IP Library Granted Patent US 12680466
Granted Patent B2
US 12680466 · App. 18/336,717 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Integrated machine speed signal waveform capture

Inventors: David L. Ried (Severance, CO); Steve Pacheco (Fort Collins, CO); Bryan W. Guild (Fort Collins, CO); Dave Rubenthaler (Fort Collins, CO)
Assignee: Woodward, Inc.
F01D17/06F02C9/00G01P3/489
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680466
App. No.
18/336,717
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a method for controlling a turbine engine that includes measuring, by a speed sensor, waveforms indicative of a speed of a rotating machine. Receiving the waveforms from the speed sensor and providing data representing the waveforms to a first signal path and to a second signal path, wherein the second signal path is isolated from the first signal path such that data communications at the second signal path do not interfere with communications on the first signal path. Controlling, responsive to the data received along the first signal path, one or more operations of the rotating machine. Storing, the data received along the second signal path, individual samples of the data in association with a respective timestamp indicating a time that the data was received.

Claims (37)

1 . A machinery speed control system comprising:

a speed sensor configured to measure a speed of a rotating machine;

detection circuitry in communication with and isolated from the speed sensor, the detection circuitry comprising a first output and a second output, the detection circuitry configured to receive waveforms measured by the speed sensor, provide a first output signal comprising data representing the waveforms to the first output, and provide a second output signal comprising the waveforms to the second output, the second output being isolated from the first output such that data communications at the second output do not interfere with communications on the first output;

control circuitry coupled to the first output of the detection circuitry, the control circuitry configured to control one or more operations of the rotating machine responsive to the data from the detection circuitry; and

measurement circuitry coupled to the second output of the detection circuitry, the measurement circuitry configured to sample the waveforms from the detection circuitry and store individual samples in association with a respective timestamp indicating a time that the waveforms were received.

2 . The machinery speed control system of claim 1 , wherein each sample of the data comprises a plurality of waveforms representing at least one full rotation of the rotating machine.

3 . The machinery speed control system of claim 1 , wherein each sample of the data comprises first data representing waveforms measured by the speed sensor and second data representing a gear tooth detection signal based on waveforms.

4 . The machinery speed control system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement circuitry comprises a user interface configured to permit a user to access and view the individual samples.

5 . The machinery speed control system of claim 1 , wherein the measurement circuitry is configured to:

determine, for at least one sample, a margin between a peak of the waveform and a gear tooth detection threshold value; and

store the margin in associate with the sample.

6 . The machinery speed control system of claim 1 , wherein the rotating machine is a gas turbine or a steam turbine.

7 . The machinery speed control system of claim 1 , wherein the second output signal comprises both first data representing waveforms measured by the speed sensor and second data representing a gear tooth detection signal based on waveforms.

8 . The machinery speed control system of claim 1 comprising a machine learning model configured to receive as input a plurality of individual samples and, based on comparing the individual samples, identify a sensor fault.

9 . The machinery speed control system of claim 1 , wherein measurement circuitry is configured to store, with each individual sample, a tooth detection threshold used by the control circuitry at the time of the individual sample.

10 . The machinery speed control system of claim 1 , wherein the speed sensor is a magnetic pickup unit, a proximity probe, an eddy-current probe, or a variable reluctance type sensor.

11 . A system comprising:

a rotating machine having a speed control system comprising:

a speed sensor coupled to the rotating machine and configured to measure a speed of the rotating machine;

detection circuitry in communication with and magnetically isolated from the speed sensor, the detection circuitry comprising a first output and a second output, the detection circuitry configured to receive waveforms measured by the speed sensor, provide a first output signal comprising data representing the waveforms to the first output, and provide a second output signal comprising the waveforms to the second output, the second output being isolated from the first output such that data communications at the second output do not interfere with communications on the first output;

control circuitry coupled to the first output of the detection circuitry, the control circuitry configured to control one or more operations of the rotating machine responsive to the data from the detection circuitry; and

measurement circuitry coupled to the second output of the detection circuitry, the measurement circuitry configured to sample the waveforms from the detection circuitry and store individual samples in association with a respective timestamp indicating a time that the waveforms were received.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each sample of the data comprises a plurality of waveforms representing at least one full rotation of the rotating machine.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each sample of the data comprises first data representing waveforms measured by the speed sensor and second data representing a gear tooth detection signal based on waveforms.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the measurement circuitry comprises a user interface configured to permit a user to access and view the individual samples.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the measurement circuitry is configured to:

determine for at least one sample a margin between a peak of the waveform and a gear tooth detection threshold value; and

store the margin in associate with the sample.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the rotating machine is a gas turbine.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the rotating machine is a steam turbine.

18 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the speed control system comprises a machine learning model configured to receive as input a plurality of individual samples and, based on comparing the individual samples, identify a sensor fault.

19 . The system of claim 11 , wherein measurement circuitry is configured to store, with each individual sample, a tooth detection threshold used by the control circuitry at the time of the individual sample.

20 . A machine control method comprising:

measuring, by a speed sensor, waveforms indicative of a speed of a rotating machine;

receiving the waveforms from the speed sensor and providing a first output signal comprising data representing the waveforms to a first signal path and providing a second output signal comprising the waveforms to a second signal path, wherein the second signal path is isolated from the first signal path such that data communications at the second signal path do not interfere with communications on the first signal path;

controlling, responsive to the data received along the first signal path, one or more operations of the rotating machine;

storing, the data received along the second signal path, individual samples of the data in association with a respective timestamp indicating a time that the data was received.