US4862345A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process plant instrumentation design system
Assignee: LITWIN ENGINEERS & CONSTRUCTORS Inc 580 WESTLAKE PARK BLVD HOUSTON TEXAS 77251-1281 A CORP OF TEXAS
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Filing: 1987-11-16
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Granted: 1989-08-29
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Expires: 2007-11-16
Abstract
Abstract An improved process plant instrumentation design system is disclosed in which the amount of data that must be input is greatly reduced by using default information whenever possible. The system also automatically generates the instrumentation loop drawing using the imputted and default information and a program to create the loops. The loop is automatically drawn using a computer-aided design (CAD) program.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles E. Lekron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:05
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B15/00; G05B15/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of creating a database of instrumentation information for use in designing a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information; inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation; inputting additional instrumentation information; and editing said additional instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said default instrumentation information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of creating a database of instrumentation information for use in designing a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information; inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation; inputting additional instrumentation information; and editing said additional instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said default instrumentation information.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of creating a database of instrumentation information for use in designing a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information; inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation; inputting additional instrumentation information; and editing said default instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said additional instrumentation information.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
71 words
A method of creating a database of instrumentation information for use in designing a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information; inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation; inputting additional instrumentation information; and editing said default instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said additional instrumentation information.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, said loop containing particular instrumentation, comprising: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least some of said inputted instrumentation information contained in said loop database; and including the steps of translating at least some of the instrumentation information contained in said loop database into a computer code, placing said translated computer code information into one or more drawing files, reading said drawing file, interfacing a computer-aided design program with said drawing file, and using said computer-aided design program to draw said particular instrument loop.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, said loop containing particular instrumentation, comprising: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least some of said inputted instrumentation information contained in said loop database; and including the steps of translating at least some of the instrumentation information contained in said loop database into a computer code, placing said translated computer code information into one or more drawing files, reading said drawing file, interfacing a computer-aided design program with said drawing file, and using said computer-aided design program to draw said particular instrument loop.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information and storing said information in a first database; building a particular instrument loop containing particular instrumentation, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of the information from said first computer database relating to said particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing the particular instrument loop using at least a portion of the information contained in said loop database, including the steps of translating at least some of the instrumentation information contained in said loop database into a computer code, placing said translated computer code information into one or more drawing files, reading said drawing file, interfacing a computer-aided design program with said drawing file, and using said computer-aided design program to draw said particular instrument loop.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information and storing said information in a first database; building a particular instrument loop containing particular instrumentation, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of the information from said first computer database relating to said particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing the particular instrument loop using at least a portion of the information contained in said loop database, including the steps of translating at least some of the instrumentation information contained in said loop database into a computer code, placing said translated computer code information into one or more drawing files, reading said drawing file, interfacing a computer-aided design program with said drawing file, and using said computer-aided design program to draw said particular instrument loop.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information; creating at least one program module adapted to assemble inputted instrumentation information relating to the instrumentation that may be contained in an instrument loop; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; running said program module to assemble at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation contained in said particular loop including calling one or more databases containing instrumentation information; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information; creating at least one program module adapted to assemble inputted instrumentation information relating to the instrumentation that may be contained in an instrument loop; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; running said program module to assemble at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation contained in said particular loop including calling one or more databases containing instrumentation information; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information; creating a plurality of program modules, each of said modules being adapted to assemble the inputted instrumentation information relating to one or more loop type-process type combinations; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; selecting and running a particular program module adapted to assemble at least some of the inputted instrumentation information relating to said particular instrument loop including calling one or more databases containing instrumentation information; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information; creating a plurality of program modules, each of said modules being adapted to assemble the inputted instrumentation information relating to one or more loop type-process type combinations; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; selecting and running a particular program module adapted to assemble at least some of the inputted instrumentation information relating to said particular instrument loop including calling one or more databases containing instrumentation information; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, and including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said default instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said additional instrumentation information; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, said loop containing particular instrumentation, comprising: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least some of said inputted instrumentation information contained in said loop database.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, and including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said default instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said additional instrumentation information; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, said loop containing particular instrumentation, comprising: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least some of said inputted instrumentation information contained in said loop database.