Acoustic sensing device, system and method for monitoring emissions from machinery
First Claim
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1. An acoustic sensing device, comprising:
- (a) a housing assembly having a housing interior including;
i. a housing body having a first end portion and a second end portion;
ii. a mount disposed on said first end portion for permitting removable attachment of said housing body relative to a surface mounting region of the machinery, said first end portion of said housing body formed as a substantially planar wall having a substantially planar inner contact surface and a substantially planar outer contact surface that is oriented in a facing relationship to the surface mounting region of the machinery when the housing body is removably attached relative thereto; and
iii. a coupler disposed on said second end portion for permitting said housing body to be selectively coupled to measuring instrumentation via a communications interface; and
(b) an acoustic emissions sensor supported within said housing interior in electrical communication with said coupler, said acoustic emissions sensor including a piezoelectric transducer having a mounting face immovably secured to said inner contact surface and extending longitudinally within the housing interior from said mounting face to terminate in an unrestrained free end portion, said piezoelectric transducer operative upon exposure to sound waves propagating through the surface mounting region of the machinery to stress longitudinally within the housing interior and produce corresponding transducer signals, and said acoustic emissions sensor operative, when the housing body is attached relative the surface mounting region and the measuring instrumentation is coupled to said housing body, to produce detection signals from the transducer signals along said communications interface.
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Abstract
A device and system are provided for monitoring acoustic emissions from machinery to indicate levels of detected sound waves. Each incorporates an acoustic sensing device which incorporates a housing assembly constructed for removable attachment between a surface mounting region of the machinery and a measuring instrument to define a coupled state. An acoustic emissions sensor is disposed in the housing assembly'"'"'s interior to detect sound waves propagating through the surface mounting region and to produce detection signals for processing by the measuring instrument. A methodology for monitoring acoustic emissions is also provided.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An acoustic sensing device, comprising:
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(a) a housing assembly having a housing interior including;
i. a housing body having a first end portion and a second end portion;
ii. a mount disposed on said first end portion for permitting removable attachment of said housing body relative to a surface mounting region of the machinery, said first end portion of said housing body formed as a substantially planar wall having a substantially planar inner contact surface and a substantially planar outer contact surface that is oriented in a facing relationship to the surface mounting region of the machinery when the housing body is removably attached relative thereto; and
iii. a coupler disposed on said second end portion for permitting said housing body to be selectively coupled to measuring instrumentation via a communications interface; and
(b) an acoustic emissions sensor supported within said housing interior in electrical communication with said coupler, said acoustic emissions sensor including a piezoelectric transducer having a mounting face immovably secured to said inner contact surface and extending longitudinally within the housing interior from said mounting face to terminate in an unrestrained free end portion, said piezoelectric transducer operative upon exposure to sound waves propagating through the surface mounting region of the machinery to stress longitudinally within the housing interior and produce corresponding transducer signals, and said acoustic emissions sensor operative, when the housing body is attached relative the surface mounting region and the measuring instrumentation is coupled to said housing body, to produce detection signals from the transducer signals along said communications interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification