Industrial process device utilizing magnetic induction
First Claim
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1. A process device for coupling to an industrial process for use in monitoring or controlling the process, comprising:
- a device housing configured to physically couple to the industrial process;
a plurality of accelerometers, including;
a coil of wire mounted to the housing;
a magnet configured to move through the coil of wire along a path in response to vibrations in the industrial process thereby inducing an electrical current in the coil of wire;
first and second springs arranged at opposed ends of the path configured to receive the magnet in a first direction and responsively urge the magnet in a second, opposed direction, the springs thereby configured to reverse a direction of movement of the magnet relative to the coil, the path having a path length and the magnet having a magnet length which is less than the path length whereby the magnet touches at most one of the first and second springs at any time;
electrical circuitry in the housing having an input to receive the electrical current from the coil of wire, the electrical circuitry responsive to the electrical current from the vibrations; and
a microcontroller coupled to the plurality of accelerometers configured to monitor outputs from the plurality of accelerometers over a period of time and identify an orientation of the magnet and coil of wire based upon a selected criteria, the microprocessor further configured to instruct an operator to orient the magnet and coil of wire through a local operator interface based upon the identified orientation.
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Abstract
A process device for coupling to an industrial process for use in monitoring or controlling the process includes a device housing configured to physically couple to the industrial process. A coil of wire is mounted to the housing and a magnet is configured to move through the coil of wire. The relative movement of the magnet is responsive to vibrations in the industrial process. Such relative movement induces an electrical current in the coil of wire. Electrical circuitry in the housing includes an input to receive the electrical current from the coil of wire.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A process device for coupling to an industrial process for use in monitoring or controlling the process, comprising:
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a device housing configured to physically couple to the industrial process; a plurality of accelerometers, including; a coil of wire mounted to the housing; a magnet configured to move through the coil of wire along a path in response to vibrations in the industrial process thereby inducing an electrical current in the coil of wire; first and second springs arranged at opposed ends of the path configured to receive the magnet in a first direction and responsively urge the magnet in a second, opposed direction, the springs thereby configured to reverse a direction of movement of the magnet relative to the coil, the path having a path length and the magnet having a magnet length which is less than the path length whereby the magnet touches at most one of the first and second springs at any time; electrical circuitry in the housing having an input to receive the electrical current from the coil of wire, the electrical circuitry responsive to the electrical current from the vibrations; and a microcontroller coupled to the plurality of accelerometers configured to monitor outputs from the plurality of accelerometers over a period of time and identify an orientation of the magnet and coil of wire based upon a selected criteria, the microprocessor further configured to instruct an operator to orient the magnet and coil of wire through a local operator interface based upon the identified orientation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 27, 28, 29)
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18. A method for sensing vibrations in a process device coupled to an industrial process of the type used in monitoring or controlling the industrial process, the method comprising:
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physically coupling a housing of the process device to the industrial process; receiving vibrations from the industrial process through the physical coupling; moving a magnet through a coil of wire along a path in response to the vibrations and generating an electrical current in the coil of wire; providing first and second opposed springs on opposed ends of the path arranged to receive the magnet in a first direction and urge movement of the magnet in a second opposed direction thereby reversing a direction of movement of the magnet relative to the coil, the path having a path length and the magnet having a magnet length which is less than the path length whereby the magnet touches at most one of the first and second springs at any time; providing the electrical current to circuitry of the process device, and responding with the circuitry to the electrical current; measuring vibrations with a vibration sensor; receiving measured vibrations from the vibration sensor and the coil of wire and responsively identifying a preferred orientation of the magnet and coil of wire based upon a selected criteria; and providing an output to an operator to orient the magnet and the coil of wire based upon the identified preferred orientation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification