US 5,907,491 A · Wireless machine monitoring and communication system

Abstract

A wireless machine monitoring and communication system includes one or more machine monitors which attach to one or more machines to sense a physical characteristic of the machine, such as vibration or temperature, and to produce wireless transmissions corresponding to the sensed characteristic. A command station executes machine status polling in accordance with a time-division communication protocol and processes machine status data obtained during polling to determine the status of the machine. The machine monitor incorporates a wireless transmitter for transmitting at least status information, and the command station incorporates a wireless receiver for receiving monitor transmissions. To conserve power, the machine monitors are turned on only at preprogrammed times in accordance with the time-division communication protocol. Each machine monitor includes a receiver and the command station includes a transmitter to enable the command station to send commands to each machine monitor. A microcomputer in each monitor analyzes sensor data and a memory stores the analyzed sensor data. Repeaters are employed as necessary to assist in propagating wireless transmissions throughout the system. A tachometer sensor is employed at each machine to provide monitors and sensors with information relating to machine speed. A computer network is connected to the command station for transferring data and for controlling the overall operation of the system.

Claims58

Dependent claims

A communication system for monitoring the status of a machine and communicating the machine's status through wireless signals, the system comprising:

a plurality of machine monitors positioned to monitor operational characteristics of a machine, each machine monitor including:
a receiver for receiving wireless signals, including command signals;
at least one sensor for sensing a characteristic of the machine and generating a sensor signal corresponding to the machine characteristic that was sensed;
a data processor for receiving and processing the sensor signals to produce status data and for storing status data;
a transmitter for transmitting wireless status signals corresponding to the status of the machine as represented by status data;
a protocol stored in said data processor;
said data processor for communicating with and controlling said receiver, transmitter, and sensor and for selectively producing power-on and power-off signals for selectively powering said receiver, transmitter, and sensor signal in accordance with said protocol;
an electrical power source and control circuitry responsive to said power-on and power-off signals to selectively power said receiver, transmitter and sensor;
and
a command station including a transceiver for transmitting wireless command signals and receiving said wireless status signals.

7 more elements

A wireless machine monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of machine monitors, each monitor having at least:
a) one sensor for sensing a parameter of the machine and producing digital data corresponding thereto;
b) a wireless monitor transmitter and receiver;
and
c) a monitor data processor for controlling the operation of the sensor, transmitter and receiver, for receiving and processing the digital data according to a first processing configuration, for communicating the digital data to the transmitter and causing the transmitter to produce transmission signals corresponding to the digital data;
a command station having at least:
a) a command station receiver and associated circuitry for producing received digital data;
and
b) a command station data processor for controlling and causing the receiver and associated circuitry to receive a transmission signal and produce received digital data corresponding to the transmission signal, said command station data processor being operable to store said received digital data;
and
means for reprogramming the monitor data processor to change the programmed processing configuration to reconfigure the machine monitor to process the data according to a second processing configuration.

8 more elements

A method of periodically polling a plurality of machine monitors for machine status data in accordance with an established communication protocol, said method comprising the steps of:

defining a time-division schedule of events to occur during a periodic polling sequence, said events including:
transmitting wireless command signals from a command station to other communication devices including machine monitors;
receiving wireless command signals by said machine monitors;
sensing one or more characteristics of the machine to produce sensor signals;
processing said sensor signals to produce machine status signals;
and
transmitting wireless status signals to the command station;
assigning each communication device a time slice within the time-division schedule during which the device powers up to receive and execute commands communicated by the command signals;
and
polling machine monitors in accordance with said time-division schedule to determine the status of the machine.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Wireless machine monitoring and communication system

Life of this patent

Wireless machine monitoring and communication system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims58