Bandwidth-selectable acoustic emission apparatus and methods for transmitting time-averaged signal data

• US 10,444,196 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Dahme, Bret Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Miller, Rose M
• Application Number:
  US15/710,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20190086366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 73587
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/003 Machine valves testing valves for fluid tightness G01M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/028 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0258 Structural degradation, e.g. fatigue of composites, ageing of oils
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/42 by frequency filtering or by tuning to resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/449 Statistical methods not provided for in G01N29/4409, e.g. averaging, smoothing and interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Bandwidth-selectable acoustic emission apparatus and methods for transmitting time-averaged signal data are described. An example apparatus includes an acoustic emission sensor having a bandwidth-selectable filter and a data extractor. The acoustic emission sensor is to generate an acoustic emission signal. The bandwidth-selectable filter is to filter the acoustic emission signal based on a selected bandwidth to generate a filtered acoustic emission signal. The data extractor is to extract time-averaged signal data from the filtered acoustic emission signal. The data extractor is also to transmit the time-averaged signal data from the acoustic emission sensor to an external data acquisition system.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an integrated acoustic emission sensor including a bandwidth-selectable analog filter and a data extractor, the integrated acoustic emission sensor to generate an analog acoustic emission signal, the bandwidth-selectable analog filter to filter the analog acoustic emission signal based on a software-programmed bandwidth to generate a filtered analog acoustic emission signal, the data extractor to extract a time-averaged analog signal from the filtered analog acoustic emission signal, the data extractor to transmit the time-averaged analog signal from the integrated acoustic emission sensor to an external data acquisition system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, where the integrated acoustic emission sensor further includes a preamplifier, the bandwidth-selectable analog filter being integrated within the preamplifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the integrated acoustic emission sensor further includes a preamplifier to amplify the analog acoustic emission signal prior to the bandwidth-selectable analog filter filtering the analog acoustic emission signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the integrated acoustic emission sensor further includes a preamplifier to amplify the filtered analog acoustic emission signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the software-programmed bandwidth is based on bandwidth selection data to be received at the integrated acoustic emission sensor from the external data acquisition system.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the external data acquisition system includes a data acquisition device and a data processing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the time-averaged analog signal includes root mean square data.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the time-averaged analog signal includes average signal level data.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the analog acoustic emission signal has a frequency content, and wherein the bandwidth-selectable analog filter and the data extractor of the integrated acoustic emission sensor are configured to resolve a frequency component of the frequency content at the integrated acoustic emission sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data extractor is to transmit the time-averaged analog signal from the integrated acoustic emission sensor to the external data acquisition system via 4-20 milliamp wiring.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the integrated acoustic emission sensor does not include an analog to digital converter.

12. A method, comprising:

filtering an analog acoustic emission signal at an integrated acoustic emission sensor based on a software-programmed bandwidth of a bandwidth-selectable analog filter of the integrated acoustic emission sensor to generate a filtered analog acoustic emission signal, the analog acoustic emission signal being generated via the integrated acoustic emission sensor;

extracting, at the integrated acoustic emission sensor, a time-averaged analog signal from the filtered analog acoustic emission signal; and

transmitting the time-averaged analog signal from the integrated acoustic emission sensor to an external data acquisition system.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising amplifying the analog acoustic emission signal or the filtered analog acoustic emission signal via a preamplifier of the integrated acoustic emission sensor, the bandwidth-selectable analog filter being integrated within the preamplifier.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising amplifying the analog acoustic emission signal via a preamplifier of the integrated acoustic emission sensor prior to the filtering of the analog acoustic emission signal.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising amplifying the filtered analog acoustic emission signal via a preamplifier of the integrated acoustic emission sensor.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving bandwidth selection data at the integrated acoustic emission sensor from the external data acquisition system, the software-programmed bandwidth being based on the bandwidth selection data.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the time-averaged analog signal includes root mean square data.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the time-averaged analog signal includes average signal level data.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the analog acoustic emission signal has a frequency content, and wherein the filtering and the extracting resolve a frequency component of the frequency content at the integrated acoustic emission sensor.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the time-averaged analog signal is transmitted from the integrated acoustic emission sensor to the external data acquisition system via 4-20 milliamp wiring.