System and methods for predicting failures in a fluid delivery system

• US 7,369,948 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2006
• Issued: 05/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ferenczi, John L., Barrus, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond; Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/557,304
• Publication Number:
  US 20080109186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 702/35, 702/188, 702 45- 48, 702182-185, 702/201, 340/58, 340/306
• US Class Current: 702/35
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0229 knowledge based, e.g. expert systems; genetic algorithms

Abstract

A system for detecting defects in a fluid delivery line is provided, the system comprising a plurality of sensors disposed in a fluid delivery line, wherein each one of the plurality of sensors comprises a mote coupled to a plurality of sensing devices disposed in a film system, wherein a first mote being configured to receive data from at least one second mote, wherein the first mote being further configured to transmit data collected from the plurality of sensing devices coupled the first mote and received data from the at least second mote, a communications hub configured to receive sensor data from at least one mote, and a processor coupled to the antenna, the processor being configured to analyze sensor data received from the at least one mote.

Claims

1. A method for detecting defects in a fluid delivery line, the method comprising:

transmitting sensor data from a plurality of sensors disposed in said fluid delivery line, wherein each one of the plurality of sensors comprises a mote coupled to a plurality of sensing devices disposed in a film system, wherein said sensing devices comprise an array of pressure sensing devices configured to generate a plurality of signals, wherein the plurality of signals generated varies in response to variations in pressure, wherein a first mote associated with a first of said sensors is configured to receive sensor data from at least one other mote associated with another of said sensors, wherein the first mote is further configured to transmit data collected from the plurality of sensing devices associated with said first sensor and to transmit data received from said at least one other mote;

collecting sensor data from said sensors using a communications hub configured to receive data from at least one of said sensors; and

forwarding the collected sensor data to a processor coupled to the communications hub and predicting possible failures in said fluid delivery system by analyzing the collected sensor data using the processor, wherein said analysis comprises searching for one or more patterns in said collected data associated with said array of pressure sensing devices for at least a portion of said sensors disposed downstream to a component of said fluid delivery line, wherein at least a portion of said patterns are associated with a known type of failure in said component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensing devices comprises a plurality of activating devices coupled to plurality of corresponding signaling devices, wherein the response of one of the plurality of activating devices activates a corresponding one of the plurality of signaling devices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a signal produced by at least a first one of the plurality of signaling devices is different from a signal produced by a second one of the plurality of signaling devices.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein at least a first one of the plurality of activating devices is adapted to respond differently from a second one of the plurality of activating devices.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the film system further comprises at least two layers of film, wherein the plurality of sensing devices is disposed therebetween.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the film system further comprises a middle layer of film disposed between the plurality of activating devices and the plurality of corresponding devices.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein each one of the plurality of signaling devices comprises a RF tag.