Patent US5754451A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5754451A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Preventative maintenance and diagonstic system
Assignee: L3 Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1996-02-29
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Granted: 1998-05-19
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Expires: 2016-02-29
Abstract
Abstract A maintenance system for a machine (12) controlled by a programmable logic controller (14) having a memory (20) which stores input data received from the machine (12) and output data communicated to the machine (12). The maintenance system includes a computer (33) interfaced to the memory to be non-intrusive with respect to the programmable logic controller (14). The computer (33) is operative to monitor a state of the machine (12) over a plurality of manufacturing cycles, the state including at least a portion of the input data and the output data. The computer (33) is further operative to detect a fault condition for a component of the machine (12) based upon a state of a current manufacturing cycle and a state of a previous manufacturing cycle. A display device (32) is in communication with the computer (33) to alert an operator of the fault condition and to graphically display a location of the component within the machine (12) to facilitate a corrective measure by the operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Chet R. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:30
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05B; G05B19/00; G05B19/02; G05B19/418; G05B19/4184; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P90/00; Y02P90/02; Y02P90/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A maintenance system for a machine controlled by a programmable logic controller, the programmable logic controller including a memory which stores input data received from the machine and output data communicated to the machine, the maintenance system comprising: a computer interfaced to the memory and prohibited from modifying the memory, the computer operative to monitor a state of the machine over a plurality of manufacturing cycles, the state including at least a portion of the input data and the output data, the computer further operative to detect a fault condition for a component of the machine based upon a comparison of a current state for the manufacturing cycle and a previous state for the manufacturing cycle; and a display device in communication with the computer to alert an operator of the fault condition and to graphically display a location of the component within the machine to facilitate a corrective measure by the operator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A maintenance system for a machine controlled by a programmable logic controller, the programmable logic controller including a memory which stores input data received from the machine and output data communicated to the machine, the maintenance system comprising: a computer interfaced to the memory and prohibited from modifying the memory, the computer operative to monitor a state of the machine over a plurality of manufacturing cycles, the state including at least a portion of the input data and the output data, the computer further operative to detect a fault condition for a component of the machine based upon a comparison of a current state for the manufacturing cycle and a previous state for the manufacturing cycle; and a display device in communication with the computer to alert an operator of the fault condition and to graphically display a location of the component within the machine to facilitate a corrective measure by the operator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
The maintenance system of claim 1 wherein the display device displays an image of the machine including an image of the component therein, wherein the image of the component is highlighted in a predetermined manner to indicate the fault condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The maintenance system of claim 2 wherein upon an operator-initiated action to select the image of the component, the display device displays information on correcting the fault condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The maintenance system of claim 3 wherein upon the operator-initiated action, a magnified image of the component is displayed to graphically illustrate the corrective measure.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The maintenance system of claim 1 wherein the computer is operative to maintain a respective cycle count for each of at least one component of the machine, each cycle count indicative of a number of manufacturing cycles performed by a corresponding component, and wherein the display device alerts the operator when a cycle count has reached a predetermined limit and graphically displays a location of the component corresponding to the cycle count within the machine to facilitate a corrective measure by the operator.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The maintenance system of claim 5 wherein the predetermined limit is indicative of a mean time between failures for the component.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
The maintenance system of claim 5 wherein the display device displays an image of the machine including an image of the component whose cycle count reached the predetermined limit, wherein the image of the component is highlighted in a predetermined manner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The maintenance system of claim 1 wherein the computer is operative to maintain a respective preventative maintenance schedule for each of at least one component of the machine, and wherein the display device alerts the operator when a component is due for preventative maintenance, the display device graphically displaying a location of the component within the machine to facilitate a preventative maintenance measure by the operator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The maintenance system of claim 8 wherein the display device displays an image of the machine including an image of the component due for preventative maintenance, wherein the image of the component is highlighted in a predetermined manner.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The maintenance system of claim 1 wherein the computer forms a transition history for a moving component over each of a plurality of manufacturing cycles, and wherein the display device alerts the operator when a transition history of a current manufacturing cycle differs from a transition history of a previous manufacturing cycle beyond a predetermined level, the display device graphically displaying a location of the moving component within the machine.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The maintenance system of claim 10 wherein the display device displays an image of the machine including an image of the moving component, wherein the image of the moving component is highlighted in a predetermined manner.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The maintenance system of claim 1 wherein the computer maintains a library of states of the machine for fault conditions, and wherein the display device displays potential failure points based upon the library upon detecting a fault condition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
147 words
A computer-implemented method of maintaining a machine controlled by a programmable logic controller, the programmable logic controller including a memory which stores input data received from the machine and output data communicated to the machine, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring the memory while prohibiting modification thereof to monitor a state of the machine over a plurality of manufacturing cycles, the state including at least a portion of the input data and the output data from the memory; comaring a current state for the manufacturing cycle to a previous state for the manufacturing cycle; detecting a fault condition for a component of the machine based upon a difference between the current state and the previous state of the manufacturing cycle; alerting an operator of the fault condition; and graphically displaying a location of the component within the machine to facilitate a corrective measure by the operator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
147 words
A computer-implemented method of maintaining a machine controlled by a programmable logic controller, the programmable logic controller including a memory which stores input data received from the machine and output data communicated to the machine, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring the memory while prohibiting modification thereof to monitor a state of the machine over a plurality of manufacturing cycles, the state including at least a portion of the input data and the output data from the memory; comaring a current state for the manufacturing cycle to a previous state for the manufacturing cycle; detecting a fault condition for a component of the machine based upon a difference between the current state and the previous state of the manufacturing cycle; alerting an operator of the fault condition; and graphically displaying a location of the component within the machine to facilitate a corrective measure by the operator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 13 wherein the step of graphically displaying includes displaying an image of the machine and an image of the component therein, wherein the image of the component is highlighted in a predetermined manner to indicate the fault condition.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 14 further comprising the steps of: receiving an operator-initiated action to select the image of the component; and displaying information on correcting the fault condition upon receiving the operator-initiated action.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 15 further comprising the step of displaying a magnified image of the component to graphically illustrate the corrective measure upon receiving the operator-initiated action.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: maintaining a respective cycle count for each of at least one component of the machine, each cycle count indicative of a number of manufacturing cycles performed by a corresponding component; alerting the operator when a cycle count has reached a predetermined limit; and graphically displaying a location of the component corresponding to the cycle count within the machine to facilitate a corrective measure by the operator.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined limit is indicative of a mean time between failures for the component.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the step of displaying the location of the component corresponding to the cycle count includes displaying an image of the machine with an image of the component whose cycle count reached the predetermined limit, wherein the image of the component is highlighted in a predetermined manner.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
62 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: maintaining a respective preventative maintenance schedule for each of at least one component of the machine; alerting the operator when a component is due for preventative maintenance; and graphically displaying a location of the component due for preventative maintenance within the machine to facilitate a preventative maintenance measure by the operator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 20 wherein the step of graphically displaying the location of the component due for preventative maintenance includes displaying an image of the machine including an image of the component due for preventative maintenance, wherein the image of the component is highlighted in a predetermined manner.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
65 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: forming a transition history for a moving component over each of a plurality of manufacturing cycles; alerting the operator when a transition history of a current manufacturing cycle differs from a transition history of a previous manufacturing cycle beyond a predetermined level; and graphically displaying a location of the moving component within the machine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 22 wherein the step of graphically displaying the location of the moving component includes displaying an image of the machine and an image of the moving component therein, wherein the image of the moving component is highlighted in a predetermined manner.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer-implemented method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of: maintaining a library of states of the machine for fault conditions; and displaying potential failure points based upon the library upon detecting a fault condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-18 | 2001-11-17 | 2002-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-18 | 2005-11-17 | 2006-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-18 | 2009-11-17 | 2010-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |