Computational Systems, Inc.

Csi Technology, Inc.

Emerson Electric (us) Holding Corporation (chile) Limitada

Dataflyte, Inc.

Daniel L Nower

Kenneth Ralph Piety

Willie T King

Stewart V Bowers, Iii

Raymond Earl Garvey, Iii

Joseph C Baldwin

Albert Charles Abnett

Martin L Bauer

David Anthony Hinkle

John S Turner

Arthur R Crawford

David Q Gaddis

Timothy Scott Bassett

Tuhin Banerjee

Mark O Pendleton

Michael Schaffer

Marvin L Ward

Drew L Mackley

John M Dischner

Daniel J Morse

Matthew S Williamson

W Scott McDonald

Anthony J Burnett

A digital transducer provides a digital output indicative of dynamic characteristics of machines and processes. The transducer sensors may be single-axis or multiple-axis accelerometers and other measurement sensors. The transducer may be hands-free and wireless in machinery monitoring applications. An integral magnetic mount assists with hands-free data collection. Digital data accumulated in transducer memory may be selectively decimated before or after transfer from the transducer to a remote analyzer. Wireless communications are used to upload measurement setups to the transducer and download data from the transducer to a handheld analyzer or remote computer. Analysis and interpretation of dynamic digital data streams are performed after data is downloaded.

Dynamic transducer with digital output and method for use

A hydrocyclone vibration measurement system includes an upper vibration sensor attached to the overflow of a hydrocyclone and a lower vibration sensor attached to the underflow of the hydrocyclone. A vibration analysis system includes an ADC, an overall vibration value processing channel, and one or more band pass filters. The overall vibration value processing channel generates overflow and underflow scalar vibration values representing overall vibration measured at the overflow and underflow portions of the hydrocyclone. The vibration analysis system may interface with a DCS to provide control information for controlling the hydrocyclone based on the overflow and underflow scalar vibration values.

Monitoring and controlling hydrocyclones using vibration data

A meter reading system for communicating with Automated Meter Reading meters. The system includes an airborne platform and a meter data collection system disposed on the airborne platform. The meter data collection system includes antennas, with each of the antennas pointing in a different direction, one from another, and each antenna generally pointing downward when the airborne platform is airborne. The antennas receive meter data from the meters. The meter data collection system also includes transceivers, one each of the transceivers associated with and in signal communication with one each of the antennas. The transceivers receive the meter data through the antennas. A first computer is in signal communication with the transceivers, and receives the meter data from the transceivers.

Airborne data collection

An apparatus for acquiring repeatable and trendable performance data for monitoring the health of an articulating machine includes sensors, a programmable logic controller, a machinery monitoring system, and a display device. The sensors collect performance data as the machine performs prescribed motions. The programmable logic controller includes memory for storing motion predicate values that indicate motion conditions to be achieved as predicates to analysis of performance data as the machine performs the prescribed motions. A processor in the programmable logic controller compares the performance data to the motion predicate values to determine whether the motion conditions are being achieved as the machine performs the particular prescribed motion. A processor in the machinery monitoring system calculates analysis parameter values that indicate the health of the machine. These calculations are made using performance data collected while the motion conditions are being achieved. The display device prompts an operator to operate the machine to perform each of the prescribed motions until data has been collected for the prescribed motions.

Apparatus and method for monitoring health of articulating machinery

An alignment system having an angular position sensing device using an accelerometer to determine the angular position of the device. Preferably, the angular position sensing device incorporates two dual-axis accelerometers oriented in a spaced apart relation for determining the angular position of a rotating body in space. The angular position sensing device is operable to account for centrifugal and angular acceleration errors due to the rotation of the rotating body in space, thereby providing an accurate angular position of the rotating body. The angular position sensor also determines the angular position of the rotating body based on a sensing axis having the greatest range of sensitivity according to the angular position of the rotating body.

Accelerometer based angular position sensor

Alignment data is analyzed to determine machine condition information that is not necessarily related to alignment. Alignment fixtures provide alignment data to an analyzer that finds a curve of a predetermined type, such as a sine curve, that best fits the data. A confidence factor is calculated indicating the probability that the alignment data corresponds to misalignment. The alignment data is further analyzed to determine a condition, other than misalignment, that contributed to the magnitudes of the alignment data. Preferably, the analyzer is used to check for machine conditions such as looseness in the machine, rubs, and spall defects in a bearing. Preferably, the condition analysis is based on both the confidence factors and curve parameters, such as phase, offset and amplitude of a sine curve. In the condition analysis mode, the analyzer provides both manual and automatic routine for removing selected segments of data to produce trial data sets that are analyzed to determine machine conditions.

Analysis of alignment data

The specification discloses apparatus for aligning stationary in-line machine shafts. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an alignment system having a sensed point rotatably positionable around a shaft for rotation through a plurality of angular positions around the shaft to provide a reference point against which misalignment is measured. The position of the sensed point is sensed by a sensor which is rotatably positionable around the shaft independently of the sensed point for rotation through a plurality of angular positions about the shaft.

Stationary shaft alignment apparatus

The specification discloses a laser alignment head system for taking alignment data with respect to a pair of coupled shafts. Each alignment head includes a laser, a laser sensor for sensing a laser beam, an angle sensor for sensing the rotational orientation of the laser head, a computer and a transmitter for transmitting data from the laser head. The two laser heads are mounted on the two shafts in an opposing facing relationship with the laser beam of one head disposed on the laser sensor of the other head. As the shafts are rotated, the laser beam moves on the laser sensor and the laser sensor generates a position signal corresponding to such movement. Likewise, the angle sensor produces an angle signal corresponding to the rotational angle of the laser head as the shafts are rotated. The computer produces output data corresponding to the position signal and the rotational angle, and such data is transmitted to a receiver. An analyzer is interfaced with the receiver to receive the data and calculate misalignment information.

Laser alignment head for use in shaft alignment

A system for managing the alignment of a plurality of machine sets includes a portable alignment analyzer for calculating machine moves tending to bring the shafts of a machine set into alignment, and a base computer. A database of alignment documentation for the machine set is maintained in the base computer, the database including alignment fixture setup data, machine dimensions and tolerances, by way of example. A data link at least periodically enables communication between the base computer and the portable alignment analyzer. When the data link is active, alignment documentation for the machine set may be selectively Loaded into the portable alignment analyzer, and measured misalignment data may be selectively Dumped to the base computer for storage in the database. The system allows previously entered and stored machine-specific setup information to be used for a current alignment job, requiring only minor changes in the field.

Centralized alignment management system

An alignment analyzer for facilitating the alignment of a machine set including co-rotatable in-line shafts includes a display device on which separate offset misalignment and angle misalignment components are displayed as a single point in an x-y coordinate system. The coordinates of the point are the individual misalignment components. Also displayed on the display device are curves representing 'acceptable' and 'excellent' tolerance ranges. The displayed point and the curves together indicate whether the combined offset and angular misalignment is within or without the 'acceptable' tolerance range, and whether the combined offset and misalignment is within or without the 'excellent' tolerance range. Also disclosed is a method whereby the amounts of offset and angular misalignment in a given plane are computationally combined to determine a combined misalignment amount for that plane, and then compared either to a value representing a tolerance limit for 'acceptable' alignment, to a value representing a tolerance limit for 'excellent' alignment, or to both values.

Alignment analyzer with graphical alignment tolerance display

The specification discloses apparatus for aligning rotatable in-line machine shafts. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides an alignment system having a sensed point positioned for rotation with the shaft to be aligned to provide a reference point against which misalignment is measured. The position of the sensed point is adjustable in three-dimensional space by an adjustment system so that the sensed point may be easily secured in a desired location to eliminate errors attributable to movement of the sensed point or improper location of the sensed point. In addition, the alignment system provides a capacitive displacement system to more accurately sense the sensed point, binary blocks to facilitate proper vertical positioning of the sensed point, and an improved chain assembly to facilitate mounting of the alignment system and to reduce errors of the type common to conventional alignment systems.

Shaft alignment apparatus

Methods and systems for acquiring offset data for aligning co-rotatable in-line machine shafts. Two sets of offset data, each set for example representing relative displacement in a radial direction between a reference point referenced to one of the shafts and a particular point on the other of the shafts at given angular positions, are collected at a plurality of measurement angular positions. The measurement angular positions are not necessarily the 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. angular positions at which measurements are traditionally taken. Preferably, measured offset data is collected during continuous rotation of the shafts in their normal direction of rotation or at convenient positions where the rotation is halted. Measured offset data may be collected at as few as three angular positions, but preferably is collected at more than three angular positions, and typically at a multiplicity of angular positions such as thirty or forty. A respective sine function is fit to each set of measured offset data. Data for the traditional 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. angular positions are then determined from the sine function. This data is thus determined in an indirect predictive manner, and is used in subsequent calculations to determine machine moves as though the calculation data had been determined by direct measurement at the 0.degree., 90.degree., 180.degree. and 270.degree. angular positions.

Shaft alignment data acquisition

Methods for verifying the mechanical integrity of an alignment bracket, particularly a multi-configurable alignment bracket, used for aligning co-rotatable in-line machine shafts, and for determining the amount of alignment bracket 'sag' to be accounted for when subsequently employing readings taken with the alignment bracket. The invention employs a previously-established relationship between sag and deflection of the alignment bracket under the influence of a known force to determine sag and to verify mechanical integrity of the alignment bracket in situ, avoiding the need for the usual prealignment sag determination on a separate straight pipe or mandrel. In the practice of the method, the alignment bracket is set up in a position for use, on the actual shafts being aligned. The extension bar of the alignment bracket is positioned above the centerlines of the shafts, and a known force is applied by hanging a known weight at a predetermined point on the alignment bracket. This force results in a deflection of the extension bar, which is measured. From the measured deflection, a sag value is determined based on a previously-determined relationship. To verify integrity of the alignment bracket, measured deflection is preliminarily compared to a range of acceptable deflection values for the particular alignment bracket dimensional configuration.

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Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Daniel L Nower