IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,643,405
Granted Patent B2
US 10,643,405 · App. 15/677,786 · Granted May 5, 2020

Diagnostic method, system and device for a rotorcraft drive system

Inventor: Rodney Keith Hale (Joshua, TX)
Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.
G07C5/0808B64C27/006B64C27/12B64F5/60G01H1/003G01N29/46B64D2045/0085
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,643,405
App. No.
15/677,786
Granted
May 5, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method, system, and device for diagnosing an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the method including obtaining original data based on samples of a vibration signal; converting the original data to an analytical signal having a real component and an imaginary component; determining complex magnitudes of the analytical signal; processing the complex magnitudes of the analytical signal to produce a frequency-domain signal; and determining complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain signal to generate a shock spectrum.

Claims (55)

1. A method of diagnosing an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the method comprising:

generating a vibration signal from a vibration sensor system;

obtaining, by a device configured to diagnose an anomaly, original data based only on samples of the vibration signal, the device configured to diagnose an anomaly includes a display;

converting, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, the original data to an analytical signal having a real component and an imaginary component;

determining, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, complex magnitudes of the analytical signal;

processing, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, the complex magnitudes of the analytical signal to produce a frequency-domain signal; and

determining, by the device configured to diagnose an anomaly, complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain signal to generate a shock spectrum;

wherein the device provides a real-time indication of the anomaly in the monitored component.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of processing comprises performing a discrete Fourier transform (DFT).

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

obtaining rotational information associated with the component; and

identifying a condition indicator.

4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising:

determining a plurality of condition indicators.

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

based upon the plurality of condition indicators, determining an unhealthy condition of the plurality of condition indicators.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:

identifying an unhealthy component.

7. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:

adjusting at least one of an operation and a maintenance of the unhealthy component.

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

storing a history, by the device configured to diagnose the anomaly, of original data;

wherein the history being stored before a diagnostic operation for the component is performed.

9. A device configured to diagnose an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the device comprising:

a vibration sensor system configured to generate a vibration signal;

a memory configured to store original data based on samples of a vibration signal;

a display; and

one or more processors in communication with the memory, the one or more processors being configured to:

obtain original data based only on samples of the vibration signal;

convert the original data to an analytical signal having a real component and an imaginary component;

determine complex magnitudes of the analytical signal;

process the complex magnitudes of the analytical signal to produce a frequency-domain signal; and

determine complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain signal to generate a shock spectrum;

wherein the device provides a real-time indication of the anomaly in the monitored component.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the processors are configured to:

obtain rotational information associated with the component; and

identify a condition indicator.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the processors are configured to:

determine a plurality of condition indicators.

12. The device according to claim 11 , wherein the processors are configured to:

based upon the plurality of condition indicators, determine an unhealthy condition of the plurality of condition indicators; and

identify an unhealthy component.

13. The device according to claim 12 , wherein the processors are configured to:

adjust at least one of an operation and a maintenance of the unhealthy component.

14. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the original data is stored before a diagnostic operation for the component is performed.

15. A system for diagnosing an anomaly of a monitored component in a drive train, the system comprising:

a rotorcraft comprising a body, a power train coupled to the body and comprising a power source and a drive train coupled to the power source;

a vibration sensor system coupled to the drive train and configured to generate a vibration signal; and

a diagnostic device associated with the vibration sensor system, the diagnostic device operable to:

obtain original data based only on samples of the vibration signal;

convert the original data to an analytical signal having a real component and an imaginary component;

determine complex magnitudes of the analytical signal;

process the complex magnitudes of the analytical signal to produce a frequency-domain signal; and

determine complex magnitudes of the frequency-domain signal to generate a shock spectrum.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the vibration sensor system comprises at least one accelerometer.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 5, 2017
From: HALE, RODNEY KEITH
To: BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON INC.
Reel/Frame 043488/0104 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62376121 · Aug 17, 2016
Related Publication 20180053359A1 · Feb 22, 2018
Cited By (1)
US 12,496,907