Method and apparatus for system diagnostics using accelerometers

• US 10,139,124 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2017
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Lennox Industries Incorporated (Lennox International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Berg, Eric, Delgoshaei, Payam
• Primary Examiner(s): Saint Surin, J M
• Application Number:
  US15/405,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20180202679A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 73579
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/32 Responding to malfunctions or emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/38 Failure diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/64 using pre-stored data
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 99/008 by doing functionality tests

Abstract

A method of monitoring component health of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The method includes measuring, by an accelerometer associated with at least one component of the HVAC system, of vibration of the at least one component, receiving, by a controller, actual vibration data reflective of the measured vibration, determining, using the controller, whether the actual vibration data differs from pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data by more than an acceptable amount, and responsive to a positive determination in the determining step, forwarding, by the controller, information regarding the determination to a monitoring device to monitor operation of the component.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring component health of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:

measuring, by an accelerometer associated with at least one component of the HVAC system, of vibration of the at least one component;

receiving, by a controller, actual vibration data reflective of the measured vibration;

determining, using the controller, whether the actual vibration data differs from pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data by more than an acceptable amount; and

responsive to a positive determination in the determining step, forwarding, by the controller, information regarding the determination to a monitoring device to monitor operation of the component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one component comprises at least one of a circulation fan, a compressor, a condenser coil, a condenser fan, and an evaporator coil.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the positive determination comprises detecting a new frequency between the actual vibration data and the pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data; and

the new frequency indicates that the at least one component is not operating properly.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the positive determination comprises detecting an amplitude change at a certain frequency between the actual vibration data and the pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data; and

the amplitude change indicates that the at least one component is not operating properly.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is a computer of a third party, wherein the third party comprises at least one of a manufacturer, a support entity, and a service provider.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the at least one accelerometer wirelessly.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the at least one accelerometer using a cable connection.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

responsive to a negative determination in the determining step, returning to the receiving step.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data is set in advance by a manufacturer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data is calculated by the controller.

11. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system comprising:

an accelerometer associated with at least one component of the HVAC system, wherein the accelerometer is configured to measure vibration of the at least one component;

a controller configured to communicate with the accelerometer;

wherein the controller is configured to;

receive actual vibration data reflective of the measured vibration;

determine whether the actual vibration data differs from pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data by more than an acceptable amount; and

responsive to a positive determination, forward information regarding the determination to a monitoring device to monitor operation of the component.

12. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the at least one component comprises at least one of a circulation fan, compressor, a condenser coil, a condenser fan, and an evaporator coil.

13. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein:

the positive determination comprises detecting a new frequency between the actual vibration data and the pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data; and

the new frequency indicates that the at least one component is not operating properly.

14. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein:

the positive determination comprises detecting an amplitude change at a certain frequency between the actual vibration data and the pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data; and

the amplitude change indicates that the at least one component is not operating properly.

15. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the monitoring device is a computer of a third party, wherein the third party comprises at least one of a manufacturer, a support entity, and a service provider.

16. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the at least one accelerometer wirelessly.

17. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to communicate with the at least one accelerometer using a cable connection.

18. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data is set in advance by a manufacturer.

19. The HVAC system of claim 11, wherein the pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data is calculated by the controller.

20. A method of monitoring component health of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the method comprising:

measuring, by an accelerometer associated with at least one component of the HVAC system, of vibration of the at least one component;

receiving, by a controller, actual vibration data reflective of the measured vibration;

calculating, using the controller, pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data;

determining, using the controller, whether the actual vibration data differs from the pre-defined acceptable baseline vibration data by more than an acceptable amount; and

responsive to a positive determination in the determining step, forwarding, by the controller, information regarding the determination to a monitoring device to monitor operation of the component.