Machine fault information detection and reporting
First Claim
1. A plant system including a communication system connected between a system processor and a plurality of machines comprising:
- a plurality of sensors for detecting parameters from the machines and producing parameter signals corresponding to the detected machine parameters;
a plurality of local processors for receiving the parameter signals, each local processor being associated with a subset of the machines and a corresponding subset of sensors, each local processor receiving the parameter signals from the subset of sensors with which the local processor is associated;
each local processor being programmed with a plurality of inference rules and being programmed to perform a logic operation based on the parameter signals and the plurality of the inference rules to determine fault information for each machine;
a system processor;
a communication port for connecting the local processors through the communication system to the system processor for transmitting at least the fault information to the system processor from the local processors; and
each local processor being programmed for transmitting fault information to the system processor, whereby the system processor may receive fault information for each machine.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Sensors detect machine parameters such as vibration, turning speed, and temperature, and a local processor performs logic operations based on the parameters and inference rules to produce fault information that is reported to a system processor, which selectively uses the fault information to control the plant machines. The inference rules include rules for determining faults as to balance, alignment, bearing condition, electrical condition, and cavitation. The inference rules are contained in rules code that is separate from the analysis code that performs the logical operations. Thus, the inference rules may be easily changed without changing other code, such as the analysis code.
257 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A plant system including a communication system connected between a system processor and a plurality of machines comprising:
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a plurality of sensors for detecting parameters from the machines and producing parameter signals corresponding to the detected machine parameters;
a plurality of local processors for receiving the parameter signals, each local processor being associated with a subset of the machines and a corresponding subset of sensors, each local processor receiving the parameter signals from the subset of sensors with which the local processor is associated;
each local processor being programmed with a plurality of inference rules and being programmed to perform a logic operation based on the parameter signals and the plurality of the inference rules to determine fault information for each machine;
a system processor;
a communication port for connecting the local processors through the communication system to the system processor for transmitting at least the fault information to the system processor from the local processors; and
each local processor being programmed for transmitting fault information to the system processor, whereby the system processor may receive fault information for each machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification