Apparatus for Monitoring the Condition of a Device and Device with such an Apparatus and Method for Condition Monitoring

• US 20180128783A1
• Filed: 10/31/2017
• Published: 05/10/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Bittner, Ulrich, Eichner, Wilfried
• Application Number:
  US15/798,629
• Publication Number:
  US 20180128783A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/028 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 17/025 using infrasonic, sonic or ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 5/0066 by exciting or detecting vibration or acceleration vibration testing of structures G01M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 7/00 Vibration-testing of structures; Shock-testing of structures G01M9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/011 Velocity or travel time
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/106 one or more transducer arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2692 Tyres
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2696 Wheels, Gears, Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/07 by measuring propagation velocity or propagation time of acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/14 using acoustic emission techniques echo of particles G01N29/046; measuring mechanical vibrations or acoustic waves in solids in general G01H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/406 microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 29/00 Monitoring arrangements; Testing arrangements for hearing aids H04R25/30; detection of loudspeaker connection H04R5/04; sound-field adaptation dependent on speaker detection H04S7/308

Abstract

An apparatus for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of a device includes at least one microphone assigned to each component of a plurality of components of the device that is to be monitored.

Claims

1. An apparatus for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of a device comprising:

at least one microphone assigned to each component of a plurality of components of the device that is to be monitored.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one microphone includes a directional characteristic or is a directional microphone, and

the directional microphone includes a rotatable joint or a swiveling joint.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a primary housing located at a distance from the device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:

the at least one microphone is arranged on the primary housing, and/or

the at least one microphone is located at another distance from the primary housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one microphone is arranged in the immediate vicinity or in the airborne-sound near-field of the corresponding component of the plurality of components to which the at least one microphone is assigned.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the at one microphone includes at least two microphones arranged approximately along a beam that originates from the corresponding component of the plurality of components to which the at least two microphones are assigned.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one microphone is arranged approximately in one plane, and

the apparatus is configured to determine the corresponding component of the plurality of components to which the at least one microphone is assigned from transit time differences of a sound signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

an energy-harvesting apparatus fastened to the device and configured to convert vibrations or heat of the device into electrical energy.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising:

a decomposed structure, in which the at least one microphone is configured as a satellite microphone with integrated electronics.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the satellite microphone is implemented with energy independence and includes a battery, an accumulator, and/or an energy-harvesting apparatus configured to convert vibrations or heat of the device into electrical energy to power the satellite microphone.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein:

an electronic design of the primary housing or of a primary device and of the satellite microphone are of identical construction, and

the apparatus further includes a wireless data transmission device and a further sensor.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airborne-sound-based condition is cavitation, insufficient suction, wrong or incorrect installation of the plurality of components, or a deviating speed of rotation.

13. A system comprising:

a device including a plurality of components; and

an apparatus for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of the device, the apparatus comprising at least one microphone assigned to each component of the plurality of components of the device.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein:

the device includes a mobile working machine, a powertrain, a hydrostatic gearbox, one or a plurality of hydrostatic displacement machines, an electrical machine, a combustion engine, a hydrodynamic machine, a mechanical gearbox, or a hydraulic control unit, and

the plurality of components includes a hydrostatic displacement machine, an auxiliary aggregate of a combustion engine, a drive shaft, a roller bearing, a piston, a tire, or a valve.

15. A method for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of a device including a plurality of components, comprising:

assigning at least one microphone to each component of the plurality of components of the device; and

evaluating sound signals of the assigned at least one microphone.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

initializing through generating a sound signal at at least one component of the plurality of components.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

automatically activating the condition monitoring through a trigger.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

minimizing interfering noises during the condition monitoring;

or

insulating the sound signals from the interfering noises during the condition monitoring.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

calculating or estimating a remaining service life of at least one component of the plurality of components.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

localizing at least one component of the plurality of components with a beam-forming method.