MONITORING ENGINE COMPONENTS

• US 20140347043A1
• Filed: 01/09/2013
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oxford University Innovation Limited (University of Oxford)
• Original Assignee: Isis Innovation Limited
• Inventors: Chana, Kamaljit Singh
• Granted Patent: US 10,191,012 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/242
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/021 Gearings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/90 using eddy currents
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/9046 by analysing electrical signals

Abstract

A method for monitoring local defects in a rotating engine component such as a gear uses one or more eddy current sensor(s) arranged to interact with the engine component as it is rotating during service. The eddy current sensor(s) may be carried by one or more teeth of a monitoring gear. A device is arranged to measure an output signal from the eddy current sensor(s) resulting from interaction with the rotating engine component. The output signal is processed so as to detect a change in shape of the output signal indicative of a local defect.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring local defects in a rotating engine component during service, comprising:

arranging one or more eddy current sensor(s) to interact with the engine component as it is rotating during service;

measuring an output signal from the eddy current sensor(s) resulting from interaction with the rotating engine component; and

detecting a change in shape of the output signal indicative of a local defect.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a change in amplitude of the output signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

measuring a datum output signal from the eddy current sensor(s) when the rotating engine component is initially installed; and

detecting a change in at least one of a) shape, and b) shape and amplitude of the output signal by comparison to the datum output signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting a frequency at which the eddy current sensor(s) are driven.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more eddy current sensor(s) are carried by a moveable member.

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7. An apparatus for monitoring local defects in a rotating engine component during service, comprising:

one or more eddy current sensor(s) arranged to interact with the engine component as it is rotating during service;

a device arranged to measure an output signal from the eddy current sensor(s) resulting from interaction with the rotating engine component; and

a processor arranged to detect a change in shape of the output signal indicative of a local defect.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is arranged to detect a change in amplitude of the output signal.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the device is arranged to measure a datum output signal from the eddy current sensor(s) when the rotating engine component is initially installed;

and

the processor is arranged to detect change in at least one of a) shape, and b) shape and amplitude of the output signal by comparison to the datum output signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, comprising a driver arranged to adjust a frequency at which the eddy current sensor(s) are driven.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more eddy current sensor(s) are carried by a moveable member that is arranged to pass the sensor(s) across a portion of a surface of the rotating engine component during relative movement therebetween.

19. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a single eddy current sensor is carried by the moveable member.

20. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more eddy current sensor(s) carried by the moveable member comprise an array of a plurality of sensors.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the sensors in the array have one or more different orientations.

22. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more eddy current sensor(s) carried by the moveable member comprise a number of different sensors, the sensors differing in terms of at least one of size, shape and mounting position.

23. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more eddy current sensor(s) are mounted below a surface of the moveable member.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the one or more eddy current sensor(s) are integrated into the moveable member.

28. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the rotating engine component comprises one or more transmission gears to be monitored and the moveable member is shaped so as to enmesh with the gear(s) to be monitored.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the moveable member is in the form of a monitoring gear or part of a monitoring gear.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the monitoring gear or part thereof comprises one or more teeth, and wherein the one or more eddy current sensor(s) are carried by the one or more teeth of the monitoring gear or part thereof.

37. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a wireless data transfer telemetry system configured to transfer signals from the one or more eddy current sensor(s).

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