IP Library Granted Patent US 10,783,721
Granted Patent B2
US 10,783,721 · App. 15/843,216 · Granted Sep 22, 2020

Monitoring and diagnostics system for a machine with rotating components

Inventor: Yuanhong Guan (Peoria, IL)
Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
G07C5/008G07C5/0808G07C5/0816B60Y2400/307B60Y2400/3044
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,783,721
App. No.
15/843,216
Granted
Sep 22, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A monitoring and diagnostics system for a machine having a plurality of rotating components includes a powertrain with a plurality of rotating components and a vibration sensor. The vibration sensor include a vibration sensor element and a sensor controller. The vibration sensor is disposed adjacent one of the plurality of rotating components. The vibration sensor element is configured to generate raw vibration data indicative of vibrations of the vibration sensor element. The sensor controller is configured to access a vibration threshold, access a time threshold, receive the raw vibration data from the vibration sensor element, generate condition indicators based upon the raw vibration data; compare the condition indicators to the vibration threshold, and if the condition indicators exceed the vibration threshold for a time exceeding the time threshold, transmit a predetermined amount of raw vibration data to a remote system remote from the machine.

Claims (61)

1. A monitoring and diagnostics system for a machine having a plurality of rotating components, comprising:

a powertrain, the powertrain including the plurality of rotating components;

a vibration sensor, the vibration sensor including a vibration sensor element and a sensor controller, the vibration sensor being disposed adjacent one of the plurality of rotating components;

the vibration sensor element being configured to generate raw vibration data indicative of vibrations of the vibration sensor element, and

the sensor controller being configured to:

access a vibration threshold;

access a time threshold;

receive the raw vibration data from the vibration sensor element;

generate condition indicators based upon the raw vibration data;

compare the condition indicators to the vibration threshold; and

when the condition indicators exceed the vibration threshold for a time exceeding the time threshold, transmit a signal containing a predetermined amount of raw vibration data to a remote system remote from the machine.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a speed sensor, the speed sensor being configured to generate speed signals indicative of a speed of one of the plurality of rotating components, and wherein the vibration threshold is based upon the speed of one of the plurality of rotating components.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a torque sensor, the torque sensor being configured to generate torque signals indicative of a torque generated by a prime mover operatively associated with the drivetrain, and wherein the vibration threshold is based upon the torque signals.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the sensor controller is configured to determine the condition indicators about a predetermined frequency, and compare the indicators to the vibration threshold.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the condition indicators are further based upon bands about the predetermined frequency.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the condition indicators are further based upon a harmonic of the predetermined frequency.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the remote system is configured to transmit a request for additional raw vibration data to the vibration sensor, and the sensor controller is configured to transmit an additional predetermined amount of raw vibration data to the remote system based upon the request.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor controller is configured to determine an RMS average of the raw vibration data and compare the RMS average of the raw vibration data to the vibration threshold.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vibration threshold defines a critical vibration threshold, the time threshold defines a critical time threshold, and the sensor controller is further configured to:

access a warning vibration threshold;

access a warning time threshold; and

if the condition indicators do not exceed the critical vibration threshold for a time exceeding the time threshold, compare the condition indicators to the warning vibration threshold, and if the condition indicators exceed the warning vibration threshold for a time exceeding the warning time threshold, transmit a second predetermined amount of raw vibration data to the remote system.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor controller is further configured to:

access a counter threshold,

if the condition indicators exceed the warning vibration threshold for a time exceeding the warning time threshold, add to a counter;

compare the counter to the counter threshold; and

only transmit the second predetermined amount of raw vibration data to the remote system remote from the machine if the counter exceeds the counter threshold.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the sensor controller is configured to access a reset threshold time period and reset the counter if the condition indicators do not exceed the warning vibration threshold for a time exceeding the warning time threshold within the reset threshold time period.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein a sampling rate of the raw vibration data is at least 10 kHz.

13. A method of monitoring and diagnosing a machine having a drivetrain with a plurality of rotating components, comprising:

accessing a vibration threshold;

accessing a time threshold;

receiving raw vibration data from a vibration sensor element of a vibration sensor, the vibration sensor element being disposed adjacent one of the plurality of rotating components;

utilizing a sensor controller of the vibration sensor to generate condition indicators based upon the raw vibration data;

utilizing the sensor controller of the vibration sensor to compare the condition indicators to the vibration threshold;

when the condition indicators exceed the vibration threshold for a time exceeding the time threshold, transmitting a signal containing a predetermined amount of raw vibration data to a remote system remote from the machine.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising generating speed signals from a speed sensor indicative of a speed of one of the plurality of rotating components, and determining the vibration threshold based upon the speed of one of the plurality of rotating components.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising

generating torque signals from a torque sensor indicative of a torque generated by a prime mover operatively associated with the drivetrain, and determining the vibration threshold based upon the torque signals.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising transmitting from the remote system a request for additional raw vibration data to the vibration sensor, and transmitting by the sensor controller an additional predetermined amount of raw vibration data to the remote system based upon the request.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the vibration threshold defines a critical vibration threshold, the time threshold defines a critical time threshold, and further comprising:

accessing a warning vibration threshold;

accessing a warning time threshold; and

if the condition indicators do not exceed the critical vibration threshold for a time exceeding the time threshold, comparing the condition indicators to the warning vibration threshold, and if the condition indicators exceed the warning vibration threshold for a time exceeding the warning time threshold, transmitting a second predetermined amount of raw vibration data to the remote system.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

accessing a counter threshold,

if the condition indicators exceed the warning vibration threshold for a time exceeding the warning time threshold, adding to a counter;

comparing the counter to the counter threshold; and

only transmitting the second predetermined amount of raw vibration data to the remote system remote from the machine if the counter exceeds the counter threshold.

19. The method of claim 13 , wherein a sampling rate of the raw vibration data is at least 10 kHz.

20. A machine, comprising:

a powertrain including a prime mover, a transmission operatively connected to the prime mover, and ground engaging drive mechanisms operatively connected to the transmission, the powertrain further including a plurality of rotating components;

a vibration sensor, the vibration sensor including a vibration sensor element and a sensor controller, the vibration sensor being disposed adjacent one of the plurality of rotating components;

the vibration sensor element being configured to generate raw vibration data indicative of vibrations of the vibration sensor element, and

the sensor controller being configured to:

access a vibration threshold;

access a time threshold;

receive the raw vibration data from the vibration sensor element;

generate condition indicators based upon the raw vibration data;

compare the condition indicators to the vibration threshold; and

when the condition indicators exceed the vibration threshold for a time exceeding the time threshold, transmit a signal containing a predetermined amount of raw vibration data to a remote system remote from the machine.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: GUAN, YUANHONG
To: CATERPILLAR INC.
Reel/Frame 044883/0063 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190188924A1 · Jun 20, 2019