Maintainance support system for an electrical apparatus

• US 6,756,907 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Issued: 06/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jerrell Penn Hollaway
• Original Assignee: Jerrell Penn Hollaway
• Inventors: Hollaway, Jerrell Penn
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phung
• Application Number:
  US10/166,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/657, 340/660, 340/664, 340/511, 340/521, 340/517, 340/522, 340/500, 340/501, 340/3.43, 340/3.44, 700/282, 700/83, 700/17, 700/10, 700/79, 307/134, 307/135, 307/140, 137/551, 137/565.01, 361/1, 361/78, 361/86, 361/87
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/4184 characterised by fault tolerance, reliability of production system
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21163 Test I-O if functional or safe value
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/33324 What to diagnose, whole system, test, simulate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The present invention describes a maintenance support system that can be used to automatically isolate defective components in a complex electrical apparatus. The system includes programming instructions that activate individual components of the electrical operation in a non-operational sequence, while collecting performance data for each tested component. Performance data is provided by existing feedback devices in the apparatus as well as by additional sensors which are a part of the new system. All collected data and available background information are analyzed by programming instructions that consider, among other things, the probability of failure in certain components. The final outcome is a component replacement recommendation on a local or remote computer display that combines the performance data, history, probability and operational knowledge of the apparatus, thereby improving the performance of service personnel.

Claims

1. A maintenance support system for an electrical apparatus, comprising:

power switching means connected between a source of electrical power and one or more electrical loads;

computer means connected to said power switching means;

reporting means connected to said computer means;

sensing means connected to said computer means and responsible to said electrical loads;

said computer means further comprising program means which causes said power switching means to selectively energize and de-energize said electrical loads creating different responses in said sensor means, said program means having been designed to analyze said responses and indicate defective components of said apparatus through said reporting means.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes a current sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes a voltage sensor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said program means causes said loads to be energized and de-energized in a non-operational sequence.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said program means further comprises failure analysis logic.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said failure analysis logic uses a process of elimination to find said defective components.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said failure analysis logic considers relative failure rates in reporting said defective components.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said reporting means is a display means in said apparatus.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising interface means to a personal computer.

10. The system of claim 9, further comprising network means connected between said personal computer and a remote personal computer.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said apparatus is a spa.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said computer means is a microprocessor in said spa.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said power switching means is a power circuit board in a spa.

14. A method of analyzing an electrical apparatus for the purpose of identifying defective components of said apparatus, including the steps of:

(a) collecting performance data from said apparatus when one or more of said components are in a first state of operation;

(b) collecting additional performance data from said apparatus when one or more of said components are in a second state of operation;

(c) comparing said performance data and said additional performance data from said apparatus;

(d) using a logical process to determine from said comparisons which of said components are defective.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said performance data includes electrical current measurements made when one or more of said components are de-energized and said additional performance data includes additional electrical current measurements made when one or more of said components are energized.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said logical process considers relative failure rates.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said defective components are identified on a display means which is a part of said apparatus.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein said defective components are identified on the display of a computer which is coupled to said apparatus through an interface means.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said defective components are identified on the display of a second computer coupled to said computer through a network means.

20. The method claim 15, wherein said apparatus is a spa.