US 6,549,869 B1 · Expert analysis modules for machine testing

Abstract

A hand-held apparatus gathers and analyzes test data associated with rotating electric machines, where the test data is indicative of one or more operational characteristics of the mechanical equipment. The apparatus, which is operable to be carried by an operator from one machine to another along a test route, includes a sensor input port for receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, where the sensor signal is indicative of one or more operational characteristics of the rotating electric machines. The apparatus also includes a signal conditioning circuit for receiving the sensor signal, and for conditioning the sensor signal to produce a conditioned signal which is appropriate in format to be digitally processed. A processor, which is coupled to the signal conditioner, receives and processes the conditioned signal according to processing instructions and processing parameters to produce a test spectrum. The processing parameters determine one or more characteristics of the test spectrum. A memory device, which is coupled to the processor, stores a plurality of executable test expert modules, each containing the processing instructions for processing the conditioned signal in a particular way to determine one or more of the operational characteristics of the rotating electric machines. An operator input device is coupled to the processor for receiving input from the operator to select one of the test expert modules to be executed to process the conditioned signal according to the processing instructions contained in the selected module. The apparatus further includes a display device for displaying the test spectrum to the operator. The test expert modules contain processing instructions for determining whether the processing parameters have been set according to a predetermined configuration for a particular test point on the test route, and for processing the conditioned signal in a way dependent upon whether or not the processing parameters have been set according to such a predetermined configuration.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A hand-held apparatus for gathering and analyzing test data associated with rotating machines, the apparatus operable to be carried by an operator from one machine to another along a test route, the test data indicative of one or more operational characteristics of the rotating machines, the apparatus comprising:

a sensor input port for receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor signal indicative of one or more operational characteristics of the rotating machines;
signal conditioning means for receiving the sensor signal, and for conditioning the sensor signal to produce a conditioned signal which is appropriate in format to be digitally processed;
a processor coupled to the signal conditioning means for receiving and processing the conditioned signal according to processing instructions and processing parameters to produce a test spectrum, where the processing parameters correspond to one or more characteristics of the test spectrum;
a memory device coupled to the processor for storing a plurality of executable test expert modules, each of the test expert modules containing the processing instructions for processing the conditioned signal in a particular way to determine one or more of the operational characteristics of the rotating machines;
an operator input device coupled to the processor for receiving input from the operator to select one of the test expert modules to be executed to process the conditioned signal according to the processing instructions contained in the test expert module selected;
and
a display device for displaying the test results to the operator.

4 more elements

A method for controlling a hand-held machine analyzer to analyze faults in rotating machines, where the analyzer is operable to be carried by an operator from one machine to another along a machine testing route, and where the analyzer includes a sensor for generating sensor signals, conditioning circuits for conditioning the sensor signals to produce conditioned signals appropriate in format to be digitally processed, a processor for processing the conditioned signals according to processing parameters to produce measurement data, a display device for displaying the measurement data to the operator, and an input device for receiving input instructions from the operator, the method comprising:

(a) receiving conditioned signals from the conditioning circuits while the sensor is positioned at a test point on the machine;
(b) processing the conditioned signals according to initial processing parameters to produce initial measurement data;
(c) displaying the initial measurement data to the operator on the display device, where the initial measurement data is indicative of a machine condition;
(d) displaying a list of expert analysis routines from which the operator may select to aid in further analyzing the machine condition;
(e) receiving input instructions from the operator indicating a selected one of the expert analysis routines;
(f) executing the selected expert analysis routine and thereby:
(f1) determining, based on the initial measurement data, subsequent processing parameters to use in subsequent processing of the conditioned signals;
and
(f2) processing the conditioned signals according to the subsequent processing parameters determined in step (f1) to produce subsequent measurement data, where the subsequent measurement data is more indicative of the machine condition than is the initial measurement data;
and
(g) displaying the subsequent measurement data to the operator on the display device.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Expert analysis modules for machine testing

Life of this patent

Expert analysis modules for machine testing

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20