Nodal dynamic data acquisition and dissemination

• US 10,271,115 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2015
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Loychik, Neil, Kernan, Daniel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Foxx, Chico A
• Application Number:
  US14/681,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20160301991A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,476 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 for collecting sensor information

Abstract

Apparatus is provided having a signal processor configured to: respond to stimuli caused by a vibrating machine or structure and capture a sampled data set containing information about the stimuli, including where the stimuli include at least vibration of the vibrating machine or structure; and determine wireless signaling containing a pre-selected subset of information from the sampled data set that can be provided as relevant data that includes a relevant data package/sample, the size of the relevant data package/sample, and computations upon the relevant data package/sample, based upon implementing a data interpretation algorithm that uses a wireless communication capacity or protocol for communication. The apparatus may include a data collector or sensor having the signal processor arranged therein and configured for coupling to the vibrating machine or structure to be monitored.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a vibrating machine or structure, including a nodal dynamic data acquisition and dissemination system, comprising:

a data collector or sensor having a signal processor configured to;

receive sensed and collected data signaling containing information about stimuli caused by a vibrating machine or structure and capture a sampled data set containing information about the stimuli, including where the stimuli include at least vibration of the vibrating machine or structure sensed by an accelerometer along at least one axis; and

provide or transmit wireless signaling containing

a selected subset of the information from the sampled data set that can be provided as relevant data that includes a relevant data package/sample,

a size of the relevant data package/sample, and

computations upon the relevant data package/sample,

wherein the signal processor is configured to implement a data interpretation algorithm that defines the selected subset of the information from the sampled data set, and wherein the data interpretation algorithm depends on a wireless communication capacity or protocol for communication.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to determine the wireless signaling containing the selected subset of information from the sampled data set that can be provided as the relevant data, that includes the relevant data package/sample, the size of the relevant data package/sample, and the computations upon the relevant data package/sample, based upon the sensed and collected data signaling.

3. A system, according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises at least one data collector or sensor having the signal processor arranged therewith and configured for mechanical coupling to the vibrating machine or structure to be monitored, including a pump or rotary device.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to preset the selected subset of information representative and sufficient for most situations for monitoring a generic kind of vibrating machine or structure.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein

the signal processor is configured to receive, via a back communication channel, wireless control signaling containing information to change content of the selected subset of information based upon continuous evaluation of the relevance of the data collected.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the system comprises:

a collection node configured to receive and provide, via the back communication channel, the wireless control signaling.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission of the wireless signaling is limited by either available bandwidth or time related to the wireless communication capacity or protocol.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to provide the wireless signaling as a stream of real time or stored data.

9. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises multiple data collectors or sensors, each data collector or sensor having a respective signal processor(s) and being coupled to a respective vibrating machine or structure to be monitored, each signal processor configured to provide respective wireless signaling containing a respective selected subset of information that can be provided as respective relevant data, including when some measurements are made with respect to other measurements.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein the multiple data collectors or sensors are configured to be synched to provide transmissions of the respective wireless signaling, including where the transmissions are across an industrial plant and in the form of a webbed-node collection to a base station.

11. A system according to claim 9, wherein the system comprises a collection node comprising a collection node signal processor configured to receive the respective wireless signaling, identify or downselect the respective relevant data, and provide collection node signaling containing the respective relevant data.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein the collection node comprises, or takes the form of, a wireless device, including where the wireless device is a smart phone, iPad, tablet, laptop computer, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA) device, router, wireless repeater or base station.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the wireless device is configured with Internet communications protocol capability.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein the system comprises a central or cloud server configured to receive the collection node signaling containing the respective relevant data, including where the central or cloud server stores and interprets the relevant data.

15. A system according to claim 9, wherein the multiple data collectors are configured with a webbed-nodal connection so that the multiple data collectors or sensors are able to cross-communicate and transmit the respective relevant data from one data collector or sensor at one location to a next data collector or sensor at a next location to a viable Internet connection point at another location.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein each multiple data collector or sensor is configured to implement a webbed-nodal connection algorithm to enable said each multiple data collector or sensor to cross-communicate and transmit the respective relevant data received from a respective one data collector or sensor to either a respective next data collector or sensor or the viable Internet connection point.

17. A system according to claim 9, wherein the multiple data collectors or sensors are configured to synch data collector transmission signaling so that the respective relevant data from each multiple data collector or sensor flows from respective locations to Internet access points, including where the multiple data collectors or sensors and the Internet access points form a localized web having webbed data collectors or sensors.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein the apparatus comprises:

a collection node comprising a collection node signal processor configured to receive the data collector transmission signaling and provides collection node signaling containing information about compiled respective relevant data from each multiple data collector or sensor.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein the system comprises a central or cloud server having a central or cloud server signal processor configured to receive the collection node signaling and store and interpret the compiled respective relevant data from each multiple data collector or sensor.

