System and method for measuring an operative condition of a machine

• US 10,598,650 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Worden, Bret Dwayne, Balasubramaniam, Mahalakshmi Shunmugham, Kumar, Ajith Kuttannair, Zhang, Jingjun, Coyne, Jennifer Lynn, Jagadeesha, Sachidananda Chinagudi
• Primary Examiner(s): Roberts, Herbert K
• Application Number:
  US14/869,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20160018382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,638 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

A system includes a sensor, one or more processors, a transmitter, and a capacitance control structure. The sensor is configured to contact a fluid and measure a characteristic of the fluid. The one or more processors are operably coupled to the sensor. The one or more processors are configured to generate one or more data signals representative of the characteristic of the fluid that is measured by the sensor. The transmitter is operably coupled to the one or more processors. The transmitter is configured to wirelessly communicate the one or more data signals to a remote reader. The capacitance control structure is configured to one or more of reduce or isolate sensor capacitance of the sensor from the one or more processors.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

coupling a housing of a detection assembly to a first gearcase reservoir of a vehicle, the housing containing an electronics package positioned within the housing, the detection assembly including a tube secured to the housing and containing a sensor positioned within the tube, wherein the tube is elongate and defines a plurality of axially disposed apertures;

coupling a capacitance control structure to the housing, the capacitance control structure configured to one or more of reduce or isolate a sensor capacitance of the sensor from the electronics package;

detecting, by the sensor, a fluid level of lubricant in the first gearcase reservoir;

responding to the detected fluid level being below a threshold value by one or more of reducing or eliminating power supplied to a first powered axle of the vehicle that is associated with the first gearcase reservoir; and

operating the vehicle using at least a second powered axle that is coupled to a second gearcase reservoir while the first powered axle is supplied one or more of reduced or no power.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising signaling to a repair or maintenance shop that the vehicle is in need of service or maintenance.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein coupling the capacitance control structure to the housing comprises coupling a capacitance control plate to the housing, the capacitance control plate curved to at least partially surround the electronics package.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a cap portion and a base portion, the tube secured to the housing at the base portion and the electronics package contained within the cap portion, wherein coupling the capacitance control structure to the housing comprises coupling the capacitance control structure to the housing between the cap portion and the base portion.

5. A system, comprising:

a detection assembly comprising;

a housing configured to be coupled to a first gearcase reservoir of a vehicle;

a tube secured to the housing, wherein the tube is elongate and defines a plurality of axially disposed apertures;

a sensor positioned within the tube and configured to contact a fluid associated with a first powered axle of the vehicle and measure a fluid level of the fluid in the first gearcase reservoir;

an electronics package positioned within the housing, the electronics package comprising;

one or more processors operably coupled to the sensor, the one or more processors configured to generate one or more data signals representative of the fluid level of the fluid that is measured by the sensor; and

a transmitter operably coupled to the one or more processors, the transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate the one or more data signals to a remote reader; and

a capacitance control structure coupled to the housing and configured to one or more of reduce or isolate a sensor capacitance of the sensor from the electronics package; and

a vehicle controller communicatively coupled to the remote reader and configured to;

respond to the measured fluid level being below a designated threshold value by one or more of reducing or eliminating power to the first powered axle; and

operate the vehicle using a second powered axle of the vehicle as the first powered axle is operated with one or more of reduced or no power.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is configured to measure at least the capacitance of the fluid, the fluid functioning as a dielectric, the one or more processors configured to detect a level of the fluid based at least in part on the measured capacitance.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor comprises a multi-conductor capacitive sensor configured to measure at least the capacitance, inductance, and resistance of the fluid, the sensor configured to detect one or more qualities of the fluid based on at least one of the measured capacitance, inductance, and resistance.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the tube is configured to contact the fluid within the first gearcase reservoir when the housing is coupled to the first gearcase reservoir.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the tube is configured to receive the fluid within an interior chamber of the tube through at least one of the apertures to contact an electrode of the sensor that is disposed within the interior chamber.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least two of the apertures are axially offset relative to each other.

11. The system of claim 5, further comprising at least one of an accelerometer, an electro-magnetic sensor, a radio-frequency identification device, or a clock that is operably coupled to the one or more processors.

12. The system of claim 5, further comprising a clock operably coupled to the one or more processors, the clock cooperating with the one or more processors to wake the system from an inactive state to an active state at a determined time or time interval to measure the fluid and transmit the one or more data signals based on the sensed measurement of the fluid.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the system is one of a plurality of like systems, the one or more processors and the clock being configured to wake the system and control the system to transmit the one or more data signals at times that are different from the waking and transmission times of other systems of the plurality of like systems.

14. The system of claim 5, further comprising an accelerometer operably coupled to the one or more processors, the accelerometer cooperating with the one or more processors to wake the system from an inactive state to an active state in response to detecting an impact force on the system that exceeds a determined threshold impact value, the system in the active state measuring the fluid and transmitting the one or more data signals based on the sensed measurement of the fluid.

15. The system of claim 5, further comprising an accelerometer operably coupled to the one or more processors, the accelerometer configured to wake the system from an inactive state to an active state after a period of inactivity in response to detecting at least one of a lack of motion or a vibration of the system, the system in the active state measuring the fluid and transmitting the one or more data signals based on the sensed measurement of the fluid.

16. The system of claim 5, wherein the sensor is operable to measure at least one of a fluid level of the fluid, a temperature of the fluid, a fluid conductivity, a dielectric constant of the fluid, an impedance of the fluid, or a viscosity of the fluid.

17. The system of claim 5, wherein the fluid is lubricating oil for a vehicle, the sensor being configured to withstand extended immersion in the fluid at a temperature that is greater than 100 degrees Celsius and to withstand repeated shocks that are greater than 100 G during operation of the vehicle without significant degradation in an operational quality or accuracy of the sensor.

18. The system of claim 5, wherein the fluid comprises one or more of lubricant, fuel, coolant, or exhaust gas.

19. The system of claim 5, wherein the capacitance control structure includes a capacitance control plate, the capacitance control plate curved to at least partially surround the electronics package.

20. The system of claim 5, wherein the housing includes a cap portion and a base portion, the tube secured to the housing at the base portion and the electronics package contained within the cap portion, wherein the capacitance control structure is coupled to the housing between the cap portion and the base portion.