# US 2018/0321079 A1 · Oil vibration diagnosis apparatus and oil vibration diagnosis method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0321079 A1 - Document ID: US20180321079A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/768,184 - Filed: 2016-10-14 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-14 - Assignees: Nidec Tosok Corporation - Applicants: Nidec Tosok Corporation - Inventors: Yoshihisa SUGIMOTO; Motohiro SUMIYOSHI; Toshimitsu MIYAO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180321079A1 ## CPC - G01H 3/10: Amplitude; Power - F15B 19/005: {Fault detection or monitoring} - F15B 20/00: Safety arrangements for fluid actuator systems; Applications of safety devices in fluid actuator systems; Emergency measures for fluid actuator systems - F16H 61/12: Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe (in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192) {; Circumventing or fixing failures} - F16H 63/40: comprising signals other than signals for actuating the final output mechanisms - G01M 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass - F15B 13/0442: {with proportional solenoid allowing stable intermediate positions} - F15B 21/008: {Reduction of noise or vibration} - F15B 2211/6306: representing a pressure - F15B 2211/6343: representing a temperature - F15B 2211/857: Monitoring of fluid pressure systems - F15B 2211/8613: the abnormal condition being oscillations - F15B 2211/8616: the abnormal condition being noise or vibration - F16H 59/72: dependent on oil characteristics, e.g. temperature, viscosity - F16H 61/0021: {Generation or control of line pressure} - F16H 2061/1208: {with diagnostic check cycles; Monitoring of failures} - F16H 2061/1264: {Hydraulic parts of the controller, e.g. a sticking valve or clogged channel} - G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES - F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F16H: GEARING - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract First, the pressure of oil within an oil passage in a control valve device is measured. Then, an amplitude and period of pressure fluctuations are detected on the basis of an obtained measurement result, and an oil vibration state or an oil non-vibration state is diagnosed. In this case, when the amplitude is greater than a reference amplitude value and when the period is less than a reference period value, the oil vibration state is diagnosed. Further, a duration time of the oil vibration state is determined on the basis of a diagnostic result. Then, when the oil vibration state continues for a period greater than or equal to a reference time, warning information is output. In this way, warning information is output stepwise in accordance with occurrence or continuation of oil vibration. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-22 (canceled) ### Claim 23 An oil vibration diagnosis apparatus for diagnosing occurrence of oil vibration within an oil passage in a control valve device, the oil vibration diagnosis apparatus comprising: a pressure sensor that measures a pressure of oil within the oil passage; an amplitude detection unit that detects an amplitude of pressure fluctuations on the basis of a measurement result of the pressure sensor; a period detection unit that detects a period of pressure fluctuations on the basis of the measurement result of the pressure sensor; a diagnosis unit that diagnoses an oil vibration state or an oil non-vibration state on the basis of the amplitude and the period; an oil vibration state duration time determination unit that determines a duration time of the oil vibration state on the basis of a diagnostic result of the diagnosis unit; and an output unit that outputs information on the basis of a determination result of the oil vibration state duration time determination unit, wherein the diagnosis unit diagnoses the oil vibration state when the amplitude is greater than a reference amplitude value and when the period is less than a reference period value, and wherein the output unit outputs warning information when the oil vibration state duration time determination unit determines continuation of the oil vibration state for a period greater than or equal to a first reference time. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The oil vibration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising an oil non-vibration state duration time determination unit that determines a duration time of the oil non-vibration state on the basis of the diagnostic result of the diagnosis unit, wherein the diagnosis unit further diagnoses the oil non-vibration state when the amplitude is less than or equal to the reference amplitude value or when the period is greater than or equal to the reference period value, and wherein the output unit cancels output of the warning information when the oil non-vibration state duration time determination unit determines continuation of the oil non-vibration state for a period greater than or equal to a second reference time. ### Claim 25 (depends on 23) The oil vibration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising an oil non-vibration state duration time determination unit that determines a duration time of the oil non-vibration state on the basis of the diagnostic result of the diagnosis unit, wherein the diagnosis unit further diagnoses the oil non-vibration state when the amplitude is less than or equal to the reference amplitude value or when the period is greater than or equal to the reference period value, and wherein the output unit outputs cancellation information when the oil non-vibration state duration time determination unit determines continuation of the oil non-vibration state for a period greater than or equal to a second reference time. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The oil vibration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the second reference time is greater than or equal to the first reference time. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The oil vibration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the diagnosis unit further diagnoses a first level as an oil vibration occurrence level when the amplitude is greater than or equal to a first reference amplitude value and is less than a second reference amplitude value greater than the first reference amplitude value, and diagnoses a second level as the oil vibration occurrence level when the amplitude is greater than or equal to the second reference amplitude value, and wherein the output unit outputs first warning information when the diagnosis unit diagnoses the first level, and outputs second warning information when the diagnosis unit diagnoses the second level and when the oil vibration state duration time determination unit determines continuation of the oil vibration state with the second level for a period greater than or equal to the first reference time. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The oil vibration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the first warning information and the second warning information include numerical information necessary for a countermeasure process to reduce an oil vibration level. