Prognostication of future failure of an engine indicator parameter
AssigneeBrunswick Corporation
InventorsVojislav Divljakovic, Michael J. Lemancik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Power spectral densities are taken at periodic intervals for preselected indicator parameters and these power spectral density profiles are compared to a reference magnitude of a power spectral density profile for purposes of prognosticated future failures. The power spectral density profile can be for any one of a plurality of indicator profiles, such as an accelerometer output, the output of a pressure sensor, or a voltage output from an ignition system.
Claims19
Apparatus for prognosticating a condition of a marine propulsion system, comprising:
- means for determining a reference magnitude of an indicator parameter under a first set of preselected operating conditions;
- means, connected in signal communication with said determining means, for storing said reference magnitude of an indicator parameter;
- means for measuring a current magnitude of said indicator parameter under said first set of preselected operating conditions, said current magnitude being measured subsequent to said reference magnitude being determined;
- means, connected in signal communication with said storing means, for comparing said reference and current magnitudes;
- and
- means, connected in signal communication with said comparing means, for detecting a change in said condition of said marine propulsion system.
A method for prognosticating a condition of a apparatus, comprising:
- determining a reference magnitude of an indicator parameter under a first set of preselected operating conditions, said apparatus being a marine propulsion system;
- storing said reference magnitude of an indicator parameter;
- measuring a current magnitude of said indicator parameter under said first set of preselected operating conditions, said current magnitude being measured subsequent to said reference magnitude being determined;
- comparing said reference and current magnitudes;
- and
- detecting a change in said condition of said apparatus as a function of said comparing step.
A method for prognosticating a condition of a apparatus, comprising:
- determining a reference magnitude of each of a plurality of indicator parameters under an associated first set of preselected operating conditions for each of said plurality of indicator parameters;
- storing said reference magnitude of each of said plurality of indicator parameters;
- measuring a current magnitude of each of said plurality of indicator parameters under said associated first set of preselected operating conditions, said current magnitude of each of said plurality of indicator parameters being measured subsequent to said reference magnitude of each of said plurality of indicator parameters being determined;
- comparing each of said reference magnitudes to its associated current magnitude;
- detecting a change in said condition of said apparatus as a function of said comparing step;
- and
- repeating said measuring, comparing, and detecting steps at a predetermined frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.