Vibration sensing in gas turbine engine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorDaniel Edward Mollmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vibration detector. A machine, such as a gas turbine engine, contains a rotor bearing and a gear. A nearby sensor produces a train of pulses as teeth of the gear travel past. The frequency of the pulse train indicates rotational speed of the rotor. In addition, vibration of the rotor causes the gear to orbit about another center. The orbiting causes amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, or both, in the pulse train. Detection of the modulation indicates the presence of vibration. Thus, a single pulse train, produced by a single sensor, is used to indicate both speed, and the presence of vibration.
Claims14
Method of operating a machine, comprising:
- a) deriving a pulse train from a rotating component;
- and
- b) using the pulse train to
- i) compute rotational speed of the component;
- and
- ii) infer vibration in the component.
Method of operating a machine, comprising:
- a) producing a derived pulse train from a rotating component, wherein vibration in the component causes deviation in the derived pulse train from an ideal pulse train;
- b) using the derived pulse train to compute rotational speed of the component;
- and
- c) using the deviation to conclude the presence of vibration in the component.
Method, comprising the following steps:
- a) rotating a component in a gas turbine engine, said component containing a disc having teeth distributed along its circumference;
- b) maintaining a sensor near said disc, which produces i) one type of pulse when a tooth passes, when the disc is positioned at a first position;
- and
- ii) a second type of pulse when a tooth passes, when the disc is positioned at a second position;
- c) computing rotational speed of the component, based on frequency of the pulses;
- d) inferring vibration of the component, based on modulation of the pulses.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.