Turbine engine foreign object damage detection system
First Claim
1. A method for detecting foreign object damage in a piece of machinery, said method comprising the following steps:
- (a) receiving a stress wave signal produced by the piece of machinery from a stress wave sensor;
(b) filtering of the received stress wave signal to eliminate frequencies at least below 20 kHz;
(c) demodulating the filtered stress wave signal to yield a stress wave pulse train;
(d) analyzing said stress wave pulse train to determine if a machinery damage threshold has been exceeded; and
(e) generating an indicator when said machinery damage threshold has been exceeded;
wherein step (d) includes dynamically averaging the stress wave pulse train to set a dynamically adjustable peak threshold voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A Foreign Object Damage (FOD) detection system is disclosed for detecting and analyzing ultrasound or stress waves emitted when an object enters the intake of a turbine engine and impacts one or more of the blades in the engine. Upon detection the FOD detection system can immediately inform the operator, inform another electronic device (computer, etc.) and/or latch the event for review by maintenance personnel. The detection system generally consists of one or more stress wave sensors and an electronic assembly to process the stress wave signal received from the sensor(s). The electronic assembly is in communication with the sensor(s) via conventional cabling.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for detecting foreign object damage in a piece of machinery, said method comprising the following steps:
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(a) receiving a stress wave signal produced by the piece of machinery from a stress wave sensor;
(b) filtering of the received stress wave signal to eliminate frequencies at least below 20 kHz;
(c) demodulating the filtered stress wave signal to yield a stress wave pulse train;
(d) analyzing said stress wave pulse train to determine if a machinery damage threshold has been exceeded; and
(e) generating an indicator when said machinery damage threshold has been exceeded;
wherein step (d) includes dynamically averaging the stress wave pulse train to set a dynamically adjustable peak threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for detecting foreign object damage in a piece of machinery, said method comprising the following steps:
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(a) receiving a stress wave signal produced by the piece of machinery;
(b) analyzing said stress wave signal to determine if the signal exceeds a threshold; and
(c) generating an indicator when said stress wave signal exceeds said threshold;
wherein step (b) includes the step of demodulating the received stress wave signal into a stress wave pulse;
wherein said threshold is determined by the following peak detection equation;
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8. A system for detecting foreign object damage to a piece of machinery, said system comprising:
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at least one stress wave sensor associated with the piece of machinery;
an electronic assembly in communication with said at least one sensor;
said electronic assembly providing band pass filtering of a stress wave signal received from said at least one stress wave sensor and demodulating the band pass filtered stress wave signal to yield stress wave pulses, said electronic assembly analyzes the stress wave pulses to determine if damage has been caused to the piece of machinery from an unintended ingested foreign object;
wherein said electronic assembly including means for dynamically averaging the stress wave pulses to set a dynamically adjustable peak threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for detecting object damage in a piece of machinery, said method comprising the following steps:
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(a) conditioning a stress wave signal received by a stress wave sensor produced by the piece of machinery;
(b) band pass filtering of the received stress wave signal;
(c) demodulating the band pass filtered stress wave signal to yield a stress wave pulse train; and
(d) processing the stress wave pulse train to determine if an unintended object damage event has occurred to the piece of machinery;
wherein step (d) includes dynamically averaging the stress wave pulse train to set a dynamically adjustable peak threshold voltage. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A method for detecting object damage in a piece of machinery, said method comprising the following steps:
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(a) receiving a stress wave signal produced by the piece of machinery; and
(b) analyzing said stress wave signal to determine if the signal exceeds a threshold;
wherein said threshold is determined by the following peak detection equation;
SWEpeak=Dpeak*∫
(SWPT−
Tpeak)Where Tset=Threshold set point referenced to average SWPT. Tpeak=Threshold Voltage. DpeakTpeak exceeded equals 1 otherwise 0. SWEpeak=peak energy above Tpeak.
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Specification