TRENDING MACHINE HEALTH DATA USING RFID TRANSPONDERS

• US 20150310723A1
• Filed: 04/29/2014
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Pinkerton, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US14/264,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20150310723A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/028 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/04 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31095 Read write intelligent chip on workpiece, pallet, tool for data exchange
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/02 Electric testing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/187 Machine fault alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system for monitoring and recording health data associated with machine. The system employs a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder, which is affixed to the machine. The system utilizes a digital memory component of the RFID transponder to record and maintain historical measurements to aid in determining machine condition trending. The RFID transponder interacts with a machine condition advisor (MCA), where the MCA obtains a configuration and historical data from the RFID transponder, queries sensors, collects data, transfers updated data to the RFID sensor, and determines and displays condition trending. Machine condition trending can be displayed in a graphical format. Warning or alarm levels can be established enabling the system to determine machine conditions warranting alerting a machine technician. Each machine condition trending can be independent of or associated with the associated warning or alarm level.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a health of a machine, the method comprising steps of:

installing a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder into a machine, wherein the RFID transponder includes;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna,

a radio frequency identification (RFID) transmitter in signal communication with the RFID antenna,

a radio frequency identification (RFID) receiver in signal communication with the RFID antenna,

a digital memory element including a series of memory blocks established for retaining historic measurements,

a microprocessor in signal communication with and operational control of the digital memory element, the RFID transmitter and the RFID receiver;

removably coupling a machine condition advisor (MCA) to the machine, the MCA comprising a sensor input and a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor operates in accordance with a series of machine condition instructions;

obtaining machine condition measurement data through the MCA; and

transferring the obtained machine condition measurement data to the historic measurement memory blocks.

2. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising steps of:

transferring stored historical machine condition measurements from the RFID transponder to the MCA; and

determining machine condition trending utilizing the MCA microprocessor as directed by an instruction set.

3. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 2, the method further comprising a step of:

informing a service technician of the determined machine condition trends.

4. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 2, the method further comprising a step of:

informing a service technician of the determined machine condition trends, wherein the determined machine condition trends are presented in a graphical format.

5. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising a step of:

associating a time when the machine condition measurement is acquired with each machine condition measurement.

6. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising steps of:

establishing an alert level and a danger level with each machine condition measurement; and

storing the alert level and the danger level established for each machine condition measurement in the RFID transponder.

7. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 6, the method further comprising steps of:

determining an operational status of the machine by comparing each machine condition measurement with each associated established alert level and danger level to determine if the machine condition is above one of the alert level and the danger level; and

conveying the operational status of the machine to an individual monitoring the machine condition.

8. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising a step of:

reading data stored on the RFID transponder using a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader.

9. A method of monitoring a health of a machine, the method comprising steps of:

installing a radio frequency identification (RFID) transponder into a machine, wherein the RFID transponder includes;

a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna,

a radio frequency identification (RFID) transmitter in signal communication with the RFID antenna,

a radio frequency identification (RFID) receiver in signal communication with the RFID antenna,

a digital memory element including a memory block established for recording and retaining point setup data and a series of memory blocks established for retaining historic measurements,

a microprocessor in signal communication with and operational control of the digital memory element, the RFID transmitter and the RFID receiver;

removably coupling a machine condition advisor (MCA) to the machine, the MCA comprising a sensor input and a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor operates in accordance with a series of machine condition instructions;

query machine condition sensors to obtain machine condition measurement data through the MCA;

establishing point setup data within the RFID point setup data memory block, wherein the point set up data includes at least one machine condition warning level associated with each monitored machine condition;

transferring the obtained machine condition measurement data to and recording the obtained machine condition measurement data in the historic measurement memory blocks;

determining a time relative to the machine condition sensor query and recording the relative time in the RFID transponder digital memory element, wherein the relative time is associated with the recorded obtained machine condition measurement data; and

utilizing the relative times and recorded obtained machine condition measurement data to determine machine condition trending.

10. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 9, the method further comprising a step of:

determining machine condition trending utilizing the MCA microprocessor as directed by an instruction set.

11. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 9, the method further comprising a step of:

informing a service technician of the determined machine condition trending.

12. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 9, the method further comprising a step of:

informing a service technician of the determined machine condition trends, wherein the determined machine condition trending is presented in a graphical format.

13. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 9, the method further comprising steps of:

establishing a warning level for each machine condition measurement;

storing the warning level established for each machine condition measurement in the RFID transponder;

comparing the obtained machine condition measurement data with the associated warning level to determine if the obtained machine condition measurement data is above the established warning level; and

informing a technician of a condition warranting a warning when the obtained machine condition measurement data is above the established warning level.

14. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 13, the method further comprising a step of:

informing a service technician of the determined machine condition trends, wherein the determined machine condition trending is presented in a graphical format.

15. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 9, the method further comprising steps of:

establishing an alert level and a danger level with each machine condition measurement; and

storing the alert level and the danger level established for each machine condition measurement in the RFID transponder.

16. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 15, the method further comprising steps of:

determining an operational status of the machine by comparing each machine condition measurement with each associated established alert level and danger level to determine if the machine condition is above one of the alert level and the danger level; and

conveying the operational status of the machine to an individual monitoring the machine condition.

17. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 15, the method further comprising a step of:

informing a service technician of the determined machine condition trends.

18. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 15, the method further comprising a step of:

informing a service technician of the determined machine condition trends, wherein the determined machine condition trending is presented in a graphical format.

19. The method of monitoring a health of a machine as recited in claim 9, the method further comprising a step of:

reading data stored on the RFID transponder using a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader.