Method for estimating damage to an object, and method and system for control of use of the object

Abstract

Abstract of Disclosure Method and apparatus for estimating damage to an object, with at least a first parameter which corresponds to an operational state for the object and at least a second parameter which corresponds to a condition during the operational state being determined by at least one operation measurement, and with such measurement being carried out repeatedly. A total load that is defined by the total influence of the first and second parameters on the life of the object is then calculated. The invention also relates to a method and a system for controlling the use of the object.

Claims 
     
         1.   Method for estimating a life reducing damage to an object which is subject to a load during operation, wherein at least a first parameter which corresponds to an operational state which generates the damage to the object, and at least a second parameter which corresponds to a condition for or around the object that by itself is not able to generate the damage, but which makes the damage generated by the operational state worse, are determined by at least one operation, which is measurement, and wherein such measurement is being carried out repeatedly, wherein a total load which is defined by the total effect on the life of the object by the operational state and the operational condition is calculated in such a way that variations in the damage resistance of the object which the operational condition gives rise to are adjusted for, and in that the total load is expressed as a product of a function for the operational state and a function for the operational condition. 
     
     
         2.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the total load is calculated a plurality of times during the time when the measurements are carried out. 
     
     
         3.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the total load is calculated after each calculation of the first parameter. 
     
     
         4.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein calculated values for the total load are summed and the result is stored in a first field in a memory unit. 
     
     
         5.   The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the summing is carried out after each calculation of the first parameter. 
     
     
         6.   The method according to  claim 4 , wherein in a further calculation of the total load, the second parameter is assumed to be constant for a plurality of measurements of the first parameter, and in that the total load is calculated with the second parameter at the constant value, and in that calculated values for the total load are summed, and in that the result is stored in a second field in the memory unit. 
     
     
         7.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of load cycles for the first parameter are measured, and in that in a matrix in a memory unit which matrix comprises a plurality of different positions which each corresponds to a specific operational state and at least a specific condition, the number of load cycles is added in each respective position. 
     
     
         8.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and the second parameters are described as an exponential function. 
     
     
         9.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein during the calculation of the total load, the first parameter is related to the condition between a measured second parameter and a reference value for the second parameter. 
     
     
         10.   The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the reference value is based on actual tests of the object. 
     
     
         11.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of first parameters are measured in parallel, and the total load is described as a function where the life influence of each and everyone of the first parameters at the conditions are summed. 
     
     
         12.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the damage on the object which is a result of the total load is defined by the total load relative to an initial damage tolerance of the object. 
     
     
         13.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein after a certain period of time, a total life influencing damage of the object is calculated as the sum of each of the total loads which have been calculated before this point in time. 
     
     
         14.   The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a value of the remaining life of the product is calculated based on the total life influencing damage. 
     
     
         15.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the total load is calculated by means of linear partial damage theory. 
     
     
         16.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the total load is calculated by means of the Palmgren-Miner's partial damage theory. 
     
     
         17.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first parameter is measured with a higher frequency than the second parameter. 
     
     
         18.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the object is a rotating means. 
     
     
         19.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the object is arranged in a vehicle. 
     
     
         20.   The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the object is a component in the gear box of the vehicle. 
     
     
         21.   The method according to  claim 19 , wherein the object is a portion of a cardan shaft, which defines an angular shift in the longitudinal direction of the shaft. 
     
     
         22.   The method according to  claim 19 , wherein a result of the calculation of the total load is stored in a position in a memory unit of the vehicle. 
     
     
         23.   The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and the second parameters are calculated from only one measured value, by means of a mathematical algorithm. 
     
     
         24.   The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the mathematical algorithm is the Rainflow method. 
     
     
         25.   The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the total load is calculated by means of a function which adjusts for the influence of the average tension on the effect of the amplitude of the tension. 
     
     
         26.   The method according to  claim 23 , wherein the object is a part of a supporting structure, such as a frame in a mechanical device such as a vehicle or a vessel. 
     
     
         27.   Method for controlling the use of an object which is susceptible to damage, in which a number of operational parameters of the object are measured, and damage which has been done to the object is calculated based on the measured operational parameters, wherein the remaining life is predicted based on the calculated damage, and, based on the prediction, a decision is made as to future operation of the object. 
     
     
         28.   Method for controlling the use of an object which is susceptible to damage, with a number of operational parameters of the object being measured, and damage which has been done to the object being calculated based on the operational parameters, wherein the remaining life is predicted based on the calculated damage, and the object is valued based on the predicted remaining life of the object. 
     
     
         29.   Method for controlling the use of an object which is susceptible to damage, with a number of operational parameters of the object being measured, and damage which has been done to the object being calculated based on the operational parameters, wherein the damage is used as the basis for dimensioning future objects which are intended to be exposed to similar operation. 
     
     
         30.   Method for controlling the use of an object which is susceptible to damage, with a number of operational parameters of the object being measured, and damage which has been done to the object is calculated based on the operational parameters, wherein the calculated damage is used for validating a simulation model of the object in operation. 
     
     
         31.   Method for controlling the use of an object which is susceptible to damage, with a number of operational parameters of the object being measured, and a damage caused to the object being calculated based on the measured operational parameters, and wherein a user of the object is billed for damage which has been done to the object. 
     
     
         32.   The method according to  claim 31 , wherein that a signal comprising information about the operational parameters, damage which has been done, or remaining life, is transmitted from a transmitter which is arranged in connection to the object to a receiver in a base station located remotely from the object, for a decision regarding measures to be taken for the object. 
     
     
         33.   The method according to  claim 31 , wherein the object is arranged in a vehicle. 
     
     
         34.   Method for controlling the use of an object which is susceptible to damage, with a number of operational parameters of the object being measured, and damage which has been done to the object being calculated based on the measured operational parameters, wherein information regarding damage which has been done to the object is presented to a driver of the vehicle. 
     
     
         35.   A system for communication between a base station and at least one remotely positioned stationary or mobily fixed machine via transmitting and receiving means for checking the operational status of the machine, with the machine comprising an object that is susceptible to damage and wherein the system further comprises a control unit, means for measuring a number of operational parameters of the object, and means for calculating damage done to the object based on the measured operational parameters. 
     
     
         36.   The system according to  claim 35 , wherein the system further comprises a unit arranged to take steps for the future operation of the machine/object based on the calculation. 
     
     
         37.   The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the unit for taking the steps is a station for spare parts, maintenance or restoration. 
     
     
         38.   The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the unit for taking steps or measures is a facility for producing new objects. 
     
     
         39.   The system according to  claim 36 , wherein the unit for taking steps or measures is an actuator arranged for influencing the operational condition of the object. 
     
     
         40.   The system according to  claim 35 , wherein the system comprises means for storing a result of the damage calculation. 
     
     
         41.   The system according to  claim 35 , wherein the machine is arranged in a vehicle, a vessel or a transport means which uses rails. 
     
     
         42.   The system according to  claim 35 , wherein the transmitting and receiving means are arranged for transmitting information relating to the status of the machine via a transmission signal in the form of radio waves or via satellite communication.