Systems and methods for tracking engine system configurations

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016305246-A1
Application number	US-201514686556-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 14, 2015
Priority date	Apr 14, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method includes retrieving an engine fingerprint of engine components, wherein, for each of the engine components, the engine fingerprint includes a first identifier uniquely identifying each of the engine components. The method also includes querying a plurality of the engine components configured to be disposed in an engine system. Further, the method includes determining if a first engine component is a replacement component, a new component, or an originally installed component based on the engine fingerprint, the first identifier, and the query.

First claim

1 . A system comprising:
an engine controller comprising a processor configured to:
retrieve an engine fingerprint of engine components, wherein for each of the engine components the engine fingerprint includes a first identifier uniquely identifying each of the engine components;
query a plurality of the engine components, wherein the plurality of the engine components are configured to be disposed in an engine system; and
determine if a first engine component is a replacement component, a new component, or an originally installed component based on the engine fingerprint, the first identifier, and the query, wherein the engine controller is configured to control the engine system.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine if the engine controller has been moved from a first engine system into a second engine system based on the engine fingerprint, the first identifier, and the query.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the engine components comprise an identification module having one or more identifiers.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to update the engine fingerprint to derive a second engine fingerprint based on a determination that at least one of the plurality of engine components is not on the engine fingerprint.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to transmit the second engine fingerprint to a database.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the database is configured to determine if at least one of the engine components in the second engine fingerprint is de-commissioned; and generate an operator alert if at least one of the engine components in the second engine fingerprint is de-commissioned.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the database is configured to determine if at least one of the engine components in the second engine fingerprint is included in a third engine fingerprint from a second engine controller, and request an update for the third engine fingerprint from the second engine controller.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine that the first engine component is the new component or the replacement component by determining that the first identifier is not included in the engine fingerprint.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the engine fingerprint comprises a list.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to create a second identifier identifying a second engine component and to include the second identifier in the engine fingerprint during an addition of the second engine component to the engine system.

11 . The system of claim 1 , comprising a reciprocating engine included in the engine system, and wherein the engine component comprises a reciprocating engine component configured to be disposed in the reciprocating engine.

12 . A method, comprising:
retrieving an engine fingerprint of engine components, wherein for each of the engine components the engine fingerprint includes a first identifier uniquely identifying each of the engine components; querying a plurality of the engine components, wherein the plurality of the engine components are configured to be disposed in an engine system; and determining if a first engine component is a replacement component, a new component, or an originally installed component based on the engine fingerprint, the first identifier, and the query.

13 . The method of claim 12 , comprising determining if the engine controller has been moved from a first engine system into a second engine system based on the engine fingerprint, the first identifier, and the query.

14 . The method of claim 12 , comprising receiving the first identifier associated with each of the engine components upon start up of the reciprocating engine system, based on a predetermined schedule, or any combination thereof.

15 . The method of claim 12 , comprising updating the engine fingerprint based on a determination that at least one of the plurality of engine components is not on the engine fingerprint; and transmitting the updated engine fingerprint to a database.

16 . The method of claim 12 , comprising updating the engine fingerprint based on a determination that at least one of the plurality of engine components is not on the engine fingerprint; and recording a timestamp of the update.

17 . The method of claim 12 , comprising updating the engine fingerprint based on a determination that at least one of plurality of engine components is not on the engine fingerprint and determining lifetime hours for each of the at least one of the plurality of engine components added to the engine fingerprint.

18 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising executable code comprising instructions configured to:
retrieve an engine fingerprint of engine components, wherein for each of the engine components the engine fingerprint includes an identifier uniquely identifying each of the engine components; query a plurality of the engine components, wherein the plurality of engine components are configured to be disposed in a reciprocating engine system; determine if a first engine component is a replacement component, a new component, or an originally installed component based on the engine fingerprint, the identifier, and the query; update the engine fingerprint based on the determination; and transmit the engine fingerprint to a database.

19 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18 , comprising instructions configured to control the reciprocating engine system.

20 . The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 18 , comprising instructions configured to determine whether at least one of the plurality of engine components is lacking an identifier and to assign an identifier to the at least one of the plurality of engine components.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Welch Lori Jean Meidenbauer
• Burant John M

Classifications

• F01B25/00 Primary

  Regulating, controlling or safety means (controlling combustion engines F02D) · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• Y02P90/30

  Computing systems specially adapted for manufacturing · CPC title

• G06Q10/20

  Administration of product repair or maintenance · CPC title

• G06Q10/06 Primary

  Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling · CPC title