Computational Systems, Inc.

Csi Technology, Inc.

Deane M Horn

Anthony John Hayzen

Kevin D Steele

John W Willis

Michael D Rich

Michael D Medley

Christopher G Hilemon

Thomas E Nelson

Richard W Kephart

Robert Darrell Skeirik

A machinery health monitoring module processes machine vibration data based on vibration signals and provides the machine vibration data to a distributed control system. A distributed control system operator computer executes a software user interface that filters relevant configuration parameters based on a selected machine measurement type so that only those parameters that are applicable to the selected measurement type appear on the user interface screen. Further, configuration parameters for individual measurement values within the measurement type are made available only when a particular measurement value is selected for acquisition. This greatly simplifies the information that is displayed on the configuration user interface.

Intelligent configuration of a user interface of a machinery health monitoring system

A system is described for time synchronizing digitized measurement signals, such as vibration signals. The digitized signals, which are acquired asynchronously by multiple distributed measurement units, indicate the operational condition of a machine or a process. To measure the phase of the digitized signals relative to a pulse tachometer input, the time between the leading edge of the tachometer pulse and the digitized samples is measured. To achieve phase-coherent synchronization across the distributed measurement units, a local synchronization signal is embedded into the data produced by the measurement units. The systems uses the synchronization signal to align the data in post processing, which phase aligns the data and aligns the data in absolute time. The synchronization signal may be encoded with a timestamp to provide additional timing information.

Apparatus and method for signal synchronization

A vibration data acquisition and analysis module is operable to be inserted directly into a distributed control system (DCS) I/O backplane, so that processed vibration parameters may be scanned directly by the DCS I/O controller. Because the process data and the vibration data are both being scanned by the same DCS I/O controller, there is no need to integrate numerical data, binary relay outputs, and analog overall vibration level outputs from a separate vibration monitoring system into the DCS. The system provides for: (1) directly acquiring vibration data by the DCS for machinery protection and predictive machinery health analysis; (2) direct integration of vibration information on DCS alarm screens; (3) acquisition and display of real time vibration data on operator screens; (4) using vibration data to detect abnormal situations associated with equipment failures; and (5) using vibration data directly in closed-loop control applications.

Processing machinery protection and fault prediction data natively in a distributed control system

Automatically adjusting collection parameters for machines on a route in a collection device, based on states of the machines. For each machine on the route, the machine state is read into the collection device. The machine is included or excluded based on the machine state. The collection device is configured with first collection parameters that are configured based on the machine state. Data is collected from the machine based on the first collection parameters. The data is analyzed using parameters that are configured based on the machine, to determine alerts. Based on the alerts, data is selectively immediately collected from the machine based on second collection parameters that are configured based on the machine state and the alerts. Also based on the alerts, the technician is selectively prompted with the collection device to take a predetermined action and collect data from the machine. The action and data are based on third collection parameters that are configured on the machine state and the alerts.

Adaptive and state driven data collection

A method for importing data from a first system into a second system includes receiving configuration information about data storage structures in the first and second systems and information about communicating with the first and second systems. Information to be used in creating an import configuration file is entered via a user interface. The import configuration file is for use in preparing the second system to receive data from the first system. Based on the information about data storage structures, the information about communicating with the first and second systems, and the information entered via the user interface, the import configuration file is created to prepare the second system to receive data from the first system. Based on the import configuration file, data is transferred from the first system into the second system.

Control system configuration for linking to machinery monitoring system

A method performed by one or more computer processors imports data from a machinery monitoring system into a control system. The machinery monitoring system is a system that measures machine measurement parameters of a machine, and the control system is a system that controls processes in which the machine performs a function. The method includes accessing a first knowledge base containing information about communicating with the machinery monitoring system, and accessing a second knowledge base containing information about communicating with the control system. The method also includes extracting configuration information from the machinery monitoring system via a communication bus. Information is entered by a user for use in creating an import configuration file, which file is used in preparing the control system to receive data from the machinery monitoring system. The entering of information is performed via a user interface operatively connected to the one or more computer processors. Based on the information accessed from the first and second knowledge bases, the configuration information extracted from the machinery monitoring system, and the information entered by the user, the import configuration file is created for use in preparing the control system to receive data from the machinery monitoring system. Data from the machinery monitoring system may then be transferred into the control system based on the import configuration file.

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Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Deane M Horn