Monitoring motor condition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9476945-B2
Application number	US-201414577339-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 10, 2012
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

In various implementations, a condition of a motor may be monitored based at least partially on time required to achieve a change in speed. A notification may be transmitted based on the condition of the motor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a fan assembly comprising:
a fan with fan blades; and
a motor coupled to the fan to rotate the fan blades of the fan; and

a controller adapted to:
determine an amount of time for the motor to change speeds from a first speed to a second speed, wherein the determined amount of time comprises a first period of time;
compare the first period of time and a predetermined period of time; and
determine a condition of the motor based, at least partially, on the comparison between the first period of time and the predetermined period of time;
wherein the controller comprises a memory, and wherein the controller is further adapted to retrieve the predetermined period of time from the memory of the controller, and wherein the predetermined period of time is based, at least partially on a plurality of previously first periods of time.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that measures a speed of the motor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to determine the condition of the motor based, at least partially, on one or more operational properties.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to:
determine one or more operational properties; and
adjust the predetermined period of time based on at least one of the determined one or more operational properties.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further adapted to:
monitor one or more operational properties; and
retrieve the predetermined period of time based on the monitoring of at least one of the one or more operational properties.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that measures an amount of time for the motor to change speeds from the first speed to the second speed.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:
an air conditioner, wherein the air conditioner comprises the fan assembly; or
a heat pump, wherein the heat pump comprises the fan assembly; or
a refrigeration unit, wherein the refrigeration unit comprises the fan assembly.

8. A system comprising:
a motor coupled to a fan to rotate one or more blades of the fan;
a controller adapted to:
alter a speed of the motor from a first speed to a second speed;
determine an amount of time for the motor to change speeds from the first speed to the second speed, wherein the determined amount of time comprises a first period of time;
compare the first period of time and a predetermined period of time;
determine a condition of the motor based, at least partially, on the comparison between the first period of time and the predetermined period of time;
wherein the controller comprises a memory, and wherein the controller is further adapted to retrieve the predetermined period of time from the memory of the controller, wherein the controller is further adapted to determine the predetermined period of time based, at least partially, on one or more previously determined first periods of time and wherein the controller is further adapted to determine the predetermined period of time based, at least partially, on one or more previously determined first periods of time during a set period of time.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further adapted to determine the condition of the motor based, at least partially, on at least one operational property.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further adapted to:
determine one or more operational properties; and
adjust the predetermined period of time based on at least one of the determined one or more operational properties.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the controller is further adapted to:
monitor one or more operational properties; and
retrieve the predetermined period of time based on the monitoring of at least one of the one or more operational properties.

12. A system comprising:
a fan assembly comprising:
a fan comprising fan blades; and
a motor coupled to the fan, wherein the motor rotates the fan blades of the fan; and
a controller adapted to:
receive a request for operation from a user;
alter a speed of a motor from a predetermined first speed to a predetermined second speed based on the request for operation;
determine a rate at which the motor changes speed;
compare the rate at which the motor changes speed and a predetermined period of time; and
determine a condition of the motor based at least partially on the determined rate;
wherein the controller comprises a memory, and wherein the controller is further adapted to retrieve the predetermined period of time from the memory of the controller and to determine the predetermined period of time based, at least partially, on one or more previously determined first periods of time.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further adapted to:
determine a condition of the motor based, at least partially, on the predetermined period of time.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further adapted to:
determine one or more operational properties; and
adjust the predetermined period of time based, at least partially, on at least one of the one or more determined operational properties.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further adapted to:
monitor one or more operational properties; and
retrieve the predetermined period of time based on the monitoring of at least one of the one or more operational properties.

Assignees

• Lennox Ind Inc
• Lennox Tech Inc

Inventors

• Powell Joe
• Lisbona Randall L

Classifications

• Y02B30/70

  Efficient control or regulation technologies, e.g. for control of refrigerant flow, motor or heating · CPC title

• F04D25/08

  the working fluid being air, e.g. for ventilation · CPC title

• G01M13/00 Primary

  Testing of machine parts · CPC title

• F04D27/001

  Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring · CPC title

• G01R31/343 Primary

  in operation · CPC title