5129results about "Structural/machines measurement" patented technology

A method for monitoring the health of a system comprises performing at each of a plurality of times the steps of:

constructing a condition signature from a plurality of condition indicators including (a) a plurality of vibration measurements acquired from the system or (b) one or more vibration measurements and one or more performance parameter measurements acquired from the system;

predicting a normal signature from a model defining one or more inter-dependencies between said condition indicators, the normal signature corresponding to the condition signature for a healthy system;

comparing the condition signature with the normal signature; and

registering an event if the condition signature differs from the normal signature by more than a predetermined threshold.

A method monitors a weld signature of a welding apparatus by processing the signature through a neural network to recognize a pattern, and by classifying the weld signature in response to the pattern. The method determines if the weld signature is sufficiently different from training weld signatures stored in a database, and records the weld signature in the database when sufficiently different. The method tests a weld joint to determine values of different weld joint properties, and then correlates the signature with the weld data to validate the database. An apparatus monitors a weld signature during a welding process to predict welding joint quality, and includes a welding gun, a power supply, and a sensor for detecting welding voltage, current, and wire feed speed (WFS). A neural network receives the welding process values and classifies the signature into different weld classifications each corresponding to a predicted welding joint quality.

A method controls a welding apparatus by using a neural network to recognize an acceptable weld signature. The neural network recognizes a pattern presented by the instantaneous weld signature, and modifies the instantaneous weld signature when the pattern is not acceptable. The method measures a welding voltage, current, and wire feed speed (WFS), and trains the neural network using the instantaneous weld signature when the instantaneous weld signature is different from each of the different training weld signatures. A welding apparatus for controlling a welding process includes a welding gun, a power supply for supplying a welding voltage and current, and a sensor for detecting values of a plurality of different welding process variables. A controller of the apparatus has a neural network for receiving the welding process variables and for recognizing a pattern in the weld signature. The controller modifies the weld signature when the pattern is not recognized.

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for determining an end of life state for an electromechanical surgical system. The system includes an end effector configured to perform at least one function and a shaft assembly being arranged for selectively interconnecting the end effector and a hand-held surgical instrument. The hand-held surgical instrument includes an instrument housing defining a connecting portion for selectively connecting with the shaft assembly. The hand-held surgical instrument also includes a motor assembly, a sensor array configured to obtain an operational parameter of the hand-held surgical instrument, and a controller configured to control operation of the hand-held surgical instrument based on the operational parameter obtained by the sensor array.

A disk drive is disclosed for executing a drive operating program and a manufacturing program during a manufacturing process. An external test system executes a test program comprising platform independent executable code segments and host interface executable code segments. The external test system for executing the host interface executable code segments to send disk commands to a development drive. The manufacturing program comprises the platform independent executable code segments of the test program and disk access executable code segments. The drive operating program comprises a disk access procedure for processing disk commands and a disk access vector for calling the disk access procedure. The disk access executable code segments of the manufacturing program execute disk commands by calling the disk access procedure of the drive operating program through the disk access vector.

System and method for online configuration of a device for a measurement system. The user accesses a server with a client computer over a network and specifies a task. If the user lacks the hardware to perform the task, hardware specifications are sent to a manufacturer, who sends the hardware to the user. The hardware may be re-configurable hardware (a programmable hardware element or processor/memory based device). Software products (programs and/or data) for configuring measurement system hardware (and/or software) to perform the task may be sent to the user. The hardware may be configured automatically or by the user. The software products may include programs usable by the measurement system to perform the task, configuration information for configuring the client computer or other measurement device, and/or hardware configuration program(s) for configuring a programmable hardware element. Thus, hardware and/or software specific to the user's application are be provided to the user.

Methods for monitoring a wellsite include transporting a mobile monitoring platform to a wellsite. The mobile monitoring platform includes a transportable chassis including two or more wheels; a mast supported by the platform and extendable vertically upward from the chassis; a transceiver including a wireless modem and an antenna; a controller adapted to communicate with the transceiver; and a power module electrically coupled to at least one of the transceiver and the processor. The methods include wirelessly receiving, at the transceiver, wellsite data from a plurality of sensors at or adjacent the wellsite; and wirelessly transmitting, in real-time, the wellsite data to a remote monitoring station

An analyte measurement system is provided having sensors with embossed test chamber channels. In one embodiment, the sensors are elongate test strips for in vitro testing, each test strip having a substrate, at least one electrode, an embossed channel in the electrode, and lidding tape covering at least a portion of the embossed channel. Methods of manufacture are also disclosed for filling the sensor channels with reagent, and for trimming the ends of the sensors to eliminate the need for a calibration code during use of the sensors with a meter.

An objective is to identify the health state of mechanical equipment and provide information usable for determining maintenance work timing or the like. A health management system includes a time-series data acquisition unit configured to acquire multi-dimensional sensor data and environmental data from mechanical equipment; a first discrimination unit configured to quantify the equipment state of the mechanical equipment by a statistical method using normal data as learning data; a second discrimination unit configured to quantify the health state indicating the performance or quality of the mechanical equipment by a statistical method using normal data; and an output unit configured to display and/or output to the outside the quantified equipment state and health state.

A fault is located in a power distribution system having a line frequency. The power distribution system includes a plurality of phases, at least one feeder, and each feeder includes at least one segment. The fault is located by detecting a faulted phase from the plurality of phases of the power distribution system. A measurement signal having a measurement frequency is injected into the detected faulted phase, the measurement frequency being a different frequency than the line frequency. The fault location is determined for a selected segment based on at least one measured residual current corresponding to the injected signal and a predetermined relative impedance of the power distribution system.

A system for measuring ground reaction force and analyzing the performance of an athlete in which force sensors are located in the athletes shoe and a three dimensional accelerometer is located adjacent the athletes centre of gravity and the signals from the accelerometer and the force sensors are recorded and used to derive the three orthogonal components of the ground reaction force (GRF). An artificial neural network is used to derive the three orthogonal components of GRIF

A read-write processing device communicates with an RFID tag provided with a semiconductor memory to carry out read and write processes. A communication processing device executes communication processes with the RFID tag, exchanging commands and responses, and a data creating device creates safety data indicative of a margin of safety of communication based on communication results by the communication processing device. The created safety data are displayed or outputted to the outside by an output device.

Methods are disclosed for nondestructive testing and measuring the structural health of prestressed concrete structures, such as slabs, columns, girders, bridges, towers, elevated storage tanks, silos, cooling towers, wind power generation towers, liquefied gas storage tanks, nuclear power containment buildings, and the like. Measurements are made as the structure undergoes tensioning and detensioning operations. By measuring actual movements of cardinal points on the structure, in an absolute three-dimensional coordinate system, and comparing the measurements to a model—as tension on a tendon is changed—a margin of safety is assured. High accuracy measurements are made by electronic distance measurement (EDM) instruments over hundreds of meters, which yield coordinates of cardinal points with an uncertainty of the order of one part per million. The methods are proposed as possible alternatives to prior failures of post-tensioned concrete, including the Las Lomas Bridge, the Kapiolani Interchange On-Ramp, Turkey Point Unit 3 Nuclear Power Plant, and Crystal River Unit 3 Nuclear Power Plant. An extensive review of the most closely related prior arts is included.

A system for inspecting railroad ties in a railroad track includes a light generator, an optical receiver and a processor. The light generator is oriented to project a beam of light across the railroad track while moving along the railroad track in a travel direction. The optical receiver is oriented to receive at least a portion of the beam of light reflected from the railroad track and configured to generate image data representative of a profile of at least a portion of the railroad track. The processor is configured to analyze the image data by applying one or more algorithms configured to find boundaries of a railroad tie and determine one or more condition metrics associated with the railroad tie.

Methods and systems for measuring and gathering data relating to publication usage by participants in publication readership studies. Some methods and systems employ portable monitors carried by participants of the studies along with publications fitted with various devices, such as piezoelectric transducers, RFID tags and others devices and circuits.

The system comprises preprocessing board connecting key phase signal to fast signal, key phase board controlling whole period of sampling, high speed collecting board for vibration signal, low speed data collecting board for graded signal. In the method, they are connected to down level server to fulfil data collection, signal analysis, and automatic identification as well as picking up characteristic parameters of operatino of machine set and down level server can make high speed communication with up level server through network card or IP protocol as up level server is equipped with an intelligent reasoning machine integrating professional knowledge rule, fuzzy logic and neural network in one component to carry trend prediction and intelligent diagnosis for operation and failure of machine.

