Apparatus for Monitoring the Condition of a Device and Device with such an Apparatus and Method for Condition Monitoring

Abstract

An apparatus for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of a device includes at least one microphone assigned to each component of a plurality of components of the device that is to be monitored.

Claims

1. An apparatus for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of a device comprising: at least one microphone assigned to each component of a plurality of components of the device that is to be monitored.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one microphone includes a directional characteristic or is a directional microphone, and the directional microphone includes a rotatable joint or a swiveling joint.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a primary housing located at a distance from the device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: the at least one microphone is arranged on the primary housing, and/or the at least one microphone is located at another distance from the primary housing.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one microphone is arranged in the immediate vicinity or in the airborne-sound near-field of the corresponding component of the plurality of components to which the at least one microphone is assigned.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the at one microphone includes at least two microphones arranged approximately along a beam that originates from the corresponding component of the plurality of components to which the at least two microphones are assigned.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the at least one microphone is arranged approximately in one plane, and the apparatus is configured to determine the corresponding component of the plurality of components to which the at least one microphone is assigned from transit time differences of a sound signal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an energy-harvesting apparatus fastened to the device and configured to convert vibrations or heat of the device into electrical energy.

9. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a decomposed structure, in which the at least one microphone is configured as a satellite microphone with integrated electronics.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the satellite microphone is implemented with energy independence and includes a battery, an accumulator, and/or an energy-harvesting apparatus configured to convert vibrations or heat of the device into electrical energy to power the satellite microphone.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: an electronic design of the primary housing or of a primary device and of the satellite microphone are of identical construction, and the apparatus further includes a wireless data transmission device and a further sensor.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the airborne-sound-based condition is cavitation, insufficient suction, wrong or incorrect installation of the plurality of components, or a deviating speed of rotation.

13. A system comprising: a device including a plurality of components; and an apparatus for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of the device, the apparatus comprising at least one microphone assigned to each component of the plurality of components of the device.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein: the device includes a mobile working machine, a powertrain, a hydrostatic gearbox, one or a plurality of hydrostatic displacement machines, an electrical machine, a combustion engine, a hydrodynamic machine, a mechanical gearbox, or a hydraulic control unit, and the plurality of components includes a hydrostatic displacement machine, an auxiliary aggregate of a combustion engine, a drive shaft, a roller bearing, a piston, a tire, or a valve.

15. A method for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of a device including a plurality of components, comprising: assigning at least one microphone to each component of the plurality of components of the device; and evaluating sound signals of the assigned at least one microphone.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: initializing through generating a sound signal at at least one component of the plurality of components.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: automatically activating the condition monitoring through a trigger.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: minimizing interfering noises during the condition monitoring; or insulating the sound signals from the interfering noises during the condition monitoring.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: calculating or estimating a remaining service life of at least one component of the plurality of components.

20. The method according to claim 15, further comprising: localizing at least one component of the plurality of components with a beam-forming method.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0042] An exemplary embodiment of the condition monitoring system according to the disclosure is illustrated in the FIGURE.

[0043] The FIGURE symbolically illustrates important components of a powertrain 1 of a mobile working machine (not shown in more detail). Five components of the powertrain 1 are shown by way of example, namely a drive machine 2, which can be a diesel engine or an electric motor, a transfer gearbox 4, a pump 6 implemented as an axial piston machine, and a motor 10 also implemented as an axial piston machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] The pump 6 is connected through a hydraulically closed circuit (not illustrated) to the motor 10. The circuit furthermore comprises various hydraulic valves, of which one valve 8 is shown in the FIGURE by way of example.

[0045] When the powertrain 1 is operating, the components 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 illustrated each exhibit a sound emission 12, whose characteristic depends on one or more conditions of the respective components 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. Thus, for example, when the valve body (not shown) of the valve 8 switches, it generates a specific sound which does not appear if it is jammed.

[0046] The powertrain 1 is fitted according to the disclosure with an apparatus 14 for monitoring the conditions of the components 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 on the basis of their respective sound emissions 12. For this purpose, the apparatus 14 has a primary housing 16 with five terminals 18 to each of which an external microphone 20, 22 is connected. Each microphone 20, 22 is assigned to one component 2, 4, 6, 8, 10. For this purpose, each microphone 20, 22 is arranged in the vicinity of the respective component 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, in order in particular to acquire its sound emission 12 and to convert it into a sound signal that is transmitted to the primary housing 16. The microphone 20 that is assigned to the pump 6 is here arranged in its immediate vicinity, i.e. in the airborne-sound near-field of the pump 6. The microphone 22, which is assigned to the motor 10, is formed as a directional microphone. It can be aligned, using a rotatable or swiveling joint 24, to the motor 10.

[0047] The respective sound emissions 12 are acquired according to the disclosure by the apparatus 14, and then isolated from interfering noises. This can be done by means of signal analysis or by means of pattern recognition.

[0048] If one of the condition-monitored components 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 makes a noticeable noise during operation of the powertrain 1, then this is acquired by the apparatus 14 and, in accordance with the arrow 26, reported, for example, to the driver's cab of the mobile working machine. This report to the high-level controller can be made over wires or wirelessly.

[0049] The microphone 20 that is assigned to the working machine 2 is connected wirelessly to the primary housing 16.

[0050] As a departure from the illustrated exemplary embodiment, it is also possible for one of the external microphones 20 to be omitted and to be replaced by an internal microphone that is integrated into the primary housing 16.

[0051] An airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of various components of a machine or of a system using a plurality of microphones is disclosed.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0052] 1 Powertrain [0053] 2 Drive machine [0054] 4 Transfer gearbox [0055] 6 Pump [0056] 8 Valve [0057] 10 Motor [0058] 12 Sound emission [0059] 14 Apparatus [0060] 16 Primary housing [0061] 18 Terminal [0062] 20 External microphone [0063] 22 External directional microphone [0064] 24 Rotatable or swiveling joint [0065] 26 Arrow