Bearing health monitor
First Claim
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1. A method for monitoring a turbocharger having a rotor and a housing, the rotor being configured to rotate on a bearing about an axis of rotation with respect to the housing, comprising:
- sensing rotor movement information using a single sensor, the rotor movement information including both rotor rotation information and rotor displacement information, wherein the rotor rotation information pertains to rotation about the axis of rotation, and the rotor displacement information pertains to displacement from the axis of rotation; and
establishing indicators of rotor rotation speed and bearing condition from the rotor movement information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A turbocharger monitor including a sensor adapted and positioned with respect to a turbocharger housing to sense passing compressor blades, generating both rotor rotation information and rotor displacement information. A controller is configured to receive the generated information from the blade sensor, and to establish rotor rotation speed and an indicator of bearing condition.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for monitoring a turbocharger having a rotor and a housing, the rotor being configured to rotate on a bearing about an axis of rotation with respect to the housing, comprising:
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sensing rotor movement information using a single sensor, the rotor movement information including both rotor rotation information and rotor displacement information, wherein the rotor rotation information pertains to rotation about the axis of rotation, and the rotor displacement information pertains to displacement from the axis of rotation; and establishing indicators of rotor rotation speed and bearing condition from the rotor movement information.
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2. A turbocharger monitor for monitoring a turbocharger having a rotor and a housing, the rotor being operative to rotate on a bearing about an axis of rotation with respect to the housing, comprising:
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a means for sensing rotor movement information using a single sensor, the rotor movement information including both rotor rotation information and rotor displacement information, wherein the rotor rotation information pertains to rotation about the axis of rotation, and the rotor displacement information pertains to displacement from the axis of rotation; and a means for establishing indicators of rotor rotation speed and bearing condition from the rotor movement information.
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3. A turbocharger monitor, for use with a turbocharger having a rotor and a housing, the rotor being operative to rotate on a bearing about an axis of rotation with respect to the housing, comprising:
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a single sensor adapted and positioned with respect to the housing such that it is operative to sense rotor movement information, the rotor movement information including both rotor rotation information and rotor displacement information, wherein the rotor rotation information pertains to rotation about the axis of rotation, and the rotor displacement information pertaining to displacement from the axis of rotation; and a controller operative to receive the rotor movement information from the sensor, and further operative to establish indicators of rotor rotation speed and bearing condition from the rotor movement information. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A bearing wear monitor, for use with a rotatable turbocharger wheel having a plurality of blades, comprising:
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a blade sensor located proximate the wheel, and operative to detect blade proximity information for blades passing the blade sensor, the blade proximity information being indicative of a blade distance between the blade sensor and blades passing the blade sensor; and a controller operative to receive the blade proximity information from the blade sensor, and further operative to establish a blade distance variation from the blade proximity information; wherein the controller is operative to compare the variation in the blade distance with a previously established baseline variation to establish a level of bearing wear; and wherein the controller is operative to send a signal when the level of bearing wear has exceeded a wear limit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification