Performance measuring system and method for analyzing performance characteristics of rotating shafts

A performance measuring system for a rotating shaft, the performance measuring system comprising:

• a first annular support assembly to be coupled adjacent to a first end of a rotating shaft inwardly of associated shaft bearings;
• a second annular support assembly to be coupled adjacent to a second end of the rotating shaft inwardly of associated shaft bearings;
• a third annular support assembly to be coupled to the rotating shaft and to be interposed between the first and second support assemblies;
• a laser diode mounted on the first annular support assembly;
• a photodiode mounted on the second annular support assembly for generating a first detection signal based on light received from the laser diode and indicative of the degree of torque exerted on the rotating shaft;
• a first magnetic spin sensor for detecting the Earth's magnetic field, the first magnetic spin sensor being mounted on the first annular support assembly for generating a second detection signal based on detection of the Earth's magnetic field and indicative of shaft spin rate and torque;
• a second magnetic spin sensor for detecting the Earth's magnetic field, the second magnetic spin sensor being mounted on the second annular support assembly for generating a third detection signal based on detection of the Earth's magnetic field and indicative of shaft spin rate and torque;
• an accelerometer mounted on the third annular support assembly for generating a fourth detection signal based on rotational acceleration of the shaft and indicative of whether the rotating shaft is bent or out of balance;
• and
• a transmitter to be mounted on the rotating shaft for generating a transmission signal carrying information based on the detection signals for processing in order to determine the performance of the rotating shaft.

A performance measuring system for a rotating shaft, the performance measuring system comprising:

• a first split-ring clamp assembly to be coupled adjacent to a first end of a rotating shaft inwardly of associated shaft bearings;
• a second split-ring clamp assembly to be coupled adjacent to a second end of the rotating shaft inwardly of associated shaft bearings;
• a third split-ring clamp assembly to be coupled to the rotating shaft and to be interposed between the first and second split-ring clamp assemblies;
• a laser diode mounted on the first split-ring clamp assembly;
• a photodiode mounted on the second split-ring clamp assembly for generating a first detection signal based on light received from the laser diode and indicative of the degree of torque exerted on the rotating shaft;
• a first magnetic spin sensor for detecting the Earth's magnetic field, the first magnetic spin sensor being mounted on the first split-ring clamp assembly for generating a second detection signal based on detection of the Earth's magnetic field and indicative of shaft spin rate and torque;
• a second magnetic spin sensor for detecting the Earth's magnetic field, the second magnetic spin sensor being mounted on the second split-ring clamp assembly for generating a third detection signal based on detection of the Earth's magnetic field and indicative of shaft spin rate and torque;
• an accelerometer mounted on the third split-ring clamp assembly for generating a fourth detection signal based on rotational acceleration of the shaft and indicative of whether the rotating shaft is bent or out of balance;and
• a transmitter to be mounted on the rotating shaft for generating a transmission signal carrying information based on the detection signals for processing in order to determine the performance of the rotating shaft.

A method of measuring parameters of a rotating shaft, comprising the steps of:

• providing a laser source on a rotating shaft adjacent to one end of the shaft;
• providing a laser detector on the rotating shaft adjacent to the other end of the shaft;
• providing a first magnetic spin sensor on the rotating shaft adjacent to one end of the shaft for detecting the Earth's magnetic field;
• providing a second magnetic spin sensor on the rotating shaft adjacent to the other end of the shaft for detecting the Earth's magnetic field;
• providing an accelerometer on the rotating shaft so as to be interposed between the laser source and the laser detector;
• generating a first detection signal from the laser detector;
• generating a second detection signal from the first magnetic spin sensor;
• generating a third detection signal from the second magnetic spin sensor;
• generating a fourth detection signal from the accelerometer;
• generating a transmission signal carrying information based on the detection signals for processing in order to determine the performance of the rotating shaft.