What is claimed is:
1. A system for modifying a monitoring system of a machine, said monitoring system monitoring at least one condition of the machine, comprising:
a diagnostic system for modifying said monitored condition to a modified condition; and
a communications system for relaying said modified condition to said monitoring system, wherein said monitoring system monitors the machine based on said modified condition.
2. The system, as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:
a remote data system for receiving said monitored condition from said monitoring system, said remote data system storing said monitored condition and providing said monitored condition to said diagnostic system.
3. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said diagnostic system comprises an interface accessible by an owner.
4. The system, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said interface includes an interactive website for accepting at least one modification to said monitored condition.
5. The system, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said modified condition is relayed from said website to said monitoring system through at least an Internet connection.
6. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said diagnostic system comprises a prognostics engine, said prognostics engine having at least one pre-defined condition based on a stored machine status.
7. The system, as set forth in claim 6, wherein said prognostics engine modifies said monitored condition to said pre-defined condition when the machine has a status equal to said stored machine status.
8. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said monitored condition includes at least one parameter to be monitored.
9. The system, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said monitored condition includes at least one tolerance for determining a normal operating condition of said monitored condition.
10. A system for modifying a monitoring system of a machine, said monitoring system monitoring at least one condition of the machine, comprising:
a remote data system for storing said monitored condition remotely from the machine, said monitored condition including at least one of a parameter and a tolerance;
a communication system for relaying said machine condition to said remote data system; and
a prognostics engine, said prognostics engine having at least one pre-defined condition based on a stored machine status, said prognostics engine modifying said monitored condition to said pre-defined condition when the machine has a status equal to said stored machine status, said prognostics engine storing said modified condition in said remote data system, wherein said communication system relays said modified condition to said monitoring system.
11. A system for modifying a monitoring system of a machine, said monitoring system monitoring at least one condition of the machine, comprising:
a remote data system for storing said monitored condition remotely from the machine, said monitored condition including at least one of a parameter and a tolerance;
a communication system for relaying said machine condition to said remote data system; and
an interface for allowing an owner to modify said monitored condition stored in said remote data system, said interface comprised of an interactive website and an Internet connection, said modified condition being stored in said remote data system for relay to said monitoring system of the machine.
12. A method for modifying a monitoring system of a machine, said monitoring system monitoring at least one condition of the machine, comprising the steps of:
storing said monitored condition in a remote data system;
modifying said monitored condition to a modified condition; and
relaying said modified condition to said monitoring system wherein said monitoring system monitors the machine based on said modified condition.
13. The method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said monitored condition includes at least one parameter to be monitored.
14. The method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said monitored condition includes at least one tolerance for determining a normal operating condition of said monitored condition.
15. The method, as set forth in claim 12, wherein said modifying step includes modifying said monitored condition to said modified condition through a diagnostic system.
16. The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said diagnostic system comprises an interface, said interface including an interactive website and an Internet connection, wherein said website accepts said modified condition.
17. The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein said diagnostic system comprises a prognostics engine, said prognostics engine having at least one pre-defined condition based on a stored machine status.
18. The method, as set forth in claim 17, wherein said prognostics engine modifies said monitored condition to said pre-defined condition when the machine has a status equal to said stored machine status.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for dispensing a predetermined volume of fluid into a fluid receptacle, the method comprising:
supplying fluid from a fluid reservoir to a fill tube during a fill stage;
discharging the fluid from the full tube during a dispensing stage;
detecting with a fluid level sensor when the fluid level reaches a predetermined level during one of the fill stage and the dispensing stage; and
measuring the predetermined volume of fluid by:
measuring a time for supplying the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fill tube starting from the predetermined fluid level in the fill tube; or
measuring a time for discharging the fluid from the fill tube starting from the predetermined fluid level in the fill tube.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein supplying fluid from a fluid reservoir to a fill tube during the fill stage comprises:
opening a fill valve on the fill tube to fill the fill tube with a predetermined volume of fluid from the fluid reservoir; and
closing the fill valve to stop the flow of fluid into the fill tube responsive to receiving a signal from the fluid level sensor.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein discharging the fluid from the full tube during the dispensing stage comprises:
starting a timer to begin measuring the time for discharging the fluid from the fill tube;
opening a dispense valve on the fill tube to dispense the fluid from the fill tube; and
closing the dispense valve to stop dispensing the fluid when the timer expires.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein supplying fluid from a fluid reservoir to a fill tube during the fill stage comprises:
starting a timer to begin measuring the time for supplying the fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fill tube;
opening a fill valve on the fill tube to fill the fill tube with a predetermined volume of fluid from the fluid reservoir; and
closing the fill valve to stop the flow of fluid into the fill tube when the timer expires.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein discharging the fluid from the full tube during the dispensing stage comprises:
opening a dispense valve on the fill tube to dispense the fluid from the fill tube; and
closing the dispense valve to stop dispensing the fluid responsive to receiving a signal from the fluid level sensor.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting with a fluid level sensor when the fluid level reaches a predetermined level during one of the fill stage and the dispensing stage comprises:
detecting, using a first pair of meniscus sensors, whether a meniscus of the fluid in the fill tube rises to a level that is within a first predefined range during the fill stage; and
detecting, using a second pair of meniscus sensors, whether the meniscus of the fluid in the fill tube falls to a level that is within a second predefined range during the dispensing stage.
