SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR PERFORMANCE MONITORING OF MECHANICAL ASSEMBLIES

• US 20170089804A1
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Goit, Matthew Carl, Murphy, Bryan Craig, Reznik, Carter
• Granted Patent: US 10,989,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/00 Testing of machine parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/04 Bearings

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring a performance of mechanical joints. Methods may include receiving, from a first plurality of sensors, a first plurality of measurements associated with a first mechanical joint included in the plurality of mechanical joints. The methods may also include generating, at a trend engine, at least one failure detection metric based on the first plurality of measurements. The failure detection metric may characterize a prediction of an operational failure associated with the first mechanical joint.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a performance of a plurality of mechanical joints, the method comprising:

receiving, from a first plurality of sensors, a first plurality of measurements associated with a first mechanical joint included in the plurality of mechanical joints; and

generating, at a trend engine, at least one failure detection metric based on the first plurality of measurements, the failure detection metric characterizing a prediction of an operational failure associated with the first mechanical joint.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of measurements characterizes at least one performance characteristic of the mechanical joint.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the trend engine is further configured to generate a plurality of performance data objects based on the first plurality of measurements, wherein each performance data object characterizes a statistical representation of at least some of the plurality of measurements over a designated period of time.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one failure detection metric is generated based on at least one of the performance data objects.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the failure detection metric includes a first set of data values characterizing a flag that identifies whether or not there is a predicted failure event, and wherein the failure detection metric further includes a second set of data values characterizing a failure identifier that identifies a type of predicted failure event.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the trend engine is further configured to generate a maintenance report that includes a plurality of tasks associated with the predicted failure event.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving, from a second plurality of sensors, a second plurality of measurements associated with a second mechanical joint included in the plurality of mechanical joints.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the failure detection metric is generated based on either the first plurality of measurements or the second plurality of measurements.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein, the first plurality of measurements characterize a current draw of the first mechanical joint.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first mechanical joint is a rotary joint implemented in a space station.

11. A system for monitoring a performance of a plurality of mechanical joints, the system comprising:

a first plurality of sensors configured to obtain a first plurality of measurements from a first mechanical joint included in the plurality of mechanical joints; and

a trend engine configured to receive the first plurality of measurements from the first plurality of sensors, and further configured to generate at least one failure detection metric based on the first plurality of measurements, the failure detection metric characterizing a prediction of an operational failure associated with the first mechanical joint.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the first plurality of measurements characterizes at least one performance characteristic of the mechanical joint.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the trend engine is further configured to generate a plurality of performance data objects based on the first plurality of measurements, wherein each performance data object characterizes a statistical representation of at least some of the plurality of measurements over a designated period of time.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one failure detection metric is generated based on at least one of the performance data objects.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the failure detection metric includes a first set of data values characterizing a flag that identifies whether or not there is a predicted failure event, and wherein the failure detection metric further includes a second set of data values characterizing a failure identifier that identifies a type of predicted failure event.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the trend engine is further configured to generate a maintenance report that includes a plurality of tasks associated with the predicted failure event.

17. A device for monitoring a performance of a plurality of mechanical joints, the device comprising:

a first communications interface communicatively coupled to a first plurality of sensors, the first communications interface being configured to receive a first plurality of measurements from the first plurality of sensors, the first plurality of measurements being associated with a first mechanical joint included in the plurality of mechanical joints; and

a trend engine configured to receive the first plurality of measurements via the first communications interface, and further configured to generate at least one failure detection metric based on the first plurality of measurements, the failure detection metric characterizing a prediction of an operational failure associated with the first mechanical joint.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the first plurality of measurements characterizes at least one performance characteristic of the mechanical joint.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the trend engine is further configured to generate a plurality of performance data objects based on the first plurality of measurements, wherein each performance data object characterizes a statistical representation of at least some of the plurality of measurements over a designated period of time.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the at least one failure detection metric is generated based on at least one of the performance data objects.