Hydraulic device with state display function

Abstract

The invention relates to a hydraulic device (20) comprising a hydraulic unit (1 to 9), an electronic unit (10) and an interface (12, 13, 14, 14 '), the electronic unit (10) being designed to acquire measured values during operation of the hydraulic unit (1 to 9), to derive at least one individual indicator from the measured values, and to determine an overall indicator from the at least one individual indicator, and to determine the overall indicator at the interface (12, 13, 14, 14'). 14 ').

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a hydraulic device comprising a hydraulic unit, an electronic unit and an interface, a method for outputting an overall indicator of such a hydraulic device, and an electronic unit and a computer program for carrying out the method. Background Art

[0002] Hydraulic devices such as valves or hydraulic machines (pumps, motors) are becoming increasingly electronic or digital. In addition to control, digitization can also offer advantages for monitoring, especially for measuring value acquisition. Summary of the invention

[0003] The invention proposes a hydraulic device comprising a hydraulic unit, an electronic unit and an interface, a method for outputting an overall indicator of such a hydraulic device, and an electronic unit and a computer program for carrying out the method, having the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims and the following description.

[0004] The invention enables the device status to be determined and outputted autonomously in the device, independently of external systems. In particular, the device status ("device health") can be provided and visualized in the form of an overall indicator and / or in the form of individual indicators. The output can be implemented in a wired or wireless manner, and can also be implemented in a connection-oriented or connectionless manner.

[0005] The invention provides for the development of a diagnostic function for detecting and displaying device states, with the aim of detecting and displaying an impending fault or an operation not in compliance with specifications.

[0006] To this end, the invention utilizes local or device-side acquisition of device-internal data to determine the device status, wherein at least one, in particular multiple, individual indicators are formed from the acquired data, wherein an overall indicator is in turn determined or derived from at least one individual indicator.

[0007] In one embodiment, the overall indicator can be output on a display unit of the hydraulic device, for example a screen, a lighting element, an LED display or the like. This is a particularly simple but particularly easily recognizable form of output. In one embodiment, the overall indicator can classify the device status and for this purpose can include, for example, three categories, such as "good", "average" or "medium", "bad" or "critical". In particular, these categories can be well visualized with the aid of traffic light colors, where the colors are green ("good"), yellow ("medium") and red ("critical").

[0008] In one design, the overall indicator may be output at a wired or wireless interface of the hydraulic device (e.g., an IO-link interface or a Bluetooth interface). In this case, the overall indicator may be provided by means of connectionless communication (e.g., Bluetooth low energy (BLE) advertising). Alternatively or additionally, the overall indicator may be provided by means of connection-oriented communication (e.g., BLE point-to-point).

[0009] In one design, at least one individual indicator may be provided via connection-oriented communication (eg, BLE point-to-point).

[0010] Suitable hydraulic devices are all hydraulic devices including electronic units (computer units), in particular valves, hydraulic machines (pumps or motors) and hydraulic cylinders, which can be equipped with easily understandable condition monitoring and visualization concepts by means of the invention.

[0011] The electronic unit according to the invention of the hydraulic device is designed, in particular in terms of programming, to carry out the method according to the invention.

[0012] It is also advantageous to implement the method according to the invention in the form of a computer program or computer program product containing program codes for executing all method steps, in particular in the form of so-called firmware for the hydraulic device, since this results in particularly low costs, since the implemented electronic units are also used for other tasks and are therefore present in any case. Suitable data carriers for providing the computer program are in particular magnetic, optical and electrical storage devices, such as hard disks, flash memories, EEPROMs, DVDs, etc. It is also possible to download the program via a computer network (Internet, intranet, etc.).

[0013] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention are apparent from the description and the drawings.

[0014] It goes without saying that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0015] The invention is schematically shown on the basis of embodiments in the drawings and is described in greater detail below with reference to the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 An exemplary hydraulic device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown.

[0017] Figure 2 The diagram schematically shows how an overall indicator is generated from a plurality of individual indicators according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 3The example schematically shows the case where individual indicators are generated based on the supply voltage according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 An example for forming individual indicators according to an embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown.

[0020] Figure 5 The diagram schematically illustrates the cooperation of different units for outputting individual indicators and / or overall indicators according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] exist Figure 1 In the diagram, a hydraulic device designed as a valve is schematically shown in a partially sectional side view and is designated as a whole by 20. This is, for example, an electrically pilot-controlled three-way pressure reducing valve, which provides pressure protection for a load. Such a valve can be used in particular to reduce system pressure.

[0022] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the valve has a pilot control valve 1, a proportional magnet 2 and a main valve 3 with a main control slide 4. The main valve is equipped in a conventional manner with connections P, A, B and T. In the static position, i.e. without pressure in channel P, a spring 9 holds the main control slide 4 in the initial position (to the far right in the figure). The connection from A to T is thereby opened and the connection from P to A is blocked.

[0023] Due to the pressure connection of the connection P, hydraulic fluid such as control oil flows via the flow regulator 5 as well as the nozzle and the flow restriction gap to the pilot control valve 1 and subsequently to the channel T. The setting of the pressure to be reduced in the channel A is realized by the proportional magnet 2 in relation to the target value. As a function of the target value, the pilot control pressure is generated in the control chamber 6. As a result, the main control slide 4 moves to the right, so that the pressure fluid flows from P to A. The load pressure in the channel A is present via the channel 7 and the nozzle 8 in the spring chamber 9. If the pressure in the connection A rises to the set pressure of the pilot control valve, this leads to a movement of the main control slide 4 to the left. The pressure in the connection A is approximately equal to the set pressure at the pilot control valve.

[0024] However, if the pressure in connection A exceeds the set pressure of the pilot control valve, the main control slide 4 moves further to the left, resulting in an opening of the connection from A to T. The pressure present in connection A is thus limited to a set target value.

[0025] A computing unit or electronic unit 10 is located on the proportional magnet 2. The unit can be equipped with different electrical interfaces 12, such as analog interfaces (e.g., current or voltage interfaces for receiving target values) and / or digital interfaces for receiving and transmitting data (target values, actual values, etc.), such as IO links. In the current example, the pressure measuring sensor 11 is also directly mounted on the pilot control valve, but can also be integrated into the system externally via the interface 12. The pressure in channel P is detected by means of the pressure measuring sensor 11 and regulated independently of the volume flow by the electronic unit 10. The pressure in channel A can be used as an analog or digital actual value. If the target value is zero, the electronic unit 10 only applies a minimum control current to the proportional magnet 2 and establishes a minimum set pressure.

[0026] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the electronics unit 10 also has a radio interface, for example a Bluetooth interface or a Bluetooth adapter 13 (e.g. according to “Bluetooth Low Energy”). In particular, a digital diagnostic interface can thus be made available, by means of which the status of the valve can be displayed externally and configuration solutions can be carried out on the valve.

[0027] Furthermore, the electronic unit 10 has a display unit 14, here for example in the form of three luminous displays (e.g. LEDs), with which the state of the valve 20 can be displayed in a simple manner, for example in text, in symbols, in colors by different flashing frequencies and the like. Alternatively or in addition, the Bluetooth adapter 13 can also have a display unit 14'; here for example in the form of luminous displays such as LEDs. It is also possible to use a screen or the like.

[0028] In example from Figure 1 Signals are collected in the hydraulic device of the valve 20, from which any number of status indicators can be generated directly or by combining the signals with other data as individual indicators 201, 202, 203, ... These individual indicators can be different depending on the device design and valve series. Examples of individual indicators are shown in Figure 3 Shown and explained in.

[0029] Based on the available individual status indicators, an overall indicator 230 is determined with the aid of evaluation criteria, such as for example as described below. Figure 2As explained above. To form the overall indicator 230, the available individual indicators 201, 202, 203, ... can each be evaluated with a specific weighting factor 211, 212, 213, ... and the results can be combined (in particular added) in order to obtain an overall indicator raw value 220 that serves as the basis for forming the overall indicator 230. The final state of the overall indicator 230 is formed from this value based on configuration data (evaluation criteria) 221. For example, the calculated overall indicator raw value is converted into the category "good", "medium" or "critical" based on limit values ​​or ranges. Just as an example, for example, a value of >1000 can mean "critical", a value of <100 can mean "good" and a value in between can mean "medium".

