Apparatus and method for compiling and recording operating data on equipment

• US 3,878,371 A
• Filed: 02/07/1973
• Issued: 04/15/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry E. Burke
• Original Assignee: Harry E. Burke
• Inventors: Burke, Harry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thesz, Jr., Joseph M.
• Application Number:
  US05/330,246
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 235/92T,92EA,92CC,92MT,92PD,92NT,92CM,61.11R 324/94
• US Class Current: 377/38
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/12 in graphical form

Abstract

A recorder for mounting on a piece of equipment for recording data representative of one or more operating parameters of the piece of equipment. The recorder includes a relatively uncomplex pulse counting system which only counts the pulses that indicate variations in the operating parameter. The identity of the piece of equipment and of the operating parameter, which do not vary, is encoded on a machine readable indicia bearing member on the exterior of the recorder. In using the recorder and practicing the method, both the contents of the pulse counter and the identifying indicia are extracted and stored in data processing equipment in which information on which to base decisions regarding the piece of equipment is generated.

Claims

1. Apparatus for compiling and recording operating data of a plurality of different operating parameters of a piece of equipment, a first said parameter being duration of operation of a function of said equipment, a second said parameter being the number of times an operation of a function of said equipment occurs, the piece of equipment including a plurality of transducers corresponding to each of said parameters for generating electric pulses each time each of said operating parameter operates, said apparatus comprising a casing having an outer surface and a central cavity and being adapted for removable mounting on the piece of equipment, means on the outer surface of said casing for positioning a computer punch card punched to identify the piece of equipment and each of said operating parameters, means disposed within said cavity comprising a plurality of channels, each said channel having a circuit for counting and storing pulses from one of said transducers, said casing having a plurality of externally accessible terminals for effecting inter-connections between said counting means and said transducers so that said casing can be periodically removed from the piece of equipment to permit readout into a computer of the indicia on said punch card and said terminals further being interconnectable with computer readout means and each said channel having means to effect readout by said computer readout means of each of the numbers stored in each of said counting means, at least one said pulse counting and storing means comprising an AND gate having at least first and second input terminals and an output terminal, one of said transducers being connected to said first input terminal, a clock pulse generator connected to said second input terminal, and a counter connected to said second input terminal, and a counter connected to said output terminal so that the contents of said counter is representative of the time duration that the parameter operates.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said pulse storing and counting means comprises a plurality of binary elements arranged in cascade to form a binary pulse counter.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pulse storing and counting means comprises at least one cell having first and second electrodes formed of dissimilar materials and being adapted to transfer the material of said first electrode to said second electrode at a predetermined rate in response to current flow between said electrodes.

4. Apparatus for compiling and recording operating data of a plurality of different operating parameters of a piece of equipment, a first said parameter being duration of operation of a function of said equipment, a second said parameter being the number of times an operation of a function of said equipment occurs, the piece of equipment including a plurality of transducers corresponding to each of said parameters for generating electric pulses each time each of said operating parameter operates, said apparatus comprising a casing having an outer surface and a central cavity and being adapted for removable mounting on the piece of equipment, means on the outer surface of said casing for positioning a computer punch card punched to identify the piece of equipment and each of said operating parameters, means disposed within said cavity comprising a plurality of channels, each said channel having a circuit for counting and storing pulses from one of said transducers, said casing having a plurality of externally accessible terminals for effecting inter-connections between said counting means and said transducers so that said casing can be periodically removed from the piece of equipment to permit rEadout into a computer of the indicia on said punch card and said terminals further being interconnectable with computer readout means and each said channel having means to effect readout by said computer readout means of each of the numbers stored in each of said counting means, a pair of parallelly spaced apart side members, said side members defining confronting pairs of upper and lower slots, opposed edges of said punch card fitting within said upper slots, a circuit board disposed in said lower slots said circuit board carrying said pulse storing and counting means, a pair of end caps spanning opposite ends of said side members and supporting said side members in operative relation, at least one of said end caps being removable to afford access to said circuit board and the means carried thereby, said punch card being readable without removal from said casing, a connector socket disposed in one of said end caps and having a plurality of electric terminals affording the sole connection to said pulse storing and counting means.