Engine performance monitoring using strain sensor attached to drive shaft
AssigneeDatum Electronics Limited
InventorMalcolm John Habens
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for monitoring operational performance of an engine, the apparatus comprising a sensor (10) for detecting torsional strain of a shaft (21) of an engine, and the apparatus further comprising a data processor arranged to process signals received from the strain sensor, and the data processor further arranged to compare one or more operational characteristics of the measured torsional strain data with idealised operational data so as to provide a measure of operational performance indicator of the engine.
Claims24
A method of analysing operational performance of an engine comprising use of at least one strain sensor attached to a drive shaft of the engine, the method comprising:
- recording dynamic torsional strain data of the drive shaft during operational rotation of the shaft,
- using the recorded strain data to compare one or more operational characteristics of the engine with pre-determined idealised operational data,
- deducing from the comparison at least one measure for use in determining an operational performance indicator of the engine, and
- analysing the recorded dynamic torsional strain data to identify individual peaks thereof,
- wherein each peak is associated with a respective engine cylinder.
An apparatus for monitoring operational performance of an engine, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor for detecting torsional strain of a shaft of an engine,
- a data processor arranged to process signals received from the strain sensor, and further arranged to compare one or more operational characteristics of the detected torsional strain data with idealised operational data so as to provide a measure of operational performance indicator of the engine, and
- a torsional accelerometer,
- wherein the torsional accelerometer is arranged to be attached to the shaft to measure an angular vibration of the shaft.
An apparatus for monitoring operational performance of an engine, the apparatus comprising:
- a sensor for detecting torsional strain of a shaft of an engine, and
- a data processor arranged to process signals received from the strain sensor,
- wherein the data processor is arranged to compare one or more operational characteristics of the detected torsional strain data with idealised operational data so as to provide a measure of an operational performance indicator of the engine, and
- wherein the data processor is further arranged to analyse the detected torsional strain data to identify individual peaks thereof, wherein each peak is associated with a respective engine cylinder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.