Monitoring systems and methods for monitoring the condition of one or more components of an electrical device

1. A system for monitoring the state of a brush of a brush holder assembly of an electrical device, the system comprising:

a brush holder assembly including a brush in contact with a moving contact surface of the electrical device;

an imaging device in line of sight of the moving contact surface for acquiring images of the moving contact surface; and

a processing unit for evaluating data generated from the images.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit is remote from the imaging device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit includes a computer having a software program for evaluating data generated from the images.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing unit includes a monitor for displaying the images.

5. A system for monitoring a component of an electrical generator, the system comprising:

a plurality of remote monitoring locations, wherein each remote monitoring location generates data regarding the position, coloration or level of emitted radiation of the component of the electrical generator; and

a central control unit for receiving data from the plurality of remote monitoring locations.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein each remote monitoring location has one or more imaging devices for acquiring images of a component of an electrical generator.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the central control unit includes a computer having a software program for evaluating data from the plurality of remote monitoring locations.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the central control unit includes a monitor for displaying data from the plurality of remote monitoring locations.

9. A method of monitoring conditions of one or more components of an electrical generator, the method comprising:

generating an image of a component of an electrical generator with an imaging device; and

analyzing the image to determine a condition of the electrical generator;

wherein the component of the electrical generator is a collector ring.

10. A method of monitoring conditions of one or more components of an electrical generator, the method comprising:

generating an image of a component of an electrical generator with an imaging device; and

analyzing the image to determine a condition of the electrical generator;

wherein the component of the electrical generator is a commutator.

11. A method of monitoring conditions of one or more components of an electrical generator, the method comprising:

generating an image of a component of an electrical generator with an imaging device; and

analyzing the image to determine a condition of the electrical generator;

wherein the component of the electrical generator is a brush.

12. A method of monitoring conditions of one or more components of an electrical generator, the method comprising:

generating an image of a component of an electrical generator with an imaging device; and

analyzing the image to determine a condition of the electrical generator;

wherein the step of analyzing the image includes determining discoloration of the component.

13. A method of monitoring conditions of one or more components of an electrical generator, the method comprising:

generating an image of a component of an electrical generator with an imaging device; and

analyzing the image to determine a condition of the electrical generator;

wherein the image is a thermal image; and

wherein the step of analyzing the image includes determining the level of emitted radiation of the component by evaluating the color, shade or intensity of the thermal image.

14. A method of monitoring conditions of one or more components of an electrical generator, the method comprising:

generating an image of a component of an electrical generator with an imaging device; and

analyzing the image to determine a condition of the electrical generator;

wherein the step of analyzing the image includes evaluating the position of the component.

15. A method of monitoring conditions of one or more components of an electrical generator, the method comprising:

generating an image of a component of an electrical generator with an imaging device; and

analyzing the image to determine a condition of the electrical generator;

wherein the step of analyzing the image includes evaluating the temperature of the component.

16. A method of monitoring electrical generators at a plurality of remote facilities, an electrical generator having one or more brush holder assemblies including one or more brushes, the method comprising:

providing a central control unit in communication with a plurality of remote monitoring locations;

receiving data from the plurality of remote monitoring locations at the central control unit; and

evaluating the data at the central control unit to monitor conditions of the electrical generators at the plurality of remote facilities.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of alerting personnel of an anomalous or threshold condition at one of the plurality of remote monitoring locations.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of scheduling maintenance at one of the plurality of remote monitoring locations.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of routing personnel to one of the plurality of remote monitoring locations.

20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising the step of scheduling distribution or delivery of a replacement brush to one of the plurality of remote monitoring locations.

21. The method of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of remote monitoring locations are networked with the central control unit.

22. A method for determining the state of a brush of a brush holder assembly, the brush being in contact with a rotating conductive surface of an electrical device, the method comprising:

acquiring a first image of the rotating conductive surface or the brush;

acquiring a second image of the rotating conductive surface or the brush;

comparing the first image to the second image using an image analysis technique; and

evaluating a state of the brush of the brush holder assembly.

23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the image analysis technique is a visual observation technique.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the image analysis technique is a pixel-by-pixel comparison technique.

25. The method of claim 22 , further comprising generating a graphical representation of the state of the brush of the brush holder assembly.

26. The method of claim 22 , further comprising notifying personnel of an anomalous state of the brush of the brush holder assembly.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the anomalous state of the brush of the brush holder assembly is arcing, etching or burning.

28. The method of claim 22 , further comprising notifying personnel of a threshold state of the brush of the brush holder assembly.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the threshold state is the moment when the temperature of the brush exceeds a normal operating temperature.

30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the normal operating temperature is in the range of about 150° F to about 250° F.

31. The method of claim 29 , wherein the normal operating temperature is in the range of about 180° F to about 200° F.

32. The method of claim 22 , wherein the step of evaluating a state of the brush of the brush holder assembly includes comparing actual acquired data with modeled data.

33. A method of monitoring one or more components of an electrical generator, the method comprising:

providing a processing unit;

receiving a signal representative of a image of one or more components of an electrical generator at the processing unit; and

evaluating the signal to determine an occurrence of an anomalous or threshold condition of the one or more components of the electrical generator.

34. The method of claim 33 , further comprising the step of notifying personnel of the anomalous or threshold condition.

35. The method of claim 33 , further comprising the step of scheduling maintenance of the electrical device.