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EP-4735782-A1 - MOBILE DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE AND DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR AN ACTUATOR

EP4735782A1EP 4735782 A1EP4735782 A1EP 4735782A1EP-4735782-A1

Abstract

A mobile diagnostic device (20) for an actuator (1), in particular for a valve, comprises an interface (21), for establishing a preferably wireless data connection (30) between the diagnostic device (20) and the actuator (1), and at least one sensor (26). The diagnostic device (20) is configured to acquire diagnostic data regarding the actuator (1) via the interface (21) and to acquire additional time-variable information data by means of the at least one sensor (26). According to the invention, the diagnostic data comprise data or values for a control variable or controlled variable (s) of the actuator (1), and the information data comprise data or values for a variable acquired by the sensor (26) at the actuator (1). With the aid of such a diagnostic device (20) and by the combination of the acquired diagnostic and information data, new diagnostic possibilities are produced in situ at an actuator, in particular with regard to parameterization of the actuator.

Inventors

  • BARTH, JOHANNES
  • ENS, WOLFGANG
  • KIEHNE, Jan
  • VOLZ, MARCO

Assignees

  • Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20240830

Claims (16)

  1. 1. Mobile diagnostic device (20) for an actuator (1), in particular for a valve, comprising: - an interface (21) for establishing a, preferably wireless, data connection (30) between the diagnostic device (20) and the actuator (1), - at least one sensor (26), wherein the diagnostic device (20) is adapted to - to collect diagnostic data of the actuator (1) via the interface (21), - to detect additional time-varying information data by means of the at least one sensor (26), wherein the information data comprises data or values of a variable detected by the sensor (26) on the actuator (1), characterized in that - the diagnostic data comprise data or values of a control or regulated variable (s) of the actuator (1).
  2. 2. Mobile diagnostic device (20) according to claim 1, wherein the quantity detected at the actuator (1) is a physical quantity generated by the actuator (1) itself.
  3. 3. Mobile diagnostic device (20) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein it is designed to control the actuator (1), preferably via the interface (21), for the acquisition of the diagnostic data and the information data in such a way that it carries out a defined movement process or that it assumes defined positions.
  4. 4. Mobile diagnostic device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it is configured to simultaneously acquire the information data by means of the at least one sensor (26) during acquisition of diagnostic data.
  5. 5. Mobile diagnostic device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising an evaluation unit (23) which is designed to assign the information data acquired with the at least one sensor (26) and the diagnostic data acquired via the interface (21) to one another in time, in particular to synchronize them with one another in time
  6. 6. Mobile diagnostic device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it comprises a user interface (25) and is configured to output the diagnostic data and information data with a temporal assignment to one another, in particular temporal synchronization with one another, on the user interface (25).
  7. 7. Mobile diagnostic device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one sensor (26) is an acceleration sensor, a microphone, an optical sensor (camera), an air humidity sensor, a brightness sensor, a shock sensor and/or a LiDAR sensor.
  8. 8. Mobile diagnostic device (20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein it is configured to parameterize the actuator (1) via the first interface (21) using the acquired diagnostic data and information data.
  9. 9. Diagnostic method for an actuator (1), in particular for a valve, comprising the steps: - establishing a, preferably wireless, data connection (30) between a mobile diagnostic device (20) and the actuator (1), - Acquiring diagnostic data of the actuator (1) via the data connection by the mobile diagnostic device (20); - detecting, with at least one sensor (26) of the mobile diagnostic device, additional time-varying information data, wherein the information data comprises data or values of a variable detected by the sensor (26) on the actuator (1), characterized in that - the diagnostic data comprise data or values of a control or regulated variable (s) of the actuator (1).
  10. 10. Diagnostic method according to claim 9, wherein the quantity detected at the actuator (1) is a physical quantity generated by the actuator (1) itself.
  11. 11. Diagnostic method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the diagnostic device (20) for acquiring the diagnostic data and the information data, preferably via the data connection (30), controls the actuator (1) in such a way that it carries out a defined movement process or that it assumes defined positions.
  12. 12. Diagnostic method according to one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the acquisition of the diagnostic data in the mobile diagnostic device (20) takes place simultaneously with the acquisition of the information data by means of the at least one sensor (26).
  13. 13. Diagnostic method according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the information data acquired with the at least one sensor (26) and the diagnostic data acquired via the interface (21) are assigned to one another in time, in particular synchronized with one another in time.
  14. 14. Diagnostic method according to one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the diagnostic data and information data which are temporally aligned with one another, in particular temporally synchronized with one another, are output on a user interface (25) of the mobile diagnostic device (20).
  15. 15. Diagnostic method according to one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the at least one sensor is an acceleration sensor, a microphone, an optical sensor (camera), a humidity sensor, a brightness sensor, a shock sensor and/or a LiDAR sensor.
  16. 16. Diagnostic method according to one of claims 9 to 15, wherein the diagnostic device (20) parameters the actuator (1) using the acquired diagnostic data and information data.

