Atomizer monitoring system
First Claim
1. A monitoring system for collecting data relating to wear components of an atomizer for determining when the wear components are in need of replacement, comprising:
- an atomizer including an atomizer wheel, a motor and gear box, and feed components, at least one of the atomizer wheel, motor and gear box including the wear components, the wear components being concealed from visual inspection during operation of the atomizer with each wear component having a remaining service time;
a RFID tag attached to said atomizer, said RFID tag storing data associated with the wear components used in said atomizer;
a RFID reader in communication with said RFID tag for retrieving the stored data associated with the wear components used in said atomizer;
a sensor adjacent said atomizer that monitors when said atomizer is in use;
a computer in communication with said sensor for recording a period of time when said atomizer is in use, adjusting the remaining service time for each of the wear components, and indicating when service for said atomizer is required based on one of the adjusted remaining service times.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An atomizer monitoring system monitors parts or components that are utilized in atomizers for flue gas desulfurization or in spray drying applications, taking into account each part'"'"'s longevity, installation date, and expiration period, using wireless sensors and radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology, whereby small, inexpensive RFID tags are placed on, or embedded in the atomizers, for example, in an atomizer wheel. The monitor system can avoid failure of parts within an atomizer and costly downtime associated with removal and replacement of parts that have reached their useful life. The preferred embodiment utilizes radio frequency identification (“RFID”) technology which is linked to a web-based data base.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A monitoring system for collecting data relating to wear components of an atomizer for determining when the wear components are in need of replacement, comprising:
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an atomizer including an atomizer wheel, a motor and gear box, and feed components, at least one of the atomizer wheel, motor and gear box including the wear components, the wear components being concealed from visual inspection during operation of the atomizer with each wear component having a remaining service time; a RFID tag attached to said atomizer, said RFID tag storing data associated with the wear components used in said atomizer; a RFID reader in communication with said RFID tag for retrieving the stored data associated with the wear components used in said atomizer; a sensor adjacent said atomizer that monitors when said atomizer is in use; a computer in communication with said sensor for recording a period of time when said atomizer is in use, adjusting the remaining service time for each of the wear components, and indicating when service for said atomizer is required based on one of the adjusted remaining service times. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A monitoring system for collecting data, comprising:
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a treatment chamber located in a caustic environment having a plurality of wear components, the wear components having different lengths of wear life and being concealed from visual inspection during operation of the treatment chamber with each wear component having a remaining service time; a RFID tag attached to said treatment chamber, said RFID tag identifying said treatment chamber and storing data associated with the wear components used in said treatment chamber; a RFID reader in communication with said RFID tag for retrieving the stored data associated with the wear components used in said treatment chamber; a sensor adjacent said treatment chamber that monitors when said treatment chamber is in use; a computer in communication with said sensor for recording a period of time when said treatment chamber is in use, adjusting the remaining service time for each of the wear components, and indicating when service for said treatment chamber is required based on one of the adjusted remaining service times. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for determining when wear components of an atomizer are in need of replacement, comprising:
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(a) attaching a RFID tag to an atomizer having wear components therein operating in a caustic environment, each of the wear components being concealed from visual inspection during operation of the atomizer and having a remaining service time; (b) storing data in the RFID tag associated with the wear components of the atomizer; (c) determining when the atomizer is in use; (d) retrieving the stored data associated with the wear components from the RFID tag attached to the atomizer; (e) adjusting the remaining service time for each of the wear components based on an amount of time the atomizer is in use; and (f) indicating when service for said atomizer is required based on one of the remaining service times. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification