SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MACHINE FUNCTION MONITORING

• US 20130304346A1
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Published: 11/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Logimesh Ip LLC
• Original Assignee: Logimesh Ip LLC
• Inventors: Gillette, William J. II
• Application Number:
  US13/890,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304346A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/99
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/38 Devices for discharging contents containers formed by folding or erecting paper blanks B65D5/72 ; incorporated in removable or non-permanently secured closure members B65D47/00; for discharging thin flat articles B65D83/08
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/007 Measuring stresses in a pipe string or casing for locating blocked portions of pipes E21B47/09
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 77/085 with sensors measuring combustion processes, e.g. knocking, pressure, ionization, combustion flame
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2041/288 for performing a transformation into the frequency domain, e.g. Fourier transformation
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 2200/021 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/0027 the fuel being gaseous non-electrical control F02D19/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/1497 With detection of the mechanical response of the engine
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/22 Safety or indicating devices for abnormal conditions in air/fuel ratio feedback systems F02D41/1495, in electric control linkage F02D11/107, in purge control systems F02M25/0809
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 45/00 Electrical control not provided for in groups F02D41/00 - F02D43/00
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 7/006 Camshaft or pushrod housings
• CPC Class Codes: F02F 7/0068 Adaptations for other accessories
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/102 by monitoring exhaust gases
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/12 by monitoring vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/025 Details with respect to the testing of engines or engine parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/22 for pipes, cables or tubes; for pipe joints or seals; for valves; for welds; for containers, e.g. radiators
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/3254 using a flow detector G01M3/3245, G01M3/3272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/0075 for multiple spatially distributed sensors, e.g. for environmental monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06G 7/70 for vehicles, e.g. to determine permissible loading of ships , centre of gravity, necessary fuel
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 : Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/44 : Methods for charging or discharging circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/46 : Accumulators structurally combined with charging apparatus circuits for charging H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 : using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00032 : Systems characterised by the controlled or operated power network elements or equipment, the power network elements or equipment not otherwise provided for circuits specially adapted for remote switching of lighting via the power line H05B47/185
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00 : Circuit arrangements for charging or depolarising batteries or for supplying loads from batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 : characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/35 : with light sensitive cells
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/82 : Connection of interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 : Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 : Engine management systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 : using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 : With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid

Abstract

Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring the functions of a machine, particularly an engine, by measuring vibration from the machine, and optionally one or more temperatures inside of the machine.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

(a) measuring the vibration of an engine;

(b) converting the measured vibrations into electronic data;

(c) storing the electronic data in a database;

(d) establishing a communications link between a first transmitter and a first receiver;

(e) establishing a communications link between a first transmitter and the database;

(f) transmitting all or part of the database to the first receiver; and

(g) analyzing the transmitted part of the database to monitor the engine'"'"'s functionality.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is resident on a device attached to the engine.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the vibration is measured using one or more accelerometers.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is resident on a PCB.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the PCB is inside of a casing positioned on the engine.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is resident remote from the engine.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the vibration of the engine is continuously measured.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein at least part of the database is analyzed to establish a standard vibration operating parameter.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the vibration is measured for each of the engine'"'"'s cylinders.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein after the standard vibrational operating parameter is established, each subsequent vibration measured is compared to the standard vibrational operating parameter to determine if the engine is functioning properly.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein a standard vibrational operating procedure is established for each engine cylinder.

12. The method of claim 1 that further comprises:

(a) measuring the temperature of the engine;

(b) converting the measured temperatures into an electronic data;

(c) storing the measured engine temperatures and creating a database of measured engine temperatures and the time each temperature was taken;

(d) establishing a communications link between a first transmitter and a first receiver;

(e) establishing a communications link between the first transmitter and the database;

(f) transmitting all or part of the database to the first receiver from the first transmitter; and

(g) analyzing the all or part of the transmitted database to monitor the engine'"'"'s functionality.

13. The method of claim 12 that further includes the step of analyzing the database to establish a standard operating temperature range for the engine.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the first receiver is connected to a second transmitter that transmits all or part of the database to a second receiver.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein after the standard operating temperature range has been established, at least some of the temperatures measured thereafter are compared to the standard temperature operating range.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein after the standard operating temperature range has been established, all of the temperatures measured thereafter are compared to the standard temperature operating range.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein after the standard temperature operating range has been established, the temperatures measured thereafter are compared to the standard temperature operating range on predetermined time intervals.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein when a temperature measured after the standard temperature operating range has been established exceeds a predetermined level, an alarm is transmitted by the first transmitter, the alarm detectable by a user.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the memory is constantly accessed by a controller.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein when a temperature measured after the standard temperature operating range has been established exceeds a predetermined level, the controller sends a signal to shut off the engine.