20. A system according to claim 19, wherein the central or cloud server signal processor is configured to identify critical data necessary for optimal dynamic data collection and interpretation, and provides central or cloud server signal processor signaling containing information about a new data interpretation algorithm.

21. A system according to claim 20, wherein the collection node signal processor is configured to receive the central or cloud server signal processor signaling, and provide the collection node signal processor signaling containing information such information to one or more webbed data collectors or sensors in the nodal web, including local web disseminated commands.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein the multiple data collectors or sensors are configured to receive and provide local web disseminated commands to the webbed data collectors or sensors, including where the local web disseminated commands contain a new or updated data interpretation algorithm in order to implement modified or optimum dynamic data collection and interpretation to re-define the selected subset of information and improve the interpretation of dynamic data in comparison to the relevant data previously collected and interpreted.

23. A system according to claim 22, wherein the respective signal processor is configured to receive the local web disseminated commands containing the new or updated data interpretation algorithm and implement the optimum dynamic data collection and interpretation to re-define the selected subset of information and improve the interpretation of dynamic data in comparison to the relevant data previously collected and interpreted.

24. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a collection node having a collection node signal processor configured to receive the wireless signaling, identify the relevant data, and provide collection node signaling containing the relevant data.

25. A system according to claim 24, wherein the collection node signal processor is configured to provide summary relevant data to a user, including where the collection node is a wireless device configured to implement an application or app to display the summary relevant data to the user.

26. A system according to claim 24, wherein the collection node comprises a wireless device having Internet communications protocol capability, including where the wireless device is a smart phone, iPad, tablet, laptop computer, desktop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA) device, router, wireless repeater or base station.

27. A system according to claim 24, wherein the system comprises a central or cloud server configured with a central or cloud server signal processor configured to receive the collection node signaling containing the relevant data, and store and interpret the relevant data.

28. A system according to claim 27, wherein the central or cloud server is configured to determine a new or updated data interpretation algorithm based upon interpretation of the relevant data, the new or updated data interpretation algorithm to redefine the information from the sampled data set to be included in the subset to be provided as relevant data.

29. A system according to claim 28, wherein the central or cloud server signal processor is configured to identify critical data necessary for optimum dynamic data collection and interpretation, and provide central or cloud server signaling containing information about the new or updated data interpretation algorithm.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein the collection node signal processor is configured to receive the central or cloud server signaling containing information about the new or updated data interpretation algorithm, and provide corresponding collection node signaling containing information about the new or updated data interpretation algorithm.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein the signal processor is configured to receive the corresponding collection node signaling containing information about the new or updated data interpretation algorithm and implement the optimum dynamic data collection and interpretation to re-define the selected subset of information and improve the interpretation of dynamic data in comparison to the relevant data previously collected and interpreted.

32. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises the accelerometer configured to sense the at least vibration of the vibrating machine or structure along the at least one axis, and provide associated signaling containing information about the at least vibration sensed.

33. A method for monitoring a vibrating machine or structure, comprising:

receiving, with a signal processor, signaling containing information about stimuli caused by a vibrating machine or structure and capturing a sampled data set containing information about the stimuli, including where the stimuli include at least vibration of the vibrating machine or structure; and

providing or transmitting, with the signal processor, wireless signaling containing information about

a selected subset of the information from the sampled data set that can be provided as relevant data that includes a relevant data package/sample,

a size of the relevant data package/sample, and

computations upon the relevant data package/sample,

wherein the method further comprises defining the selected subset of the information from the sampled data set by implementing a data interpretation algorithm that depends on a wireless communication capacity or protocol for communication.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the method comprises configuring a data collector or sensor with the signal processor arranged therein and coupling the data collector or sensor to the vibrating machine or structure to be monitored.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein the method comprises presetting with the signal processor the selected subset of information representative and sufficient for most situations for monitoring the vibrating machine or structure.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein the method comprises configuring the signal processor to receive, via a back communication channel, wireless control signaling containing information about a different selected subset of information that may be more effective for analysis and conclusions regarding the vibrating machine or structure to be monitored than the selected subset of information.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein the method comprises configuring a collection node with a collection node signal processor to provide the wireless control signaling containing information about the different selected subset of information.

38. A method according to claim 33, wherein the method comprises configuring the signal processor to provide the wireless signaling containing the selected subset of information based upon the wireless communication capacity or protocol.

39. A method according to claim 33, wherein the method comprises configuring a collection node to synch data collection activities with other sensors or measurement devices.