General Electric Company

Kenneth E Zick

Roger Carlos Becerra

Brian Lee Beifus

William R Archer

A method and apparatus for non-contact testing of a rotating shaft includes first and second proximity sensors coupled to an automated shaft testing system. Output signals from the proximity sensors are compared to empirically determined threshold values to determine the presence or absence of a shaft coupling characteristic, the speed of the rotating shaft, and the direction of rotation of the shaft when the shaft is oriented proximally to the sensors.

Method and apparatus for detecting motor shaft coupling features

A microcontroller with external memory interacts with a host computer or terminal via a fully isolated RS232 serial interface. An eight-bit D/A converter transforms signals generated digitally in the microcontroller. The low level analog signal at the D/A output is further amplified in a power amplifier which supplies a signal to the motor terminals of the motor to be programmed via solid state relays. The solid state relays form an array of switches which are selectively closed by a low level digit signal generated by the microcontroller and processed by digital circuits. Four signals may be modulated with a signal representing the line frequency and are used specifically in an emulation mode. The interface receives multi-function feedback signals (RPM) from the motor such as speed, memory, content, and diagnostic information. Comparators provide an integrity check of the connections (cable) and the input section of the motor (optocouplers). The comparators compare voltages and currents of a selected motor signal against pre-defined threshold levels.

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Fort Wayne, IN, United States of America

Kenneth E Zick