Integrated motor monitoring system

• US 20070069678A1
• Filed: 09/28/2005
• Published: 03/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Lindsey, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,298,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 318/490
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/05 Rectifiers associated with casings, enclosures or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/20 for measuring, monitoring, testing, protecting or switching rectifiers H02K11/04; power electronics H02K11/33
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence

Abstract

An integrated motor monitoring system includes a housing and a motor disposed within the housing, the motor being configured to provide a power output. The integrated motor monitoring system also includes at least one monitoring device communicatively coupled to the motor and configured to monitor an operational aspect of the motor and generate a data signal associated with the operational aspect. The integrated motor monitoring system further includes a controller, disposed within the housing and in communication with the at least one monitoring device, and configured to energize a plurality of field conductors of the motor and receive the data signal from the at least one monitoring device over at least one of the plurality of field conductors.

Claims

1. An integrated motor monitoring system, comprising:

a housing;

a motor disposed within the housing and configured to provide a power output;

at least one monitoring device communicatively coupled to the motor and configured to;

monitor an operational aspect of the motor; and

generate a data signal associated with the operational aspect; and

a controller, disposed within the housing and in communication with the at least one monitoring device, and configured to;

energize a plurality of field conductors of the motor; and

receive the data signal from the at least one monitoring device over at least one of the plurality of field conductors.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the energizing of the plurality of field conductors further includes providing power signals to the plurality of field conductors of the motor sufficient to operate the motor.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring device includes a temperature sensor.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the operational aspect includes a temperature associated with at least part of the motor.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring device is configured for selective coupling to a first field conductor among the plurality of field conductors.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5, further including at least one switch coupling the at least one monitoring device to the first field conductor of the motor.

7. The monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the controller is further configured to operate the at least one switch.

8. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a switching circuit adapted to selectively energize the plurality of field conductors of the motor.

9. The monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the controller further configured to:

receive the data signal over the at least one of the plurality of field conductors; and

transmit the data signal to an external diagnostic tool over a power line.

10. The monitoring system of claim 8, wherein the switching circuit includes a plurality of switching elements, at least one of the plurality of switching elements coupled to a field conductor of the motor.

11. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a power signal from an external power source over a power line; and

transmit the data signal to an external diagnostic tool over the power line.

12. A method for monitoring a motor, comprising:

energizing a plurality of field conductors of a motor;

monitoring a current of at least one of the plurality of field conductors;

enabling data communication over the at least one of the plurality of field conductors, based on the monitored current.

13. The method of claim 12, further including receiving at least one data signal indicative of an operational aspect of the motor.

14. The method of claim 13, further including providing the at least one data signal to an external diagnostic tool.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein energizing the plurality of field conductors includes sequentially energizing the plurality of field conductors.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein enabling data communication includes providing a selective electrical path for data communication based on the sequential energizing of the plurality of field conductors.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein energizing the plurality of field conductors of the motor includes converting a DC power signal into a plurality of alternating power pulses.

18. A work machine, comprising:

a power source configured to provide a power output;

an electronic control unit, operatively coupled to the power source and configured to monitor a plurality of electric systems associated with the work machine;

an integrated motor monitoring system, comprising;

a housing;

a motor disposed within the housing;

at least one monitoring device communicatively coupled to the motor and configured to;

monitor at least one operational aspect of the motor; and

generate a data signal associated with the at least one operational aspect; and

a controller, disposed within the housing and in communication with the at least one monitoring device, and configured to;

energize a plurality of field conductors of the motor; and

receive the data signal from the at least one monitoring device over at least one of the plurality of field conductors.

19. The work machine of claim 18, wherein the at least one monitoring device is configured for selective coupling to a first field conductor among a plurality of field conductors.

20. The work machine of claim 19, further including at least one switch coupling the at least one monitoring device to the first field conductor of the motor.

21. The work machine of claim 18, wherein the controller includes a switching circuit adapted to selectively energize the plurality of field conductors of the motor.

22. The work machine of claim 21, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive the data signal over the at least one of the plurality of field conductors; and

transmit the data signal to an external diagnostic tool over a power line.

23. The work machine of claim 18, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a power signal from an external power source over a power line; and

transmit the data signal to an external diagnostic tool over the power line.