Method and Apparatus for Troubleshooting Noise/Vibration Issues of Rotating Components

• US 20100101310A1
• Filed: 10/28/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Pratt & Whitney Canada Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Perie, Christian Guy
• Granted Patent: US 7,997,140 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/114.250
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 15/042 by monitoring a single specific parameter not covered by groups G01M15/06 - G01M15/12

Abstract

There is provided a method for troubleshooting noise/vibration issues of rotating components, the method comprising: receiving an audio signal of the rotating components in operation; generating a frequency spectrum corresponding to the audio signal; selecting a frequency ν_m in the frequency spectrum corresponding to a maximum amplitude; and comparing the frequency ν_m to a set of predetermined rotational speeds of the rotating components to find a match; thereby identifying a potentially defective component.

Claims

1. A method for troubleshooting noise/vibration issues of rotating components, said method comprising:

receiving an audio signal of said rotating components in operation;

generating a frequency spectrum corresponding to the audio signal;

selecting a frequency ν

_m in said frequency spectrum corresponding to a maximum amplitude; and

comparing said frequency ν

_m to a set of predetermined rotational speeds of said rotating components to find a match;

thereby identifying a potentially defective component.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said receiving an audio signal comprises digitally recording said audio signal on a handheld device and uploading said audio signal from said handheld device to a personal computer.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein said digitally recording said audio signal comprises recording said audio signal via a microphone provided on the device, the device being one of a camera, a mobile phone and a personal entertainment device.

4. The method as defined in claim 3, further comprising using the device to record at least one image of a control panel gauge indicating said predetermined rotational speeds.

5. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein said receiving an audio signal, said generating a frequency spectrum, said selecting a frequency and said comparing are performed in real-time.

6. The method as defined in claim 1, wherein further comprising converting at least one of said frequency ν

_m and said set of predetermined rotational speeds to a given units of measurement to obtain a common unit of measurement.

7. A system for troubleshooting noise/vibration issues of rotating components, said system comprising:

a frequency spectrum generator adapted to receive an audio signal of said rotating components in operation and to generate a frequency spectrum corresponding to said audio signal;

a frequency determining module connected to said frequency spectrum generator and adapted to receive said frequency spectrum and to select a frequency ν

_m in said frequency spectrum corresponding to a maximum amplitude; and

an identification module connected to said frequency determining module and adapted to receive said frequency ν

_m and a set of rotational speeds of said rotating components, and to compare said frequency ν

_m to said set of rotational speeds to find a match;

thereby identifying a potentially defective component.

8. The system as defined in claim 7, further comprising a handheld device adapted to record and transmit said audio signal to said frequency spectrum generator.

9. The system as defined in claim 8, wherein said handheld device is one of a camera and a mobile phone, said camera and said mobile phone being provided with a microphone.

10. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein said camera and said mobile phone are adapted to one of take pictures and record a video of control panels indicating said predetermined rotational speeds.

11. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein said identification module is adapted to convert at least one of said frequency ν

_m and said set of predetermined rotational speeds to a given unit of measurement to obtain a common unit of measurement.

12. The system as defined in claim 7, wherein said frequency spectrum generator is connected to said identification module and said frequency spectrum generator is adapted to generate a frequency spectrum according to a unit of measurement of said predetermined rotational speeds.

13. A system for troubleshooting noise/vibration issues of rotating components, said system comprising:

a processor in a machine in connection with a memory, said processor adapted to receive an audio signal of said rotating components in operation; and

an application coupled to said processor, said application being adapted to;

generate a frequency spectrum corresponding to said audio signal;

select a frequency ν

_m in said frequency spectrum corresponding to a maximum amplitude; and

compare said frequency ν

_m to a set of predetermined rotational speeds of said rotating components to find a match;

thereby identifying a potentially defective component.

14. The system as defined in claim 13, further comprising a handheld device adapted to record and transmit said audio signal to said processor.

15. The system as defined in claim 14, wherein said handheld device is one of a camera and a mobile phone, said camera and said mobile phone being provided with a microphone.

16. The system as defined in claim 15, wherein said camera and said mobile phone are adapted to one of take pictures and record a video of control panels indicating said predetermined rotational speeds.

17. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein said application is adapted to convert at least one of said frequency ν

_m and said set of predetermined rotational speeds to a given unit of measurement to obtain a common unit of measurement.