Patent ID: 8271233
Filing Date: 2012-09-18
Classification: F01D,F02K

Abstract:
1. A method of isolating a fault condition from many potential fault conditions comprising: receiving a plurality of measured parameters indicative of a physical operating condition with a receiver; generating a first group of potential faults with a controller receiving data from the receiver based on the plurality of input measured parameters by clustering individual potential faults together responsive to similarities in fault behavior within a defined range according to a defined acceptance criteria, wherein the defined acceptance criteria includes a capability of identifying a difference discernable by a fault isolator between at least two of the potential faults within the generated group meets; selecting a first fault isolator with the controller from a plurality of fault isolators based on performance of the first fault isolator in differentiating between potential faults within the first group of potential faults; applying the first isolator with the controller to the first group of potential faults to determine that at least one of the potential faults within the first group is not possible based on an evaluation conducted by the first fault isolator in differentiating between potential faults such that a second group that includes fewer potential faults than the first group of potential faults is generated based on an evaluation of each of the potential faults within the first group conducted by the first fault isolator; and communicating a fault condition with a communication device responsive to the redefined group of potential faults including one potential fault.