Lifeometer for measuring and displaying life systems/parts

{
  "publication_number": "US6490543B1",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B1",
  "title": "Lifeometer for measuring and displaying life systems/parts",
  "abstract": "Lifeometer and general operation algorithm of lifeometer. Optimal base reference life expectancy for the system/part being measured is provided. Lifeometer calculates and displays the rate of usage, the life used, or the life remaining. The information displayed is used by operators or users of the part or machine to make maintenance or service decisions. Lifeometer monitors and tracks/records internal operational parameters, environmental or external operational parameters or outside conditions at or near the system/part, and/or operating history of the system/part. If the system/part is at a life level to be serviced or replaced, then the system/part is serviced or replaced, and the lifeometer resets remaining life level and/or used life level to appropriate values. Lifeometer has a system/part monitor, a digital processor with virtual memory, a database in storage, a display system, and an environmental/outside conditions monitor. Lifeometer uses the internal operational parameters, the external operational parameters, and/or the operating history information for determining present rate of usage for a system/part. Lifeometer uses the rate of usage and amount of time operated to calculate present usage, and the lifeometer uses the present usage, the operating history, and the life expectancy information to determine and calculate used life and/or life remaining. Used life and/or life remaining is displayed on a display system (i.e. display 88, 100, or 108). Mathematical formula and equations for weighting and factoring in the internal operating parameters, the external operating parameters, and the operating history for determining rate of usage of the system/part are used with the present invention.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method for determine the useful life remaining for at least one component of a system comprising: a) connecting at least one computing device to at least one component of a system; b) entering an optimal lifespan for each of the at least one component of the system into the computing device; c) measuring at least one internal parameter of the system with the computing device; d) communicating the measured value for the at least one internal parameter; e) recording the at least one internal parameter and a time history measurement; f) calculating a life used value, according to a predetermined algorithm using weighted factors in the calculation, using the recorded measured value of the at least one internal parameter and the recorded time history measurements using the computing device; g) comparing the calculated life of the component to the optimal span provided and recorded and determining, using a predetermined algorithm, a value for whether the component needs to be serviced or replaced, according to a predetermine service or replacement schedule, using the computing device; h) displaying a value for at least one of the values selected from the group comprising optimal lifespan, life used, life remaining or rate of usage; i) if the computing device does not provide a value requiring the servicing or replacement of the component, then returning to step c of the method; j) if the computing device provides a value requiring the service or replacement of the component, then servicing or replacing the component, according to a predetermine service or replacement work scope; k) if the component is serviced or replaced, restarting the process from step b above; and l) further including the step of measuring at least one external parameter of the system with the computing device, said step of measuring at least one external parameter of the system accomplished either previous to, simultaneously, or subsequent to, the said step of measuring the at least one internal parameter of the system and the step of communicating the measured value for the at least one external parameter, said step of communicating the measured value of the at least one external parameter of the system accomplished either previous to, simultaneously, or subsequent to, the said step of communicating the measured value of the at least one internal parameter of the system and recording the at least one external parameter with a time history measurement into the computing device, said step of recording the measured value of the at least one external parameter of the system accomplished either previous to, simultaneously, or subsequent to, the said step of recording the measured value of the at least one internal parameter of the system and further calculating the life used value, according to the predetermined algorithm, including the recorded measured value of the at least one external parameter using the computing device, where the weighting factor for the external parameters is calculated using the equation: W EP =W Wind *W Ext.Temp *W Particulates *W Pressure *W Moisturer, wherein W EP is a weighted factor for external operating parameters, W Wind relates to wind velocity, W Ext.Temp relates to external temperature, W Particulates relates to external particulates, W Pressure relates to external pressure, and W Moisture relates to external moisture, and the weighting factor for the internal parameters is calculated using the equation: W IP =W Temp *W L *W S *W D, wherein W Ip is an internal weighted factor for internal operating parameters, W Temp relates to internal operating temperature, W L relates to operating load, W S relates to operating speed, W D relates to the operating distance and wherein said computing device further comprises a processor in communication with the component, at least one display system in communication with the at least one digital processor, and at least one manual data input system in communication with the at least one digital processor.",
    "2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of communicating the measured values is communicating by direct communication.",
    "3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of communicating the measured values is communicating by indirect communication.",
