DIAGNOSTIC METHOD, SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR A ROTORCRAFT DRIVE SYSTEM

• US 20180165897A1
• Filed: 08/15/2017
• Published: 06/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Hale, Rodney Keith
• Granted Patent: US 10,424,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/12 Rotor drives
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2045/0085 Devices for aircraft health monitoring, e.g. monitoring flutter or vibration
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 5/60 Testing or inspecting aircraft components or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/021 Gearings
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/028 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0808 Diagnosing performance data testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0825 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0841 Registering performance data recording measured values G01D; information storage G11B

Abstract

There is a method, system, and device for diagnosing an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the method including obtaining original data based on samples of a vibration signal and a tachometer signal; generating a time synchronous average vibration signal; processing the time synchronous average vibration signal to produce a frequency-domain spectrum; determining the complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain spectrum; selecting a sub-synchronous band of the complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain spectrum to generate a sub-synchronous spectrum; and determining the mean of the sub-synchronous spectrum to generate a condition indicator.

Claims

1. A method of diagnosing an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a device configured to diagnose an anomaly, original data based on samples of a vibration signal and a tachometer signal;

generating, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, a time synchronous average vibration signal;

processing, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, the time synchronous average vibration signal to produce a frequency-domain spectrum;

determining, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, the complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain spectrum;

selecting, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, a sub-synchronous band of the complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain spectrum to generate a sub-synchronous spectrum; and

determining, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, the mean of the sub-synchronous spectrum to generate a condition indicator.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of processing comprises performing a discrete Fourier transform (DFT).

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

determining a plurality of condition indicators.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

based upon the plurality of condition indicators, determining an unhealthy condition of the plurality of condition indicators.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising:

identifying an unhealthy component.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:

adjusting at least one of the operation and maintenance of the unhealthy component.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the device configured to diagnose an anomaly further comprises:

a display;

wherein the device provides a real-time indication of an anomaly in the monitored component.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing a history, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, of original data;

wherein the history being stored before the diagnostic operation for the component is performed.

9. A device configured to diagnose an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the device comprising:

a memory configured to store original data of at least one of a vibration signal and a tachometer signal;

one or more processors in communication with the memory, the one or more processors being configured to;

obtain original data based on samples of the vibration signal and the tachometer signal;

generate a time synchronous average vibration signal;

process the time synchronous average vibration signal to produce a frequency-domain spectrum;

determine the complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain spectrum;

select a sub-synchronous band of the complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain spectrum to generate a sub-synchronous spectrum; and

determine the mean of the sub-synchronous spectrum to generate a condition indicator.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the processors are configured to:

determine a plurality of condition indicators.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the processors are configured to:

based upon the plurality of condition indicators, determine an unhealthy condition of the plurality of condition indicators; and

identify an unhealthy component.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the processors are configured to:

adjust at least one of the operation and maintenance of the unhealthy component.

14. The device according to claim 9, wherein the device further comprises:

a display;

wherein the device provides a real-time indication of an anomaly in the monitored component.

15. The device according to claim 9, wherein the original data is stored before the diagnostic operation for the component is performed.

13. The device, further comprising a tachometer and at least one accelerometer.

16. A system for diagnosing an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the system comprising:

a rotorcraft comprising a body, a power train coupled to the body and comprising a power source and a drive train coupled to the power source;

a tachometer coupled to the drive train;

a vibration sensor system coupled to the drive train; and

a diagnostic device associated with the vibration sensor system, the diagnostic device operable to;

obtain original data based on samples of the vibration signal and the tachometer signal;

generate a time synchronous average vibration signal;

process the time synchronous average vibration signal to produce a frequency-domain spectrum;

determine the complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain spectrum;

select a sub-synchronous band of the complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain spectrum to generate a sub-synchronous spectrum; and

determine the mean of the sub-synchronous spectrum to generate a condition indicator.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a computing device to diagnose an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train to:

obtain original data based on samples of the vibration signal and the tachometer signal;

generate a time synchronous average vibration signal;

process the time synchronous average vibration signal to produce a frequency-domain spectrum;

determine the complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain spectrum;

select a sub-synchronous band of the complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain spectrum to generate a sub-synchronous spectrum; and

determine the mean of the sub-synchronous spectrum to generate a condition indicator.

17. The system according to claim 18, wherein the vibration sensor system comprises at least one accelerometer.