Method for inspecting and recording machine component condition data
First Claim
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1. A method of inspecting, recording and processing inspection data of machine components, the method comprising:
- selecting a machine component among a plurality of machine components for inspection;
selecting a predefined area or feature of the selected machine component from a known list of areas or features;
selecting a predefined condition from a predetermined list of conditions allowed to be reported for the selected machine component;
inspecting and measuring the predefined areas of the select machine component for the selected condition; and
recording inspection data as continuous numerical values to quantify entry for subsequent querying for one of the conditions over a chosen set of different machine components.
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Abstract
A method of inspecting and recording inspection data of machine components, the method including selecting a machine component among a plurality of machine components for inspection; identifying predefined areas of the selected machine component for inspection; identifying a fixed set of conditions allowed to be reported for the select machine component; inspecting the predefined areas of the select machine component; and recording inspection data as continuous numerical values to quantify entry for subsequent querying over a chosen set of machine components.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of inspecting, recording and processing inspection data of machine components, the method comprising:
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selecting a machine component among a plurality of machine components for inspection;
selecting a predefined area or feature of the selected machine component from a known list of areas or features;
selecting a predefined condition from a predetermined list of conditions allowed to be reported for the selected machine component;
inspecting and measuring the predefined areas of the select machine component for the selected condition; and
recording inspection data as continuous numerical values to quantify entry for subsequent querying for one of the conditions over a chosen set of different machine components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 21)
creating benchmark inspection values for the select machine component by manually entering information into data fields;
copying the benchmark inspection values as default inspection data for other machine components; and
comparing inspection data of the other machine components with the copied benchmark inspection values.
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3. The method of claim 2, wherein the creation step further comprises:
identifying the benchmark inspection values in a distinct color pattern.
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4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
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enabling free field text entries for a group of machine components and for each individual machine component; and
adding new data entry fields to each machine component, said data entry fields including (a) part area, (b) part feature, (c) part condition of a machine component, said adding step is performed if said (a), (b), and (c) are included in a predetermined inspection list.
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5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
identifying a minimum structured set of conditions independent of a machine component being inspected.
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6. The method of claim 4, wherein said data entry fields include attached or linked files having one or more of coordinate measuring machine (CMM) data-files, bit-mapped schematics, photographs, general text files.
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7. The method of claim 4, wherein said data entry fields are added by providing communication links to files stored at a remote location.
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8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
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reducing areas or features for inspection; and
limiting the conditions of a predefined area of the select machine component.
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21. The method of claim 1, wherein the inspection data is recorded as continuous, objectively measured, values.
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9. A method for entering and processing inspection data of machine components in a database, the database comprising a plurality of user interface templates, each template including data fields for identifying a machine component, the method comprising:
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selecting a machine component among a plurality of machine components;
selecting an area or a feature of the selected machine component in a first menu of user interface template;
inspecting the selected area of the machine component;
recording inspection data as continuous numerical values in a second menu, said second menu identifying a list of conditions related to the select area of the select machine component; and
querying the database to perform a search query for one of the conditions over a chosen set of different areas or features of a particular machine component or a chosen set of different machine components. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22)
creating benchmark inspection values for the select machine component by manually entering information into data fields;
copying the benchmark inspection values as default inspection data for other machine components; and
comparing inspection data of other machine components with the copied benchmark inspection values.
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11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
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enabling free field text entries for a group of machine components as well as for each individual machine component; and
adding new data entry fields to each machine component.
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12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:
identifying a minimum structured set of conditions independent of a machine component being inspected.
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13. The method of claim 11, wherein said data entry fields include one or more of coordinate measuring machine (CMM) datafiles, bit-mapped schematics, photographs, general text files.
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14. The method of claim 11, wherein said data entry fields are added by providing communication links to files stored at a remote location.
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15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:
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reducing areas or features for inspection; and
limiting the conditions of a predefined area of the select machine component.
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16. The method of claim 9, wherein inspection data is entered as integer values.
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17. The method of claim 9, wherein the inspection data is stored in a single common unit.
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22. The method of claim 9, wherein the inspection data is recorded as continuous, objectively measured, values.
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18. An apparatus for inspecting, recording and processing inspection data of machine components, the apparatus comprising:
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means for selecting a machine component among a plurality of machine components for inspection;
means for identifying predefined areas of the selected machine component for inspection;
means for identifying a fixed set of conditions allowed to be reported for the select machine component;
means for inspecting the predefined areas of the select machine component; and
means for recording inspection data as continuous numerical values to quantify entry for subsequent querying for one of the conditions over a chosen set of different machine components. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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19. A method of recording and processing inspection data of machine components in a database system, the method comprising:
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identifying structured inspection areas or features of a select machine component;
identifying a minimum structured set of conditions that are independent of a machine component under inspection;
recording condition of the select machine component as continuous numerical values; and
querying recorded inspection data to perform a search for a particular one of the conditions over a set of different machine components or over a set of different inspection areas or features of a particular machine component. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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20. An apparatus for recording and processing inspection data of machine components in a database system, the apparatus comprising:
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means for identifying structured inspection areas or features of a select machine component;
means for identifying a minimum structured set of conditions that are independent of a machine component under inspection;
means for recording condition of the select machine component as continuous numerical valued; and
querying recorded inspection data to perform a search for a particular one of the conditions over a set of different machine components or over a set of different inspection areas or features of a particular machine component. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification