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US 7,627,441 B2Granted
Process device with vibration based diagnostics
AssigneeRosemount Inc.
InventorsRandy J. Longsdorf, Chad C. Blumeyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An process device for use in an industrial process control or monitoring system is configured to couple to a process. A vibration sensor is configured to sense vibrations. Diagnostic circuitry provides a diagnostic output based upon the sensed vibrations.
Claims50
An apparatus for use in an industrial process control or monitoring system, comprising:
- a process device for coupling to an industrial process which includes a process transmitter or controller to monitor or control the industrial process and communicate;
- a process coupling configured to couple the process device to a process which includes piping carrying a process fluid, the process coupling configured to receive vibrations from the process;
- a vibration sensor configured to receive vibrations from the process which are transferred from the process through the process coupling and to sense vibrations and provide a sensed vibration signal;
- and
- diagnostic circuitry located in the process device configured to receive the sensed vibration signal and responsively provide a diagnostic output related to a process disturbance or operation of a process component;
- wherein the process device includes a process variable sensor separate from the vibration sensor configured to sense a process variable;
- and
- wherein the diagnostic output is based upon a comparison of an accumulation of the sensed vibrations over at least a partial lifetime of use of the vibration sensor to a threshold.
5 more elements
A method of monitoring operation of an industrial process control system, comprising:
- physically coupling a process device using a process coupling to an industrial process which carries a process fluid in process piping and which includes process transmitters or controllers to monitor or control the industrial process which communicate;
- receiving vibrations from the process through the process coupling;
- sensing process vibrations with a vibration sensor in the process device, the vibrations received through the physical coupling and transferred from the process through the process coupling and to the vibration sensor;
- diagnosing operation of a process component or a process disturbance based upon the sensed vibrations;
- sensing a process variable with a process variable sensor in the process device which is separate from the vibration sensor;
- and
- wherein the diagnostic operation is based upon a comparison of an accumulation of sensed vibrations over at least a partial lifetime of use of the vibration sensor to a threshold.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.