Orientation aware sensor

• US 8,015,879 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 09/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes, a GE Company, LLC (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Hall, Richard, Tompkins, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron E
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAYYAZ, NASHMIYA SAQIB
• Application Number:
  US11/896,156
• Publication Number:
  US 20090056456A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 736/60, 73618-620, 736/61
• US Class Current: 73/660
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/22 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence

Abstract

A sensor for detecting a parameter of an object includes a probe, a first sensing member for detecting the parameter of an object to be sensed and a second sensing member for determining an orientation of the probe relative to the object to be sensed. The second sensing member communicates the orientation of the probe to a data acquisition device to minimize data analysis errors associated with inaccurate orientation information.

Claims

1. A sensor for detecting a parameter of an object comprising:

a probe mounted to the object being sensed;

a first sensing member, provided in the probe, that detects a parameter of an object to be sensed while the object to be sensed is in operation; and

a second sensing member that senses an angular orientation of the probe relative to the object to be sensed by sensing a gravitational force on the first sensing member.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the second sensing member is provided in the probe.

3. The sensor according to claim 1, further comprising:

a data acquisition device including a data analysis portion and a configuration portion, said data analysis portion receiving data related to the parameter detected by the first sensing member and said configuration portion receiving data related to the orientation of the probe relative to the object to be sensed collected by the second sensing member.

4. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein the data acquisition device employs a smart protocol to communicate with at least one of the first and second sensing members.

5. The sensor according to claim 4, wherein the smart protocol is at least one of a HART protocol, a Profibus protocol and a Foundation Fieldbus protocol.

6. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the first sensing member is a vibration sensor.

7. The sensor according to claim 6, wherein the vibration sensor is a seismic sensor.

8. The sensor according to claim 6, wherein the vibration sensor is a proximity sensor.

9. The sensor according to claim 6, wherein the probe is mounted relative to a bearing assembly such that the first sensing member detects vibration associated with the bearing assembly.

10. The sensor according to claim 9, wherein the bearing assembly is provided in a turbine engine.

11. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a portable sensing device.

12. A method of sensing orientation of a sensor that monitors a parameter of an object comprising:

mounting a probe relative to an object to be sensed

sensing through at least one sensing member provided in the probe a parameter of the object while the object is in operation; and

sensing an angular orientation of the probe relative to the object being sensed with another sensing member that senses a gravitational force on the first sensing member.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

communicating the orientation of the probe to a data acquisition device.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

communicating the orientation of the probe to the data acquisition device through at least one of a HART protocol, a Profibus protocol and a Foundation Fieldbus protocol.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein mounting the probe relative to the object to be sensed includes mounting the probe to a turbine engine.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein mounting the probe relative to an object to be sensed includes contacting the object to be sensed with a portable probe.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein sensing the parameter of the object to be sensed includes sensing vibrations of the object to be sensed.

18. A turbomachine comprising:

at rotating member; and

a sensor including a probe mounted to the turbomachine relative to the rotating member, a first sensing member provided in the probe that detects a parameter of the rotating member during operation of the turbomachine and a second sensing member that senses an angular orientation of the probe relative to the turbomachine by sensing a gravitational force on the first sensing member.

19. The turbomachine according to claim 18, wherein the sensor includes a data acquisition device including a data analysis portion and a configuration portion, said data analysis portion receiving data related to the parameter detected by the first sensing member and said configuration portion receiving data related to the orientation of the probe relative to the turbomachine collected by the second sensing member.

20. The turbomachine according to claim 19, wherein the data acquisition device employs a smart protocol to communicate with at least one of the first and second sensing members, said smart protocol being at least one of a HART protocol, a Profibus protocol and a Foundation Fieldbus protocol.