System for bearing fault detection
First Claim
1. A handheld fault detector for detecting fault conditions in a device that generates characteristic ultrasonic signals, the detector comprising:
- an ultrasonic transducer module configured to receive an ultrasonic signal from the device and to generate an output electrical signal related thereto;
a control unit configured to control the operations of the detector;
a memory for storing operating instructions for the control unit and reference fault spectra data for a particular configuration of the device; and
a fault calculation module integral to the control unit and configured to detect the fault condition by generating time series analysis and a Fast Fourier Transform of the electrical signal as a frequency spectrum and comparing the generated frequency spectrum to the reference fault spectra data to determine if there is a sufficiently close match.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed an ultrasonic frequencies fault detecting apparatus. The present invention uses high frequency ultrasonic energy signals to analyze bearings and determine the presence of faults therein. The ultrasonic return signals are heterodyned (by amplitude demodulation) into the audio spectrum for purposes of audio detection. In addition, a FFT spectrum of the signal is displayed on a monitor for more accurate results. According to the present invention software is used to automatically analyze the FFT spectrum by comparing the current spectrum with stored spectrums of known bearing conditions as modified based on the rotary speed of the bearing and the number of balls. Once a defect in a bearing has been located in this manner using automated FFT analysis, an operator can then use a device, such as a calibrated lubricant dispenser, to effectuate maintenance and/or repair.
26 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A handheld fault detector for detecting fault conditions in a device that generates characteristic ultrasonic signals, the detector comprising:
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an ultrasonic transducer module configured to receive an ultrasonic signal from the device and to generate an output electrical signal related thereto; a control unit configured to control the operations of the detector; a memory for storing operating instructions for the control unit and reference fault spectra data for a particular configuration of the device; and a fault calculation module integral to the control unit and configured to detect the fault condition by generating time series analysis and a Fast Fourier Transform of the electrical signal as a frequency spectrum and comparing the generated frequency spectrum to the reference fault spectra data to determine if there is a sufficiently close match. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification