Patent ID: 6411908
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: G05B,G07C

Abstract:
A method for estimating the remaining life in an operating machine comprising:accumulating symptom data, condition data and time stamp data from machines the same or similar to the operating machine, the symptom data and the condition data measured and recorded at various times ti, including time of failure t0 and failure mode; calculating remaining life values associated with each set of accumulated symptom data and condition data recorded for each machine of the machines; assembling the symptom data, the condition data, and the remaining life values into prognostic knowledge-bases according to machine type, operating environment, and failure mode; storing the prognostic knowledge-bases in matrix arrays to facilitate mathematical analyses for the purpose of predicting remaining life in the operating machine running in a certain environment, diagnosed with a certain failure mode, and presenting a set of symptom data (s*) and condition data; and analyzing data in a prognostic knowledge-base of the prognostic knowledge-bases appropriate to the operating machine for the purpose of estimating the remaining life in the operating machine and determining a statistical confidence bounds around the estimate of remaining life.