Automatic mechanical systems diagnosis

Abstract

A method for automatic diagnosis of a mechanical system of a group of mechanical systems sharing mechanical characteristics includes obtaining data relating to a vibration. The vibration-related data is acquired by a portable communications device configured to communicate with a remote processor. The processor automatically diagnoses the mechanical system by applying a relationship to the obtained vibration-related data. The relationship is based on sets of vibration-related data previously obtained from the mechanical systems. Each set of vibration-related data relates to vibrations of a mechanical system. The relationship is further based on sets of operation data previously obtained for mechanical systems of the group. Each set of operation data indicates a previous state of operation of a mechanical system. Each of the previous states of operation is associated with at least one of the previously obtained sets of vibration-related data.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A system for maintenance of at least one machine having at least one shared characteristic with a group of machines, comprising:
 a multiplicity of sensors coupled to a group of machines, said multiplicity of sensors sensing at least one parameter of said group of machines and providing output indications thereof;   at least one processor receiving said output indications of said at least one parameter of said group of machines, said at least one processor generating a model representing behavior of said group of machines based on said output indications of said at least one parameter, said model being representative of said behavior of said group of machines by virtue of said group of machines having said shared characteristic, said shared characteristic being indicative that an observed behavior of one of said group of machines is representative of other ones of said group of machines; and   an output device providing a human sensible output including at least an indication of performance of at least one given machine having said at least one shared characteristic, based on applying said model to output indications of said at least one parameter of said at least one given machine as sensed by at least one sensor coupled thereto, said group of machines comprising machines that are not of a same type as said at least one given machine but share said shared characteristic with said at least one given machine.   
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein said multiplicity of sensors comprises at least two different types of sensors for sensing at least two different respective parameters of said group of machines, said at least two different types of sensors of said multiplicity of sensors being coupled to at least some corresponding ones of said group of machines,
 said at least one parameter of said at least one given machine comprising at least one of said at least two different respective parameters.   
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein said at least one given machine is one of said group of machines. 
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein said at least one given machine is not one of said group of machines. 
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 22 , wherein said at least two different types of sensors comprise machine parameter sensors, for sensing different respective intrinsic parameters of said corresponding ones of said group of machines, said model being based at least in part on said different respective intrinsic parameters. 
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 25 , wherein said intrinsic parameters comprise parameters relating to intrinsic properties of said corresponding ones of said group of machines, said intrinsic properties comprising at least some of vibration, temperature, an electrostatic field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic field, radiation, emitted fumes, emitted particles, emitted droplets, emitted molecules and pressure. 
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 25 , and also comprising an operational parameter input module adapted to receive at least one additional parameter relating to operation of said corresponding ones of said group of machines, said at least one additional parameter relating to operation comprising at least one of a date when a maintenance action was performed on said corresponding machine, a nature of said maintenance action, an exerted force of said machine, machine type, machine speed, machine load, machine working time, machine torque, machine combustion rate, machine power consumption, type of fluid or load being transported by said machine, a state of said machine control or valve and environmental conditions. 
     
     
         28 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein said group of machines comprises a group of mutually different machines comprising at least some of a motor, engine, bearing, compressor, pump, pipe, conduit, gear, transmission, rotor, wheel, furnace, valve and piston. 
     
     
         29 . A system according to  claim 21 , wherein said shared characteristic comprises at least one of a model number, manufacturer, physical characteristic, physical dimension, operating characteristic and operating parameter. 
     
     
         30 . A system according to  claim 21 , and also comprising a multiplicity of portable communication devices, said multiplicity of sensors being built into corresponding ones of said multiplicity of portable communication devices. 
     
     
         31 . A method for maintenance of at least one machine having at least one shared characteristic with a group of machines, the method comprising:
 coupling a multiplicity of sensors to a group of machines having at least one shared characteristic, said multiplicity of sensors sensing said at least one parameter of said group of machines and providing output indications thereof;   receiving, via at least one processor, said output indications of said at least one parameter of said group of machines;   generating, via said at least one processor, a model representing behavior of said group of machines based on said output indications of said at least one parameter received thereby, said model being representative of said behavior of said group of machines by virtue of said group of machines having said shared characteristic, said shared characteristic being indicative of an observed behavior of one of said group of machines being typical of other ones of said group of machines; and   providing, via an output device, a human sensible output including at least an indication of performance of at least one given machine having said at least one shared characteristic, based on applying said model to output indications of said at least one parameter of said at least one given machine as sensed by at least one sensor coupled thereto, said group of machines comprising machines that are not of a same type as said at least one given machine but share said shared characteristic with said at least one given machine.   
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein said multiplicity of sensors comprises at least two different types of sensors for sensing at least two different respective parameters of said group of machines, said at least two different types of sensors of said multiplicity of sensors being coupled to at least some corresponding ones of said group of machines,
 said at least one parameter of said at least one given machine comprising at least one of said at least two different respective parameters.   
     
     
         33 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein said given machine is one of said group of machines. 
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein said given machine is not one of said group of machines. 
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 32 , wherein said at least two different types of sensors comprise machine parameter sensors for sensing different respective intrinsic parameters of said corresponding ones of said group of machines, said model being based at least in part on said different respective intrinsic parameters. 
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 35 , wherein said intrinsic parameters comprise parameters relating to intrinsic properties of said corresponding ones of said group of machines, said intrinsic properties comprising at least some of vibration, temperature, an electrostatic field, a magnetic field, an electromagnetic field, radiation, emitted fumes, emitted particles, emitted droplets, emitted molecules and pressure. 
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 35 , and also comprising receiving, by an operational parameter input module, at least one additional operational parameter relating to operation of said corresponding ones of said plurality of machines, said at least one additional operational parameter comprising at least one of a date when a maintenance action was performed on said corresponding machine, a nature of said maintenance action, an exerted force of said machine, machine type, machine speed, machine load, machine working time, machine torque, machine combustion rate, machine power consumption, type of fluid or load being transported by said machine, a state of said machine control or valve and environmental conditions. 
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein said group of machines comprises a group of mutually different machines comprising at least some of a motor, engine, bearing, compressor, pump, pipe, conduit, gear, transmission, rotor, wheel, furnace, valve and piston. 
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 31 , wherein said wherein said shared characteristic comprises at least one of a model number, manufacturer, physical characteristic, physical dimension, operating characteristic and operating parameter. 
     
     
         40 . A method according to  claim 31 , and also comprising including said multiplicity of sensors in a multiplicity of portable communication devices, said multiplicity of sensors being built into corresponding ones of said multiplicity of portable communication devices.