Method, apparatus and control logic for damage reconfiguration of an electro-mechanical system

A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling computer means to ascertain a state of defectiveness relating to a station in an electro-mechanical system for moving a flowable entity, said station affecting the movement of said entity, said station including the combination of switching means and two sensing means, said two sensing means being on opposite sides of said switching means, said computer program logic comprising:

• means for enabling said computer means to establish a normal mode of said station and a fault mode of said station;
• means for enabling said computer means to appreciate the indication of a normal condition of said station by either of said two sensing means;
• means for enabling said computer means to appreciate the indication of a fault condition of said station by either of said two sensing means;
• following the indication of a fault condition by at least one of said two sensing means at any time during said normal mode, means for enabling said computer means to effect a change regarding said station from said normal mode to said fault mode;
• and
• following the simultaneous indication of a normal condition by both said sensing means at any time during said fault mode, means for enabling said computer means to effect a change regarding said station from said fault mode to said normal mode.

A method for effectuation in relation with an electro-mechanical system for motivating an entity through at least one pathway of said system, said system having at least one station, each said station including valvular means and a pair of sensing means on both sides of said valvular means;

• said method being for recognizing at least one defective condition within said electro-mechanical system, said method comprising associating, with each of at least one said station, a processor for effecting control with respect to said associated station, wherein with regard to said associated station:
• said processor receives information from each said sensing means;
• said processor regulates each said switching means;
• said processor provides for a normal mode and a defective mode;
• said defective mode includes an initial waiting period and a succession of plural steps;
• said initial waiting period precedes said succession of plural steps;
• each said step has a step waiting period and a step testing period, within each said step said step waiting period precedes said step testing period;
• as said succession of plural steps advances, the duration of each said step waiting period increases;
• as said succession of plural steps advances, the duration of each said step testing period decreases;
• during said normal mode, said valvular means is in an open position;
• during said initial waiting period, said valvular means is in an open position;
• during each said step waiting period, said valvular means is in a closed position;
• during each said step testing period, said valvular means is in an open position;
• said normal mode ends and said defective mode begins as a consequence of the occurrence, at any time during said normal mode, of a defective condition pertaining to at least one said sensing means;
• and
• said defective mode ends and said normal mode begins as a consequence of the simultaneous occurrence, at any time during said defective mode, of a normal condition pertaining to both said sensing means.

A method for effectuation in relation with an electro-mechanical system for motivating a flowable entity through at least one pathway of said system, said system having at least one station, each said station including valvular means and two sensing means wherein said valvular means is generally interposed between said two sensing means;

• said method being for recognizing at least one defective condition within said electro-mechanical system, wherein with regard to each of at least one said station said method comprises receiving information from each said sensing means and regulating said switching means, wherein based on said received information said regulating is described by the following:
• said system is considered to be in one of a normal mode and a defective mode;
• said defective mode includes an initial waiting period and a succession of plural steps;
• said initial waiting period precedes said succession of plural steps;
• each said step has a step waiting period and a step testing period;
• within each said step said step waiting period precedes said step testing period;
• as said succession of plural steps advances, the duration of each said step waiting period increases;
• as said succession of plural steps advances, the duration of each said step testing period decreases;
• during said normal mode, said valvular means is in an open position;
• during said initial waiting period, said valvular means is in an open position;
• during each said step waiting period, said valvular means is in a closed position;
• during each said step testing period, said valvular means is in an open position;
• said normal mode ends and said defective mode begins as a consequence of the occurrence, at any time during said normal mode, of a defective condition pertaining to at least one said sensing means;
• and
• said defective mode ends and said normal mode begins as a consequence of the simultaneous occurrence, at any time during said defective mode, of a normal condition pertaining to both said sensing means.