Method and System for Monitoring the Efficiency and Health of a Hydraulically Driven System

A method of monitoring the efficiency of a hydraulically driven system comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving at a processor a plurality of current level data points during a process for an elongated member, wherein the current level data points comprise an electrical current level transmitted to a solenoid valve controlling flowrate for the hydraulic driven system;
• b. receiving at the processor a plurality of speed data points corresponding to the current level data points during the process for the elongated member;
• wherein the speed data points comprise a rotational speed generated on the elongated member by the hydraulically driven system;
• c. generating a ratio of current level to speed achieved at the current level;
• repeating steps (a)-(c) for a plurality of processes for a plurality of elongated members to generate a plurality of ratios;
• and
• comparing with the processor the plurality of ratios to determine if the ratio changes more than a predetermined amount over time.

A method for modifying the time delay of a stop signal for a set of tongs during a make-up process, comprising;

• accepting an expected delay time for transmitting the stop signal;
• receiving at a processor at least one hydraulic oil temperature data point;
• receiving at the processor at least one ambient air temperature data point;
• calculating with the processor a time compensation value based on the hydraulic oil temperature data point and the ambient air temperature data point;
• and
• modifying with the processor the expected delay time by the time compensation value.

A method of evaluating the efficiency of a hydraulically driven system comprising a hydraulic drive comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving at a processor a plurality of data points associated with an input for the hydraulic drive during a process for an elongated member;
• b. receiving at the processor a plurality of data points associated with an output of the hydraulic drive and corresponding to the input data points during the process for the elongated member;
• c. applying with the processor a low pass filter to the input data points;
• d. applying with the processor the low pass filter to the output data points;
• e. selecting with the processor one of the filtered input data points generated during the process;
• f. selecting with the processor one of the filtered output data points generated during the process;
• g. generating with the processor a ratio of the filtered input data point to the filtered output data point;
• repeating steps (a)-(g) for a plurality of processes for a plurality of elongated members to generate a plurality of ratios;
• and
• comparing with the processor the plurality of ratios to determine if the ratio changes over time.

A method of monitoring the efficiency of a hydraulically driven system comprising the steps of:

• a. receiving at a processor a plurality of current level data points during a process for an elongated member, wherein the current level data points comprise an electrical current level transmitted to a solenoid valve controlling pressure for the hydraulic driven system;
• b. receiving at the processor a plurality of speed data points corresponding to the current level data points during the process for the elongated member;
• wherein the pressure data points comprise a torque generated on the elongated member by the hydraulically driven system;
• c. generating a ratio of current level to pressure achieved at the current level;
• repeating steps (a)-(c) for a plurality of processes for a plurality of elongated members to generate a plurality of ratios;
• and
• comparing with the processor the plurality of ratios to determine if the ratio changes more than a predetermined amount over time.