Apparatus and methods for automatically testing a servo gauge in an inventory management system
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsJohn Joosten, Paul De Bruin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes initiating a test of a servo gauge by causing the servo gauge to attempt to move a displacer of the servo gauge, where the servo gauge uses a drum to move the displacer in a tank. The method also includes measuring a torque associated with the drum during or after the attempt to move the displacer and identifying a mechanical problem with the servo gauge based on the measured torque. For example, a stuck displacer can be identified when the measured torque exceeds an upper expected value. A lost displacer or a stuck drum can be identified when the measured torque is below a lower expected value.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- identifying, over a period of time, a change that is less than a threshold amount to a level of a displacer of a servo gauge in a tank;
- responsive to identifying the change that is less than the threshold amount and based on whether a measured level of material in the tank has remained constant or substantially constant for a specified period of time, automatically initiating a test of the servo gauge by causing the servo gauge to attempt to move the displacer of the servo gauge, the servo gauge using a drum to move the displacer in the tank;
- measuring a torque on the drum by measuring the torque on a shaft that imparts rotation to the drum during or after the attempt to move the displacer;
- and
- identifying a mechanical problem with the servo gauge based on the measured torque on the shaft, the mechanical problem including a mechanical failure of one or more components of the servo gauge.
An apparatus comprising:
- a drum configured to be rotated in order to raise and lower a displacer within a tank;
- a drive train configured to rotate the drum;
- a measuring unit configured to measure torque on the drum by measuring the torque on a shaft that imparts rotation to the drum;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- identify, over a period of time, a change to a level of the displacer that is less than a threshold amount;
- responsive to an identification of the change that is less than the threshold amount and based on whether a measured level of material in the tank has remained constant or substantially constant for a specified period of time, automatically initiate a test of the apparatus by causing the drive train and drum to attempt to move the displacer;
- and
- identify a mechanical problem with the apparatus based on the measured torque on the shaft during or after the attempt to move the displacer.
A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:
- identifying, over a period of time, a change that is less than a threshold amount to a level of a displacer of a servo gauge in a tank;
- responsive to identifying the change that is less than the threshold amount and based on whether a measured level of material in the tank has remained constant or substantially constant for a specified period of time, automatically initiating a test of the servo gauge by causing the servo gauge to attempt to move the displacer of the servo gauge, the servo gauge configured to use a drum to move the displacer in a tank;
- receiving measurements of a torque on the drum by measuring the torque on a shaft that imparts rotation to the drum;
- and
- identifying a mechanical problem with the servo gauge based on the measured torque on the shaft, the mechanical problem including a mechanical failure of one or more components of the servo gauge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.