Vibration sensor with mechanical isolation member

• US 8,640,545 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2010
• Issued: 02/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PCB Piezotronics, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: PCB Piezotronics, Inc. (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Zusman, George, Corelli, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAINT SURIN, JACQUES M
• Application Number:
  US12/898,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20110079084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,218 Days
• Field of Search: 736/60, 735/75, 735/84, 735/93, 736/49, 738/656, 702/183, 702/188, 702/189
• US Class Current: 73/660
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis

Abstract

An apparatus and system for sensing vibration in rotary or reciprocating machinery, such as motors, pumps, fans, gearboxes, compressors, turbo-machinery or high-speed spindles, which comprises a mechanical isolation member (14) interposed between a sensor base (15) and a main sensor body (11). In one aspect, the mechanical isolation member comprises a coaxial cylinder of plastic, rubber or polyurethane which is compressed between the sensor base and main sensor body.

Claims

1. A vibration sensor for measuring vibration in a machine, said vibration sensor comprising:

a sensor base configured for mounting on a machine, said sensor base comprising a sensitive element for measuring vibration of said machine;

a main sensor body;

a mechanical isolation member interposed between said sensor base and said main sensor body, arranged such that said sensor base is not in direct contact with said main sensor body; and

an electrical assembly within said main sensor body for processing said measured vibration of said machine.

2. The vibration sensor of claim 1, wherein said mechanical isolation member comprises plastic, rubber or polyurethane.

3. The vibration sensor of claim 1, wherein said mechanical isolation member is compressed between said sensor base and said main sensor body.

4. The vibration sensor of claim 1, wherein said mechanical isolation member itself has a fraction of critical damping in a range of about 0.05 to 0.5.

5. The vibration sensor of claim 1, wherein said mechanical isolation member is a coaxial cylinder.

6. The vibration sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

a transmission element for communicating information respecting said measured vibration of said machine to an external processing device.

7. The vibration sensor of claim 1, wherein said electrical assembly is configured to process said measured vibrations in a working frequency range greater than 10 kHz.

8. The vibration sensor of claim 1, wherein said mechanical isolation member is attached to said sensor base such that said mechanical isolation member has high cross-axis stiffness.

9. The vibration sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

an adapter assembly in communication with said main sensor body, configured for connection to an external data collector.

10. The vibration sensor of claim 1, further comprising:

an antenna within said main sensor body configured for wireless transmission of information respecting said measured vibration,

wherein said main sensor body comprises a plastic cap.

11. The vibration sensor of claim 1, wherein said mechanical isolation member has a natural frequency in a range of about 700 Hz to 1300 Hz.

12. A vibration sensing system for measuring vibration in a machine, said vibration sensing system comprising:

a sensor base configured for mounting on a machine, said sensor base comprising a sensitive element for measuring vibration of said machine;

a main sensor body;

a mechanical isolation member interposed between said sensor base and said main sensor body, arranged such that said sensor base is not in direct contact with said main sensor body;

an electrical assembly within said main sensor body for processing said measured vibration of said machine;

wherein said main sensor body comprises a transmission element for transmission of information respecting said measured vibration of said machine.

13. The vibration sensing system of claim 12, wherein said transmission element is a connector, further comprising:

an adapter cable assembly comprising an electrical conductor configured for communication between said connector and an external data collector.

14. The vibration sensing system of claim 12, wherein said transmission element is an antenna configured for wireless transmission of information respecting said measured vibration of said machine, and said main sensor body comprises a plastic cap.

15. The vibration sensing system of claim 12, wherein said mechanical isolation member comprises plastic, rubber or polyurethane.

16. The vibration sensing system of claim 12, wherein said mechanical isolation member is compressed between said sensor base and said main sensor body.

17. The vibration sensing system of claim 12, wherein said mechanical isolation member has a natural frequency in a range of about 700 Hz to 1300 Hz.

18. The vibration sensing system of claim 12, wherein said mechanical isolation member itself has a fraction of critical damping in a range of about 0.05 to 0.5.

19. The vibration sensing system of claim 12, wherein said mechanical isolation member is a coaxial cylinder.

20. A vibration sensor for measuring vibration in a machine for operation at a selected working frequency greater than 10 kHz, said vibration sensor comprising:

a sensor base configured for mounting on a machine, said sensor base comprising a sensitive element for measuring vibration of said machine;

a main sensor body;

a mechanical isolation member interposed between said sensor base and said main sensor body, arranged such that said sensor base is not in direct contact with said main sensor body;

means for processing said measured vibration of said machine; and

means for transmitting information respecting said measured vibration of said machine to an external processing device.

21. The vibration sensing system of claim 20, wherein said mechanical isolation member comprises plastic, rubber or polyurethane.

22. The vibration sensing system of claim 20, wherein said mechanical isolation member is compressed between said sensor base and said main sensor body.

23. The vibration sensing system of claim 20, wherein said mechanical isolation member has a natural frequency in a range of about 700 Hz to 1300 Hz.

24. The vibration sensing system of claim 20, wherein said mechanical isolation member itself has a fraction of critical damping in a range of about 0.05 to 0.5.

25. The vibration sensing system of claim 20, wherein said mechanical isolation member is a coaxial cylinder.