[0030] like Figure 5 As shown in , for example, by means of the display unit 14 or 14 ', the overall indicator can be visualized directly on the device in color by means of a traffic light function with green ("good"), yellow ("medium") and red ("critical"). Alternatively or in addition, the overall indicator can be transmitted to an external device, for example to a computer or a mobile device. This can be done by means of the interface 12 and / or the Bluetooth adapter 13 in a connectionless manner (broadcasting) (for example, by means of BLE advertising) or in a connection-oriented manner (for example, by means of a BLE point-to-point connection).

[0031] Individual indicators can also be transmitted. These individual indicators enable a more detailed display of the composition of the overall indicator and of the health status of the valve. The data can be received and visualized by a suitable terminal, for example in the form of a dashboard (graphical user interface; a configuration of various graphical elements for visualization of data or management of the system) in a smartphone app. In the terminal, the display can also be enriched and expanded by other (external and internal) data (for example, by the input or detection of other environmental conditions or by supplementary data from the cloud). The terminal can also be used as a gateway and, for example, forwards determined "condition monitoring" data to various cloud services for storage or further processing.

[0032] Signals and individual indicators can also be used to generate other individual indicators with the aid of model calculations. These indicators are determined autonomously in the valve, independent of (external) systems (e.g., cloud-based AI systems). In addition, forwarding and further processing in external systems is possible.

[0033] In particular, very complex individual indicators and statements about the health of the equipment can be generated, ranging from compliance with equipment specifications to service life models to complex models of wear and service life of hydraulic and mechanical components (e.g., valves, pumps) of the entire system. More and more, increasingly complex individual indicators can be used to generate more meaningful overall indicators.

[0034] Simple solutions include counters and displays based on signals or measured values, which can be used basically for monitoring purposes. Typical examples are counting of switching processes and measuring of temperature trends, etc. In particular, threshold value comparisons can be performed here in order to determine indicators.

[0035] Slightly more complex solutions include simple service life models that work, for example, in a time-based manner or in a usage-based manner. In particular in the case of electronic devices, typical representations are so-called MTBF values ​​(mean time between failures) and, in the case of flash memories, counts of write operations. In particular, a threshold comparison can also be performed here in order to determine the indicator.

[0036] Even more complex solutions include, for example, more sophisticated service life models that take multiple variables into account simultaneously. Typical examples are methods for determining material fatigue or valve failure.

[0037] Figure 3 An embodiment is shown in which an indicator is generated based on the supply voltage. In this case, the supply voltage U of the valve is plotted over time t. The signal used as the basis can in particular be a voltage value of the supply voltage measured cyclically by means of an analog-to-digital converter. The signal can also be filtered by means of a low-pass filter before the evaluation.

[0038] As an example, four threshold values ​​#1 to #4 are determined as evaluation criteria, from which the signal range can be subdivided into five evaluation bands. The range between #2 and #3 is a signal range that is evaluated as a normal operating range 301. The range between #1 and #2 and between #3 and #4 is a signal range that is considered as a limit range 302 for operation, and this signal range can be the first indication that the operation of the device is close to the limit of the device specification. According to experience, this shows that it has an adverse effect on the service life and reliability of the device. The range below #1 and above #4 is a critical operating range 303, and the device should not be operated in this range.

[0039] According to an embodiment, these operating ranges are mapped onto individual indicators, so that operating range 301 corresponds to the value "good", operating range 302 corresponds to the value "medium" and operating range 303 corresponds to the value "critical". Together they serve to form an overall indicator which can then be visualized in color on a display of the valve (e.g. 14, 14'), for example by means of a traffic light function with green, yellow and red. Furthermore, the individual indicators can be transmitted digitally and visualized, for example, on a dashboard or generally on a display.

[0040] exist Figure 4 An example of the formation of individual indicators, which is here based on model calculations, is schematically shown in a block diagram.