A method and apparatus for providing a topographical map of the bottom of a patient's rear foot with the foot in a semi-weight bearing condition and in the neutral position. A flexible membrane defines the top of an air cushion that captures the patient's foot in the neutral position when the air pillow is inflated. The membrane also conforms to the bottom of the foot. A three-dimensional scanner located below the membrane measures the distances to the bottom of the membrane over an array of positions. A manufacturing facility converts these measurements into information by which computer numerical controlled equipment machines an orthotic insert for the patient's footwear.

A universal micro-satellite integrated test platform based on PXI system is formed by interconnecting tested object, direct measurement-control layer, central control management layer and terminal monitoring layer to each other.

A pipe-inspection system (100) is provided. The system (100) is made up of a transmission cluster (104) incorporating a transmission unit (800) between first and second wheeled guidance units (400), and a reception cluster (104″) incorporating a reception unit (1400) between third and fourth wheeled guidance units (400). Each wheeled guidance unit (400) contains a plurality of wheels (416) radially disposed in each of a plurality of planes (420, 426, 432). Transmission unit (800) contains a transmission device (1004). Reception unit (1400) contains a reception device (1604). The system (100) is compatible with RFEC inspection techniques to inspect a pipeline (102), where transmission and reception devices (1004, 1604) are an RFEC transmitter and receiver, respectively. A lead line (106) is attached to the first guidance unit (400) to move the system (100) in a forward direction (108). Similarly, a trail line (110) is attached to the fourth guidance unit (400″) to move the system (100) in a reverse direction (112).

An internal inspection unit for pipe has ultrasonic transducers that inspect weld volume, weld root, and wall thickness. The ultrasonic transducers are mounted to a portion of the inspection unit that is rotatable, but no more than one full revolution. One of the units has independently movable shoes for each separate transducer. The shoes are moved between retracted and extended positions by pneumatic cylinders. The other unit has shoes that support more than one transducer, the shoes being biased outwardly by springs.

Method of product evaluation comprising the steps of applying at least one substance to a surface of an artificial substrate to form a substance-coated surface, wherein the substrate surface demonstrates at least one physical property selected from the group consisting of a total surface energy of from about 15 mJ/m² to about 50 mJ/m², a polar component of the total surface energy of from about 0 mJ/m² to about 15 mJ/m², a zeta-potential at a pH of about 5.0 of from about −30 mV to about 30 mV, and combinations thereof, and performing at least one analysis of the substance-coated surface.

A pipe scanner for non-destructively scanning an extended length of the circumference of a pipe along an axial dimension. The pipe scanner includes a collar sized to fit around the outer circumference of the pipe. Wheels supported on the collar ride on the surface of the pipe while maintaining a space between the inner surface of the collar and the outer surface of the pipe. A track extends circumferentially around the collar for guiding a circumferential drive unit that rides on the track and carries a non-destructive sensor for monitoring the surface of the pipe as the circumferential drive unit moves around the track. An axial drive unit is connected to the collar, having a plurality of circumferentially spaced drive wheels in contact with the pipe for moving the collar along the extended length.

A test and analysis system of digital machine process-dynamics character comprises hardware prepared as arranging acceleration transducer at tail end of cutter, connecting hammer and said transducer to electric charge amplifier being connected to data collector and carrying out data transmission with computer by said collector; and software formed by man-machine interactive boundary and module of data collection, data play-back, hammering test, transmission function analysis, parameter identification, noise test and analysis.

Systems and methods for monitoring operation of a pump, including verifying operation or actions of a pump, are disclosed. A baseline profile for one or more parameters of a pump may be established. An operating profile may then be created by recording one or more values for the same set of parameters during subsequent operation of the pump. A value for a goodness of fit measure comparing the operating profile and baseline profile can be established. If the goodness of fit measure is insufficient, an alarm may be sent or another action taken, for example the pumping system may shut down, etc. An example goodness of fit measure is an R-squared measure.

The invention relates to a device and method for automatic test and fault diagnosis of a plane audio integrated system, which are used for maintaining the plane audio integrated system of Airbus series and Boeing series. The method comprises the steps of: operating test software by an industrial personal computer to provide a man-machine interaction environment, and carrying out analysis, computation and statistic treatment on acquired data so as to further complete fault diagnosis; compiling a fault diagnosis program according to all circuit diagrams and test point information of the audio integrated system, provided by a CMM (Capability Maturity Model for Software) manual, and clearing up injected data information on faults, excitation, response and the like to form a fault record in a fault dictionary; in the fault diagnosis program, providing the positions of testing points in need of manual measurement and corresponding test information; testing the testing points in need of manual measurement by detection personnel to confirm a fault area, and displaying corresponding diagnosis results. The device and method provided by the invention can commonly meet the requirement of the automatic test for two types of audio integrated systems including the AMU (Audio Management Unit) of Airbus series planes and the REU (Remote Electronic unit) of the Boeing series planes, and are favorable for reducing the labor intensity of maintenance personnel and improving maintenance efficiency.