    "4. A device for determining the useful life remaining for components of a system comprising: a) at least one computing device that is connectable to at least one component of a system, said measuring, recording, and computational device further comprising, i) at least one digital processor, ii) at least one display system in communication with the at least one digital processor, said display system for displaying information to a user, iii) at least one manual data input system in communication with the at least one digital processor, said manual data input system for entering data into the computer system, iv) at least one internal parameter measuring device in communication with the at least one digital processor, said at least one internal parameter measuring device for measuring internal operating parameters of the system, b) said computer system further being capable of i) connecting the device to at least one component of the system; ii) entering an optimal lifespan for each of the at least one component of the system into the device; iii) measuring at least one internal parameter of the system with the device; iv) communicating the measured value for the at least one internal parameter; v) recording the at least one internal parameter with a time history measurement into the device; vi) calculating a life used value, according to a predetermined algorithm using weighted factors in the calculation, using the recorded measured value of the at least one internal parameter and the recorded time history measurements using the device; Vii) displaying a value for at least one of the values selected from the group comprising optimal lifespan, life used, life remaining or rate of usage; viii) comparing the calculated life of the component to the optimal span provided and recorded and determining, using a predetermined algorithm, a value for whether the component needs to be serviced or replace, according to a predetermine service or replacement work scope, using the device; ix) if the device does not provide a value requiring the servicing or replacement of the component, then returning to step b) iii) above; x) if the device provides a value requiring the service of replacement of the component, then servicing or replacing the component, according to a predetermine service or replacement work scope; xi) if the component is serviced or replaced then restarting the process from step b) ii) above; and xii) wherein the computing device further has at least one external parameter measuring device in communication with the at least one digital processor, said at least one internal parameter measuring device for measuring internal operating parameters of the system and said computing device is further capable of measuring at least one external parameter of the system with the device, said step of measuring at least one external parameter of the system accomplished either previous to, simultaneously, or subsequent to, the said step of measuring the at least one internal parameter of the system and communicating the measured value for the at least one external parameter, said step of communicating the measured value of the at least one external parameter of the system accomplished either previous to, simultaneously, or subsequent to, the said step of communicating the measured value of the at least one internal parameter of the system and recording the at least one external parameter, said step of recording the measured value of the at least one external parameter of the system accomplished either previous to, simultaneously, or subsequent to, the said step of recording the measured value of the at least one internal parameter of the system and further calculating the life used value, according to the predetermined algorithm, including the recorded measured value of the at least one external parameter using the device, wherein the weighting factor for the external parameters is calculated using the equation: W EP =W Wind *W Ext.Temp *W Particulates *W Pressure *W Moisturer, wherein W EP is a weighted factor for external operating parameters, W Wind relates to wind velocity, W Ext.Temp relates to external temperature, W Particulates relates to external particulates, W Pressure relates to external pressure, and W Moisture relates to external moisture, and the weighting factor for the internal parameters is calculated using the equation: W IP =W Temp *W L *W S *W D, wherein W Ip is an internal weighted factor for internal operating parameters, W Temp relates to internal operating temperature, W L relates to operating load, W S relates to operating speed, W D relates to the operating distance, and c) said computing device further being sufficient to calculate values of algorithms using as parameters to the algorithms at least some of the data received from the at least one internal parameter measuring device.",
    "5. The device according to claim 4 wherein the measured values are transmitted by direct communication.",
    "6. The device according to claim 4 wherein the measured values is transmitted by indirect communication."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present invention relates to a device and method for measuring life of systems/parts, and, in particular, to a lifeometer that accounts for internal and/or external parameters and/or operating history and respectively determines and measures life usage and remaining life of systems/parts.\n\nMany devices have various systems, components, and/or parts that operate over estimated life expectancies. These systems or parts are frequently related to thermodynamic systems, fluid mechanic systems, thermo-mechanical systems, or any other system/part with fluctuating or varying mechanical or external parameters. One common example are the various components, or parts, of an engine or a power plant. Many of these parts experience varying parameters, such as pressures and/or temperatures. The variations in these parameters affect the life span, or total amount of time that the part is safe and useful.\n\nGauges and meters monitor various operating parameters, levels, and conditions. For example, there are a variety of gauges or meters that monitor oil levels, temperature levels, vehicle speed, engine speed or revolutions per minute (RPM), or loads of an engine or power plant. The Systems and parts typically have generally set or fixed life expectancies or predetermined effective usage life or time that are typically determined and calculated based on engineering or laboratory operational tests. This is called the life expectance, lifetime, or life span of the component or part.",
  "cpc": [
    "G05B 19/4065",
    "G05B 2219/37249",
    "G07C 3/00"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "G05B 19/4065",
    "G05B 23/02",
    "G07C 3/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Scientific Monitoring Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Link C. Jaw"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1999-07-13",
  "publication_date": "2002-12-03",
  "grant_date": "2002-12-03",
  "priority_date": "1999-07-13",
  "application_number": "US-35280499-A",
  "family_id": "23386563",
  "cited_by_count": 161,
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}