a fluid inertia effect is provided. Also, a fatigue test method and apparatus using the damping calculation method are provided. According to an embodiment, in a resonance fatigue test method for a test article, a processor of the apparatus calculates a damping ratio by considering an air inertia damping caused by a delayed response of air flow development among a fluid inertia effect on an oscillation of the test article. Then the processor constructs a damping model for predicting at least one of an amplitude of the test article and a test bending moment, based on the calculated damping ratio, and performs a resonance fatigue test based on the constructed damping model. | 04-21-2016 |
20160116368 | METHOD FOR APPROXIMATING REMAINING LIFETIME OF ACTIVE DEVICES - A method of calculating an effective age of an active optical cable including a fiber optic cable, at least one optical transducer, a first memory, and a second memory includes, during regular intervals that are divided into regular subintervals and after each of the regular subintervals, sensing an operational parameter of the active optical cable and recording in the second memory a value corresponding to a sensed operational parameter; after each of the regular intervals, storing in the first memory the values recorded in the second memory; and calculating the effective age of the active optical cable based on the values stored in the first memory. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116375 | FAILURE PREDICTION APPARATUS AND FAILURE PREDICTION SYSTEM - A failure prediction apparatus includes a state feature amount acquisition unit that acquires plural state feature amounts indicating features of an operating state of an apparatus to be monitored, a statistic acquisition unit that acquires statistics of an environmental physical amount indicating an installation environment of the apparatus to be monitored for a specific period, and a calculation unit that acquires a selection condition corresponding to the statistics acquired by the statistic acquisition unit among plural selection conditions, and calculates probability of a failure occurring in the apparatus to be monitored, using the state feature amount satisfying the acquired selection condition, wherein the plural selection conditions are predetermined for each category of the statistics, and are conditions for selecting each of the state feature amounts required to calculate the probability of the failure occurring in the apparatus to be monitored. | 04-28-2016 |
20160116392 | System and Method for Estimating Remaining Useful Life of a Filter - A method for estimating a remaining useful life of a filter is provided. The method includes determining, at a processor of a machine, a scaled delta pressure of the filter in the machine based on an input from a plurality of sensors. The method includes determining a plugging parameter of the filter based upon a non-linear relationship between the scaled delta pressure and the plugging parameter of the filter. The method includes estimating the remaining useful life of the filter at a time instant based upon a contamination rate estimate, the contamination rate estimate being determined based upon the determined plugging parameter. The method includes controlling, using a signal, a flow of a fluid entering the filter based on the plugging parameter, and outputting the estimated remaining useful life of the filter on a display. | 04-28-2016 |
20160123864 | Method for Extending the Time Between Out-of-Service, In-Tank Inspections Using Ultrasonic Sensor - A method and apparatuses to extend the time interval between out-of-service, in-tank inspections while insuring structural integrity using a risk-based, Bayesian statistical approach comprised of a passing leak detection test and the using the results from (1) tank floor thickness measurements, (2) prior out-of-service tank floor inspection results, and/or (3) acoustic emission corrosion maps of the tank floor to estimate the minimum thickness and maximum corrosion rate of the tank during the extension period. The present invention uses an in-tank, mass-based leak detection system to establish tank integrity, three or more ultrasonic (UT) thickness measurement sensors for measurements of the tank floor at one location, and to establish the spatial distribution of corrosion of the tank floor, one or more prior API 653/12R1 or STI SP001 tank floor thickness inspections and/or three or more in-tank AE sensors mounted inside the tank with vertical and horizontal locations in an oblique plane relative to the tank floor. | 05-05-2016 |
20160131599 | METHOD OF EVALUATING RELIABLE LIFE SPAN OF ENCAPSULANT FILM AND DEVICE FOR EVALUATING RELIABILITY OF SAID FILM - There are provided a method of evaluating a reliable lifespan of an encapsulant film and a device for evaluating reliability of the film. The present application may provide a film that may be provided for an evaluation method in which reliability of an encapsulant film is simply and easily evaluated only by measuring a haze immediately before the encapsulant film is used, a failure of a product is determined and reliability may be predicted. | 05-12-2016 |
20160132050 | ASSEMBLY FOR ESTIMATING THE SERVICE LIFE OF AN ELECTRIC MOTOR - An electronically commutated motor ( | 05-12-2016 |
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