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The oil vibration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 28, wherein measurement of the pressure by the pressure sensor, detection of the amplitude by the amplitude detection unit, detection of the period by the period detection unit, a diagnosis of whether oil vibration has occurred and a diagnosis of the oil vibration level, which are made by the diagnosis unit, determination of the duration time of the oil vibration state by the oil vibration state duration time determination unit, and output of information by the output unit are performed before and after the countermeasure process. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The oil vibration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 29, further comprising a counting unit that counts the number of times the output unit has output identical warning information, wherein the output unit outputs alert information different from the first warning information and the second warning information when a count value obtained by the counting unit exceeds a preset threshold. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The oil vibration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the diagnosis unit diagnoses a zeroth level as an oil vibration level when the amplitude is less than the reference amplitude value, and wherein the output unit outputs information indicating that the oil vibration is within a normal range when the diagnosis unit determines the zeroth level. ### Claim 32 (depends on 23) The oil vibration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the output unit includes a display unit that displays the warning information on a screen thereof. ### Claim 33 (depends on 23) The oil vibration diagnosis apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising a memory that stores the warning information. ### Claim 34 An oil vibration diagnosis method for diagnosing occurrence of oil vibration within an oil passage in a control valve device, the oil vibration diagnosis method comprising: a step (a) of measuring a pressure of oil within the oil passage; a step (b) of detecting an amplitude of pressure fluctuations on the basis of a measurement result obtained in the step (a); a step (c) of detecting a period of pressure fluctuations on the basis of the measurement result obtained in the step (a); a step (d) of diagnosing an oil vibration state or an oil non-vibration state on the basis of the amplitude obtained in the step (b) and on the basis of the period obtained in the step (c); a step (e) of determining a duration time of the oil vibration state on the basis of a diagnostic result in the step (d); and a step (f) of outputting information on the basis of a determination result in the step (e), wherein, in the step (d), the oil vibration state is diagnosed when the amplitude is greater than a reference amplitude value and when the period is less than a reference period value, and wherein, in the step (f), warning information is output when continuation of the oil vibration state for a period greater than or equal to a first reference time is determined in the step (e). ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The oil vibration diagnosis method according to claim 34, further comprising a step (g), between the step (d) and the step (f), of determining a duration time of the oil non-vibration state on the basis of the diagnostic result in the step (d), wherein, in the step (d), the oil non-vibration state is further diagnosed when the amplitude is less than or equal to the reference amplitude value or when the period is greater than or equal to the reference period value, and wherein, in the step (f), output of the warning information is canceled when continuation of the oil non-vibration state for a period greater than or equal to a second reference time is determined in the step (g). ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The oil vibration diagnosis method according to claim 34, further comprising a step (g), between the step (d) and the step (f), of determining a duration time of the oil non-vibration state on the basis of the diagnostic result in the step (d), wherein, in the step (d), the oil non-vibration state is further diagnosed when the amplitude is less than or equal to the reference amplitude value or when the period is greater than or equal to the reference period value, and wherein, in the step (f), cancellation information is output when continuation of the oil non-vibration state for a period greater than or equal to a second reference time is determined in the step (g). ### Claim 37 (depends on 35) The oil vibration diagnosis method according to claim 35, wherein the second reference time is greater than or equal to the first reference time. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The oil vibration diagnosis method according to claim 34, wherein, further in the step (d), a first level is diagnosed as an oil vibration occurrence level when the amplitude is greater than or equal to a first reference amplitude value and is less than a second reference amplitude value greater than the first reference amplitude value, and a second level is diagnosed as the oil vibration occurrence level when the amplitude is greater than or equal to the second reference amplitude value, and wherein, in the step (f), first warning information is output when the first level is diagnosed in the step (d), and second warning information is output when the second level is diagnosed in the step (d) and when continuation of the oil vibration state with the second level for a period greater than or equal to the first reference time is determined in the step (e). ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The oil vibration diagnosis method according to claim 38, wherein the first warning information and the second warning information include numerical information necessary for a countermeasure process to reduce an oil vibration level. ### Claim 40 (depends on 39) The oil vibration diagnosis method according to claim 39, wherein the step (a), the step (b), the step (c), the step (d), the step (e), and the step (f) are performed before and after the countermeasure process. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The oil vibration diagnosis method according to claim 40, wherein the number of times identical warning information has been output in the step (f) is counted, and wherein alert information different from the first warning information and the second warning information is output when a count value exceeds a preset threshold. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The oil vibration diagnosis method according to claim 38, wherein, in the step (d), a zeroth level is diagnosed as the oil vibration occurrence level when the amplitude is less than the first reference amplitude value, and wherein, in the step (f), information indicating that the oil vibration is within a normal range is output when the zeroth level is determined in the step (d). ### Claim 43 (depends on 34) The oil vibration diagnosis method according to claim 34, wherein, in the step (f), the warning information is displayed on a screen of a display unit. ### Claim 44 (depends on 34) The oil vibration diagnosis method according to claim 34, wherein the warning information is further stored in a memory.