VIBRATION MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND GAS TURBINE ENGINE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20080127734A1
• Filed: 11/30/2006
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: van der Merwe, Gert Johannes, Mollmann, Daniel Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/565,120
• Publication Number:
  US 20080127734A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/660
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/003 of rotating machines G01H1/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A vibration measurement system for a gas turbine engine. The vibration measurement system includes a first accelerometer coupled to the gas turbine engine, the first accelerometer configured to transmit a first identifier, a second accelerometer coupled to the gas turbine engine, the second accelerometer configured to transmit a second identifier that is different than the first identifier, and a signal conditioning computer coupled to the first and second accelerometers for receiving the first and second identifiers, the signal conditioning computer configured to determine which of the first and second accelerometers is connected to the signal conditioning computer based on the first and second identifiers.

Claims

1. A vibration measurement system for a gas turbine engine, said vibration measurement system comprising:

a first accelerometer coupled to said gas turbine engine, said first accelerometer configured to transmit a first identifier;

a second accelerometer coupled to said gas turbine engine, said second accelerometer configured to transmit a second identifier that is different than said first identifier; and

a signal conditioning computer coupled to said first and second accelerometers for receiving the first and second identifiers, said signal conditioning computer configured to determine which of said first and second accelerometers is connected to said signal conditioning computer.

2. A vibration measurement system in accordance with claim 1, wherein first and second accelerometers each comprise a positive connection, a negative connection, a ground connection and an identifier connection.

3. A vibration measurement system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said first accelerometer ground connection is coupled directly to said first accelerometer identifier connection.

4. A vibration measurement system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said second accelerometer comprises a resistor that is coupled between said second accelerometer ground connection and said second accelerometer identifier connection.

5. A vibration measurement system in accordance with claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second accelerometers is mounted internally within the gas turbine engine, said remaining accelerometer is mounted to an external surface of said gas turbine engine.

6. A vibration measurement system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said signal conditioning computer comprises software for assigning a discrete value to said first and second accelerometers based on said first identifier and second identifiers.

7. A vibration measurement system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second external accelerometer is configured to detect vibrations caused by imbalances in the gas turbine engine.

8. An accelerometer comprising:

a positive connection that is coupled to an amplifier;

a negative connection that is coupled to said amplifier;

a ground connection coupled to a ground; and

an identifier connection configured to transmit an identifier to a computer, said computer configured to identify said accelerometer based on the received signal

9. An accelerometer in accordance with claim 8, wherein said accelerometer ground connection is coupled directly to said first accelerometer identifier connection.

10. An accelerometer in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a resistor that is coupled between said accelerometer ground connection and said accelerometer identifier connection.

11. A combination comprising:

a gas turbine engine; and

a vibration measurement system coupled to said gas turbine engine, said vibration measuring system comprising

a first accelerometer coupled to said gas turbine engine, said first accelerometer configured to transmit a first identifier;

a second accelerometer coupled to said gas turbine engine, said second accelerometer configured to transmit a second identifier that is different than said first identifier; and

a signal conditioning computer coupled to said first and second accelerometers for receiving the first and second identifiers, said signal conditioning computer configured to determine which of said first and second accelerometers is connected to said signal conditioning based on said first and second identifiers.

12. A combination in accordance with claim 11, wherein each of said first and second accelerometers comprise a positive connection, a negative connection, a ground connection, and an identifier connection.

13. A combination in accordance with claim 11, wherein said first accelerometer ground connection is coupled directly to said first accelerometer identifier connection.

14. A combination in accordance with claim 11, wherein said second accelerometer comprises a resistor that is coupled between said second accelerometer ground connection and said second accelerometer identifier connection.

15. A combination in accordance with claim 11 wherein at least one of said first and second accelerometers is mounted internally within the gas turbine engine, said remaining accelerometer is mounted to an external surface of said gas turbine engine.

16. A combination in accordance with claim 11, wherein said signal conditioning computer comprises software for assigning a discrete value to said first and second accelerometers based on said first identifier and second identifiers.

17. A combination in accordance with claim 11, wherein said second external accelerometer is configured to detect vibrations caused by imbalances in the gas turbine engine.