Computerized management of plant maintenance and program therefor

• US 5,970,437 A
• Filed: 10/03/1996
• Issued: 10/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alexander J. Gorman, Fehmi N. Aydin, Sherri L. Freer, Stephen A. Trovato
• Original Assignee: Alexander J. Gorman, Fehmi N. Aydin, Sherri L. Freer, Stephen A. Trovato
• Inventors: Trovato, Stephen A., Freer, Sherri L., Gorman, Alexander J., Aydin, Fehmi N.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAH, KAMINI S
• Application Number:
  US08/725,564
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 702/184, 702/183, 702/22, 364/146, 364/188, 364/192, 364/151, 364/150, 376/525, 376/255, 376/259, 376/215, 706/23, 706/915
• US Class Current: 702/184
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A general purpose computer is programmed to provide graphic representations of the mechanical and electrical systems of an operating plant where all of the components are treated as "objects" and associated through a relational database with text files providing component specifications, product identifications, component operating status, and all directly interconnected components including data as to flow direction and relative position in the system. For maintenance and service each component is associated with existing and future specified work orders, service requirements including consideration of probable life expectancy and the like.

Claims

1. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant in accordance with a pre-recorded program, recording media containing a series of instructions in machine readable form for programming a general purpose computer, said instructions comprising:

entries for enabling a user to select by input to the computer a discrete physical component from all of the physical components of at least a segment of an operating plant; and

entries for causing the computer to use stored data to provide for said selected component the identification of all physical components that are directly connected to said selected component.

2. Recording media according to claim 1, further comprising entries for causing the computer to provide for all of said identified directly connected components an indication whether said directly connected components are upstream or downstream of said selected component.

3. Recording media according to claim 2, further comprising entries for causing the computer to provide:

a graphical image display containing said components; and

a graphical distinguishing identification of the component that was selected.

4. Recording media according to claim 3, further comprising entries for causing the computer to provide:

a graphical distinguishing identification of said components that are directly connected to said selected component.

5. Recording media according to claim 3, further comprising entries for causing the computer to provide:

a graphical identification of the operational state of said selected component.

6. Recording media according to claim 4, further comprising entries for causing the computer to provide:

a graphical distinguishing identification of the operational states of said components that are directly connected to said selected component.

7. Recording media according to claim 1, further comprising entries for causing the computer to provide:

a graphical image display containing said components; and

a graphical distinguishing identification of the component that was selected.

8. Recording media according to claim 7, further comprising entries for causing the computer to provide:

a graphical identification of the operational state of said selected component.

9. Recording media according to claim 7, further comprising entries for causing the computer to provide:

a graphical distinguishing identification of said components that are directly connected to said selected component.

10. Recording media according to claim 9, further comprising entries for causing the computer to provide:

a graphical identification of the operational states of said components that are directly connected to said selected component.

11. Recording media according to claim 1, further comprising entries for enabling a user to enter into the computer a request to remove from service said selected discrete component.

12. Recording media according to claim 1, wherein said entries comprise entries for causing the general purpose computer to display an interactive intelligent schematic diagram of all of the physical components of said segment of an operating plant.

13. Recording media according to claim 1, further comprising entries for causing the computer to provide:

a graphical image display containing said components; and

a graphical identification of the collection of physical components that constitute an isolation boundary for said component that was selected.

14. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant, a general purpose computer when programmed to:

display on a monitor screen at least one drawing of at least a portion of the operating plant;

provide means for enabling a user to select from said drawing by input to the computer a discrete physical component from all of the physical components of at least a segment of said operating plant; and

cause the computer to use stored data to provide for said selected component on said monitor screen the identification of all physical components that are directly connected to said selected component.

15. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant, a general purpose computer when programmed according to claim 14, further programmed to:

cause the computer to provide for all of said identified directly connected components an indication whether said directly connected components are upstream or downstream of said selected component.

16. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant, a general purpose computer when programmed according to claim 15, further programmed to provide:

a graphical image display containing said components; and

a graphical distinguishing identification of the component that was selected.

17. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant, a general purpose computer when programmed according to claim 16, further programmed to provide:

a graphical distinguishing identification of said components that are directly connected to said selected component.

18. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant, a general purpose computer when programmed according to claim 14, further programmed to:

display an interactive intelligent schematic diagram of all of the physical components of said segment of an operating plant.

19. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant in accordance with a pre-recorded program, recording media containing a series of instructions in machine readable form for programming a general purpose computer, said instructions comprising:

entries for establishing means for applying stored rules relating to any component that is a member of a collection of components that define an isolation boundary for providing instructions as to the operational position of said component required to achieve the isolation boundary.

20. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant in accordance with a pre-recorded program, recording media containing a series of instructions in machine readable form for programming a general purpose computer, said instructions comprising:

entries for establishing means for applying stored rules relating to any component that is a member of more than one collection of components, where each collection of components constitutes the isolation boundary for a different component to be isolated, for identifying when the required operational positions determined for said boundary establishing component in each of said collections are mutually exclusive or in conflict.

21. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant in accordance with a pre-recorded program, recording media containing a series of instructions in machine readable form for programming a general purpose computer, said instructions comprising:

entries for enabling a user to select a discrete component from all of the components of at least a segment of an operating plant;

entries for causing the computer to use stored data to provide for said selected component the identification of all components that are directly connected to said selected component;

entries for enabling a user to enter a request to remove from service said selected discrete component; and

wherein said programming of said computer includes establishing means for applying stored rules relating to any selected component for identifying conflicting operational positions indicating that said selected component can not be removed from service.

22. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant in accordance with a pre-recorded program, recording media containing a series of instructions in machine readable form for programming a general purpose computer, said instructions comprising:

entries for enabling a user to select a discrete component from all of the components of at least a segment of an operating plant;

entries for causing the computer to use stored data to provide for said selected component the identification of all components that are directly connected to said selected component;

entries for enabling a user to enter a request to remove from service said selected discrete component; and

entries for causing the computer to use stored data to determine, based upon parameters associated with said selected discrete component and the operating plant of which it forms a part, whether said selected component can be safely removed from service, and providing an output responding to said request.

23. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant in accordance with a pre-recorded program, recording media containing a series of instructions in machine readable form for programming a general purpose computer, said instructions comprising:

entries for enabling a user to select a discrete component from all of the components of at least a segment of an operating plant;

entries for causing the computer to use stored data to provide for said selected component the identification of all components that are directly connected to said selected component;

wherein said entries comprise entries for causing the general purpose computer to display an interactive intelligent schematic diagram of said segment of an operating plant; and

wherein said interactive intelligent schematic diagram consists of an assemblage of objects each defined by component information obtained from a computer assisted drawing data file.

24. Recording media according to claim 23, wherein said programming of said computer includes establishing means for associating any selected one of said objects with data stored in text based data files.

25. Recording media according to claim 24, wherein said programming of said computer includes establishing means for applying stored rules relating to any selected component object for providing instructions as to when and how said selected component can be removed from service for maintenance.

26. Recording media according to claim 25, wherein said programming of said computer includes establishing means for selectively automatically analyzing the data underlying said intelligent schematic diagram and producing a logic diagram based upon flow through said objects.

27. Recording media according to claim 23, wherein said programming of said computer includes establishing means for selectively automatically analyzing the data underlying said intelligent schematic diagram and producing a logic diagram based upon flow through said objects.

28. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant, a general purpose computer when programmed to:

display on a monitor screen at least one drawing of at least a portion of the operating plant;

provide means for enabling a user to select from said drawing a discrete component from all of the components of at least a segment of said operating plant;

cause the computer to use stored data to provide for said selected component the identification of all components that are directly connected to said selected component; and

display an interactive intelligent schematic diagram of said segment of an operating plant;

wherein said interactive intelligent schematic diagram consists of an assemblage of objects each defined by component information obtained from a computer assisted drawing data file.

29. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant, a general purpose computer when programmed according to claim 28, and wherein said programmed computer includes means for associating any selected one of said objects with data stored in text based data files.

30. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant, a general purpose computer when programmed according to claim 29, and wherein said programmed computer includes means for applying stored rules relating to any selected component object for providing instructions as to when and how said selected component can be removed from service for maintenance.

31. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant, a general purpose computer when programmed according to claim 30, and wherein said programmed computer includes means for selectively automatically analyzing the data underlying said intelligent schematic diagram and producing a logic diagram based upon flow through said objects.

32. For use in overseeing the maintenance and operation of an operating plant, a general purpose computer when programmed according to claim 28, and wherein said programmed computer includes means for selectively automatically analyzing the data underlying said intelligent schematic diagram and producing a logic diagram based upon flow through said objects.