The invention relates to a network system for monitoring valves in a facility, which comprises: (a) a plurality of valve monitoring devices—VMDs, each monitoring device is affixed to a valve, and comprises: (a.1) a sensor for sensing the status of the valve; (a.2) short range wireless communication unit for transmitting the status as sensed by said sensor, and for transmitting the status as sensed, together with an identification of said device, to one or more Valve Device Readers—VDRs located within said short range; (a.3) mechanism for affixing the device to the monitored valve in a manner which does not disturb the normal operation of the valve; and (a.4) one or more VDRs for receiving the transmission of the valve status and MD identification from said VMDs, and for forwarding the same to a server by Ethernet communication.

A device for inspecting the inside of an underground pipe line which makes it possible to search for cavities on the outside of the underground pipe over the entire internal peripheral surface of the underground pipe, that is, not only upward of the underground pipe, but also toward both sides and downward thereof, to obtain detailed images of the inner peripheral surface of the pipe line without using a complex mechanism, and to display patterns of cracks and irregularities on the inner peripheral surface of the underground pipe by three-dimensional convergence images. The device comprises a pipe line internal self-propelled vehicle and an on-ground control unit, and the pipe line internal self-propelled vehicle is provided with a radar antenna, a camera equipped with a fisheye lens, a gyro, a laser sensor, and an infrared encoder.

The invention discloses a testing device and a method of ground deformation caused by simulating metro shield tunnel construction, and belongs to the technical field of underground engineering experiments. The overall process that similar materials are used for simulating soil layer structures, a tunnel simulating device is used for simulating tunnel structures, and a ground loss simulation system is used for simulating disturbed soil around a tunnel and ground loss is included. After the installation of the device is completed, the ground loss simulation system is started, an airtight water bag which is filled with water by using a pressure water pump in advance is drained step by step through a drain pipe, and water discharge is accurately controlled through a water stop valve and a measuring tank. Moreover, the water discharge is recorded, the ground loss is simulated, a corresponding stratum is deformed, and then the earth surface subsides, the surface subsidence is accurately measured through a dial indicator, and a measured value is recorded. Stratum loss ratio is calculated out through conversion, and the stratum loss ratio and the subsidence measured value are made into forms and images together, and thereby the relation between the stratum loss ratio under different stratum structures and the surface subsidence can be measured out simply, conveniently and accurately.

A failure diagnosis apparatus for a refrigerating cycle had a problem that it has a low precision because the fluid is treated, and it is difficult to detect a foretaste of failure, absorb individual differences of real machine in the failure determination, and determine a cause of failure. Also, no cheap and practical diagnosis apparatus and method are provided. A plurality of instrumentation amounts concerning the refrigerant such as the pressure and temperature of the refrigerating cycle apparatus or other instrumentation amounts are detected, the state quantities such as composite variables are acquired by making the arithmetic operation on these instrumentation amounts, and whether the apparatus is normal or abnormal is judged employing the arithmetic operation results. If learning is made during the normal operation, a current state is judged, and if learning is made by compulsorily performing the abnormal operation, or if the abnormal operating condition is operated during the current operation, a failure foretaste such as a critical operation can be made from a change in the Mahalanobis distance. Thereby, the secure diagnosis can be implemented with a simple constitution.

A transformative periodic structure includes a plurality of elastomeric or elasto-plastic periodic solids that experiences a transformation in the structural configuration upon application of a critical macroscopic stress or strain. The transformation alters the geometric pattern changing the spacing and the shape of the features within the transformative periodic structure. For the case of elastomeric periodic structures upon removal of the critical macroscopic stress or strain, the transformative periodic solids are recovered to their original form. For the case of elasto-plastic periodic structures upon removal of the critical macroscopic stress or strain, the new pattern is retained. Polymeric periodic solids can be recovered to their original form by heating or plasticizing.