Device and method for monitoring the use of a machine component

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11719600-B2
Application number	US-202117206619-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 19, 2021
Priority date	Apr 6, 2020
Publication date	Aug 8, 2023
Grant date	Aug 8, 2023

Abstract

A device for monitoring the use of a machine component includes a sensor configured to measure at least one operating parameter of the machine component and produce a first output signal indicative of the measured operating parameter, a control unit configured to determine information about a use of the machine based on the received first output signal and to produce a second output signal indicative of the use of the machine, and a service unit configured to receive the second output signal and to permit a continuation of existing services for the machine component and/or to provide further services for the machine component based on the second output signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for monitoring the use of a machine component, comprising:
a sensor configured to measure at least one operating parameter of the machine component and produce a first output signal indicative of the measured operating parameter,
a control unit configured to determine information about a use of the machine based on the received first output signal and to produce a second output signal indicative of the use of the machine, and
a service unit configured to receive the second output signal and to permit a continuation of existing data analysis and/or data access services for the machine component and/or to provide further data analysis and/or data access services for the machine component based on the second output signal.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the use of the machine comprises a length of a current operating period of the machine component.

3. The device according to claim 2 ,
wherein the service unit is configured to provide the existing data analysis and/or data access services as long as the current operating period is shorter than or equal to a predefined operating period, and
wherein the service unit is configured to switch off the existing data analysis and/or data access services in response to the current operating period exceeding the predefined operating period.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the service unit is configured to receive the predefined operating period as user entry.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the service unit is configured to provide the further data analysis and/or data access services in a cascading manner based on authorization information.

6. The device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the further data analysis and/or data access services include access to the operating parameters, damage monitoring, maintenance, and/or performance monitoring.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the communication between the sensor, the control unit, and/or the service unit is encrypted.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein the encryption is asymmetric encryption.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the service unit is disposed remotely from the control unit, or wherein the service unit is formed integrally with the control unit.

10. The device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the service unit is configured to discontinue existing data analysis and/or data access services for the machine component based on the second output signal.

11. The device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the service unit is configured to provide further data analysis and/or data access services for the machine component based on the second output signal.

12. A device for monitoring the use of a machine component, comprising:
a sensor configured to measure at least one operating parameter of the machine component and produce a first output signal indicative of the measured operating parameter,
a control unit configured to determine information about a use of the machine based on the received first output signal and to produce a second output signal indicative of the use of the machine, and
a service unit configured to receive the second output signal and to permit a continuation of existing services for the machine component and/or to provide further services for the machine component based on the second output signal,
wherein the sensor is a vibration sensor,
wherein the existing services comprise damage detection based on the first output signal, and
wherein the further services comprise a frequency analysis of the first output signal.

13. A method for monitoring the use of a machine component, comprising:
measuring at least one operating parameter of the machine component,
producing a first output signal indicative of the at least one operating parameter,
determining a use of the machine component based on the first output signal,
determining whether to discontinue a provision of existing data analysis and/or data access services for the machine component based on the determined use, and
determining whether to provide further data analysis and/or data access services based on the determined use.

14. A device for monitoring the use of a machine component, comprising:
a sensor configured to measure at least one operating parameter of the machine component and produce a first output signal indicative of the measured operating parameter,
a control unit configured to determine information about a use of the machine based on the received first output signal and to produce a second output signal indicative of the use of the machine, and
a service unit configured to receive the second output signal and determine whether to prevent a continuation of existing data analysis and/or data access services for the machine component and whether to make available or provide further data analysis and/or data access services for the machine component based on the second output signal.

Assignees

• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Emmert Michael
• Ziegler Sebastian

Classifications

• G01M13/045 Primary

  Acoustic or vibration analysis · CPC title

• F16C2233/00

  Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration · CPC title

• G07C3/00 Primary

  Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles · CPC title

• G01M13/04 Primary

  Bearings · CPC title

• G01D21/02

  Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass · CPC title