Description

Description Mobile diagnostic device and diagnostic method for an actuator The invention relates to a mobile diagnostic device for an actuator according to the preamble of patent claim 1 and a diagnostic method for an actuator according to the preamble of patent claim 9. Such a mobile diagnostic device or such a diagnostic method are known, for example, from DE 10 2016 117 813 A1. Process control technology or actuators deals with measures for the continuous and discontinuous control of material and energy flows in conjunction with process control technology and sensors. The term "actuator" is often understood to mean a system comprising an actuator, an actuator drive and components or attachments for signaling and regulating or controlling the actuator. An actuator is therefore basically an actuator that comprises a complex mechatronic unit made up of several components. Examples of actuators for flowing materials are control valves (e.g. globe valves, ball valves, slide valves, flaps) and actuating machines (e.g. pumps). In more recent literature, the term "asset" is also used to describe the system comprising an actuator, an actuator drive and associated components/attachments (i.e. to describe the mechatronic unit), for example the term "valve asset" for the control valve. The actuator is a mechanical element that is in direct contact with a material flow and comprises an actuating element for the actual mechanical actuation of the material flow. In the case of a valve, the actuator comprises a valve body with a valve seat and a closing body that interacts with the valve seat, usually a valve cone, as the actuating element. Actuators have the task of converting a control signal coming from an automation device into a movement so that the actuator of the actuator assumes a position corresponding to the control signal. This can be, for example, a lifting movement or a swivel movement. Actuators can, for example, be designed as pneumatic, electric or hydraulic drives. The components or attachments for signaling and regulating or controlling the actuator are, for example, a so-called positioner. They can also include solenoid valves, limit switches, position feedback devices or volume flow amplifiers. They also include lines (e.g. electrical, pneumatic and/or hydraulic lines). For cost reasons, actuators are often operated without a feedback channel, i.e. they receive a setpoint for a control or regulated variable (e.g. via a field bus) and then control or regulate locally to this setpoint. Control valves are used in a wide range of applications in which the flow of a medium needs to be controlled. In the process industry, control valves are often controlled with pneumatic actuators. Using an electropneumatic positioner, a control pressure for operating the valve can be generated depending on a determined valve position in order to move the valve to a specified target position and hold it there. The flow of the medium is controlled, for example, by a corresponding stroke of a valve cone interacting with the valve seat. The stroke is generated by the pneumatic actuator and transmitted to the valve cone by means of an actuating element (e.g. a valve rod). Such a valve or such a position controller ler are known, for example, from DE 10 2019 211 213 Al and DE 10 2021 211 592 Al. The pneumatic actuator can be designed as a linear or rotary actuator. Single- and double-acting pneumatic actuators are also known. As an alternative to the pneumatic actuator, other drive types are also possible, such as electric motor-operated actuators. The valve position required for control and/or regulation can be determined in various ways. For example, it is known to transmit the movement of the actuating element to the interior of the position controller via a mechanical tap (lever or coupling) on the actuating element (e.g. valve rod). The position controller then contains a sensor that measures the position of the actuating element. The sensor can then be a potentiometer, a magnetic sensor or an inductive sensor, for example. It is also known to arrange a magnet on the actuating element, with a magnetic sensor inside the position controller then determining the position of the magnet. Actuators, and especially their position controllers, often have to be manually parameterized on site or in a workshop. The position controller is usually able to initiate itself. This process is started on site. Basic parameters of the actuator, such as end stops, are detected independently and stored accordingly. However, all necessary parameters for low-wear and correct operation of the actuator must be entered by the user. These parameters are often set incorrectly or only incompletely. Incorrect input cannot be ruled out either. Likewise, in the event of service on site, key figures or specific tests must be carried out and read out. Position controllers already offer a wide range of diagnostics. hear self-diagnoses and diagnoses that