Diagnostic apparatus
First Claim
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1. Diagnostic apparatus for monitoring an operating system subject to malfunctions, comprising:
- (A) a plurality of sensors providing signals indicative of predetermined parameters of said system;
(B) control means operable to establish a first subsystem for each of a selected number of said sensors and including means to periodically obtain readings of sensor output signals for providing particular indications of sensor output reading changes, if any;
(C) said control means operable to establish a second subsystem responsive to selected sensor readings as well as selected ones of said change indications provided by said first subsystem to provide validated conclusions relative to a sensor signal with each having a certain confidence factor in the validity of the conclusion; and
(D) said control means operable to establish at least a third subsystem responsive to sensor signals as well as said validated conclusions relative to the sensor signals to provide indications of possible malfunctions in said operating system.
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Abstract
Diagnostic apparatus utilized to monitor a steam turbine-generator power plant. A plurality of sensors around the plant provide data to the diagnostic apparatus which utilizes a digital computer to come to some conclusion relative to actual or impending malfunctions in the plant components. The computer utilizes an expert system diagnosis which establishes a plurality of subsystems which are generic and can be applied to any sensor to obtain indications of (a) sensor output movement, (b) validated sensor readings and (c) malfunction indications based on conclusions reached in (a) and (b).
223 Citations
37 Claims
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1. Diagnostic apparatus for monitoring an operating system subject to malfunctions, comprising:
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(A) a plurality of sensors providing signals indicative of predetermined parameters of said system; (B) control means operable to establish a first subsystem for each of a selected number of said sensors and including means to periodically obtain readings of sensor output signals for providing particular indications of sensor output reading changes, if any; (C) said control means operable to establish a second subsystem responsive to selected sensor readings as well as selected ones of said change indications provided by said first subsystem to provide validated conclusions relative to a sensor signal with each having a certain confidence factor in the validity of the conclusion; and (D) said control means operable to establish at least a third subsystem responsive to sensor signals as well as said validated conclusions relative to the sensor signals to provide indications of possible malfunctions in said operating system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. Diagnostic apparatus for diagnosing an operating system subject to malfunctions and having a plurality of sensors providing signals related to system parameters, comprising:
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(A) A computer having a memory; (B) means for inputting said sensor signals into said computer memory; (C) means for storing within the computer'"'"'s memory a rule base pertinent to the particular operating system being diagnosed; (D) said rule base including a first set of rules applicable to any sensor for determining sensor output signal changes, if any; (E) said rule base including a second set of rules applicable to any sensor for determining sensor malfunction and for validating sensor indications in the absence of a sensor malfunction; (F) said rule base including a third set of rules for determining malfunctions of said operating system based on conclusions reached by said first and second sets of rules. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification