Composite shaft monitoring system

• US 5,515,041 A
• Filed: 07/30/1993
• Issued: 05/07/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Spillman, William B. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HILL, ANDREW M
• Application Number:
  US08/100,116
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.32, 340/870.31, 340/870.18, 340/870.16, 340/870.05, 340/870.02, 340/825.77, 340/442, 340/445, 340/448, 340/670-672, 324/655, 455/41
• US Class Current: 340/870.31
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/48 using wave or particle radiation means G01D5/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/04 using magnetically coupled devices

Abstract

A smart structure comprising a rotatable shaft, and a sensor integrated with the shaft, a resonant detector circuit integrated with the structure for detecting a sensor output, and an external exciter circuit; the detector circuit having first coil means and the exciter circuit having second coil means magnetically coupled to the first coil means when aligned across a gap; and control means exterior the shaft for producing an output that corresponds to the sensor output compensated for the gap.

Claims

1. Apparatus for monitoring characteristics of a rotatable member, comprising:

a sensor integratable with the rotatable member for producing an output related to a characteristic of the member, a sensing circuit integratable with the rotatable member and an interrogation circuit disposed externally the rotatable member;

said sensing circuit having a sense coil, and said interrogation circuit having an exciter coil magnetically coupled to said sense coil across a gap; and

control means for determining said sensor output as a function of an exciter coil current with compensation for said gap.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a strain sensor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said control means detects nonrotational displacement of the member by detecting variations of said gap.

4. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means integrated with the member are embedded in and disposed on the member.

5. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sense coil current is amplitude modulated in relation to the sensor output.

6. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control means applies a first operating frequency to said exciter coil for determining a parameter related to said gap, and applies a second operating frequency to said exciter coil for detecting the sensor output, said second frequency being selected as a function of said gap parameter.

7. Apparatus of claim 6 wherein said coils are magnetically coupled for transmitting sensor related signals between said coils.

8. Apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sensing circuit is a resonant circuit comprising said sense coil and a capacitance, said sensing circuit further comprising a sensor dependent element that varies current through said sense coil in relation to said sensor output.

9. Apparatus of claim 8 wherein said interrogation circuit comprises said exciter coil and an exciter coil current sensing means, said current sensing means producing an output related to current through said sense coil.

10. Apparatus of claim 9 in combination with a strain gauge connected to said sensing circuit and having a resistance characteristic that modulates current through said sense coil.

11. Apparatus of claim 10 wherein the sensor and said sensing circuit are embedded in a composite shaft.

12. Apparatus of claim 11 wherein said interrogation circuit is exterior the shaft.

13. Apparatus of claim 1 further comprising supply means for providing energy to said sensor and that can be integrated with the rotatable member, said interrogation circuit comprising means for coupling energy to said supply means.

14. Apparatus of claim 6 wherein said control means comprises neural net means for determining said gap parameter and second frequency.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said sensing circuit operates as a load that changes in relation to said sensor output, said interrogation circuit detecting amplitude of a signal responsive to said load and induced in said exciter coil across said gap;

said control means determining said sensor output based on said detected amplitude and compensation for said gap.

15. A smart structure comprising a rotatable shaft, and a sensor integrated with the shaft, a resonant detector circuit integrated with the shaft for detecting a sensor output, and an external exciter circuit;

said detector circuit having first coil means and said exciter circuit having second coil means magnetically coupled to said first coil means when aligned across a gap; and

control means exterior the shaft for determining said sensor output with condensation for said gap.

16. The smart structure according to claim 15 wherein said second coil means is connectable to a variable frequency energy source, said second coil means having a current component determined by current through said first coil means in dependence on the sensor output.

17. The smart structure according to claim 16 wherein said control means detects exciter circuit current and determines the sensor output therefrom.

18. The smart structure according to claim 17 wherein said control circuit comprises means for applying two different frequency input signals to said second coil means, a first frequency being in a range such that second coil means current is independent of the sensor output.

19. The smart structure according to claim 18 wherein said control means comprises neural network means for selecting said second frequency based on exciter circuit current detected in response to said first frequency input signal.

20. The smart structure according to claim 19 wherein said second frequency is selected in a range such that exciter circuit current is dependent on the sensor output.

21. The smart structure according to claim 15 wherein said sensor detects strain in said rotatable shaft.

22. The smart structure according to claim 21 wherein said control means detects rotational speed, torque, strain and displacement of said shaft as a function of rotation of said first coil means with respect to said second coil means and as a function of detecting a parameter related to said gap.