WO2000055619A1 - Degradation monitoring - Google Patents

Degradation monitoring Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000055619A1
WO2000055619A1 PCT/GB2000/000508 GB0000508W WO0055619A1 WO 2000055619 A1 WO2000055619 A1 WO 2000055619A1 GB 0000508 W GB0000508 W GB 0000508W WO 0055619 A1 WO0055619 A1 WO 0055619A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
degradation
electronic components
assessing
gas
missile
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2000/000508
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ronald David Sexton
Original Assignee
Matra Bae Dynamics (Uk) Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Matra Bae Dynamics (Uk) Limited filed Critical Matra Bae Dynamics (Uk) Limited
Priority to AU25587/00A priority Critical patent/AU2558700A/en
Publication of WO2000055619A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000055619A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/12—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
    • G08B21/16—Combustible gas alarms
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B17/00—Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
    • G08B17/10—Actuation by presence of smoke or gases, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
    • G08B17/117—Actuation by presence of smoke or gases, e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means by using a detection device for specific gases, e.g. combustion products, produced by the fire

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the field of degradation monitoring and more particularly, but not exclusively to the detection of such degradation in relation to systems comprising electronic components.
  • All systems and apparatus comprising electronic components suffer degradation and may require to be assessed for functionality by some form of electronic 'built in test' facility to enable the total system reliability to be assessed. This assessment may be made on a periodic basis by trained operators or engineers, or may be performed automatically by a system at some predetermined time or on reaching some specific event.
  • any assessment of reliability must be based on a different approach. Examples of such approaches may include the actual use of a system or object to assess if it can still validly perform it's role, or alternatively the testing of particular elements of a system by externally applied test equipment.
  • the problems associated with both 'use' and the 'external test' methods of reliability assessment are that in some instances, such as in connection with missiles, use may not be an option due to the single application nature of the system. Additionally, the action of 'powering-up' a dormant or stored electronic based system to perform a test routine will itself have the effect of applying cumulative degradation or damage to the system due to the application of current, voltage and, potentially, static charge to certain or all components. A further concern in terms of reliability assessment may be the accuracy and or reliability of the electronic test equipment itself.
  • Our invention provides a method of assessing the reliability of systems and apparatus comprising electronic components, without the requirement to electrically connect any elements of the test equipment to the system or apparatus under assessment.
  • the method of analysis of comprises gas chromatography.
  • the pre-determined position from which the gas is extracted from the apparatus through a dedicated gas extraction port.
  • the extraction, analysis and comparison is provided by automated means.
  • the method is applied to the reliability assessment of a missile.
  • Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a missile in a transport and storage case
  • Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of a missile in a transport and storage case having a dedicated gas extraction port
  • Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of analysis and comparison equipment in accordance with the invention
  • Figure 1 shows the example of a missile 2 in a typical transport and long term storage case 4.
  • Such missiles 2 may be required to be stored for long periods of time.
  • an assessment of the missiles reliability will usually be made to provide a measure of confidence in the missiles ability to function correctly as designed.
  • any assessment of reliability can only be made by reference to statistical information relating to the missiles type, age and storage conditions (if quantified), and if available, the results of any power-
  • Figure 2 shows the example of a missile 2 and storage case 4 as shown in figure 1 , but with the additional feature of a dedicated gas extraction port 6 through which samples of gas can be taken from the area immediately surrounding the missile.
  • the storage case may be designed to be fully or partially sealed, but whatever the sealing or storage arrangement, the use of the gas extraction port provides the essential element of repeatability to enable qualitative comparison between samples taken at different times in the storage cycle.
  • Figure 3 shows a gas chromatograph 8 and associated gas input portl 0 being utilised to analyse the gas extracted from the missile storage case 4, via the gas extraction port, the results being passed to a processor 12 for comparison against a reference database 1 for that particular missile or type of missile. Results are shown being displayed via a display means 16. Differences detected between samples will contain particular quantifiable characteristics associated with the decay of certain materials used within both electronic and other components. The detection of these characteristic changes, when compared to the known reliability statistics associated with past assessments of such missiles, will lead to an improvement in the confidence in the reliability of the total missile system.
  • Other products and apparatus to which this technique could be applied could include fire and gas detection systems, computer hardware, consumer goods such as televisions, video equipment, satellite receivers and the like.
  • the equipment under test or monitoring need not necessarily be contained within a packing, transport or storage case when applied to most products that comprise some form of outer casing (eg. computers, monitors etc) the position for gas extraction port (dedicated or otherwise) may be conveniently located within the structure of the equipment.
  • the method of monitoring, comparison and analysis of apparatus as described above could be automated fully or in part, thereby reducing the human input required to effect a continuous and for long term effective monitoring programme.

Abstract

The invention provides a method of assessing the degradation of apparatus comprising electronic components by comparison of representative gas samples against a reference index.

Description

DEGRADATION MONITORING
This invention relates to the field of degradation monitoring and more particularly, but not exclusively to the detection of such degradation in relation to systems comprising electronic components.
The vast majority of state of the art electronic components utilise materials whose properties degrade and/or decay with both time and use. The degradation monitoring and assessment of systems which comprise electronic components in order to determine the extent of degradation and affect on the overall system performance, is generally referred to as an assessment of
reliability.
All systems and apparatus comprising electronic components suffer degradation and may require to be assessed for functionality by some form of electronic 'built in test' facility to enable the total system reliability to be assessed. This assessment may be made on a periodic basis by trained operators or engineers, or may be performed automatically by a system at some predetermined time or on reaching some specific event.
The assessment of reliability in relation to such systems is aided by electronic built in test facilities, but in instances where such test facilities are not feasible due to considerations such as weight, space or complexity, any assessment of reliability must be based on a different approach. Examples of such approaches may include the actual use of a system or object to assess if it can still validly perform it's role, or alternatively the testing of particular elements of a system by externally applied test equipment.
The problems associated with both 'use' and the 'external test' methods of reliability assessment are that in some instances, such as in connection with missiles, use may not be an option due to the single application nature of the system. Additionally, the action of 'powering-up' a dormant or stored electronic based system to perform a test routine will itself have the effect of applying cumulative degradation or damage to the system due to the application of current, voltage and, potentially, static charge to certain or all components. A further concern in terms of reliability assessment may be the accuracy and or reliability of the electronic test equipment itself.
Our invention provides a method of assessing the reliability of systems and apparatus comprising electronic components, without the requirement to electrically connect any elements of the test equipment to the system or apparatus under assessment.
Accordingly there is provided a method of assessing the degradation of apparatus comprising electronic components, comprising the steps of ;
extracting a volume of gas from a pre-determined location in relation to said apparatus,
analysing a pre-determined volume of said gas, comparing the results of said analysis against a reference index, said comparison quantifying the level of degradation of said apparatus.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the method of analysis of comprises gas chromatography.
In a further embodiment of the invention, the pre-determined position from which the gas is extracted from the apparatus through a dedicated gas extraction port.
In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the extraction, analysis and comparison is provided by automated means.
In a still further embodiment of the invention, the method is applied to the reliability assessment of a missile.
The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation of a missile in a transport and storage case,
Figure 2 shows a diagrammatic representation of a missile in a transport and storage case having a dedicated gas extraction port,
Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of analysis and comparison equipment in accordance with the invention, Figure 1 shows the example of a missile 2 in a typical transport and long term storage case 4. Such missiles 2 may be required to be stored for long periods of time. When required for use, an assessment of the missiles reliability will usually be made to provide a measure of confidence in the missiles ability to function correctly as designed. Currently, any assessment of reliability can only be made by reference to statistical information relating to the missiles type, age and storage conditions (if quantified), and if available, the results of any power-
up tests.
Figure 2 shows the example of a missile 2 and storage case 4 as shown in figure 1 , but with the additional feature of a dedicated gas extraction port 6 through which samples of gas can be taken from the area immediately surrounding the missile. The storage case may be designed to be fully or partially sealed, but whatever the sealing or storage arrangement, the use of the gas extraction port provides the essential element of repeatability to enable qualitative comparison between samples taken at different times in the storage cycle.
Figure 3 shows a gas chromatograph 8 and associated gas input portl 0 being utilised to analyse the gas extracted from the missile storage case 4, via the gas extraction port, the results being passed to a processor 12 for comparison against a reference database 1 for that particular missile or type of missile. Results are shown being displayed via a display means 16. Differences detected between samples will contain particular quantifiable characteristics associated with the decay of certain materials used within both electronic and other components. The detection of these characteristic changes, when compared to the known reliability statistics associated with past assessments of such missiles, will lead to an improvement in the confidence in the reliability of the total missile system.
The example of a missile in storage has been given due to the nature of the inapplicability of other possible test methods such as 'use', and additionally due to the general requirement for such missiles, containing highly complex electronic circuitry, to remain inactive and in storage for long periods of time.
Other products and apparatus to which this technique could be applied could include fire and gas detection systems, computer hardware, consumer goods such as televisions, video equipment, satellite receivers and the like. The equipment under test or monitoring need not necessarily be contained within a packing, transport or storage case when applied to most products that comprise some form of outer casing (eg. computers, monitors etc) the position for gas extraction port (dedicated or otherwise) may be conveniently located within the structure of the equipment.
The method of monitoring, comparison and analysis of apparatus as described above could be automated fully or in part, thereby reducing the human input required to effect a continuous and for long term effective monitoring programme.

