A method and apparatus for determining the service life of a cyclic system
the method including the steps of determining at least one characteristic
of the system to determine a characteristic value and determining a cycle
time of the system. The at least characteristic value is applied to an
algorithm in which the characterisitic value is integrated to determine a
diagnostic value, and comparing the diagnostic value to a predetermined
value to determine the performance status of the system. The apparatus
including a sensor for determining a system characteristic and a
calculating unit operatively connected to the sensor. The calculating
unit including circuitry for performing a mathematical integration on the
system characteristic to determine a diagnostic value and comparing the
diagnostic valve to a predetermined value to determine the performance
status of the system. A notification device operatively connected to the
calculating unit for indicating the operational status of the system.