Hose Assembly Analysis Apparatus and Methods

• US 20080059082A1
• Filed: 03/18/2005
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Australasian Steel Products Pty Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Australasian Steel Products Pty Ltd.
• Inventors: Morrison, Leigh
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202

Abstract

An in-situ lifespan is predicted for a hydaulic or pneumatic hose assembly for a particular installation, so that the hose assembly may be replaced before failure. A user of the apparatus, e.g. whilst on-site, is prompted to enter basic hose data together with a rating for a number of lifespan factors. The apparatus then determines a basic hose assembly lifespan based on the input hose data, and modifies the basic lifespan based on the ratings for the various lifespan factors. A hose assembly grading system is also described.

Claims

1. A hose assembly analysis apparatus for estimating an in situ lifespan of a hydraulic or pneumatic hose assembly in an installation, the apparatus including:

means for receiving hose assembly data;

means for displaying a plurality of lifespan factors that are to be rated;

means for receiving ratings data for each of the lifespan factors for the installation;

lifespan calculation means for calculating an estimated hose assembly lifespan based on the received hose assembly data and the received ratings data; and

means for indicating an estimated lifespan for the hose assembly based on the calculated lifespan.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lifespan calculation means determines a basic hose assembly lifespan and modifies the basic lifespan based upon the ratings for the lifespan factors.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lifespan factors include one or more of:

factors relating to a hose of the hose assembly;

factors relating to couplings of the hose assembly;

factors relating to the conveyed fluid;

factors relating to the surrounding working environment; and

factors relating to the installation configuration of the hose assembly.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hose assembly input data includes hose ratings data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the hose assembly data includes one or more of a hose shelf life, a maximum (lifetime) number of impulse cycles, a maximum working pressure, a working temperature, and a hose type.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lifespan calculation means determines an impulse lifespan based upon the wear caused by pressure pulses in the conveyed hydraulic or pneumatic fluid.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lifespan calculation means determines a basic lifespan for the impulse lifespan based upon an impulse cycle rating of the hose of the hose assembly, and modifies the basic lifespan by said lifespan factors.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said impulse lifespan is determined by impulse lifespan factors that include one or more of:

a hose bend radius at the hose couplings, hose flexure at the couplings, and transient pulse characteristics for the conveyed fluid in the installation.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lifespan calculation means determines a service lifespan based upon wear caused by environmental and installation configuration factors.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lifespan calculation means determines a basic lifespan for the service lifespan based on a shelf life of the hose, and modifies the basic lifespan based upon said lifespan factors.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said service lifespan is determined by service lifespan factors that include one or more of:

surrounding working temperature, working pressure characteristics, abrasion characteristics, working environment characteristics, cover protection, bend radius of hose, mechanical loading characteristics, and routing characteristics.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the lifespan calculation means determines a hose assembly lifespan based upon both the impulse lifespan and the service lifespan.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lifespan calculation means determines the hose assembly lifespan based upon a minimum of the impulse lifespan and the service lifespan.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein lifespan factors are rated in accordance with a discrete range of values.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plurality of lifespan factors are determined according to the same discrete range of values.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein lifespan factors are rated according to a classification of nil, light, moderate, constant, severe, acute, extreme and destructive.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus determines an optimum hose assembly for a particular installation and desired lifespan by determining said lifespan for a number of hose assemblies, and determining which hose assemblies provide the desired lifespan.

18. An inspection system including the apparatus of claim 1, in which an inspector inspects an installed hose assembly, grades the hose assembly into one of a discrete number of grades, a first grade indicating that the hose assembly is fit for purpose, a second grade indicating that the hose assembly should be replaced at the first available opportunity, and a third grade indicating that the hose assembly should be replaced immediately.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the hose assembly is given the second grade when the estimated hose assembly lifespan is reached.

20. Computer software for estimating an in situ lifespan for a hydraulic or pneumatic hose assembly in an installation, the software including:

an input component for receiving hose assembly data;

a lifespan factors component for displaying a number of lifespan factors that are to be rated;

a ratings, component for receiving ratings data for each of the lifespan factors for the installation;

a lifespan calculation component for calculating an estimated hose assembly lifespan based on the received hose assembly data and the received ratings data; and

a component for indicating an estimated lifespan for the hose assembly based on the calculated lifespan.

21. A computer software product including a data storage medium on which is stored software according to claim 20.

22. A method of estimating an in situ lifespan of a hydraulic or pneumatic hose assembly in an installation, the method including the steps of:

determining a set of hose assembly rating data;

determining a set of lifespan factors that are to be rated;

rating each of the lifespan factors for the installation and the hose assembly;

calculating an estimated hose assembly lifespan based on the hose assembly data and the ratings for the lifespan factors; and

indicating an estimated lifespan for the hose assembly based on the calculated lifespan.

23. A hydraulic or pneumatic hose assembly analysis apparatus for determining an estimated in situ lifespan of a hose assembly in a particular environment, the apparatus including:

input means for receiving hose assembly data;

means for determining a basic lifespan for a hose assembly based on the hose assembly data;

means for displaying a number of installation, operational and/or environmental lifespan factors that are to be rated;

input means for receiving ratings data for each of the lifespan factors;

means for modifying the basic lifespan based on the inputted ratings for the lifespan factors; and

means for indicating an estimated lifespan for the hose assembly based on the modified basic lifespan.

24. A hydraulic or pneumatic hose assembly grading system, in which a hose assembly is inspected to determine both the visual state of the hose of the hose assembly and the visual state of each of the hose couplings of the hose assembly, wherein the hose and each of the couplings are each assigned a fitness grade in a discrete fitness grading system, wherein the grading system includes a first grade indicating that a component need not be replaced, a second grade indicating that a component should be replaced at the next available opportunity, and a third grade indicating that a component should be replaced immediately, and wherein the hose assembly is assigned the third grade if any of the hose or couplings is assigned the third grade, is assigned the second grade if any of the hose or couplings receives the second grade and none receives the third grade, and otherwise receives the first grade.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the lifespan of the hose assembly is estimated in accordance with a method of estimating an in situ lifespan of a hydraulic or pneumatic hose assembly in an installation, the method including the steps of:

determining a set of hose assembly rating data;

determining a set of lifespan factors that are to be rated;

rating each of the lifespan factors for the installation and the hose assembly;

calculating an estimated hose assembly lifespan based on the hose assembly data and the ratings for the lifespan factors; and

indicating an estimated lifespan for the hose assembly based on the calculated lifespan and wherein the hose assembly is given said second grade when said estimated lifespan is reached.

26. Hose assembly grading apparatus for determining the fitness for purpose of a hose assembly in situ, the apparatus including:

means for indicating a number of discrete grades of fitness for purpose into which the hose assembly may be graded;

means for receiving a grade for a hose of the hose assembly;

means for receiving a grade for each of the hose couplings of the hose assembly;

means for determining the worst fitness for purpose grade of the received grades;

means for grading the hose assembly with the worst determined fitness for purpose grade;

means for displaying the grade of the hose assembly.