Self-contained steam trap monitor
US6571180B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 1997 |
| Grant date | May 27, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 13, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16T1/48
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A self-contained system to continuously monitor a mechanism used to process, control or regulate fluid flow or pressure and provide a continuing indication of the status or condition of the monitored mechanism. A specific form of the invention employs a low frequency sonic-to-electrical transducer that monitors opening and closing of a disk-type steam trap. The detected sonic signal is processed and sent to a microprocessor that is programmed to develop a time-based, baseline data set representative of normal operation of the steam trap in the environment in which it operates. The baseline data set is compared with the data from on-line operations of the steam trap. As the environment and the steam trap operation change during normal on-line operations, the baseline data set is updated to change with the changing environment and the changing steam trap operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.