Vibration monitor
AssigneeReactec Limited
InventorsJacqueline McLaughlin, Mark Paul Buckingham
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to a vibration monitor (30) which is configured to be worn by an operator during use of a power tool. The vibration monitor comprises a vibration sensor (36) which is operative to sense vibration sustained by the operator when the vibration monitor (30) is worn by the operator. The vibration monitor (30) further comprises a processor (32) configured to receive sensed vibration data from the vibration sensor (36) and to transform received vibration data whereby the transformed data is more representative than the received vibration data of vibration at a location on a power tool or a workpiece with which the operator is in contact during use of the power tool.
Claims21
A vibration monitor releasably attached to an arm or hand of an operator during use of a power tool, the vibration monitor comprising:
- a vibration sensor sensing vibration sustained by the arm or hand of the operator when the vibration monitor is attached to the arm or hand of the operator;
- and
- a processor receiving sensed vibration data from the vibration sensor and applying a transformation to the received sensed vibration data to provide transformed data whereby the transformed data is more representative than the received sensed vibration data of vibration at a location on a power tool or a workpiece with which the operator is in contact during use of the power tool,
- wherein the processor determines vibration exposure risk for the operator during use of the power tool, the vibration exposure risk determined in dependence on the transformed data, and
- wherein the transformation is obtained by a calibration process comprising:
- making a first vibration measurement at the location on a power tool or a workpiece with which an operator is in contact during use of the power tool;
- making a second vibration measurement at the location of the vibration monitor where the vibration monitor is attached to the operator;
- and deriving the transformation from the first and second vibration measurements.
A method of monitoring vibration sustained by an operator during use of a power tool, the method comprising:
- sensing vibration sustained by an arm or hand of the operator by way of a vibration sensor comprised in a vibration monitor releasably attached to the arm or hand of the operator;
- receiving sensed vibration data from the vibration sensor in a processor;
- applying in the processor a transformation to the received sensed vibration data to provide transformed data whereby the transformed data is more representative than the received sensed vibration data of vibration at a location on a power tool or a workpiece with which the operator is in contact during use of the power tool;
- and
- determining in the processor vibration exposure risk for the operator during use of the power tool, vibration exposure risk determined in dependence on the transformed data,
- wherein the transformation is obtained by a calibration process comprising:
- making a first vibration measurement at the location on a power tool or a workpiece with which an operator is in contact during use of the power tool;
- making a second vibration measurement at the location of the vibration monitor where the vibration monitor is attached to the operator;
- and deriving the transformation from the first and second vibration measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.