Pressure Container Usage Monitoring With External Data Verification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing pressure container systems in motor vehicles, designed for specific nominal use, face increased failure probabilities when used beyond their intended limits, leading to unreliable operation due to lack of effective monitoring and potential data manipulation.
Innovation Solution
A device and method for monitoring the usage of pressure container systems, which involves local and external data comparison using sensors and blockchain protection to ensure accurate tracking of usage data, initiating measures for safe operation and maintenance when nominal limits are exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressure container systems are designed for specific nominal use only, then safety and reliability are improved, but operational flexibility and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of usage parameters (pressure cycles, temperature, time) and compares them against nominal limits before failures occur. The control unit continuously tracks usage data and initiates protective measures when thresholds are approached, preventing both premature failures and unauthorized beyond-nominal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where usage data is collected from sensors, compared against nominal limits by the control unit, and used to generate alerts or shutdown commands. This closed-loop feedback ensures the system operates within safe parameters while providing operators with information about remaining service life and usage status.
2Loss of time
If usage data is stored locally in the vehicle, then accessibility and response time are improved, but data integrity and security are worsened due to potential manipulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification layer where usage data stored locally is periodically compared against reference data from external sources (manufacturers, regulatory bodies). This intermediary check prevents manipulation by verifying data integrity without requiring constant external connectivity, thus maintaining both accessibility and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary validation of usage data against predetermined nominal limits and reference values before the data can be used for operational decisions. This preliminary check ensures data integrity is verified in advance, preventing manipulated data from affecting system operation.
3Reliability
If monitoring systems continuously track usage parameters, then safety and reliability are improved, but energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system implements periodic sampling of usage parameters rather than continuous monitoring. The control unit measures pressure, temperature, and cycle count at defined intervals and compares these periodic readings against nominal limits, reducing energy consumption while maintaining adequate monitoring effectiveness for safety-critical applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing sensor infrastructure and onboard computing resources for monitoring tasks, rather than requiring dedicated monitoring hardware. This self-service approach leverages already-available components to perform monitoring functions, minimizing additional energy consumption and device complexity.
4Productivity
If pressure container systems operate beyond nominal use limits, then productivity and operational flexibility are improved, but safety and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by implementing protective measures before beyond-nominal operation can cause damage. The control unit continuously monitors usage parameters and automatically initiates protective actions (alerts, warnings, shutdowns) when approaching or exceeding nominal limits, preventing the harmful effects of overuse before they manifest.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system provides continuous feedback to operators about usage status relative to nominal limits. When usage approaches or exceeds predetermined thresholds, the system generates alerts and warnings that feed back to operators, enabling them to take corrective action before safety-critical failures occur, thus balancing productivity with safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for monitoring the use of a pressure container system of a piece of equipment, such as a motor vehicle, is designed to ascertain equipment-side usage data relating to previous use of the pressure container system. The device is additionally designed to compare the equipment-side usage data with equipment-external usage data relating to the previous use of the pressure container system and to initiate one or more measures relating to further use of the pressure container system on the basis of the comparison.