Device and method for measuring fan vibration

• US 7,481,116 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Osborn, Jay K.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAPMAN JR, JOHN E
• Application Number:
  US11/582,654
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 736/60, 734/93, 735/140.1, 361/695
• US Class Current: 73/660
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/22 and converting vibrations due to imbalance into electric variables

Abstract

An apparatus for measuring vibration of a fan includes a frame having an opening for enclosing a fan; a plurality of accelerometers disposed on the frame; and an elastic support for supporting the frame. An apparatus for measuring fan vibration includes a frame having an opening for enclosing a fan; a plurality of accelerometers disposed on the frame. The plurality of accelerometers output a signal to the signal-analyzing device and at least three of the plurality of accelerometers are disposed on a different surface of the frame from each other. The apparatus for measuring fan vibration includes a mounting block that allows the fan to be secured in the opening of the frame and an elastic support for supporting the frame. A method of measuring fan vibration includes disposing a plurality of accelerometers on a frame; mounting a fan within the frame; turning on the fan; and outputting a signal from each of the plurality of accelerometers to a signal-analyzing device.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring vibration of a fan comprising:

a frame comprising an opening for enclosing a fan;

a plurality of accelerometers disposed on the frame;

an elastic support for supporting the frame; and

a mounting block,

wherein the mounting block allows the fan to be secured within the opening of the frame.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is square.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is circular.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opening is located at a center of the frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein one of the plurality of accelerometers is disposed on at least one corner of the frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least two of the plurality of accelerometers are disposed on at least one corner of the frame.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein at least three of the plurality of accelerometers are disposed on at least one corner of the frame, and wherein the at least three of the plurality of accelerometers are each disposed on a different surface of the at least one corner.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of elastic supports for supporting the frame.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a signal-analyzing device, wherein the accelerometers output a signal to the signal-analyzing device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising an output device, wherein an analyzed signal is output from the signal-analyzing device to the output device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a storage device, wherein an analyzed signal from the signal-analyzing device is stored in the storage device.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fan, wherein a weight of the frame is greater than a weight of the fan.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame is constructed from a rigid material.

14. An apparatus for measuring fan vibration comprising:

a frame comprising an opening for enclosing a fan;

a plurality of accelerometers disposed on the frame,

wherein the plurality of accelerometers output a signal to a signal-analyzing device and wherein at least three of the plurality of accelerometers are disposed on a different surface of the frame from each other;

a mounting block that allows the fan to be secured in the opening of the frame; and

an elastic support for supporting the frame.

15. A method of measuring fan vibration comprising:

disposing a plurality of accelerometers on a frame;

mounting a fan within an opening provided at the frame;

securing the fan within the opening by a mounting block disposed at the frame;

turning on the fan; and

outputting a signal from each of the plurality of accelerometers to a signal-analyzing device.

16. The method of measuring fan vibration of claim 15, further comprising:

elastically supporting the frame.

17. The method of measuring fan vibration of claim 15, further comprising:

outputting an analyzed signal from the signal-analyzing device.

18. The method of measuring fan vibration of claim 17, further comprising:

storing the analyzed signal in a storage device.

19. The method of measuring fan vibration of claim 15, further comprising:

disposing at least three of the plurality of accelerometers on a different surface of the frame from each other.