7. The method of claim 6 further comprising increasing or decreasing a length of the timer responsive to receiving one or more error signals from one or more of the sensors in the first and second pairs of meniscus sensors.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising opening and closing a control valve on the fill tube to selectively control supplying the fluid to the fill tube during the fill stage, and discharging the fluid from the full tube during the dispensing stage.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein opening and closing the control valve on the fill tube to selectively control supplying the fluid to the fill tube during the fill stage comprises:
starting a control timer operatively connected to the control valve at the beginning of the fill stage;
opening the control valve to supply the fill tube with the fluid from the fluid reservoir when a fill valve on the fill tube is open; and
closing the control valve to stop supplying the fill tube with the fluid when the control timer expires.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein opening and closing the control valve on the fill tube to selectively control discharging the fluid from the full tube during the dispensing stage comprises:
opening the control valve to dispense the fluid into the receptacle when a discharge valve disposed on the fill tube is open; and
closing the control valve to cease dispensing the fluid responsive to receiving a signal from a timer operatively connected to the dispense valve.
11. A fluid dispensing apparatus for dispensing a predetermined volume of fluid into a fluid receptacle, the dispensing apparatus comprising:
a fluid reservoir to hold a fluid to be dispensed;
a fill tube forming a closed-loop with the fluid reservoir to hold a predetermined volume of fluid to be dispensed into the fluid receptacle;
a fill valve disposed on the fill tube to supply fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fill tube during a fill stage;
a dispense valve disposed on the fill tube to dispense the fluid from the fill tube into the fluid receptacle during a dispense stage;
a fluid level sensor to detect a predetermined fluid level in the fill tube;
a timer; and
a controller operatively connected to both the fluid level sensor and the timer to control the fill valve and the dispense valve, the controller configured to:
open the fill valve for a predetermined time period to supply fluid from the fluid reservoir to the fill tube starting from the predetermined fluid level in the fill tube; or
open the dispense valve for a predetermined time period to discharge the fluid from the fill tube starting from the predetermined fluid level in the fill tube.
12. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the controller is configured to:
open the fill valve to supply the fill tube with the predetermined volume of fluid from the fluid reservoir;
close the fill valve to stop supplying the fill tube with the fluid responsive to receiving a signal from the fluid level sensor;
start the timer;
open the dispense valve to dispense the predetermined volume of fluid from the fill tube into the receptacle; and
close the dispense valve to stop dispensing the fluid when the timer expires.
13. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 11 wherein the controller is configured to:
start the timer;
open the fill valve to fill the fill tube with the predetermined volume of fluid from the fluid reservoir;
close the fill valve to stop the flow of fluid into the fill tube when the timer expires.
open a dispense valve on the fill tube to dispense the predetermined volume of fluid from the fill tube into the receptacle;
close the dispense valve to stop dispensing the fluid responsive to receiving a signal from the fluid level sensor;
14. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:
a first pair of meniscus sensors operatively connected to the controller to detect whether a meniscus of the fluid in the fill tube rises to a level that is within a first predefined range during the fill stage; and
a second pair of meniscus sensors operatively connected to the controller to detect whether the meniscus of the fluid in the fill tube falls to a level that is within a second predefined range when the fluid is dispensed.
15. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 13 wherein the controller is configured to increase or decrease a length of the timer responsive to receiving one or more error signals from one or more of the sensors in the first and second pairs of meniscus sensors.
16. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 11 further comprising:
a control valve disposed on the fill tube; and
a control timer operatively connected to the control valve and the controller.
17. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 16 wherein the controller is further configured to:
start the control timer at the beginning of the fill stage;
open the control valve to supply the fill tube with the fluid from the fluid reservoir when the fill valve is open;
close the control valve to cease supplying the fill tube with the fluid when the control timer expires;
open the control valve to dispense the fluid into the receptacle when the discharge valve is open; and
close the control valve to cease dispensing the fluid responsive to receiving a signal from the timer.