Apparatus for wireless transmission of shaft position information
First Claim
1. A radio frequency (RF) apparatus for transmitting real-time shaft position information over an RF channel between at least one sensor located proximate to a rotating machine and a receiver, in the presence of high voltage electromagnetic impulses, the at least one sensor monitoring a rotating shaft of the rotating machine and generating a once per revolution analog signal and an n per degree analog signal, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a transmitter for processing and transmitting the analog signals generated by the at least one sensor, the transmitter comprising;
(i) a threshold detection circuit for converting the analog signals to corresponding digital logic signal levels;
(ii) a multiplexer for combining the once per revolution and n per degree digital signals into a single transmit data signal representing the once per revolution signal and the n per degree signal;
(iii) a modulator for modulating a reference clock with the transmit data signal;
(iv) a radio frequency synthesizer electrically connected to the modulator for generating a radio frequency carrier using the modulated reference clock; and
(v) an antenna electrically coupled to the synthesizer for radiating the modulated radio frequency carrier signal; and
(b) a receiver spaced from the transmitter comprising;
(i) an antenna for receiving the signal radiated by the transmitter;
(ii) a receiver circuit electrically coupled to the receiver antenna for selecting and demodulating the received signal; and
(iii) a signal processor for demultiplexing and reconstructing the once per revolution and n per degree digital signals from the demodulated received signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for reliably conveying real time shaft position information, without cables, between a stationary sensor connected to a reciprocating engine or compressor, or other rotating machinery, and an engine analyzer, in the presence of high energy ignition voltages employs a combination of conventional and non-conventional radio frequency technologies and digital signal processing to both encode and accurately reproduce real time shaft position information. The apparatus provides a safer and more efficient method for an engine maintenance technician to make predictive maintenance measurements on reciprocating engines.
37 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A radio frequency (RF) apparatus for transmitting real-time shaft position information over an RF channel between at least one sensor located proximate to a rotating machine and a receiver, in the presence of high voltage electromagnetic impulses, the at least one sensor monitoring a rotating shaft of the rotating machine and generating a once per revolution analog signal and an n per degree analog signal, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a transmitter for processing and transmitting the analog signals generated by the at least one sensor, the transmitter comprising; (i) a threshold detection circuit for converting the analog signals to corresponding digital logic signal levels; (ii) a multiplexer for combining the once per revolution and n per degree digital signals into a single transmit data signal representing the once per revolution signal and the n per degree signal; (iii) a modulator for modulating a reference clock with the transmit data signal; (iv) a radio frequency synthesizer electrically connected to the modulator for generating a radio frequency carrier using the modulated reference clock; and (v) an antenna electrically coupled to the synthesizer for radiating the modulated radio frequency carrier signal; and (b) a receiver spaced from the transmitter comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving the signal radiated by the transmitter; (ii) a receiver circuit electrically coupled to the receiver antenna for selecting and demodulating the received signal; and (iii) a signal processor for demultiplexing and reconstructing the once per revolution and n per degree digital signals from the demodulated received signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A radio frequency (RF) apparatus for transmitting shaft position information over an RF channel between at least one sensor connected to an engine and a receiver, in the presence of high energy ignition voltages, wherein the at least one sensor generates a once per revolution signal and an n per degree signal, the RF apparatus comprising:
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(a) a transmitter for receiving and processing the once per revolution signal and the n per degree signal generated by the at least one sensor, the transmitter comprising; (i) a multiplexer for combining the once per revolution and n per degree signals into a single transmit data signal representing the once per revolution signal and the n per degree signal; (ii) a modulator for modulating a reference clock with the transmit data signal; (iii) a radio frequency synthesizer electrically connected to the modulator for generating a radio frequency carrier using the modulated reference clock; and (iv) a first antenna electrically coupled to the synthesizer for radiating the modulated carrier signal; and (b) a receiver spaced from the transmitter, the receiver comprising; (i) a second antenna for receiving the signal radiated by the transmitter; (ii) a receiver circuit electrically coupled to the receive antenna for demodulating the received signal; and (iii) a processor for reconstructing the once per revolution and n per degree signals therefrom.
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19. A method for transmitting shaft position information over an RF channel from at least one sensor mounted on an engine to a receiver, in the presence of high voltage electromagnetic impulses, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring a rotating shaft utilizing at least one sensor and generating a once per revolution analog signal and an n per degree analog signal; (b) converting the analog signals to corresponding digital signals; (c) combining the digital signals into a single, transmit data signal representing the once per revolution signal and the n per degree signal; (d) modulating a reference clock with the transmit data signal; (e) transmitting the modulated signal over an RF channel; (f) receiving the transmitted signal at the receiver; (g) demodulating the received signal; and (h) demultiplexing and reconstructing the once per revolution and n per degree digital signals therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A radio frequency (RF) apparatus for transmitting real-time shaft position information over an RF channel between at least one sensor located proximate to a rotating machine and a receiver, in the presence of high voltage electromagnetic impulses, the at least one sensor monitoring a rotating shaft of the rotating machine and generating a once per revolution analog signal, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) a transmitter for processing and transmitting the once per revolution analog signal generated by the at least one sensor, the transmitter comprising; (i) a threshold detection circuit for converting the once per revolution analog signal to digital logic signal levels, thereby generating a digital transmit data signal; (ii) a modulator for modulating a reference clock with the transmit data signal; (iii) a radio frequency synthesizer electrically coupled to the modulator using the modulated reference clock for generating a radio frequency carrier signal; and (iv) an antenna electrically coupled to the synthesizer for radiating the modulated radio frequency carrier signal; and (b) a receiver spaced from the transmitter comprising; (i) an antenna for receiving the signal radiated by the transmitter; (ii) a receiver circuit electrically coupled to the receiver antenna for selecting and demodulating the received signal; and (iii) a signal processor for reconstructing the once per revolution digital signal from the demodulated received signal.
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Specification