SYSTEM FOR MONITORING PLANT EQUIPMENT
First Claim
1. A monitoring system for cement manufacturing, the system comprising:
- (a) a first cement manufacturing machine;
(b) at least a first sensor coupled to the first machine operably sensing a movement condition associated with a portion of the first machine;
(c) at least a second cement manufacturing machine located remotely from and performing a different manufacturing operation than the first machine;
(d) at least a second sensor coupled to the second machine operably sensing a movement condition associated with a portion of the second machine;
(e) a central computer operably receiving signals from the first and second sensors while being remotely located from the first and second machines; and
(f) software instructions used by the central computer to automatically perform substantially real-time calculations based at least in part on signals from the sensors to determine and report operating problems with sensed portions of the machines.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for monitoring plant equipment is provided. Another aspect provides an automated analysis system wherein software instructions operably compare sensor data to predefined valves and determine mechanical problems in multiple machines. In another aspect, a cement manufacturing system includes sensors for sensing movement conditions of cement making machines. A further aspect provides a central computer connected to vibration sensors associated with cement making machines, where software instructions perform real-time comparisons and machine performance determinations, based at least in part on sensed signals.
-
Citations
46 Claims
-
1. A monitoring system for cement manufacturing, the system comprising:
-
(a) a first cement manufacturing machine; (b) at least a first sensor coupled to the first machine operably sensing a movement condition associated with a portion of the first machine; (c) at least a second cement manufacturing machine located remotely from and performing a different manufacturing operation than the first machine; (d) at least a second sensor coupled to the second machine operably sensing a movement condition associated with a portion of the second machine; (e) a central computer operably receiving signals from the first and second sensors while being remotely located from the first and second machines; and (f) software instructions used by the central computer to automatically perform substantially real-time calculations based at least in part on signals from the sensors to determine and report operating problems with sensed portions of the machines. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A monitoring system for cement manufacturing, the system comprising:
-
(a) a kiln; (b) a crusher; (c) a separator; (d) a fan; (e) sensors detecting movement-related characteristics of the kiln, crusher, separator and fan; and (f) a central processing unit receiving substantially real-time and continuous signals from the sensors and using the signals to determine if any undesirable conditions are present with regard to the kiln, crusher, separator and fan, and to identify one or more likely causes of the undesirable conditions. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A monitoring system for a manufacturing plant, the system comprising:
-
(a) a first manufacturing machine component; (b) at least a first sensor operably sensing a movement condition associated with the first machine component; (c) at least a second manufacturing machine component; (d) at least a second sensor operably sensing a movement condition associated with the second machine component; (e) at least a first converter converting analog signals from the sensors to digital signals; (f) at least a second converter converting digital signals to analog signals; (g) at least one multiplexer connecting the first converter to the second converter to provide at least fifty channel data acquisition; and (h) a programmable controller calculating vibrational characteristics of the machine components based at least in part on the signals provided by the second converter. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
-
-
30. A monitoring system for cement manufacturing, the system comprising:
-
a clinker-making kiln comprising a rotatable hollow tube; a rotatable transmission rotating the tube; a motor rotating the transmission; a block supporting a section of the transmission; a bearing assembly located between the transmission and the block; a first set of sensors located adjacent to and operably sensing vibrations of at least one of;
(a) the tube, (b) the bearing assembly; and
(c) the transmission;a second set of non-contact sensors located adjacent the motor and operably sensing vibrations of at least one of;
(a) the motor and (b) the transmission; andcomputer instructions receiving signals from the sensors and automatically determining if an undesirable condition exists with the kiln. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
-
-
38. A computer program, stored in memory, comprising:
-
a set of instructions receiving substantially real-time vibration sensor data in cement making machinery; a set of instructions comparing the real-time sensor data to target sensor data; and a set of instructions automatically determining if an undesirable condition exists in the cement making machinery, and automatically identifying and reporting a potential cause of the undesirable condition based at least in part on the data comparison and determination. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
43. A method of using and monitoring machines to manufacture cement, the method comprising:
-
(a) moving a portion of a first machine; (b) detecting a characteristic associated with the movement of step (a); (c) moving a portion of a second machine remotely located relative to the first machine; (d) detecting a characteristic associated with the movement of step (c); (e) moving a portion of a third machine remotely located relative to the first and second machines; (f) detecting a characteristic associated with the movement of step (e); (g) making cement with the machines; and (h) substantially simultaneously using remotely located software instructions to automatically determine if an undesirable mechanical condition exists in the first, second and third machines based at least in part on the detected characteristics, and if so, automatically identifying a probable cause. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
-
Specification