Portable, self-contained data collection systems and methods

• US 6,801,877 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2002
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Entek IRD International Corp. (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schiltz, Richard L., Watkins, Jeffery P., Bates, Andrew J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wachsman, Hal D
• Application Number:
  US10/178,034
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 702/56, 702/184, 702/33-36, 702/39, 702/63, 702/73-75, 702/80, 702/103-105, 702/113-116, 702/121-123, 702/141, 702/182-186, 702/189, 702/FOR.107, 702/FOR.108, 702/FOR.170, 702/FOR-123, 702/FOR.135, 702/FOR.136, 702/FOR.151, 702/FOR.171, 708/139, 708/105, 708/104, 708/109, 340/683, 340/679, 340/680, 340/682, 340/669, 735/70, 736/02, 736/59, 736/60, 735/79, 737/88--96, 710/62-64, 710/69, 710/72-74, 235/472.01, 235/442, 235/493, 235/325, 235/376, 235/380, 235/472.03, 235/440, 235/441, 346/33.MC, 346/150.1, 346/3, 346/33.R
• US Class Current: 702/184
• CPC Class Codes: C07K 16/40 against enzymes
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/003 of rotating machines G01H1/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable self-contained data collection system for measuring and collecting vibration data from machines includes an accelerometer coupled to the analog input of a data acquisition card that samples and digitizes the analog signal to produce a time domain digital signal. The data acquisition card output is coupled to a battery-powered portable computer that includes a database having machine identifications and associated measurement parameters. The portable computer processes the time domain digital signal according to the measurement parameters associated with a selected machine identification, and produces a frequency domain digital signal by performing a Fast Fourier Transform and other digital signal processing operations. The frequency domain signal is also analyzed in the portable computer to produce predictive maintenance information. A power supply for supplying power to the accelerometer is also included.

Claims

1. A method of collecting machinery maintenance data from machines, comprising:

providing a portable computer comprising a processor, memory, battery, and external interface,

providing an analog machine activity sensor for collecting machinery maintenance data from one or more machines,

during battery-powered operation of said portable computer, collecting first data relating to operation of a machine at a first time, from said analog machine activity sensor, via said external interface, into said memory of said portable computer,

during battery-powered operation of said portable computer, collecting second data relating to operation of said machine at a second time separate from said first time, from said analog machine activity sensor, via said external interface, into said memory of said portable computer, and

retrieving said first and second data from said memory of said portable computer to said processor of said portable computer and using said processor to analyze said first and second data by comparing said first and second data for changes indicative of machinery maintenance needs.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said memory comprises dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said memory comprises magnetic storage.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said memory is removable.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said external interface is a card slot, and an interface card inserted therein, both compatible with a personal computer interface standard permitting removal and replacement of said interface card without restarting operation of said processor.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said interface card comprises an analog to digital converter.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein analyzing said first and second data comprises operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of said first and/or second data.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a sensor power supply for supplying power to said analog machine activity sensor.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said sensor power supply is responsive to a control signal from said portable computer to activate or deactivate said analog machine activity sensor, and further comprising operating said portable computer to produce a control signal to activate said sensor power supply prior to collecting data from said analog machine activity sensor.

10. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing an interface cord connecting said sensor power supply and said analog machine activity sensor to said portable computer.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said sensor power supply comprises a sensor power supply battery, and further comprising providing a battery charger and connecting said battery charger to said sensor power supply battery to charge said sensor power supply battery.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing in said memory machine identifications and associated measurement parameters for a plurality of machines.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said portable computer further comprises a connector for transmitting information between said memory and a host computer.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting at least one of data collected from

said analog machine activity sensor,

an identification of a machine, and

measurement parameters between said memory and said host computer via said connector.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein said portable computer further comprises a user interface, and further comprising interacting with said processor using said user interface to select a machine identification, and then processing data collected from said analog machine activity sensor in accordance with measurement parameters associated with said selected machine identification.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said portable computer further comprises a display.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising operating said processor to display data collected from said analog machine activity sensor on said display.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of data collected from said analog machine activity sensor and display said frequency transformation on said display.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said portable computer has less than a full set of alphanumeric keys.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said portable computer is a pen-based palmtop computer.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein said analog machine activity sensor is an accelerometer.

22. A computer system for collecting machinery maintenance data from machines, comprising:

a portable computer comprising a processor, memory, battery, external interface, and user interface, said user interface having less than a full set of alphanumeric keys,

software in said memory for operating said processor to collect first and second data relating to operation of a machine at first and second separated times, from an analog machine activity sensor connected to said external interface, and store said first and second data into said memory of said portable computer, and

software in said memory for operating said processor to retrieve said first and second data collected from said single machine from said memory of said portable computer to said processor of said portable computer and use said processor to analyze said first and second data by comparing said first and second data for changes indicative of machinery maintenance needs.

23. The computer system of claim 22 wherein said memory comprises dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

24. The computer system of claim 22 wherein said memory comprises magnetic storage.

25. The computer system of claim 22 wherein said memory is removable.

26. The computer system of claim 22 wherein said external interface is a card slot, and an interface card inserted therein, both compatible with a personal computer interface standard permitting removal and replacement of said interface card without restarting operation of said processor.

27. The computer system of claim 26 wherein said interface card comprises an analog to digital converter.

28. The computer system of claim 22 wherein said software operates said processor to perform a frequency transformation of said first and/or second data.

29. The computer system of claim 22 further comprising a sensor power supply for supplying power to said analog machine activity sensor.

30. The computer system of claim 29 wherein said sensor power supply is responsive to a control signal from said portable computer to activate or deactivate said analog machine activity sensor, and further comprising software in said memory for operating said portable computer to produce a control signal to activate said sensor power supply prior to collecting data from said analog machine activity sensor.

31. The computer system of claim 29 further comprising an interface cord connecting said sensor power supply and said analog machine activity sensor to said portable computer.

32. The computer system of claim 29 wherein said sensor power supply comprises a sensor power supply battery, and further comprising a battery charger connectable to said sensor power supply battery to charge said sensor power supply battery.

33. The computer system of claim 22 further comprising machine identifications and associated measurement parameters for a plurality of machines stored in said memory.

34. The computer system of claim 33 further comprising a connector for transmitting information between said memory and a host computer, including at least one of

data collected from said analog machine activity sensor,

an identification of a machine, and

measurement parameters.

35. The computer system of claim 33 further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to interact with a user to select a machine identification, and then process data collected from said analog machine activity sensor in accordance with measurement parameters associated with said selected machine identification.

36. The computer system of claim 22 wherein said portable computer further comprises a display.

37. The computer system of claim 36 further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to display data collected from said analog machine activity sensor on said display.

38. The computer system of claim 36 further comprising software in said memory for operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of data collected from said analog machine activity sensor and display said frequency transformation on said display.

39. The computer system of claim 22 wherein said portable computer is a pen-based palmtop computer.

40. A computer system for collecting machinery maintenance data from machines, comprising:

a portable computer comprising a processor, memory, battery, and external interface,

an analog machine activity sensor for collecting machinery maintenance data from one or more machines,

software in said memory for operating said processor, during battery-powered operation thereof, to collect first and second data relating to operation of a machine at first and second separated times, from said analog machine activity sensor, via said external interface, and store said first and second data into said memory,

software in said memory for operating said processor to retrieve said first and second data from said memory to said processor and analyze said first and second data by comparing said first and second data for changes indicative of machinery maintenance needs.

41. The computer system of claim 40 wherein said memory comprises dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

42. The computer system of claim 40 wherein said memory comprises magnetic storage.

43. The computer system of claim 40 wherein said memory is removable.

44. The computer system of claim 40 wherein said external interface is a card slot, and an interface card inserted therein, both compatible with a personal computer interface standard permitting removal and replacement of said interface card without restarting operation of said processor.

45. The computer system of claim 44 wherein said interface card comprises an analog to digital converter.

46. The computer system of claim 40 wherein said software further operates said processor to analyze said first and second data by operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of said first and/or second data.

47. The computer system of claim 40 further comprising a sensor power supply for supplying power to said analog machine activity sensor.

48. The computer system of claim 47 wherein said sensor power supply is responsive to a control signal from said portable computer to activate or deactivate said analog machine activity sensor, and wherein said portable computer comprises software operating said processor to produce a control signal to activate said sensor power supply prior to collecting data from said analog machine activity sensor.

49. The computer system of claim 47 further comprising an interface cord connecting said sensor power supply and said analog machine activity sensor to said portable computer.

50. The computer system of claim 47 wherein said sensor power supply comprises a sensor power supply battery, and further comprising a battery charger connectable to said sensor power supply battery to charge said sensor power supply battery.

51. The computer system of claim 40 wherein said memory stores machine identifications and associated measurement parameters for a plurality of machines.

52. The computer system of claim 51 wherein said portable computer further comprises a connector for transmitting information between said memory and a host computer.

53. The computer system of claim 52 further comprising software operating said processor to transmit at least one of data collected from

said analog machine activity sensor,

an identification of a machine, and

measurement parameters between said memory and said host computer via said connector.

54. The computer system of claim 51 wherein said portable computer further comprises a user interface, and software operating said processor using said user interface to select a machine identification, and then process data collected from said analog machine activity sensor in accordance with measurement parameters associated with said selected machine identification.

55. The computer system of claim 40 wherein said portable computer further comprises a display.

56. The computer system of claim 55 further comprising software operating said processor to display data collected from said analog machine activity sensor on said display.

57. The computer system of claim 55 further comprising software operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of data collected from said analog machine activity sensor and display said frequency transformation on said display.

58. The computer system of claim 40 wherein said portable computer has less than a full set of alphanumeric keys.

59. The computer system of claim 58 wherein said portable computer is a pen-based palmtop computer.

60. The computer system of claim 40 wherein said analog machine activity sensor is an accelerometer.

61. A method for collecting machinery maintenance data from machines, comprising:

providing a portable computer comprising a processor, memory, battery, external interface, and user interface, said user interface having less than a full set of alphanumeric keys,

operating said processor to collect first and second data relating to operation of a machine at first and second separated times, from an analog machine activity sensor connected to said external interface, and store said first and second data into said memory of said portable computer, and

operating said processor to retrieve said first and second data collected from said single machine from said memory of said portable computer to said processor of said portable computer and use said processor to analyze said first and second data by comparing said first and second data for changes indicative of machinery maintenance needs.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein said memory comprises dynamic random access memory (DRAM).

63. The method of claim 61 wherein said memory comprises magnetic storage.

64. The method of claim 61 wherein said memory is removable.

65. The method of claim 61 wherein said external interface is a card slot, and an interface card inserted therein, both compatible with a personal computer interface standard permitting removal and replacement of said interlace card without restarting operation of said processor.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein said interface card comprises an analog to digital converter.

67. The method of claim 61 further comprising operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of said first and/or second data.

68. The method of claim 61 further comprising providing a sensor power supply for supplying power to said analog machine activity sensor.

69. The method of claim 68 wherein said sensor power supply is responsive to a control signal from said portable computer to activate or deactivate said analog machine activity sensor, and further comprising operating said portable computer to produce a control signal to activate said sensor power supply prior to collecting data from said analog machine activity sensor.

70. The method of claim 68 further comprising providing an interface cord connecting said sensor power supply and said analog machine activity sensor to said portable computer.

71. The method of claim 68 wherein said sensor power supply comprises a sensor power supply battery, and further comprising providing a battery charger connectable to said sensor power supply battery to charge said sensor power supply battery.

72. The method of claim 61 further comprising storing machine identifications and associated measurement parameters for a plurality of machines in said memory.

73. The method of claim 72 further comprising transmitting information between said memory and a host computer, including at least one of

data collected from said analog machine activity sensor,

an identification of a machine, and

measurement parameters.

74. The method of claim 72 further comprising operating said processor to interact with a user to select a machine identification, and then process data collected from said analog machine activity sensor in accordance with measurement parameters associated with said selected machine identification.

75. The method of claim 61 wherein said portable computer further comprises a display.

76. The method of claim 75 further comprising operating said processor to display data collected from said analog machine activity sensor on said display.

77. The method of claim 75 further comprising operating said processor to perform a frequency transformation of data collected from said analog machine activity sensor and display said frequency transformation on said display.

78. The method of claim 61 wherein said portable computer is a pen-based palmtop computer.