Robert J Osborne

US Patent:

51329204, Jul 21, 1992

Filed:

Feb 16, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/156064

Inventors:

James C. Bellows - Maitland FL
Robert L. Osborne - Winter Springs FL
Avelino J. Gonzalez - Winter Springs FL
Christian T. Kemper - Silver Spring MD

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G06F 1520
G06G 754

US Classification:

36455101

Abstract:

The system of the present invention uses the importance of a piece of malfunctioning equipment, the severity and the confidence level in a diagnosis to determine repair priority of the equipment by obtaining the product (46) of the confidence level (CF), importance (IMP) and severity (SEV). The these variables are determined by expert system rules. The severity is the reciprocal (88) of the time to failure. The importance (44) is the cost to repair the maximum damage when the malfunction continues. A malfunction can affect several pieces of equipment in combination, the severity and importance associated with each piece is combined (70) with the confidence and used to determine the repair priority. When the diagnosis of a malfunction is by malfunctioning sensors, the expected equipment life (40) and the availability (86) of sensors that provide a partial backup are considered in prioritizing sensor as well as equipment repair. When a primary piece of equipment is backed up (100), the effect of both pieces of equipment failing (106) is considered in prioritizing the repair.

US Patent:

54164303, May 16, 1995

Filed:

Apr 28, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/054572

Inventors:

Michael Twerdochlib - Oviedo FL
Robert L. Osborne - Winter Springs FL

Assignee:

Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. - Palo Alto CA

International Classification:

G01R 3134
G01R 3112

US Classification:

324772

Abstract:

The present invention monitors RF emissions within a turbine generator. A coupling device provides a connection between preexisting thermal sensor leads and an RF monitor. Preexisting thermal sensor leads are connected to thermocouples and resistance temperature detectors during manufacture of the turbine generator. The RF monitor is used in the present invention to monitor RF emissions flowing in the thermal sensor leads thereby avoiding a need to retrofit RF sensors on the generator. The present invention also provides a capacitive coupling means between the thermal sensor leads and the RF monitor. The present invention also provides an inductive means to reduce interference from RF emissions having sources external to the generator.

US Patent:

48765058, Oct 24, 1989

Filed:

May 27, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/199633

Inventors:

Robert L. Osborne - Winter Springs FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01B 714
G01B 730
G01R 3302

US Classification:

324208

Abstract:

A turbine blade shroud clearance monitoring system is comprised of a plurality of sensors for measuring the clearance between the stationary portion of the turbine and the shroud segments in each turbine blade row. The measurements are averaged by a microprocessor to produce an average clearance value for each shroud segment. The microprocessor then analyzes the average clearance values for each shroud segment to determine when the clearance between a shroud segment and the stationary portion of the turbine is approaching a critical value. Output responsive to the foregoing analysis is then generated.

US Patent:

48965375, Jan 30, 1990

Filed:

Jun 2, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/201225

Inventors:

Robert L. Osborne - Winter Springs FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01H 1100

US Classification:

73660

Abstract:

A shrouded turbine blade vibration monitoring system is comprised of a plurality of sensors for sensing a profile of a turbine blade row. A microprocessor compares the sensed profile to an expected profile of the turbine blade row to detect motion of the turbine blades due to vibration. The microprocessor then generates an operator alarm and trips the turbine in response to the detection of unacceptable vibration of the turbine blades.

US Patent:

49515004, Aug 28, 1990

Filed:

Jul 26, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/385753

Inventors:

Michael Twerdochlib - Oviedo FL
Robert L. Osborne - Winter Springs FL
Paul F. Rozelle - Fern Park FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G01M 1500

US Classification:

73119R

Abstract:

A method of determining the untwist of turbine blades under dynamic conditions is comprised of the steps of producing a first pair of blade passing event signals in response to a blade tip's movement past a pair of fixed sensors. The signals comprising the first signal pair are compared to one another to establish a first differential value. Another data point containing blade vibrational information is produced. The first differential value and the other data point are evaluated to discriminate between blade untwist and synchronous vibration. Based on the magnitude of the blade untwist, inferences can be drawn regarding the status of the turbine blade lashing wires.

US Patent:

45585695, Dec 17, 1985

Filed:

Jan 20, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/572720

Inventors:

Eddie Y. Hwang - Winter Park FL
Wu-Shi Shung - South Windsor CT
Robert L. Osborne - Winter Springs FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

F01K 1300

US Classification:

60657

Abstract:

A steam turbine control system which includes a manual panel with pushbuttons for operator control of the steam admission valves. Each valve has its own control means and is responsive to pushbutton activation to govern its valve movement. If a pushbutton indicating valve opening or closing gets stuck, the operator pushes a pushbutton indicating opposite movement and the control means switches to a special control mode after a predetermined period of time. In the special mode valve movement stops after removal of the operator's finger pressure and valve movement is accomplished by activation of predetermined pairs of pushbuttons.

US Patent:

51649128, Nov 17, 1992

Filed:

Sep 10, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/758365

Inventors:

Robert L. Osborne - Winter Springs FL
Karl E. Harper - Winter Springs FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G06F 1518

US Classification:

364580

Abstract:

The present invention is an expert system test system which has the capability of exercising all combinations of data input types using specialized data test sets. The specialized data test sets include a set of sensor values for each level of an operating system. All levels of diagnosis can be tested without testing every possible sensor value and combination of sensor values. The test sets can be combined to produce various orders of testing allowing complex relationships between sensors and rules to be tested. The system includes a test plan which is used by the testing system to iteratively apply the normal and specialized test data to the expert system. Changing the sensor values produces outputs for each iteration which are compared to expected results or to a baseline. Each test produces a log file which can be examined by the knowledge engineer. If exceptions are produced, the system produces an exception report which allows the knowledge engineer to determine whether the exception is abnormal or unexpected.

US Patent:

45174687, May 14, 1985

Filed:

Apr 30, 1984

Appl. No.:

6/605703

Inventors:

Christian T. Kemper - Winter Park FL
Robert L. Osborne - Winter Springs FL
James C. Bellows - Maitland FL

Assignee:

Westinghouse Electric Corp. - Pittsburgh PA

International Classification:

G06F 1516
G06F 1546

US Classification:

290 52

Abstract:

A diagnostic system wherein a central diagnostic center receives sensor data relative to the operating condition of a plurality of remote plants. Each plant records just certain sensor signals and transmits them at respective prescheduled transmisssion times. If certain activation limits are exceeded, a data link with the diagnostic center is immediately established so that the data may be transmitted ahead of its normally scheduled transmission time in order that an immediate diagnostic analysis be made on the plant. A communication link between the plant and diagnostic center is kept open for a predetermined period of time in which more data may be sent from the plant to the diagnostic center, and results and instructions, sent from the diagnostic center back to the plant. Such instructions may include the changing of certain parameters in the examination of the sensor signals.