Apparatus and method for vibration analysis of a machine or other article

• US 7,188,527 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2004
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MagnaCross LLC (IP Edge LLC)
• Original Assignee: Snap-on Equipment Ltd. (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Paul, Jones, Barbara L.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US10/884,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20040239516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 736/02, 736/60, 736/61, 367/127, 340/683
• US Class Current: 73/660
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path

Abstract

A method and apparatus for wireless transmission of data through a communications channel between at least two local data sensors (for example automotive diagnostic data sensors or NVH sensors), which may include a primary data-processing function, and data-processing function (for example a PC) to receive data therefrom. The system provides for asymmetrical division of the communications channel on a frequency or time-division or packet-switching basis so that the corresponding asymmetrical data transmission requirement of the local data sensors are matched to the capacity of their respective sub-channels whereby a single channel is capable of transmitting all the required data. A particularly practical application is to noise vibration harshness analysis of wireless-transmitted data from three-dimensionally spaced NVH sensors enabling spacial pinpointing of vibration sources in automotive warranty analysis studies.

Claims

1. A method for vibration analysis of a machine or other article comprising:

a) providing a vibration sensor (104);

b) causing said sensor to sense to sense vibrations;

c) analyzing signals produced by said sensor;

characterized by

d) providing said sensor with three-dimensional location sensing means (106);

e) causing said vibration sensor to be mechanically coupled to the machine or other article to sense vibrations at three-dimensionally-spaced locations and using said three-dimensional location sensing means to determine the co-ordinates of said three locations; and

f) identifying the location or co-ordinates of a source of vibration accordingly.

2. Apparatus for vibration analysis of a machine or other article comprising:

a) a vibration sensor (104) adapted to sense vibrations at chosen locations; and

b) analysis means (124) adapted to analyze signals produced by said sensor;

characterized by

c) said vibration sensor being adapted to be mechanically coupled to the machine or other article and further comprising three-dimensional location sensing means (106);

d) whereby said single sensor can be caused to sense vibrations at three-dimensionally spaced locations at which said three-dimensional location sensing means can identify the co-ordinate locations thereof whereby the corresponding co-ordinates of a source of vibration can be determined.