Synthetic Redundancy Via Prognostics
First Claim
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1. A method for manufacturing equipment, comprising:
- identifying a redundant component;
replacing the redundant component with a single component;
determining a remaining useful life of the single component;
replacing the single component when the remaining useful life reaches a predetermined amount of time; and
calculating a statistical confidence level that the single component will be replaced prior to failure.
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Abstract
An manufacturing method that uses synthetic redundancy to optimize equipment reliability, performance, weight, and cost. The manufacturing method identifies critical components, that would ordinarily require a redundant component to meet reliability and safety requirements, and replaces them with a single, non-redundant component. Safety and reliability is maintained by using prognostic health management to replace the non-redundant critical component prior to its failure. Verification techniques are used to ensure reliability requirements are being met.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for manufacturing equipment, comprising:
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identifying a redundant component; replacing the redundant component with a single component; determining a remaining useful life of the single component; replacing the single component when the remaining useful life reaches a predetermined amount of time; and calculating a statistical confidence level that the single component will be replaced prior to failure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer readable medium that is readable by a computer, the computer readable medium comprising:
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determining a remaining useful life of a non-redundant critical component, the critical component being installed on a piece of equipment; ordering the replacement of the non-redundant critical component when the remaining useful life reaches a predetermined amount of time; and calculating a statistical confidence level that the non-redundant critical component will be replaced prior to failure. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer implemented method of manufacturing a piece of equipment, the method comprising:
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(a) identifying a critical component on a piece of equipment; (b) building the piece of equipment, wherein the piece of equipment does not have a redundant component for the critical component; (b) creating an algorithm that estimates a remaining useful life of the critical component; (c) determining a maximum allowable failure rate for the critical component; (d) replacing the critical component when the remaining useful life reaches a predetermined amount; (e) determining an actual failure rate from the number of the critical components that fail prior to replacement and the number of the critical components that are replaced; and (f) using the algorithm so long as the actual failure rate does not exceed the maximum allowable failure rate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification