Process control system prover

• US 4,403,297 A
• Filed: 01/02/1981
• Issued: 09/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Loveland Controls Co. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Loveland Controls Co. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Tivy, Vincent V.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/222,280
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 364/579, 364/580, 364/481, 324/73 R
• US Class Current: 702/122
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/0408 Test fixtures or contact fields; Connectors or connecting adaptors; Test clips; Test sockets G01R1/067 takes precedence; mass production testing systems G01R31/59; testing of connections G01R31/66; for testing printed circuit boards G01R31/2808
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0229 knowledge based, e.g. expert systems; genetic algorithms

Abstract

An automated process control prover system for (1) performing tasks, including tests, at the circuit loop termination on a termination base located between interconnected control room instrumentation and field equipment, (2) for performing tasks, including tests, to the circuit loop terminations at the control room instrumentation and field equipment locations and (3) for calibration of the field equipment. The prover system includes an improved termination base for allowing selective access to a predetermined number of the circuit loop terminations, a multiplexer for providing the selective access to one of the circuit loop terminations, and a computer for performing the tasks at the termination base. The prover system further includes a portable calibrator for interconnection to the circuit loop terminations at the control room instrumentation and at the field equipment locations which provides a calibration condition to a selected piece of field equipment, wire identification and two-way communication with the multiplexer located at the termination base.

Claims

1. A prover system for a plurality of control room instruments, a plurality of remotely located field equipment, said field equipment including measuring devices, actuators, and controllers, and a termination base;

each of said field equipment being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, each of said control room instruments being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, said field equipment terminals and said control room instrumentation terminals being interconnected with each other at said termination base so that an electrical circuit is established between a given piece of field equipment and an associated control room instrument, said prover system comprising;

means connected to a predetermined number of control room instrumentation and field equipment loops at said termination base for outputting connections to the control room instrumentation terminals and to the field equipment terminals of each of said predetermined number of loops,

first means removably mating said output means for providing an electrical connection for each of said predetermined number of loops so that the control room instrumentation terminals and the field equipment terminals are interconnected to preserve said electrical circuits when said first mating means engages said output means, said electrical circuits being disconnected when said first mating means is removed,

second means removably mating said output means for extending the electrical connections from said control room instrumentation terminals and said field equipment terminals for each of said predetermined number of loops when said second mating means engages said output means,

means receptive of said extended electrical connections for selectively providing access to one of said predetermined number of control room instrumentation and field equipment loops,

means interconnected with said providing means for selectively applying at least one measurement test to said one loop, and

means interconnected with said providing means and said applying means for controlling said selective provision of access to said one loop and for controlling the application of said at least one measurement test.

2. The prover system of claim 1 further comprising portable means for removably connecting to the other end of said one loop at said remote location, said portable connecting means being capable of applying at least one measurement test to said one loop.

3. The prover system of claim 2 wherein said portable connecting means and said controlling means are capable of two-way communication.

4. The prover system of claim 3 wherein said portable connecting means and said controlling means are capable of two-way communication over said one loop.

5. The prover system of claim 2 wherein said portable connecting means further comprises means for generating a calibration condition to the measuring device in the field equipment connected to said one loop, the aforesaid field equipment producing a signal on said one loop for transmittal to said field equipment terminals and for diversion through said extending means to said controlling means, said controlling means being capable of evaluating said transmitted signal for accuracy and for communicating calibration information to said portable connecting means.

6. The prover system of claim 1 further comprising:

second means connected to said predetermined number of loops at said termination base for outputting the connections to said control room instrumentation terminals and said field equipment terminals, and

means removably coupling with said second output means for providing a second electrical circuit for each of said predetermined number of loops so that the control room instrumentation terminals and the field equipment terminals of said loops are interconnected when said second mating means engages said second output means and are disconnected when said second mating means is removed, said applying means being capable of selectively applying said at least one measurement test when said second means engages said first output means and when said coupling means engages said second output means.

7. A prover system for a plurality of control room instruments, a plurality of remotely located field equipment, said field equipment including measuring devices, actuators, and controllers, and a termination base;

each of said field equipment being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, each of said control room instruments being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, said field equipment terminals and said control room instrumentation terminals being interconnected with each other at said termination base so that an electrical circuit is established between a given piece of field equipment and an associated control room instrument, said prover system comprising;

first means connected to a predetermined number of control room instrumentation and field equipment loops at said termination base for outputting connections to the control room instrumentation terminals and the field equipment terminals of each of said predetermined number of loops,

second means connected to said predetermined number of loops at said termination base for outputting the connections for said control room instrumentation terminals and said field equipment terminals of each of said predetermined number of loops,

first means removably mating said first output means for providing an electrical connection for each of said predetermined number of loops so that the control room instrumentation terminals and the field equipment terminals are interconnected to preserve said electrical circuits when said first mating means engages said first output means, said electrical circuits being disconnected when said first mating means is removed,

second means removably mating said first output means for extending the electrical connections for said control room instrumentation terminals and said field equipment terminals for each of said predetermined number of loops when said second mating means engages said first output means,

means removably coupling with said second output means for providing a second electrical circuit for each of said predetermined number of loops so that the control room instrumentation terminals and the field equipment terminals for each of said predetermined number of loops are interconnected when said second mating means engages said second output means and are disconnected when said second mating means is removed,

means receptive of said extended electrical connections for selectively providing access to one of said loops,

means interconnected with said providing means for selectively applying at least one measurement test to said one loop,

means interconnected with said providing means and said applying means for controlling said selective provision of access to said one loop and for controlling the application of said at least one measurement test,

portable means for removably connecting to the other end of said one loop at said remote location, said portable connecting means being capable of applying at least one measurement test to said one loop, said portable connecting means and said controlling means being capable of two-way communication, and

means in said portable connecting means for generating a calibration condition to the measuring device in the field equipment connected to said one loop, the aforesaid field equipment producing a signal on said one loop for transmittal to said field equipment terminals and for diversion through said extending means to said controlling means, said controlling means being capable of evaluating said transmitted signal for accuracy and for communicating calibration information to said portable connecting means.

8. The prover system of claim 7 wherein said portable connecting means further comprises means for generating a calibration condition to the measuring device in the field equipment connected to said one loop, the aforesaid field equipment producing a signal on said one loop for transmittal to said field equipment and for diversion through said extending means into said controlling means, said controlling means being capable of evaluating said transmitted signal for accuracy and for communicating calibration information to said portable connecting means.

9. The prover system of claim 8 wherein said portable connecting means further comprises:

means connected to said generating means for sensing said calibration condition and for producing a standard calibration signal, and

means for communicating said standard calibration signal to said controlling means, said controlling means being capable of comparing said standard calibration signal to said signal from said connected field equipment and for generating said calibration information to said portable connecting means.

10. A prover system for a plurality of control room instruments, a plurality of remotely located field equipment, said field equipment including measuring devices, actuators, and controllers, and a termination base;

each of said field equipment being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, each of said control room instruments being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, said field equipment terminals and said control room instrumentation terminals being interconnected with each other at said termination base so that an electrical circuit is established between a given piece of field equipment and an associated control room instrument, said prover system comprising;

means removably mating with a predetermined number of said control room instrumentation and field equipment loops at said termination base for extending electrical connections to the control room instrumentation terminals and to the field equipment terminals of each of said predetermined number of loops,

means receptive of said extended electrical connections for selectively providing access to one of said predetermined number of control room instrumentation and field equipment loops,

means interconnected with said providing means for selectively applying at least one measurement test to said control room instrumentation terminals and said field equipment terminals of said one loop,

means interconnected with said providing means and said applying means for controlling said selection of said one loop and for controlling the application of said at least one measurement test, and

portable means for removably connecting to the other end of said one loop at said remote location, said portable connecting means being capable of applying at least one measurement test to said one loop.

11. The prover system of claim 10 wherein said portable connecting means and said controlling means are capable of two-way communication.

12. The prover system of claim 10 wherein said portable connecting means and said controlling means are capable of two-way communication over said selected controller sensor loops.

