Prediction of Machine Failure Based on Vibration Trend Information

• Main Authors: Turner, John S, Skeirik, Robert D
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.02.2021
• Subjects: ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDEDFOR ELSEWHERE; CHECKING-DEVICES; CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; CONTROLLING; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC ORINFRASONIC WAVES; MEASURING; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS ORELEMENTS; PHYSICS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; REGULATING; SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES; TESTING; TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES ORSTRUCTURES; TESTING STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS

A method for detecting defects in a rotational element of a machine based on changes in measured vibration energy includes: (a) collecting vibration data over an extended period of time using vibration sensors attached to the machine; (b) processing the vibration data to generate a time waveform comprising processed vibration values sampled during sequential sampling time intervals within the extended period of time; (c) detecting multiple time blocks within the extended period of time during which the processed vibration values exhibit sustained increases at progressively increasing rates; and (d) generating alerts based on detection of the multiple time blocks during which the processed vibration values exhibit sustained increases at progressively increasing rates. The multiple time blocks may include a first time block during which the processed vibration values increase at a first rate, and a second time block occurring after the first time block during which the processed vibration values increase at a second rate that is greater than the first rate.