Monitoring motor condition

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9866165-B2
Application number	US-201615273309-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2016
Priority date	Dec 10, 2012
Publication date	Jan 9, 2018
Grant date	Jan 9, 2018

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

What is claimed is:

1. A method for monitoring a condition of a fan motor comprising:
determining 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;
comparing the first period of time and a predetermined period of time; and
determining 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 predetermined period of time is based, at least partially, on a plurality of previously determined first periods of time.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the condition of the motor based, at least partially, on one or more operational properties.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining one or more operational properties; and
adjusting the predetermined period of time based on at least one of the determined one or more operational properties.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring one or more operational properties; and
retrieving the predetermined period of time based on the monitoring of at least one of the one or more operational properties.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an amount of time for the motor to change speeds from a first speed to a second speed comprises determining a start-up period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an amount of time for the motor to change speeds from a first speed to a second speed comprises determining a wind down period of time.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining an amount of time for the motor to change speeds from a first speed to a second speed comprises using a sensor coupled to the motor to determine the amount of time.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a notification based at least partially on the determined condition of the motor.

9. A method for monitoring a condition of a fan motor comprising:
altering a speed of the motor from a first speed to a second speed;
determining 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;
comparing the first period of time and a predetermined period of time; and
determining 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 predetermined period of time is based, at least partially, on one or more previously determined first periods of time and wherein the predetermined period of time is based, at least partially, on one or more previously determined first periods of time during a set period of time.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining the condition of the motor based, at least partially, on one or more operational properties.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
determining one or more operational properties; and
adjusting the predetermined period of time based on at least one of the determined one or more operational properties.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
monitoring one or more operational properties; and
retrieving the predetermined period of time based on the monitoring of at least one of the one or more operational properties.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining an amount of time for the motor to change speeds from a first speed to a second speed comprises determining a start-up period of time.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining an amount of time for the motor to change speeds from a first speed to a second speed comprises determining a wind down period of time.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein determining an amount of time for the motor to change speeds from a first speed to a second speed comprises using a sensor coupled to the motor to determine the amount of time.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting a notification based at least partially on the determined condition of the motor.

17. A method for monitoring a condition of a fan motor comprising:
receiving a request for operation from a user;
altering a speed of a motor from a predetermined first speed to a predetermined second speed based on the request for operation;
determining a rate at which the motor changes speed;
comparing the rate at which the motor changes speed and a predetermined period of time; and
determining a condition of the motor based at least partially on the determined rate;
wherein the predetermined period of time is based, at least partially, on one or more previously determined first periods of time.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising determining a condition of the motor based, at least partially, on the predetermined period of time.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
determining one or more operational properties; and
adjusting the predetermined period of time based, at least partially, on at least one of the one or more determined operational properties.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
monitoring one or more operational properties; and
retrieving the predetermined period of time based on the monitoring of at least one of the one or more operational properties.

Assignees

• Lennox Ind 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

• H02K7/14

  Structural association with mechanical loads, e.g. with hand-held machine tools or fans (with fan or impeller for cooling the machine H02K9/06) · CPC title

• F04D27/001

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

• G01M13/00 Primary

  Testing of machine parts · CPC title

• G01M13/04

  Bearings · CPC title