System and method for measuring an operative condition of a machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018382-A1
Application number	US-201514869038-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 29, 2015
Priority date	Aug 22, 2012
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes a sensor, one or more processors, a transmitter, and a capacitance control structure. The sensor is configured to contact a fluid and measure a characteristic of the fluid. The one or more processors are operably coupled to the sensor. The one or more processors are configured to generate one or more data signals representative of the characteristic of the fluid that is measured by the sensor. The transmitter is operably coupled to the one or more processors. The transmitter is configured to wirelessly communicate the one or more data signals to a remote reader. The capacitance control structure is configured to one or more of reduce or isolate sensor capacitance of the sensor from the one or more processors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system, comprising:
a sensor configured to contact a fluid and measure a characteristic of the fluid; one or more processors operably coupled to the sensor, the one or more processors configured to generate one or more data signals representative of the characteristic of the fluid that is measured by the sensor; a transmitter operably coupled to the one or more processors, the transmitter configured to wirelessly communicate the one or more data signals to a remote reader; and a capacitance control structure configured to one or more of reduce or isolate sensor capacitance of the sensor from the one or more processors.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to measure at least the capacitance of the fluid, the fluid functioning as a dielectric, the one or more processors configured to detect a level of the fluid based at least in part on the capacitance that is measured.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises a multi-conductor capacitive sensor configured to measure at least the capacitance, inductance, and resistance of the fluid, the sensor configured to detect one or more qualities of the fluid based on at least one of the capacitance, inductance, and resistance that is measured.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors and the transmitter are disposed in a housing and the sensor is disposed in a tube that is secured to the housing, the housing configured to be coupled to a tank or reservoir that contains the fluid, the tube configured to contact the fluid within the tank or reservoir when the housing is coupled to the tank or reservoir.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the tube is elongate and defines a plurality of axially disposed apertures, the tube configured to receive the fluid within an interior chamber of the tube through at least one of the apertures to contact an electrode of the sensor that is disposed within the interior chamber.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein at least two of the apertures are axially offset relative to each other.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of an accelerometer, an electro-magnetic sensor, a radio-frequency identification device, or a clock that is operably coupled to the one or more processors.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a clock operably coupled to the one or more processors, the clock cooperating with the one or more processors to wake the system from an inactive state to an active state at a determined time or time interval to measure the fluid and transmit the one or more data signals based on the sensed measurement of the fluid.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the system is one of a plurality of like systems, the one or more processors and the clock being configured to wake the system and control the system to transmit the one or more data signals at times that are different from the waking and transmission times of other systems of the plurality of like systems.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer operably coupled to the one or more processors, the accelerometer cooperating with the one or more processors to wake the system from an inactive state to an active state in response to detecting an impact force on the system that exceeds a determined threshold impact value, the system in the active state measuring the fluid and transmitting the one or more data signals based on the sensed measurement of the fluid.

11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an accelerometer operably coupled to the one or more processors, the accelerometer being configured to wake the system from an inactive state to an active state after a period of inactivity in response to detecting at least one of a lack of motion or a vibration of the system, the system in the active state measuring the fluid and transmitting the one or more data signals based on the sensed measurement of the fluid.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is operable to measure at least one of a fluid level of the fluid, a temperature of the fluid, a fluid conductivity, a dielectric constant of the fluid, an impedance of the fluid, or a viscosity of the fluid.

13 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a device body that includes a memory, the memory being configured to store a plurality of the measurements obtained by the sensor at different times, the one or more data signals communicated by the transmitter including at least one of the measurements.

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid is lubricating oil for a vehicle, the sensor being configured to withstand extended immersion in the fluid at a temperature that is greater than 100 degrees Celsius and to withstand repeated shocks that are greater than 100 G during operation of the vehicle without significant degradation in an operational quality or accuracy of the sensor.

15 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle controller communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and configured to:
detect a fluid level of a fluid associated with a first powered axle of a vehicle having a plurality of powered axles; respond to a detected fluid level being below a determined threshold value by one or more of reducing or eliminating power to the first powered axle; and operate the vehicle using other powered axles as the first powered axle is operated with one or more of reduced or no power.

16 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the fluid comprises one or more of lubricant, fuel, coolant, or exhaust gas.

17 . A method, comprising:
detecting a fluid level of lubricant in a first gearcase reservoir in a vehicle; responding to a detected fluid level being below a determined threshold value by one or more of reducing or eliminating power supplied to a first powered axle of the vehicle that is associated with the first gearcase reservoir; and operating the vehicle using at least a second powered axle that is coupled to a second gearcase reservoir while the first powered axle is supplied one or more of reduced or no power.

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising signaling to a repair or maintenance shop that the vehicle is in need of service or maintenance.

19 . A method, comprising:
generating, from time to time, one or more data signals from a first wireless device of a sensor device, the first wireless device housed in a device body of the sensor device that is configured to be coupled to a machine, the sensor device further including a sensor configured to contact a fluid associated with the operation of the machine, the machine being one of a fleet of machines with each machine in the fleet having at least one respective wireless device; and determining when to generate the one or more data signals from the first wireless device such that the first wireless device generates the one or more data signals at a different time or in a different time period than other wireless devices of the machines in the fleet.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first wireless device has a clock, the one or more data signals generated from the first wireless device being determined based on a predetermined time indicated by the clock that differs from other times associated with other wireless devices of the machines in the fleet.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Worden Bret Dwayne
• Balasubramaniam Mahalakshmi Shunmugham
• Kumar Ajith Kuttannair
• Zhang Jingjun
• Coyne Jennifer Lynn
• Jagadeesha Sachidananda Chinagudi

Classifications

• G01N33/2888 Primary

  Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration (lubricating properties G01N33/30) · CPC title

• G01M13/02

  Gearings; Transmission mechanisms · CPC title