Collective head bearing monitor

• US 6,714,135 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2001
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Froman, Gary Scott, Wendelsdorf, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US10/010,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20030085812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 873 Days
• Field of Search: 340/679, 340/680, 340/682, 340/514, 735/93, 736/60
• US Class Current: 340/682
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/527 related to vibration and noise
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2233/00 Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis

Abstract

A bearing monitor has a bearing sensor to monitor frequencies emitted by a bearing in a rotating component. The bearing sensor has an output to a processor. The processor is attached to the rotating component to process the output from the bearing sensor to a digital or logical signal, which may include determining if the output indicates that the bearing requires service.

Claims

1. A bearing monitor comprising:

a bearing sensor to monitor frequencies emitted by a bearing in a rotating component, the bearing sensor having an output; and

a processor attached to and rotating with the rotating component to process the output from the bearing sensor and to convert the output into a digital or logical signal correlating to a condition of the bearing.

2. The bearing monitor of claim 1 wherein the bearing sensor is a piezoelectric quartz accelerometer.

3. The bearing monitor of claim 1 further comprising an indicator that alerts an operator if the bearing requires service.

4. The bearing monitor of claim 3 wherein the indicator is proximate to the processor.

5. The bearing monitor of claim 3 wherein the indicator is remote from the processor.

6. The bearing monitor of claim 3 wherein the indicator indicates a condition of the bearing after the bearing monitor receives a preset output for a period of time.

7. The bearing monitor of claim 1 wherein the processor includes a bandpass filter to filter frequencies in a selectable range.

8. The bearing monitor of claim 1 further comprising a test circuit to self-test the bearing monitor.

9. A method of monitoring a bearing comprising the steps of:

sensing vibrations emitted by a bearing using a sensor attached to a rotating component, the bearing sensor having an output; and

providing a processor attached to and rotating with the rotating component to process the output from the bearing sensor to a digital or logical signal correlating to a bearing condition.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the bearing sensor is piezoelectric quartz accelerometer.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of providing an indicator that alerts an operator if the bearing requires service.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the indicator is proximate to the processor.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the indicator is remote from the processor.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the indicator indicates a condition of the bearing after the processor receives a preset output for a period of time.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein the processor includes a bandpass filter to filter frequencies in a selectable range.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein the processor includes a test circuit.

17. A system to monitor a bearing in a rotating component comprising:

a bearing sensor attached to the rotating component to monitor frequencies emitted by the bearing in the rotating component, the bearing sensor having an output; and

a processor attached to and rotating with the rotating component to process the output from the bearing sensor and to convert the output into a digital or logical signal correlating to a condition of the bearing.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the bearing sensor is a piezoelectric quartz accelerometer.

19. The system of claim 17 further comprising an indicator that alerts a user if the bearing requires service.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the indicator is proximate to the processor.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the indicator is remote from the rotating component.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the indicator indicates a condition of the bearing after the bearing monitor receives a preset output for a period of time.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the processor includes a bandpass filter to filter frequencies in a selectable range.

24. The system of claim 17 further comprising a test circuit to self-test the bearing monitor.