Fluid condition monitoring device

• US 10,451,168 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2016
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Ture, Cody Michael, Ortiz, David, Byington, Carl S., Palmer, Carl, Farnach, John R., Brewer, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Larkin, Daniel S
• Assistant Examiner(s): Megna Fuentes, Anthony W
• Application Number:
  US15/555,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20180051793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 35/00 Transmitting power from power plants to propellers or rotors; Arrangements of transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F01M 11/10 Indicating devices; Other safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0405 Monitoring quality of lubricant or hydraulic fluids
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2200/02 Oxidation
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2200/12 Viscosity
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2200/20 Detecting water
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2210/08 Aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2210/12 Gearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/00 Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/06 of a liquid involving electrolysis G01N27/26
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/30 for lubricating properties

Abstract

A fluid condition monitoring device includes a sensing assembly including a sensor and a transducer, the sensor to sense a property of the fluid and the transducer to apply a test signal to the fluid and receive a return signal from the fluid; a control assembly coupled to the sensing assembly, the control assembly including a controller and an input/output interface, the controller interfacing with the transducer to generate fluid condition information in response to the return signal; and an interface assembly coupled to the control assembly, the interface assembly including a connection to the input/output interface to transmit the fluid condition information to an external system.

Claims

1. A fluid condition monitoring device comprising:

a sensing assembly including a sensor and a transducer, the sensor to sense a property of the fluid and the transducer to apply a test signal to the fluid and receive a return signal from the fluid, and the transducer comprising a first electrode and second electrode arranged concentrically, such that the first electrode is arranged radially inward from the second electrode;

a control assembly coupled to the sensing assembly, the control assembly including a controller and an input/output interface, the controller interfacing with the transducer to generate fluid condition information in response to the return signal, wherein the controller performs a self-calibration process that includes an automatic gain selection to adjust a gain across a plurality of test signal frequencies; and

an interface assembly coupled to the control assembly, the interface assembly including a connection to the input/output interface to transmit the fluid condition information to an external system.

2. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensor measures one or both of relative humidity and temperature of the fluid.

3. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a potting material encompassing the sensor.

4. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising:

an insulator positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode.

5. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensing assembly includes a biasing member to secure the transducer and the sensor in position.

6. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, wherein:

the self-calibration process includes automatic test signal selection to select a subset of test frequencies for use in generating the fluid condition information.

7. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, wherein:

the sensing assembly includes a first circuit board, the control assembly includes a control circuit board, and further comprising a flexible circuit board interconnecting the first circuit board and the control circuit board.

8. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, wherein:

the control assembly includes a control circuit board mounted in a board support, the board support including at least one shock absorber to absorb force at the control assembly.

9. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid condition monitoring device is configured to determine at least one of water content, incorrect fluid addition, lubricant oxidation degradation, additive depletion, and viscosity.

10. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid condition information comprises at least one of dielectric properties, conductivity, and fluid impedance.

11. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid condition monitoring device is positioned in at least one of an in-line flow path, an on-line flow path and an off-line flow path.

12. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, wherein:

the fluid is a lubricant.

13. The fluid condition monitoring device of claim 1, wherein:

the control assembly includes a control circuit board mounted in a board support, the board support being configured to absorb force at the control assembly.