Electromagnetic vibration sensor

• US 6,223,602 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems, LLC (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: Kyrtsos, Christos T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAYYAZ, NASHMIYA SAQIB
• Application Number:
  US09/272,026
• Time in Patent Office: 775 Days
• Field of Search: 73/661, 73/650, 73/655, 73/643, 73/598, 73/597, 73/599, 73/600, 73/592, 73/660, 73/657
• US Class Current: 73/660
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/003 of rotating machines G01H1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 9/00 Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by using radiation-sensitive means, e.g. optical means

Abstract

A drive line vibration sensor includes an emitter, a receiver, and a controller. The emitter and receiver are mounted in a differential manner such that drive line vibrations cause the emitter to vibrate at a different frequency than the receiver. In operation the emitter transmits a signal to the receiver such that the differential movement of the transmitter relative to the receiver produces a variation in the signal received by the receiver which is identifiable by the controller. In another embodiment, the emitter pulses the signal such that the frequency of the vibration can be determined. A recording device is preferably in communication with the controller to record the variation in the signal to provide an inexpensive diagnostic and maintenance system which can record the overall operation of a drive line under actual operational conditions.

Claims

1. A drive line comprising:

a drive line component;

an emitter, said emitter transmitting a signal;

a receiver to receive said signal;

one of said emitter and receiver is attached to said drive line component to more he vibratable in response to vibration of said drive line component then the other of said emitter and receiver, which is attached to said drive line component to he substantially non-vibratable in response to said vibration of said drive line component vibration of said drive line component causing differential movement of said emitter relative to said receiver to produce a variation in said signal received by said receiver; and

a controller in communication with said receiver, said controller operable to identify said variation in said signal, and said variation in said signal corresponds to said vibration of said drive line component.

2. The drive line as recited in claim 1, wherein said emitter is attached to said component such that said emitter is vibratable in response to said vibration of said drive line component and said receiver is substantially non-vibratable in response to said vibration of said drive line component.

3. The drive line as recited in claim 1, wherein said receiver is attached to said component such that said receiver is vibratable in response to said vibration of said drive line component and said emitter is substantially non-vibratable in response to said vibration of said drive line component.

4. The drive line as recited in claim 1, wherein said controller is operable to identify a Doppler shift in the frequency of said signal received by said receiver.

5. The drive line as recited in claim 1, further comprising a recording device in communication with said controller, said recording device operable to record said variation in said signal.

6. The drive line as recited in claim 5, further comprising an RF transmitter in communication with said controller, said RF transmitter in communication with said recording device.

7. The drive line as recited in claim 1, wherein said emitter transmits said signal as a pulse.

8. The drive line as recited in claim 1, wherein said emitter emits an electromagnetic signal.

9. A drive line assembly comprising:

a drive line including a shaft;

an emitter, said emitter transmitting an electromagnetic signal;

a receiver to receive said signal;

one of said emitter and receiver is attached to said shaft to he more vibratable in response to vibration of said shaft then the other of said emitter and receiver, which is attached to said shaft to he substantially non-vibratable in response to said vibration of said shaft, vibration of said shaft causing differential movement of said emitter relative to said receiver to produce a variation in said signal received by said receiver;

a controller in communication with said receiver, said controller operable to identify said variation in said signal; and

a recording device in communication with said controller, said recording device operable to record said variation in said signal and said variation in said signal corresponds to said vibration of said shaft.

10. The drive line as recited in claim 9, wherein said emitter is attached to said component such that said emitter is vibratable in response to said vibration of said shaft and said receiver is substantially non-vibratable in response to said vibration of said shaft.

11. The drive line as recited in claim 9, wherein said receiver is attached to said shaft such that said receiver is vibratable in response to said vibration of said shaft and said emitter is substantially non-vibratable in response to said vibration of said shaft.

12. The drive line as recited in claim 9, wherein said emitter, said receiver, and said controller are integral to said shaft.

13. A method of measuring drive line vibration comprising the steps of:

(1) attaching an emitter and a receiver to said drive line, such that one of said emitter and receiver is attached to said drive line to he more vibratable in responds to vibration of said drive line then the other of said emitter and receiver, which is attached to said drive line to he substantially non-vibratable in response to said vibration of said drive line component;

(2) transmitting an signal from said emitter to said receiver, vibration of said drive line causing differential movement of said emitter relative to said receiver to produce a variation in said signal received by said receiver; and

(3) identifying said variation in said signal such that said variation in said signal corresponds to said vibration of said drive line.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising the step of recording said variation in said signal.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein step (2) includes pulsing said signal.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein step (3) includes identifying the Doppler shift in the frequency of said signal.