[0041] Input parameters 420 and optionally configuration data 430 are fed to the model 410, from which a model result 440 is calculated. The model result, optionally filtered and scaled (block 440), may be fed to block 450 together with optional further configuration data 460 for forming individual indicators.

[0042] In particular, the input variables 420 include count values ​​and / or measured values, for example in the form of signal curves, histograms, counter readings, etc. Suitable measured variables are, in particular, temperature, voltage, current.

[0043] Configuration data 430 contain, for example, electronic device-specific adaptation parameters which may depend in particular on the components used (eg temperature stability, voltage resistance, etc. of capacitors etc.), as well as conversion factors for measured values, histograms, etc.

[0044] Configuration data 460 may include, among other things, evaluation criteria in order to calculate individual indicators from model results 440. The individual indicators may then be used to determine an overall indicator, such as in Figure 2 As shown in .

[0045] exist Figure 5 The block diagram schematically illustrates the cooperation of various units for outputting an overall indicator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] In particular, with the help of Figure 1 In the electronic unit 10 of the hydraulic valve shown, measured values ​​and counter values ​​500 are acquired and calculated to form individual indicators 501, from which an overall indicator 530 is determined, in particular as Figure 2 As shown in .

[0047] Both the individual indicators 501 and the overall indicator 530 can be transmitted by means of the Bluetooth adapter 13 to an external device 30, such as a tablet PC, a mobile phone, a remote server or PC, etc., on which suitable software is executed. The transmission can be realized in a so-called connectionless manner 540 or in a connection-oriented manner 545. In particular, the upper arrow 540 visualizes the connectionless transmission of the overall indicator, and the two lower arrows 545 show the connection-oriented transmission of the individual and overall indicators.

[0048] On the external device 30, the overall indicator 530 can be visualized, for example, in the device overview. In addition, the overall indicator 530 and the individual indicators 501 can be displayed in the setting program.

[0049] Alternatively or additionally, the overall indicator 530 can here be visualized on the display 14, 14', for example by means of a different color. This is a particularly simple but particularly easily recognizable output form with which the user can be informed directly of the overall status of the device.

Claims

1. A hydraulic device (20), comprising a hydraulic unit (1 to 9), an electronic unit (10) and an interface (12, 13, 14, 14'), wherein the electronic unit (10) is designed to acquire measured values ​​during operation of the hydraulic unit (1 to 9), derive at least one individual indicator (201, 202, 203, 501) from the measured values, determine an overall indicator (230, 530) from the at least one individual indicator (201, 202, 203, 501), and output the overall indicator at the interface (12, 13, 14, 14').

2. The hydraulic device (20) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic unit (10) is designed to output the at least one individual indicator (201, 202, 203, 501) at the interface (12, 13, 14, 14').

3. The hydraulic device (20) of claim 1 or 2, wherein the interface (12, 13, 14, 14') comprises a visual display (14, 14'), and wherein the output at the interface comprises a display on the visual display (14, 14').

4. The hydraulic device (20) according to claim 3, wherein the visual display (14, 14') has a screen and / or a lighting component.

5. The hydraulic device (20) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface (12, 13, 14, 14') comprises a wired interface (12) or a wireless interface (13), and wherein the output at the interface comprises a transmission to another device (30).

6. The hydraulic device (20) according to claim 5, wherein the interface (12, 13, 14, 14') comprises a Bluetooth interface (13).

7. A method for outputting an overall indicator (230, 530) of a hydraulic device (20) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein measured values ​​are acquired during operation of the hydraulic unit (1 to 9), wherein at least one individual indicator (201, 202, 203, 501) is derived from the measured values, wherein the overall indicator (230, 530) is determined by the at least one individual indicator (201, 202, 203, 501), and wherein the overall indicator (230, 530) is output at the interface (12, 13, 14, 14').

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the overall indicator (230, 530) categorizes an overall status of the hydraulic device (20).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the overall indicator (230, 530) comprises three different categories.

10. An electronic unit (10) belonging to a hydraulic device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising a processor configured such that it implements a method as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 9.

11. Computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method as claimed in claims 7 to 9.

12. A computer-readable data carrier having stored thereon a computer program as claimed in claim 11.

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