Time-saving and error-minimizing multiscopic hydraulic system design canvas

• US 10,402,504 B1
• Filed: 12/10/2014
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enovation Controls, LLC (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enovation Controls, LLC (Helios Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Guglielmo, Kennon, Peterson, Eric, Conyers, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Andy
• Application Number:
  US14/566,703
• Time in Patent Office: 1,728 Days
• Field of Search: 703 1, 707705, 709217, 709219, 715700, 715733
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 1/02 Hydraulic models towing tanks or basins for model vessels B63B71/20
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]

Abstract

An automated design system for facilitating intelligent design of electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems. The automated design system utilizes one or more servers and one or more processors for accessing design information related to the hydraulic systems. The design system also includes a display device which provides an interface, an input device and a software program which allow a user to select various design characteristics related to a product design. The automated design system also provides text-based and graphical outputs pertaining to a product design.

Claims

1. An automated design system for facilitating intelligent design and coordinating the generation of design documentation for electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems, said automated design system comprising:

(a) a local server configured for providing access to operational application software as well as database information pertaining to the design characteristics of said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems;

(b) a local processor configured in electronic communication with said local server, said local processor being configured for receiving said database information and executable aspects of said operational application software from said local server and said local processor being programmed to execute said executable aspects when prompted to do so by an operational user, retrieving said database information as well as said executable aspects from said local server;

(c) a display device associated with said local processor for graphically displaying a plurality of design options correlating to a design template or canvas for the design of said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems;

(d) a data input device associated with said local processor for accepting a plurality of design parameters related to the design options entered by said operational user;

(e) a pointing device associated with said local processor being configured to assist said operational user to input said plurality of design parameters;

(f) a software program including executable code written to enable said operational user to design said electromechanically controlled hydraulic system in a work session of less than one work-day in duration;

(g) said software program being adapted to interface with said data input device to enable said operational user to select appropriate functional components of said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems from a plurality of drop-down menus in a menu-based display, said menus being pre-programmed from templates standardized according to specific component characteristics, and said functional components including a first grouping, a second grouping and a third grouping of functional components, said first grouping including identification of functional components that serve as hydraulic controllers, said second grouping including identification of functional components that serve as input devices, and said third grouping including identification of functional components that serve as hydraulic actuators;

(h) said software program being adapted to interface with a graphic user interface to graphically display the current progress in the design process by characteristically displaying selected functional components from the first grouping in a central graphical orientation, selected functional components from the second grouping in a first lateral direction linked to a corresponding one of said first grouping, selected functional components from the third grouping in a second lateral direction linked to a corresponding one of said first grouping;

(i) a first output device being configured for providing a plurality of text-based documents pertaining to said design characteristics of said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems; and

(j) a second output device configured for providing a plurality of graphical representations pertaining to said design characteristics of said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems.

2. The automated design system as in claim 1, wherein said automated design system further comprises:

(a) a main server configured in electronic communication with said local server;

(b) a database server configured in electronic communication with said main server as well with said local server, wherein said database server is programmed for building and storing said templates and said database information relating to various aspects and components of said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems; and

(c) a data input station comprising said local processor configured in electronic communication with said database server, and whereby a data input operator inputs information into said local processor for building said templates correlating to various components of said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems.

3. The automated design system as in claim 1, wherein said automated design system further comprises:

(a) a display screen preferably including a design canvas and a drop-down menu screen;

(b) said design canvas being adapted for allowing said operational user to insert and assemble a plurality of functional/operational components and elements pertaining to the design of said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems; and

(c) said drop-down menu screen being adapted to present said plurality of drop-down menus allowing said operational user to create and edit files relating to the design of said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems utilizing said plurality of drop-down menus by selecting functional/operational components and elements specific to the design requirements of said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems, to evaluate the design inputs for errors which may be present based on the design input, as well as to generate a plurality of documents, diagrams and instruction specific to said electromechanically controlled hydraulic systems as configured.

4. The automated design system as in claim 3, wherein said functional/operational components include, but are not limited to, one or more processors, one or more manual controllers, a hydraulic controller, and one or more hydraulic actuators.

5. The automated design system as in claim 4, wherein said one or more manual controllers comprise a joystick.

6. The automated design system as in claim 4, wherein said hydraulic controller and said one or more hydraulic actuators comprise a single integrated functional/operational component.

7. The automated design system as in claim 3, wherein said plurality of drop-down menus include, but are not limited to:

(a) a file menu to create a new digital design file(s), to select and modify a previously created and saved digital design file(s), or to save an in-progress or completed digital design file(s);

(b) an edit menu allowing said operational user to add or remove functional components and/or their connections according to specific design requirements, and if said function components and/or connections need to be duplicated or removed, said edit menu provides copy, paste and cut functions so as to modify existing design canvas configurations;

(c) an evaluation menu primarily associated with a check for errors in any of the combinations of said functional components and their connections;

(d) a generate derivatives menu for viewing digital copies of a plurality of end-product documents related to a specific design project or producing printed copies thereof.

8. The automated design system as in claim 7, wherein said plurality of end-product documents may include, by not be limited to, a bill materials, assembly drawings, wiring diagrams, work instructions, routings, and quality control instructions.

9. The automated design system as in claim 1, wherein said first output device comprises a standard printer being adapted for producing as output text-based documents, and wherein said second output device comprises a graphics plotting printer being adapted for producing as output graphical documents such as diagrams, schematics, drawings, and the like.

10. The automated design system as in claim 1, wherein said software program includes executable code written to enable said operational user to design said electromechanically controlled hydraulic system in a work session of less than one hour in duration.

11. The automated design system as in claim 1, wherein said software program includes executable code written to enable said operational user to design said electromechanically controlled hydraulic system in a single uninterrupted sitting.