13. A prover system for a plurality of control room instruments, a plurality of remotely located field equipment, said field equipment including measuring devices, actuators, and controllers, and a termination base;

each of said field equipment being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, each of said control room instruments being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, said field equipment terminals and said control room instrumentation terminals being interconnected with each other at said termination base so that an electrical circuit is established between a given piece of field equipment and an associated control room instrument, said prover system comprising;

means removably mating with said control room instrumentation and field equipment loops at said termination base for extending the electrical connections to the control room instrumentation terminals and to the field equipment terminals,

means receptive of said extended electrical connections for selectively providing access to one of said loops,

means interconnected with said providing means for controlling said selective provision of said one loop, and

portable means for removably connecting to said one loop at said remote field equipment, said portable connecting means being capable of generating a calibration condition to said connected field equipment, the aforesaid field equipment producing a signal on said one loop for transmittal to said controlling means, said controlling means being capable of evaluating said transmitted signal for accuracy and for communicating calibration information to said portable connecting means.

14. The prover system of claim 13 wherein portable connecting means further comprises means for applying a wire identification signal to said one loop, said controlling means being capable of detecting said wire identification signal and for communicating said detection to said portable connecting means.

15. The prover system of claim 13 wherein said portable connecting means comprises:

means for generating said calibration condition,

means connected to said generating means for sensing said calibration condition and for producing a standard calibration signal, and

means for communicating said standard calibration signal to said controlling means, said controlling means being caable of comparing said standard calibration signal to said signal from said field equipment and for generating said calibration information.

16. The testing system of claim 15 further comprising means in said portable connection means for displaying said calibration information.

17. A prover system for a plurality of control room instruments, a plurality of remotely located field equipment, said field equipment including measuring devices, actuators, and controllers, and a termination base;

each of said field equipment being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, each of said control room instruments being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, said field equipment terminals and said control room instrumentation terminals being interconnected with each other at said termination base so that an electrical circuit is established between a given piece of field equipment and an associated control room instrument, said prover system comprising;

means removably mating with a predetermined number of control room instrumentation and field equipment loops at said termination base for extending electrical connections to the control room instrumentation terminals and to the field equipment terminals of each of said predetermined number of loops,

means receptive of said extended electrical connections for selectively providing access to one of said predetermined number of loops,

means interconnected with said providing means for selectively applying at least one measurement test to said control room instrumentation terminals and said field equipment terminals of said one loop, and

means interconnected with said providing means and said applying means for controlling said selection of said one loop and for controlling the application of said at least one measurement test.

18. A prover system for a plurality of control room instruments, a plurality of remotely located field equipment, said field equipment including measuring devices, actuators, and controllers, and a termination base;

each of said field equipment being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, each of said control room instruments being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, said field equipment terminals and said control room instrumentation terminals being interconnected with each other at said termination base so that an electrical circuit is established between a given piece of field equipment and an associated control room instrument, said prover system comprising;

portable means for removably connecting to a selected one of said control room instrumentation and field equipment loops at the location of said control room instrumentation and field equipment, said connecting means being capable of applying at least one measurement test to said connected field equipment loop,

means removably mating with a predetermined number of said control room instrumentation and field equipment loops at said termination base for extending the electrical connections for each of said predetermined number of loops,

means receptive of said extended electrical connections for detecting which of said control room instrumentation and field equipment terminals has had at least one test applied thereto in said predetermined number of loops,

means interconnected with said detecting means for evaluating the effects of said at least one test, and

means interconnected with said detecting means and said evaluating means for controlling said detection and for controlling the evaluation of said effects of said at least one test.

19. A prover system for a plurality of control room instruments, a plurality of remotely located field equipment, said field equipment including measuring devices, actuators, and controllers, and a termination base;

each of said field equipment being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, each of said control room instruments being connected over a loop to terminals at said termination base, said field equipment terminals and said control room instrumentation terminals being interconnected with each other at said termination base so that an electrical circuit is established between a given piece of field equipment and an associated control room instrument, said prover system comprising;

means removably mating with a predetermined number of said control room instrumentation and field equipment loops at said termination base for extending the electrical connections to the control room instrumentation terminals and to the field equipment terminals,

portable means for removably connecting to a selected one of said control room instrumentation and field equipment loops at the location of said control room instrumentation and field equipment, said portable connecting means being capable of applying a wire identification signal to said selected loop,

means receptive of said extended electrical connections for detecting said wire identification signal in said predetermined number of loops, and

means interconnected with said detecting means for communicating said detection to said portable connecting means.

20. The prover system of claim 19 wherein said communicating means is capable of communication over said selected loop.