Apparatus for monitoring the condition of a machine

Abstract

A method for analyzing the condition of a machine, and an apparatus for analyzing the condition of a machine are described.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of determining an operating condition of a machine including a bearing associated with a shaft that, during operation of the machine, rotates at a speed of rotation, the method comprising:
 obtaining raw signal data from a vibration sensor positioned in proximity to the bearing during operation of the machine, wherein the vibration sensor is coupled with a portable apparatus, wherein the portable apparatus includes a communication port and a processing system, wherein the portable apparatus is configured to attach on a body of the machine;   converting the raw obtained signal into a digital signal data using an analog-to-digital converter, wherein the analog-to-digital converted is integrated into the portable apparatus;   performing, with the processing system of the portable apparatus, signal processing on the digital signal data;   transmitting from the communication port, over a wireless connection, the signal processed data instead of the obtained raw signal data; and   determining the operating condition based at least on the signal processed data.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein performing the signal processing comprises performing a peak level analysis. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the peak level analysis includes determining one or more peak amplitudes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising determining a first parameter, wherein the first parameter comprises a peak value having a certain predetermined occurrence frequency. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising determining a second parameter, wherein the second parameter comprises a repetition frequency. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the signal processed data is transmitted to a server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the signal processed data is transmitted to a portable computing device. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising displaying the operating condition on the portable computing device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the portable apparatus is removably attachable to the body of the machine. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the determination of the operating condition comprises transforming the digital signal data and using a bearing frequency factor value. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 extracting at least one vibration signal repetition frequency from said transformed signal;   generating a frequency factor estimate based on the at least one vibration signal repetition frequency and a determined speed of rotation; and   comparing the generated frequency factor estimate with a stored plurality of frequency factors.   
     
     
         13 . The method  claim 12 , further comprising generating an indicator indicative of a probable location of an incipient damage based on said frequency factor comparison. 
     
     
         14 . A system for determining an operating condition of a machine including a bearing associated with a shaft that, during operation of the machine, rotates at a speed of rotation, the system comprising:
 a portable apparatus comprising:
 a vibration sensor configured to obtain raw signal data responsive to a bearing associated with a shaft that rotates at the speed of rotation; 
 an analog to digital converter configured to convert the obtained raw signal data into a digital signal data; 
 one or more hardware processors configured to perform signal processing on the digital signal data; and 
 a communication port configured to wirelessly transmit the signal processed data instead of the obtained raw signal data to a first computing system, wherein an operating condition is determined by the first computing system. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the signal processing comprises a peak level analysis. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the peak level analysis corresponds to one or more peak amplitudes. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more hardware processors are further configured to determine a first parameter, wherein the first parameter comprises a peak value having a certain predetermined occurrence frequency. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more hardware processors are further configured to determine a second parameter, wherein the second parameter comprises a repetition frequency. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first computing device comprises a server. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first computing device comprises a portable computing device. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more hardware processors are further configured to:
 extract at least one vibration signal repetition frequency from said transformed signal;   generate a frequency factor estimate based on the at least one vibration signal repetition frequency and a determined speed of rotation;   compare the generated frequency factor estimate with a stored plurality of frequency factors; and   generate an indicator indicative of a probable location of an incipient damage based on said frequency factor comparison.