System and method for measuring an axial position of a rotating component of an engine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021164359-A1
Application number	US-201916699193-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 29, 2019
Priority date	Nov 29, 2019
Publication date	Jun 3, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Methods and systems for measuring an axial position of a rotating component of an engine are described herein. The method comprises obtaining a signal from a sensor coupled to the rotating component, the rotating component having a plurality of position markers distributed about a surface thereof, the position markers having an axially varying characteristic configured to cause a change in a varying parameter of the signal as a function of the axial position of the rotating component. Based on the signal, the method comprises determining a rotational speed of the rotating component from the signal, determining the varying parameter of the signal, and finding the axial position of the rotating component based on a known relationship between the axial position, the rotational speed, and the varying parameter of the signal.

First claim

1 . A method for measuring an axial position of a rotating component of an engine, the method comprising:
obtaining a signal from a sensor coupled to the rotating component, the rotating component having a plurality of position markers distributed about a surface thereof, the position markers having an axially varying characteristic configured to cause a change in a varying parameter of the signal as a function of the axial position of the rotating component; determining a rotational speed of the rotating component from the signal; determining the varying parameter of the signal; and finding the axial position of the rotating component based on a known relationship between the axial position, the rotational speed, and the varying parameter of the signal.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein finding the axial position of the rotating component based on the known relationship comprises inputting the rotational speed and the varying parameter of the signal into at least one lookup table and outputting the axial position from the at least one lookup table.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one lookup table comprises a first lookup table that outputs an air gap between the sensor and the position markers based on the varying parameter of the signal and the rotational speed, and a second lookup table that outputs the axial position based on the air gap.

4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein finding the axial position of the rotating component comprises interpolating two axial positions when the varying parameter of the signal is between a first value associated with a first axial position and a second value associated with a second axial position, for a given rotational speed.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the axially varying characteristic is an axially varying slope across a top surface of the position markers, to create an axially varying air gap between the position markers and the sensor.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the position markers are provided on a feedback device that is mounted to the rotating component.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the feedback device further comprises troughs positioned between the position markers, the troughs also having the axially varying characteristic of the position markers.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the rotational speed of the rotating component from the signal comprises applying a zero-crossing detection method.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the varying parameter of the signal is amplitude.

10 . A system for measuring an axial position of a rotating component of an engine, the system comprising:
a plurality of position markers distributed about a surface of a rotating component, the position markers having an axially varying characteristic; a sensor coupled to the rotating component and configured for generating a signal having a varying parameter as the rotating component rotates; and a measuring circuit coupled to the sensor and configured for:
obtaining the signal from the sensor;
determining a rotational speed of the rotating component from the signal;
determining the varying parameter of the signal; and
finding the axial position of the rotating component based on a known relationship between the axial position, the rotational speed, and the varying parameter of the signal.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein finding the axial position of the rotating component based on the known relationship comprises inputting the rotational speed and the varying parameter of the signal into at least one lookup table and outputting the axial position from the at least one lookup table.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one lookup table comprises a first lookup table that outputs an air gap between the sensor and the position markers based on the varying parameter and the rotational speed, and a second lookup table that outputs the axial position based on the air gap.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein finding the axial position of the rotating component comprises interpolating two axial positions when the varying parameter of the signal is between a first value associated with a first axial position and a second value associated with a second axial position, for a given rotational speed.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the axially varying characteristic is an axially varying slope across a top surface of the position markers, to create an axially varying air gap between the position markers and the sensor.

15 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising a feedback device mounted to the rotating component and having the position markers provided thereon.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the feedback device further comprises troughs positioned between the position markers, the troughs also having the axially varying characteristic of the position markers.

17 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the measuring circuit applies a zero-crossing detection for determining the rotational speed of the rotating component from the signal.

18 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the varying parameter of the signal is amplitude.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the measuring circuit comprises a rectifier for determining the amplitude of the signal.

20 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon program instructions executable by a processing unit for measuring an axial position of a rotating component of an engine, the program instructions configured for:
obtaining a signal from a sensor coupled to the rotating component, the rotating component having a plurality of position markers distributed about a surface thereof, the position markers having an axially varying characteristic configured to cause a change in a varying parameter of the signal as a function of the axial position of the rotating component; determining a rotational speed of the rotating component from the signal; determining the varying parameter of the signal; and finding the axial position of the rotating component based on a known relationship between the axial position, the rotational speed, and the varying parameter of the signal.

Assignees

• Pratt & Whitney Canada

Inventors

• Shenouda Antwan
• Yakobov Ella

Classifications

• G01D2205/90

  Two-dimensional encoders, i.e. having one or two codes extending in two directions · CPC title

• F05D2270/309

  Rate of change of parameters · CPC title

• F05D2270/708

  with comparison tables · CPC title

• F01D21/003 Primary

  Arrangements for testing or measuring (for measuring vibrations G01H) · CPC title

• F01D17/06

  responsive to speed · CPC title