US 12,234,844 B2
Pneumatics system with advanced system diagnostics capabilities
Christopher Mandy, Orono, MN (US); Robert Torney, Chanhassen, MN (US); Dana Noll, Minnetonka, MN (US); and Nicholas Schrag, Chaska, MN (US)
Assigned to Beckman Coulter, Inc., Brea, CA (US)
Filed by Beckman Coulter, Inc., Brea, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 25, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/358,356.
Application 17/358,356 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2019/068583, filed on Dec. 26, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/785,850, filed on Dec. 28, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0396250 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. F15B 19/00 (2006.01); G01M 3/28 (2006.01); H04L 67/12 (2022.01)
CPC F15B 19/005 (2013.01) [G01M 3/2815 (2013.01); H04L 67/12 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of diagnosing a leakage fault in a pneumatic system, the method comprising:
(a) setting a plurality of components served by a common branch of the pneumatic system to a first configuration with a plurality of corresponding valves;
(b) collectively measuring leakage from the plurality of components in the first configuration;
(c) setting the plurality of components served by the common branch of the pneumatic system to a second configuration with the plurality of corresponding valves wherein each of the plurality of components is a binary component with two states, wherein each of the plurality of corresponding valves is a binary valve with two corresponding states, and wherein the states of each of the binary valves are opposite between the first configuration and the second configuration;
(d) collectively measuring leakage from the plurality of components in the second configuration;
(e) if the leakage measured with the plurality of components at the first configuration is less than a first configuration threshold value and the leakage measured with the plurality of components at the second configuration is less than a second configuration threshold value, then reporting a pass result; and
(f) if the leakage measured with the plurality of components at the first configuration is less than the first configuration threshold value and the leakage measured with the plurality of components at the second configuration is greater than the second configuration threshold value, then individually testing each of the plurality of components by toggling the component from the state of the second configuration with the state of the remaining components at the state of the second configuration and report a leakage fault result that is determined.