COMPACT SELF-CONTAINED CONDITION MONITORING DEVICE

• US 20090231153A1
• Filed: 09/29/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: RICE, David A., PLAYFORD, Mark Alexander, QUILL, Jermiah Dennis, PADDOCK, Douglas, BRUSA, Patrick J., HAUENSTEIN, Kenneth Lee
• Granted Patent: US 8,154,417 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/683
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/003 of rotating machines G01H1/10 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a new and unique method and apparatus for monitoring a device, such as a pump. The device may also include a fan, compressor, turbine or other rotating or reciprocating piece of machinery. In one embodiment, the method features sensing in a first device both a start-up vibration at a start-up time after the first device is affixed to a second device to be monitored and a subsequent vibration level at a subsequent time after the start-up time, and providing both a start-up vibration level signal containing information about the start-up vibration level of the second device, and a subsequent vibration level signal containing information about the subsequent vibration level of the second device; and monitoring in the first device the condition of operation of the second device based on a comparison of the start-up vibration level signal in relation to the subsequent vibration level signal. The apparatus may take the form of one or more modules and/or chipset for performing the steps and functionality of the aforementioned method.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sensing in a first device both a start-up vibration at a start-up time after the first device is affixed to a second device to be monitored and a subsequent vibration level at a subsequent time after the start-up time, and providing both a start-up vibration level signal containing information about the start-up vibration level of the second device, and a subsequent vibration level signal containing information about the subsequent vibration level of the second device; and

monitoring in the first device the condition of operation of the second device based on a comparison of the start-up vibration level signal in relation to the subsequent vibration level signal.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring includes providing an indication containing information about the condition of operation of the second device, including an audio indication, or a visual indication, or some combination thereof.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring includes activating a start-up procedure in order to determine the start-up vibration level.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring includes activating a monitoring procedure in order to determine the subsequent vibration level and monitor the second device.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises affixing the first device to the second device, including affixing the first device to a bearing frame of the second device.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring includes periodically entering the first device into a low power mode in order to save power.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the start-up vibration level is determined based on a multiple of a sensed start-up vibration level measured along one or more axes of the second device.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the start-up vibration level is determined so as to be within a range having a lowest possible predetermined start-up vibration level and a highest possible predetermined start-up vibration level.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the start-up vibration level is based on the operation of the second device at the start-up time so as to be unique to the second device.

10. Apparatus comprising:

one or more modules configured for sensing in a first device both a start-up vibration at a start-up time after the first device is affixed to a second device to be monitored and a subsequent vibration level at a subsequent time after the start-up time, and providing both a start-up vibration level signal containing information about the start-up vibration level of the second device, and a subsequent vibration level signal containing information about the subsequent vibration level of the second device; and

one or more modules configured for monitoring in the first device the condition of operation of the second device based on a comparison of the start-up vibration level signal in relation to the subsequent vibration level signal.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the one or more modules for monitoring are configured for providing an indication containing information about the condition of operation of the second device, including an audio indication, or a visual indication, or some combination thereof.

12. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the one or more modules for monitoring are configured for activating a start-up procedure in order to sense the start-up vibration level.

13. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the one or more modules for monitoring are configured for activating a monitoring procedure in order to determine the subsequent vibration level and monitor the second device.

14. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus comprises a fastener configured for affixing the first device to a bearing frame of the second device.

15. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the one or more modules for monitoring are configured for periodically entering the first device into a low power mode in order to save power in the first device.

16. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the start-up vibration level is determined based on a multiple of a sensed start-up vibration level measured along one or more axes of the second device.

17. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the start-up vibration level is determined so as to be within a range having a lowest possible predetermined start-up vibration level and a highest possible predetermined start-up vibration level.

18. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the start-up vibration level is based on the operation of the second device at the start-up time so as to be unique to second device.

19. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the apparatus comprises a chipset for performing the functionality of the one or more modules.

20. A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable components, when executed on a computer processor, for performing a method comprising:

sensing in a first device both a start-up vibration at a start-up time after the first device is affixed to a second device to be monitored and a subsequent vibration level at a subsequent time after the start-up time, and providing both a start-up vibration level signal containing information about the start-up vibration level of the second device, and a subsequent vibration level signal containing information about the subsequent vibration level of the second device; and

monitoring in the first device the condition of operation of the second device based on a comparison of the start-up vibration level signal in relation to the subsequent vibration level signal.

21. A computer-readable storage medium according to claim 20, wherein the monitoring comprises providing an indication containing information about the condition of operation of the second device, including an audio indication, or a visual indication, or some combination thereof.

22. Apparatus comprising:

means for sensing in a first device both a start-up vibration at a start-up time after the first device is affixed to a second device to be monitored and a subsequent vibration level at a subsequent time after the start-up time, and providing both a start-up vibration level signal containing information about the start-up vibration level of the second device, and a subsequent vibration level signal containing information about the subsequent vibration level of the second device; and

means for monitoring in the first device the condition of operation of the second device based on a comparison of the start-up vibration level signal in relation to the subsequent vibration level signal.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the means for monitoring provides an indication containing information about the condition of operation of the second device, including an audio indication, or a visual indication, or some combination thereof.