Apparatus for monitoring the condition of a machine

1. An apparatus for analysing the condition of a machine having a part rotatable with a speed of rotation, comprising:

a transducer for generating an analogue measurement signal in response to machine vibration so that said analogue measurement signal includes a vibration signal signature having

a vibration frequency which is lower than an upper frequency limit value,

at least one vibration signal repetition frequency, and

a vibration signal amplitude;

an A/D converter ( 40 , 44 ) adapted to generate a digital measurement signal (S MD , S R ) having a sequence of sample values dependent on the analogue measurement signal, said digital measurement signal having a first sample rate that is at least twice said upper frequency limit value;

a digital peak value detector adapted to generate output peak values dependent on said sequence of sample values;

a peak value discriminator being adapted to sort said output peak values into corresponding amplitude ranges during a measuring session;

a measuring session controller adapted to control a variably settable duration of said measuring session;

a condition value generator adapted to generate a first condition value in response to said sorted output peak values and said duration

so that said first condition value is indicative of a first amplitude value having a first predetermined occurrence rate, and

so that said first condition value is based on a selected first temporal portion of the digital measurement signal;

a decimator adapted to generate a decimated digital signal in dependence of said digital measurement signal so that the decimated digital signal has a reduced sampling frequency; and

a Fourier Transformer adapted to generate a transformed signal in dependence of a selected second temporal portion of said decimated digital signal so that said transformed signal is indicative of said vibration signal repetition frequency,

said apparatus being arranged to coordinate the generation of said transformed signal with the generation of the first condition value

so that the selected second temporal portion of said decimated digital signal is based substantially on said selected first temporal portion of the digital measurement signal, and

so that said selected first temporal portion of the digital measurement signal is generated during the variably settable duration of said measuring session.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the condition value generator is adapted to generate a second condition value in response to said sorted output peak values and said duration

so that said second condition value is indicative of an second amplitude value having a second predetermined occurrence rate, and

so that said second condition value is based on said selected first temporal portion of the digital measurement signal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising:

an analyzer, having a first analyzer input for receiving said first condition value, and a second analyzer input for receiving said second condition value,

wherein the analyzer is adapted to generate a status signal indicative of whether the condition of the machine is normal or abnormal in dependence on said first condition value and said second condition value.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

an analyzer, having a first analyzer input for receiving said first condition value, and a second analyzer input for receiving said second condition value,

wherein the analyzer is adapted to generate a status signal indicative of whether the condition of the machine is normal or abnormal in dependence on said first condition value (LR D ) and said second condition value.

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

an apparatus input for receiving a signal indicative of a detected speed of rotation associated with said rotatable part;

a third analyzer input for receiving said signal indicative of a detected speed of rotation;

a fourth analyzer input for receiving a bearing frequency factor value; and

a fifth analyzer input for receiving said transformed signal,

wherein the analyzer is adapted to generate a status signal indicative of the nature of, and/or cause for, an abnormal machine condition in dependence of said speed of rotation signal, said bearing frequency factor value and said transformed signal.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:

an apparatus input for receiving a signal indicative of a detected speed of rotation associated with said rotatable part;

a third analyzer input for receiving said signal indicative of a detected speed of rotation;

a fourth analyzer input for receiving a bearing frequency factor value; and

a fifth analyzer input for receiving said transformed signal,

wherein the analyzer is adapted to generate a status signal indicative of a probable location of an incipient damage in dependence of

said speed of rotation signal,

said bearing frequency factor value, and

said transformed signal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:

an apparatus input for receiving a signal indicative of a detected speed of rotation associated with said rotatable part;

a third analyzer input for receiving said signal indicative of a detected speed of rotation;

a fourth analyzer input for receiving a bearing frequency factor value; and

a fifth analyzer input for receiving said transformed signal,

wherein

the analyzer is adapted to extract said at least one vibration signal repetition frequency from said transformed signal,

the analyzer is adapted to generate a frequency factor estimate in dependence on said at least one vibration signal repetition frequency and said detected speed of rotation,

the analyzer is adapted to compare the generated frequency factor estimate with a stored plurality of frequency factors, and

the analyzer is adapted to generate a status signal indicative of a probable location of an incipient damage in dependence of said frequency factor comparison.

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

an associator, adapted to associate said first condition value with said transformed signal.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a digital rectifier adapted to perform a rectification so as to generate a rectified digital signal dependent on said digital measurement signal, (SMD)

wherein

the digital peak value detector is adapted to generate the output peak values dependent on said rectified digital signal, and

said decimator is adapted to perform said decimation on the rectified digital signal so as to achieve said decimated digital signal having a reduced sampling frequency.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the digital rectifier is adapted to perform a full-wave rectification so as to generate a rectified digital signal dependent on said digital measurement signal including absolute values of said sequence of sample values.

11. An apparatus for analysing the condition of a machine having a part rotatable with a speed of rotation, comprising:

an input for receiving an analogue measurement signal indicative of a vibration signal signature having a vibration frequency and at least one repetition frequency;

an A/D converter adapted to generate a digital measurement signal having a sequence of sample values dependent on the analogue measurement signal, said digital measurement signal having a first sample rate, wherein said vibration frequency is assumed to be lower than half of the first sample rate;

a digital rectifier adapted to perform a rectification so as to generate a rectified digital signal dependent on said digital measurement signal;

a digital peak value detector adapted to deliver output peak values on a peak value detector output dependent on said rectified digital signal;

a peak value discriminator being adapted to sort said output peak values into corresponding amplitude ranges during a measuring session;

a measuring session controller adapted to control a duration of said measuring session;

a condition value generator adapted to generate a first condition value in response to said sorted output peak values and said duration so that said first condition value is based on a selected first temporal portion of the digital measurement signal;

a decimator for performing a decimation of the rectified digital signal so as to achieve a decimated digital signal having a reduced sampling frequency; and

a Fourier Tranformer adapted to generate a transformed signal in dependence on a selected second temporal portion of said decimated digital signal,

said apparatus being arranged to coordinate the generation of said transformed signal with the generation of the first condition value so that the selected second temporal portion of said decimated digital signal is based substantially on said selected first temporal portion of the digital measurement signal.

12. An apparatus for analysing the condition of a machine having a part rotatable with a speed of rotation, comprising:

an input for receiving an analogue measurement signal indicative of a vibration signal signature having a vibration frequency and at least one repetition frequency;

an A/D converter adapted to generate a digital measurement signal dependent on the analogue measurement signal, said digital measurement signal having a first sample rate, the first sample rate being at least twice said vibration frequency;

a digital rectifier adapted to perform full-wave rectification so as to generate a rectified digital signal dependent on said digital measurement signal;

a smoothing stage adapted to generate a smoothened digital signal dependent on said rectified digital signal, said smoothing stage being adapted to adjust an output sample amplitude value upwards in dependence on the amplitude of the corresponding input sample amplitude value and in dependence on the amplitude of temporally adjacent input sample amplitude values;

an asymmetric digital filter for generating an asymmetrically low pass filtered signal in response to the smoothed digital signal, the asymmetric digital filter being adapted to generate the asymmetrically filtered signal so that

in response to a detected positive time derivative of the smoothed digital a first settable filter value is set to a first value, and

in response to a detected negative time derivative of the smoothed digital signal said first settable filter value (k) is set to a second value; and

a peak value detector adapted to deliver output peak values on a peak value detector output in response to said detected peak values,

wherein said peak value detector is adapted to limit the delivery frequency of said output peak values such that said output peak values are delivered at a maximum delivery frequency of f dP , where

f dP =f s /e

and where f S is said first sample rate, and e is a number higher than two.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the smoothing stage includes

a first peak sample selector adapted to analyze v consecutive received sample values, and to identify the highest amplitude of these v consecutive received sample values, and to deliver v consecutive output sample values with at least one of the v consecutive output sample values having an adjusted amplitude value, said adjustment being an amplitude increase,

where v is an integer having a value of about fs/f SEA ,

and where f SEA is the vibration frequency.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the smoothing stage includes a first peak sample selector which is adapted to:

receive a plurality of temporally consecutive sample values;

identify the amplitude of a selected sample value from among said received plurality of consecutive sample values;

analyze

the amplitude of the selected sample value,

the amplitude of the sample immediately preceding the selected sample value, and

the amplitude of the sample succeeding the selected sample value; and

deliver an output sample value in response to said selected sample value so that said output sample value has an amplitude corresponding to the highest amplitude detected in said analysis.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 , wherein the asymmetric digital filter is adapted to generate the asymmetrically filtered signal so that

in response to a detected positive time derivative of the smoothed digital signal the asymmetrically filtered signal will have a positive time derivative substantially equal to that of the smoothed digital signal, and

in response to a detected negative time derivative of the smoothed digital signal the asymmetrically filtered signal will have a comparatively slow response.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a decimator;

a fourier transformer; and

a measuring session controller as previously defined.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein said apparatus is arranged to coordinate the generation of said transformed signal with the generation of the first condition value so that

the selected second temporal portion of said decimated digital signal is based substantially on said selected first temporal portion of the digital measurement signal,

and so that

said selected first temporal portion of the digital measurement signal is generated during the variably settable duration of said measuring session.