BANDWIDTH-SELECTABLE ACOUSTIC EMISSION APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR TRANSMITTING TIME-AVERAGED SIGNAL DATA

• US 20190086366A1
• Filed: 09/20/2017
• Published: 03/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Fisher Controls International LLC (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Dahme, Bret Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,444,196 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/003 Machine valves testing valves for fluid tightness G01M3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/028 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/0258 Structural degradation, e.g. fatigue of composites, ageing of oils
• 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: G01N 29/42 by frequency filtering or by tuning to resonant frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/449 Statistical methods not provided for in G01N29/4409, e.g. averaging, smoothing and interpolation
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/04 for correcting frequency response

Abstract

Bandwidth-selectable acoustic emission apparatus and methods for transmitting time-averaged signal data are described. An example apparatus includes an acoustic emission sensor having a bandwidth-selectable filter and a data extractor. The acoustic emission sensor is to generate an acoustic emission signal. The bandwidth-selectable filter is to filter the acoustic emission signal based on a selected bandwidth to generate a filtered acoustic emission signal. The data extractor is to extract time-averaged signal data from the filtered acoustic emission signal. The data extractor is also to transmit the time-averaged signal data from the acoustic emission sensor to an external data acquisition system.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an acoustic emission sensor including a bandwidth-selectable filter and a data extractor, the acoustic emission sensor to generate an acoustic emission signal, the bandwidth-selectable filter to filter the acoustic emission signal based on a selected bandwidth to generate a filtered acoustic emission signal, the data extractor to extract time-averaged signal data from the filtered acoustic emission signal, the data extractor to transmit the time-averaged signal data from the acoustic emission sensor to an external data acquisition system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, where the acoustic emission sensor further includes a preamplifier, the bandwidth-selectable filter being integrated within the preamplifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic emission sensor further includes a preamplifier to amplify the acoustic emission signal prior to the bandwidth-selectable filter filtering the acoustic emission signal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the acoustic emission sensor further includes a preamplifier to amplify the filtered acoustic emission signal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the selected bandwidth is based on bandwidth selection data to be received at the acoustic emission sensor from the external data acquisition system.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the external data acquisition system includes a data acquisition device and a data processing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the time-averaged signal data includes root mean square data.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the time-averaged signal data includes average signal level data.

9. A method, comprising:

filtering an acoustic emission signal based on a selected bandwidth of a bandwidth-selectable filter of an acoustic emission sensor to generate a filtered acoustic emission signal, the acoustic emission signal being generated via the acoustic emission sensor;

extracting time-averaged signal data from the filtered acoustic emission signal; and

transmitting the time-averaged signal data from the acoustic emission sensor to an external data acquisition system.

10. The method of claim 9, where the acoustic emission sensor further includes a preamplifier, the bandwidth-selectable filter being integrated within the preamplifier.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the acoustic emission sensor further includes a preamplifier to amplify the acoustic emission signal prior to the filtering of the acoustic emission signal.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the acoustic emission sensor further includes a preamplifier to amplify the filtered acoustic emission signal.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the selected bandwidth is based on bandwidth selection data received at the acoustic emission sensor from the external data acquisition system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the external data acquisition system includes a data acquisition device and a data processing device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the time-averaged signal data includes root mean square data.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the time-averaged signal data includes average signal level data.

17-32. -32. (canceled)