Method and apparatus for machine monitoring with continuous improvement of a predictive maintenance database

An apparatus for collecting predictive maintenance data from a defined set of machines, and for storing the predictive maintenance data in athe predictive maintenance database that includes stored machine information, stored measurement configurations that include alert limits, and measured machine values for each machine, the apparatus comprising:

• a sensing apparatus having:
• at least one sensor for sensing machine parameters of the machines and for generating sensor signals corresponding to the machine parameters,
• a transducer for converting the sensor signals into digital sensor data, and
• a memory for storing the digital sensor data;
• and
• an analyzer programmed for:
• inputting stored machine information and stored measurement configurations into the predictive maintenance database,
• communicating with the sensing apparatus and receiving the digital sensor data,
• determining a frequency spectrum for each machine based on the digital sensor data and stored measurement configurations for each machine,
• calculating the rotational speeds of the machines based on the digital sensor data to produce a calculated rotational speed for each machine,
• calculating new measured machine values for each of the machines being monitored based on one or more of the digital sensor data, the frequency spectrums and the calculated rotational speeds, and storing the new measured machine values in the predictive maintenance database,
• for each machine, calculating new machine information based on one or more of the digital sensor data, the frequency spectrums and the calculated rotational speeds to produce new machine information for each machine,
• for each machine, determining whether the stored machine information should be edited based on one or more of editing rules and user input, and if so, editing the stored machine information based on the new machine information,
• for each machine, producing calculated new measurement configurations based on one or more of the digital sensor data, the frequency spectrums and the calculated rotational speeds, the new measurement configurations including one or more of alert limits and waveform acquisition settings, and
• for each machine, determining whether the stored measurement configurations should be updated based on one or more of comparison rules and user input, and if so, editing the stored measurement configurations based on the new measurement configurations.

A method for collecting machine data comprising:

• sensing machine parameters of a machine and generating sensor signals corresponding to the machine parameters;
• converting the sensor signals into digital sensor data and storing the digital sensor data in a memory;
• inputting stored setup information into a predictive maintenance database in a machine analyzer;
• analyzing the digital sensor data to determine measured machine values of the machine;
• calculating new setup information based on one or more of the digital sensor data and the measured machine values to produce new setup information;
• and
• selectively storing the new setup information in the predictive maintenance database based on one or more of user input and setup information replacement rules.