Diagnostic method, system and device for a rotorcraft drive system

• US 10,643,405 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Hale, Rodney Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Dager, Jonathan M
• Application Number:
  US15/677,786
• Publication Number:
  US 20180053359A1
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/006 Safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/12 Rotor drives
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/003 of rotating machines G01H1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/46 by spectral analysis, e.g. Fourier analysis or wavelet analysis spectral signal processing per se G06F17/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005

Abstract

A method, system, and device for diagnosing an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the method including obtaining original data based on samples of a vibration signal; converting the original data to an analytical signal having a real component and an imaginary component; determining complex magnitudes of the analytical signal; processing the complex magnitudes of the analytical signal to produce a frequency-domain signal; and determining complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain signal to generate a shock spectrum.

Claims

1. A method of diagnosing an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the method comprising:

generating a vibration signal from a vibration sensor system;

obtaining, by a device configured to diagnose an anomaly, original data based only on samples of the vibration signal, the device configured to diagnose an anomaly includes a display;

converting, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, the original data to an analytical signal having a real component and an imaginary component;

determining, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, complex magnitudes of the analytical signal;

processing, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, the complex magnitudes of the analytical signal to produce a frequency-domain signal; and

determining, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain signal to generate a shock spectrum;

wherein the device provides a real-time indication of the anomaly in the monitored component.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of processing comprises performing a discrete Fourier transform (DFT).

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining rotational information associated with the component; and

identifying a condition indicator.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

determining a plurality of condition indicators.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

based upon the plurality of condition indicators, determining an unhealthy condition of the plurality of condition indicators.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

identifying an unhealthy component.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

adjusting at least one of an operation and a maintenance of the unhealthy component.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing a history, by the device configured to diagnose the anomaly, of original data;

wherein the history being stored before a diagnostic operation for the component is performed.

9. A device configured to diagnose an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the device comprising:

a vibration sensor system configured to generate a vibration signal;

a memory configured to store original data based on samples of a vibration signal;

a display; and

one or more processors in communication with the memory, the one or more processors being configured to;

obtain original data based only on samples of the vibration signal;

convert the original data to an analytical signal having a real component and an imaginary component;

determine complex magnitudes of the analytical signal;

process the complex magnitudes of the analytical signal to produce a frequency-domain signal; and

determine complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain signal to generate a shock spectrum;

wherein the device provides a real-time indication of the anomaly in the monitored component.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the processors are configured to:

obtain rotational information associated with the component; and

identify a condition indicator.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the processors are configured to:

determine a plurality of condition indicators.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the processors are configured to:

based upon the plurality of condition indicators, determine an unhealthy condition of the plurality of condition indicators; and

identify an unhealthy component.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the processors are configured to:

adjust at least one of an operation and a maintenance of the unhealthy component.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the original data is stored before a diagnostic operation for the component is performed.

15. A system for diagnosing an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the system comprising:

a rotorcraft comprising a body, a power train coupled to the body and comprising a power source and a drive train coupled to the power source;

a vibration sensor system coupled to the drive train and configured to generate a vibration signal; and

a diagnostic device associated with the vibration sensor system, the diagnostic device operable to;

obtain original data based only on samples of the vibration signal;

convert the original data to an analytical signal having a real component and an imaginary component;

determine complex magnitudes of the analytical signal;

process the complex magnitudes of the analytical signal to produce a frequency-domain signal; and

determine complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain signal to generate a shock spectrum.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the vibration sensor system comprises at least one accelerometer.