Claims

1. A method of assessing the degradation of apparatus comprising electronic components, comprising the steps of ; extracting a volume of gas from a pre-determined location in relation to said apparatus,
analysing a pre-determined volume of said gas,
comparing the results of said analysis against a reference index,
said comparison quantifying the level of degradation of said apparatus.
2. A method of assessing the degradation of apparatus comprising electronic components according to claim 1 , wherein the method of analysis comprises gas chromatography.
3. A method of assessing the degradation of apparatus comprising electronic components according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the predetermined position from which the gas is extracted from the apparatus through a dedicated gas extraction port.
4. A method of assessing the degradation of apparatus comprising electronic components according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the extraction, analysis and comparison is provided by automated means.
5. A method of assessing the degradation of apparatus comprising electronic components according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method is applied to the reliability assessment of a missile. A method of assessing the degradation of apparatus comprising electronic components substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
PCT/GB2000/000508 1999-03-17 2000-02-16 Degradation monitoring WO2000055619A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU25587/00A AU2558700A (en) 1999-03-17 2000-02-16 Degradation monitoring

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9906162.4 1999-03-17
GBGB9906162.4A GB9906162D0 (en) 1999-03-17 1999-03-17 Degradation monitoring

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000055619A1 true WO2000055619A1 (en) 2000-09-21

Family

ID=10849819

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2000/000508 WO2000055619A1 (en) 1999-03-17 2000-02-16 Degradation monitoring

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2558700A (en)
GB (1) GB9906162D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2000055619A1 (en)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1324217A (en) * 1971-05-06 1973-07-25 Maihak Ag Detection of overheating in electronic apparatus
US4112737A (en) * 1977-04-27 1978-09-12 Morgan Schaffer Corporation Transformer fault detection
US4402211A (en) * 1980-05-20 1983-09-06 Hitachi, Ltd. System for monitoring abnormality of oil-filled electric devices
US5362568A (en) * 1992-02-18 1994-11-08 Associated Universities, Inc. Pre-fire warning system and method using a perfluorocarbon tracer

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1324217A (en) * 1971-05-06 1973-07-25 Maihak Ag Detection of overheating in electronic apparatus
US4112737A (en) * 1977-04-27 1978-09-12 Morgan Schaffer Corporation Transformer fault detection
US4402211A (en) * 1980-05-20 1983-09-06 Hitachi, Ltd. System for monitoring abnormality of oil-filled electric devices
US5362568A (en) * 1992-02-18 1994-11-08 Associated Universities, Inc. Pre-fire warning system and method using a perfluorocarbon tracer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9906162D0 (en) 1999-05-12
AU2558700A (en) 2000-10-04

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