Back to results
US 10,982,794 B2Granted
Determining and accounting for wear on a valve
AssigneeSiemens Aktiengesellschaft
InventorsArmin Wiegand, Martin Wetzel, Rainer Lochschmied, Thomas Gnoss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example control unit may include: a processor; an output device; a valve element; an actuator; and a sensor for the position of the valve element. The valve cycles and the processor records a first signal to measure a position of the valve element. The valve cycles and the processor records a second signal to measure a position of the valve element. The processor calculates a degree of wear based on the first value and the second value and the second number of valve cycles. The processor compares the degree of wear to a predefined threshold value and generates an output signal if the degree of wear exceeds the predefined threshold value.
Claims14
A control unit for a valve arrangement, the control unit comprising:
- a processor communicatively connected to a memory storing a set of instructions;
- an output device;
- a valve element with an open position and a closed position;
- an actuator;
- and
- a sensor generating a signal corresponding to a current position of the valve element;
- wherein the actuator and the sensor are communicatively connected to the processor;
- wherein the processor is configured to access the memory and execute the set of instructions, the set of instructions causing the processor to:
- control the actuator to perform a first number of valve cycles, wherein a valve cycle includes both actuating the valve element into the open position and actuating the valve element into the closed position;
- record a first signal from the sensor following performance of the first number of valve cycles and forms a first measured value of a position of the valve element;
- control the actuator to perform a second number of valve cycles;
- record a second signal from the sensor following performance of the second number of valve cycles and forms a second measured value of a position of the valve element;
- calculate a load characteristic value indicating a degree of load;
- calculate a degree of wear based on the first measured value and the second measured value and the load characteristic value;
- compare the degree of wear to a predefined threshold value;
- and
- generate a predefined output signal using the output device if the degree of wear exceeds the predefined threshold value;
- following recording the second signal, control the actuator to perform a third number of valve cycles;
- record a third signal from the sensor following performance of the third number of valve cycles;
- process the third signal to form a third measured value of a position of the valve element;
- form a model based on at least the first and the second measured values and based on at least the first and the second number of valve cycles;
- determine an expected value for the third measured value by applying the model to the third number of valve cycles;
- determine a deviation of the third measured value from the expected value for the third measured value;
- compare the determined deviation with a predefined maximum value for the determined deviation;
- and
- generate a predefined output signal using the output device if the determined deviation exceeds the predefined maximum value.
23 more elements
A control unit for a valve arrangement, the control unit comprising:
- an actuator;
- an output device in operative communication with the actuator;
- a processor communicatively connected to a memory storing a set of instructions;
- a valve element with an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a sensor generating a signal corresponding to a current position of the valve element;
- wherein the actuator and the sensor are communicatively connected to the processor;
- wherein the processor is configured to access the memory and execute the set of instructions, the set of instructions causing the processor to:
- control the actuator to perform a first number of valve cycles, wherein a valve cycle includes both actuating the valve element into the open position and actuating the valve element into the closed position;
- record a first signal from the sensor following performance of the first number of valve cycles and forms a first measured value of a position of the valve element;
- control the actuator to perform a second number of valve cycles;
- record a second signal from the sensor following performance of the second number of valve cycles and forms a second measured value of a position of the valve element;
- calculate a load characteristic value indicating a degree of load;
- calculate a degree of wear based on the first measured value and the second measured value and the load characteristic value;
- compare the degree of wear to a predefined threshold value;
- transmit an output signal from the output device to the actuator if the degree of wear exceeds the predefined threshold value;
- wherein the output signal comprises an interlock signal locking the actuator;
- following recording the second signal, control the actuator to perform a third number of valve cycles;
- record a third signal from the sensor following performance of the third number of valve cycles;
- process the third signal to form a third measured value of a position of the valve element;
- form a model based on at least the first and the second measured values and based on at least the first and the second number of valve cycles;
- determine an expected value for the third measured value by applying the model to the third number of valve cycles;
- determine a deviation of the third measured value from the expected value for the third measured value;
- compare the determined deviation with a predefined maximum value for the determined deviation;
- and
- generate a predefined output signal using the output device if the determined deviation exceeds the predefined maximum value.
23 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.