Sensing module for monitoring conditions of a pump or pump assembly

• US 9,811,984 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2015
• Issued: 11/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc. (ITT, Inc.)
• Inventors: Decook, Bradley C., Kernan, Daniel J., Sullivan, Jeffrey, Loychik, Neil, George, Naveen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US14/685,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20160300459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 939 Days
• Field of Search: 34081545, 340679, 340683, 340635, 340648, 73660, 361 23, 362255
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/003 of rotating machines G01H1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources

Abstract

A sensing module for configuring on a vibrating machine or structure, such as a pump or pump assembly is provided. The sensing module includes an outer shell configured with a recessed portion, and encapsulated electronics having a multicolored light array arranged inside the outer shell. The multicolored light array responds to signaling containing information about a condition being sensed or monitored by the sensing module and provides along a projection axis at least one beam of light containing information about the condition. The signaling is received from one or more of the other encapsulated electronics, including an accelerometer or temperature sensing device. The sensing module includes a domed lens configured in the recessed portion of the outer shell, and configured to project the at least one beam of light along the projection axis with a visibility of 360° for viewing from afar, by an observer visually monitoring the sensing module.

Claims

1. A sensing module for configuring on a vibrating machine or structure, including a pump, comprising:

an outer shell configured with a recessed portion;

a base having encapsulated electronics with a multicolored light array that is arranged inside the outer shell, the multicolored light array being configured to respond to signaling containing information about a condition being sensed or monitored by the sensing module and to provide along a projection axis at least one beam of light containing information about the condition; and

a domed lens configured in the recessed portion of the outer shell, and also configured with a top curved surface, a bottom surface and two side lens portions with side surfaces to reflect, re-reflect and project the at least one beam as a lens illumination or glow having multiple beams of light rays outwardly from the domed lens in relation to the projection axis with a visibility of 360°

about the sensing module.

2. A sensing module according to claim 1, wherein each side surface comprises a side angled flat or curved surface that is transparent to project at least part of the at least one beam of light as the lens illumination or glow.

3. A sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the domed lens comprises a middle lens portion having the top curved surface and the two side lens portions, and also comprises a lower collimator lens portion configured to receive the at least one beam of light and provide at least one beam of collimated light to the middle lens portion.

4. A sensing module according to claim 3, wherein the middle lens portion, the two side lens portions and the lower collimator lens portion are configured as a molded integral unit.

5. A sensing module according to claim 4, wherein the molded integral unit is made of a clear plastic, including a polyamide 12 material used for injection molding.

6. A sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the domed lens is configured with a lower collimator lens portion configured to receive the at least one beam of light and provide at least one beam of collimated light.

7. A sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the recessed portion is configured as a recessed open portion formed to receive the lower collimator lens portion when the domed lens and the outer shell are coupled together.

8. A sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the multicolored light array comprises a multicolored LED array.

9. A sensing module according to claim 8, wherein the multicolored LED array comprises:

a green LED that indicates that the device being monitored is in good condition;

a red LED that indicates that the device being monitored is in an alarm condition; and

a blue LED that indicates that the sensing module is paired with another device.

10. A sensing module according to claim 1, wherein the encapsulated electronics comprises sensors configured to respond to the condition being sensed and monitored by the sensing module and provide the signaling to be received by the multicolored light array.

11. A sensing module according to claim 10, wherein the sensors are configured to respond temperature and vibration stimuli and provide the signaling containing information about temperature and vibration data sensed.

16. A sensing module according to claim 3, wherein the lower collimator lens portion includes outwardly angled surfaces, so that the at least one beam of light projected from the multicolored light array can fan outwardly into the domed lens in the form of rays that spread out or diverge away at least partly from the projection axis as the at least one beam of light passes through lower collimator lens portion.

12. A sensing module for configuring on a vibrating machine or structure, including a pump, comprising:

an outer shell configured with a recessed portion;

a base having encapsulated electronics with a multicolored light array that is arranged inside the outer shell, the multicolored light array being configured to respond to signaling containing information about a condition being sensed or monitored by the sensing module and to provide along a projection axis at least one beam of light containing information about the condition; and

a domed lens configured in the recessed portion of the outer shell, and also configured with a top curved surface to reflect, re-reflect and project the at least one beam of light outwardly in relation to the projection axis with a visibility of 360°

about the sensing module;

wherein

the sensing module comprises a sensing LED and an activation sticker configured to engage a top surface of the outer shell and cover the sensing LED;

the sensing LED configured to respond to presence or absence of ambient light and provide a sensing LED signal containing information to turn the sensing module ON or OFF depending on the ambient light sensed; and

the activation sticker configured to be peeled off the top surface of the outer shell so as to allow the sensing LED to sense the presence of the ambient light.

13. A sensing module according to claim 12, wherein the sensing module comprises a light sensing LED module configured to receive suitable signaling to change the light level sensitivity of the light sensing LED.

14. A sensing module according to claim 13, wherein the suitable signaling is provided by a mobile application or app.

15. A sensing module according to claim 12, wherein the base is configured as a printed circuit board having the encapsulated electronics formed thereon.