Computerized diagnostic system for microprocessor-based, portable machinery

• US 5,422,824 A
• Filed: 06/09/1993
• Issued: 06/06/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Pritchard, David R., Biehler, Devin D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ellis B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEESO, THOMAS R
• Application Number:
  US08/074,245
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 364/550, 364/424.04, 364/551.02, 364/494, 324/555, 340/620, 340/626, 340/635, 340/670
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/02 Surge control surge detection F04D27/001
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/31915 In-circuit Testers
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0272 Presentation of monitored results, e.g. selection of status reports to be displayed; Filtering information to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles

Abstract

A computerized diagnostic system includes a microprocessor-based electronic controller which controls a portable machine. Electronic sensors provide raw, operating parameters to a RAM type memory of the controller. A locator locates predetermined RAM addresses of raw machine operating parameters which are known to be useful in the monitoring and diagnosis of the portable machine. A remote, microprocessor-based computer diagnoses and monitors the electronically controlled machine. A display means displays the user friendly symbols in function-specific groupings which reveal patterns of machine operation, and which identifies the process which the machine is performing.

Claims

1. A computerized diagnostic system for providing diagnostic output relating to a predetermined machine, the computerized diagnostic system comprising:

a portable machine having unique operating characteristics;

a microprocessor-based electronic control means for controlling the portable machine, the electronic control means having a RAM type memory and a ROM type memory;

means for electronically providing raw, operating parameters of the portable machine to the electronic control means;

means for storing, in the RAM of the electronic control means, the raw operating parameters of the portable machine;

an array of pointers for facilitating the location of predetermined RAM addresses of raw machine operating parameters, the predetermined RAM addresses correlating to a unique set of raw machine operating parameters which are known to be useful in the monitoring and diagnosis of the portable machine;

a remote, microprocessor-based computer means for diagnosing and monitoring the electronically controlled machine;

means for establishing communication between the electronic control means and the remote computer means;

reference means, stored in a memory of the remote computer means, for interpreting the raw, predetermined machine operating parameters known to be useful in the monitoring and diagnosis of the machine;

means for retrieving, into the memory of the remote computer means, the raw, predetermined machine operating parameters in a predetermined, time stamped order to facilitate identification thereof; and

means for displaying user friendly symbols, which correlate to the raw machine operating parameters, in function-specific groupings which permit the predetermined diagnostic output to be displayed in a machine operational sequence to reveal a complete and comprehensible snapshot of the machine operating parameters permitting the determination of normal and abnormal machine operation.

2. A computerized diagnostic system, as claimed in claim 1, and wherein the portable machine is a compressor.

3. A method for providing diagnostic output relating to a machine, the method comprising the following steps:

controlling operation of a predetermined portable machine, having unique operating characteristics, using an electronic controller having a ROM type memory and a RAM type memory;

electronically sensing raw machine operating parameters;

at predetermined time intervals, providing the raw machine operating parameters to the electronic controller;

storing, in the RAM of the electronic controller, the raw machine operating parameters;

creating, in the ROM of the electronic controller, an array of pointers to predetermined addresses in the RAM of the electronic controller;

locating, in the RAM of the electronic controller, using the array of pointers, the predetermined RAM addresses which correlate to raw, predetermined machine operating parameters which are known to be useful in the monitoring and diagnosis of the unique, predetermined portable machine;

creating a table of reference machine operating parameters in a remote diagnostic computer;

establishing electronic communication between the electronic controller and the remote diagnostic computer;

retrieving, into a memory of the remote diagnostic computer and in a predetermined, time stamped order to facilitate identification thereof, the located, predetermined, raw, machine operating parameters;

interpreting the retrieved, predetermined machine operating parameters by comparing these parameters to the table of reference parameters;

converting the predetermined, raw machine operating parameters into user friendly symbols; and

displaying the user friendly symbols in function-specific groupings which permit the predetermined diagnostic output to be displayed in a machine operational sequence to reveal a complete and comprehensible snapshot of the machine operating parameters permitting the determination of normal and abnormal machine operation.