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information and storing said information in a first database, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said default instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said additional instrumentation information; building a particular instrument loop containing particular instrumentation, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of the information from said first computer database relating to said particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing the particular instrument loop using at least a portion of the information contained in said loop database.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information and storing said information in a first database, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said default instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said additional instrumentation information; building a particular instrument loop containing particular instrumentation, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of the information from said first computer database relating to said particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing the particular instrument loop using at least a portion of the information contained in said loop database.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said default instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said additional instrumentation information; creating at least one program module adapted to assemble inputted instrumentation information relating to the instrumentation that may be contained in an instrument loop; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; running said program module to assemble at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation contained in said particular loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said default instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said additional instrumentation information; creating at least one program module adapted to assemble inputted instrumentation information relating to the instrumentation that may be contained in an instrument loop; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; running said program module to assemble at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation contained in said particular loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said default instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said additional instrumentation information; creating a plurality of program modules, each of said modules being adapted to assemble the inputted instrumentation information relating to one or more loop type-process type combinations; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; selecting and running a particular program module adapted to assemble at least some of the inputted instrumentation information relating to said particular instrument loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said default instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said additional instrumentation information; creating a plurality of program modules, each of said modules being adapted to assemble the inputted instrumentation information relating to one or more loop type-process type combinations; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; selecting and running a particular program module adapted to assemble at least some of the inputted instrumentation information relating to said particular instrument loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said additional instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said default instrumentation information; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, said loop containing particular instrumentation, comprising: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least some of said inputted instrumentation information contained in said loop database.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
151 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said additional instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said default instrumentation information; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, said loop containing particular instrumentation, comprising: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least some of said inputted instrumentation information contained in said loop database.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information and storing said information in a first database, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said additional instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said default instrumentation information; building a particular instrument loop containing particular instrumentation, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of the information from said first computer database relating to said particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing the particular instrument loop using at least a portion of the information contained in said loop database.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information and storing said information in a first database, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said additional instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said default instrumentation information; building a particular instrument loop containing particular instrumentation, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; assembling, into a loop database, at least some of the information from said first computer database relating to said particular instrumentation that is contained in said particular instrument loop; and drawing the particular instrument loop using at least a portion of the information contained in said loop database.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said additional instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said default instrumentation information; creating at least one program module adapted to assemble inputted instrumentation information relating to the instrumentation that may be contained in an instrument loop; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; running said program module to assemble at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation contained in said particular loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said additional instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said default instrumentation information; creating at least one program module adapted to assemble inputted instrumentation information relating to the instrumentation that may be contained in an instrument loop; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; running said program module to assemble at least some of said inputted instrumentation information relating to the particular instrumentation contained in said particular loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said additional instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said default instrumentation information; creating a plurality of program modules, each of said modules being adapted to assemble the inputted instrumentation information relating to one or more loop type-process type combinations; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; selecting and running a particular program module adapted to assemble at least some of the inputted instrumentation information relating to said particular instrument loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
167 words
A method of creating and drawing an instrument loop for a process plant instrumentation system, comprising: inputting instrumentation information, including the steps of setting up at least one default database adapted to contain default instrumentation information, inputting at least one piece of default instrumentation information that is applicable to more than one piece of instrumentation, inputting additional instrumentation information, and editing said additional instrumentation information by supplementing or revising it with said default instrumentation information; creating a plurality of program modules, each of said modules being adapted to assemble the inputted instrumentation information relating to one or more loop type-process type combinations; selecting a particular instrument loop to be built, including: choosing the type of loop to be built; choosing the type of process to be controlled; selecting and running a particular program module adapted to assemble at least some of the inputted instrumentation information relating to said particular instrument loop; and drawing said particular instrument loop using at least a portion of said assembled instrumentation information.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-08-28 | 1993-02-27 | 1993-08-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-08-28 | 1997-02-27 | 1997-08-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-08-28 | 2001-02-27 | 2001-08-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |