阅读说明：本技术 使用磁通门传感器的机器滑动和方向感测 (Machine slip and direction sensing using fluxgate sensors ) 是由 纳文·乔治 科迪·阿利斯 西蒙·布拉德肖 杰弗里·苏利文 于 2019-12-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：设备具有信号处理器,信号处理器被配置为接收来自磁通传感器的信令,该信令包含关于来自对从动机器的电机的电力供应的剩余场和来自被放置在从动机器的旋转部件上的一个或多个旋转磁体的磁场的信息；以及基于从接收和处理的信令确定的电力供应频率与滑动频率之间的差值,确定包含关于从动机器的操作的信息的相应的信令。信号处理器还提供相应的信令以用于进一步处理,以确定关于机器的操作的进一步信息。(The apparatus has a signal processor configured to receive signaling from the magnetic flux sensor, the signaling containing information about a residual field from a power supply to a motor of the driven machine and a magnetic field from one or more rotating magnets placed on a rotating component of the driven machine; and determining corresponding signaling containing information about the operation of the slave machine based on a difference between the power supply frequency and the slip frequency determined from the received and processed signaling. The signal processor also provides corresponding signaling for further processing to determine further information about the operation of the machine.)

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a signal processor configured to

Receiving signaling from a magnetic flux sensor, the signaling containing information about a residual field from a power supply to a motor of a driven machine and a magnetic field from one or more rotating magnets placed on a rotating component of the driven machine; and

determining respective signaling containing information about operation of the driven machine based on a difference between a power supply frequency and a slip frequency determined from the signaling received and processed.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to provide the respective signaling for further processing to determine further information regarding the operation of the slave machine.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to determine the percentage of load and power output of the driven machine based on a comparison of an amount of slippage to a motor characteristic of the driven machine.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the signal processor is configured to determine a torque and a current loss of the driven machine due to the slippage.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to detect a fault of the driven machine based on an amount of slip outside a normal range, including the amount of slip being too small in the case of a dry running pump or too large in the case of an overloaded or stuck pump, and to provide information including an alarm or other notification in the corresponding signaling.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to detect increased tape slippage over time in a tape drive application and to provide information containing information about an alarm or other notification in the corresponding signaling.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a vibration sensor; and the signal processor is configured to receive associated signaling from the vibration sensor placed on or associated with the driven machine and, based on the determined slip frequency, provide synchronization of vibration time waveforms detected on the driven machine.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises the magnetic flux sensor and a driven machine bearing housing, the magnetic flux sensor being disposed on or in relation to the driven machine bearing housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises the rotating component on which the one or more magnets are placed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating component comprises a bearing isolator having a stationary portion and a rotating portion on which the one or more magnets are disposed.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating component comprises a shaft of the driven machine on which the one or more magnets are placed.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

The magnetic flux sensor is mounted to the driven machine bearing housing at one location; and is

The rotating component is configured to rotate with a shaft of the driven machine or proximate to the driven machine bearing housing or the location where the magnetic flux sensor is mounted.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the signal processor is configured to process the received signaling and determine the power supply frequency and the slip frequency based on a frequency isolation technique.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the frequency isolation technique comprises using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

One or more of the magnets are placed on the rotating component in a controlled pattern; and is

The signal processor is configured to determine a direction of rotation of a shaft of the driven machine based on the received signaling.

16. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controlled mode may include or take the form of one or more of: magnet position, number of magnets, magnet strength, or magnet polarity.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the signal processor is configured to determine a direction of rotation of a shaft of the driven machine based on the signaling containing information about motion of one or more of the magnets, the magnet rotating past the magnetic flux sensor and producing a unique series of pulses that are processed to determine whether the rotation of the shaft is clockwise or counterclockwise.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rotating component comprises a bearing isolator having a stationary portion and a rotating portion in or on which the one or more magnets are placed.

19. A method, comprising:

receiving, with a signal processor, signaling from a magnetic flux sensor, the signaling containing information about a residual field from a power supply to a motor of a driven machine and a magnetic field from one or more rotating magnets placed on a rotating component of the driven machine; and

determining, with the signal processor, corresponding signaling containing information about operation of the driven machine based on a difference between a power supply frequency and a slip frequency determined from the signaling received and processed.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the method further comprises providing, with the signal processor, the respective signaling for further processing to determine further information regarding the operation of the slave machine.

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a pump system, for example, having an electric motor, a coupling, a drive-end bearing assembly, and a pump or driven machine.

2. Brief description of the related art

Fluxgate sensors have been widely used in the past to sense electromagnetic fields. One particular use is to sense the line frequency of the power supply to the motor. While this provides information about the line frequency, it does not provide information about the actual speed of the induction (asynchronous) motor, since the slip speed (slip speed) cannot be measured.

Prior art solutions to recover slip speed information include driving the motor with a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD). Depending on the technology (typically sensorless vector control), slip speed can be calculated in a VFD, however this is a calculated and not an accurate value. Furthermore, this solution cannot be deployed for motors without VFD drive. Furthermore, if the driven machine is connected to the motor using a V-belt, the slip (slip) calculated by the VFD cannot detect the slip (slip) due to the drive belt loosening.

Another prior art solution is to use optical or inductive sensors to sense the speed of the motor and the driven machine. Both of these techniques have disadvantages (in addition to the need for additional sensors):

optical sensors require some sort of target mark on the shaft or coupling that has an optical reflectivity difference from the shaft/coupling material itself. Over time, dust and other contaminants can obscure the indicia, preventing the signal from being effectively read. The sensor must also maintain a direct line of sight to the target marker, which precludes its use in some applications.

Inductive sensors require a notch or other feature to be incorporated into the shaft or coupling that will trigger the sensor. They must be mounted very close to the recess to ensure a clean signal is obtained. This precludes their use in some applications.

Existing solutions for sensing the direction of shaft rotation utilize optical or inductive sensors. In a standard implementation, two sensors are required to determine shaft rotation. This is done by comparing which of the two sensors is triggered first (in the time domain) by the passing optical target or sensing notch. Alternative embodiments utilize a single optical sensor in combination with a complex optical target that utilizes variable shading or optical patterns. A third embodiment utilizes a single inductive sensor in conjunction with a complex shaped notch that produces a response waveform shape that can be processed to determine the direction of shaft rotation. All of these embodiments result in the same disadvantages described above, except that additional sensors are sometimes required.

Background

Disclosure of Invention

In summary, according to some embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, the invention may be configured to utilize any component of a driven machine that rotates with a shaft and is proximate to a machine bearing housing or other location where a magnetic flux sensor is to be mounted. Preferred embodiments may be configured to accomplish this task using bearing isolators, as well as directly using the shaft of the driven machine itself rather than the rotating parts.

By way of example, a single magnet or an array of magnets may be placed in a bearing isolator or other rotating component or shaft of a machine. The magnet may be dimensioned such that when the component rotates, a magnetic field acts on a magnetic flux sensor mounted generally adjacent, typically on the bearing housing.

In operation, the magnetic flux sensor will sense the residual field from the power supply to the motor and the magnetic field from the rotating magnet. Because the driven machine rotates slower than the power supply frequency (due to motor slip), there are two different frequencies in the output signal from the magnetic flux sensor. The motor supply frequency and the slip frequency can be identified with high accuracy using frequency isolation techniques, such as Fast Fourier Transform (FFT).

Determining and knowing the difference between the power supply frequency and the slip frequency enables a number of benefits to be achieved:

1) the amount of slippage can be compared to the motor characteristics to determine its load and percentage of power output. The amount of slip may also determine the torque and thus the current loss due to slip.

2) In the event of a failure of the slave machine, an amount of slippage outside of the normal range (e.g., too little in the case of a dry running pump, or too great in the case of an overloaded or stuck pump) may be detected and an alarm or other notification may be issued.

3) In a belt driven application, belt slippage, which increases over time, may be detected and an alarm or other notification issued.

4) The measured slip frequency can be used to provide accurate synchronization (using a separate vibration sensor) of any vibration time waveform detected on the driven machine. This synchronization allows the use of more vibration analysis techniques than may be available with only the vibration time waveform.

Furthermore, sensing of the direction of rotation of the shaft may be achieved by utilizing the array of magnets described above in a controlled pattern. The controlled mode may be implemented by one or more of: magnet position, number of magnets, magnet strength, or magnet polarity. The movement of the magnet array past the magnetic flux sensor produces a unique series of pulses that can be processed to determine whether the shaft is rotating clockwise or counterclockwise.

The present invention and the basic concept can be used on any driven machine.

By way of example, a concept-over-the-air (PoC) test was performed using a bearing housing test stand driven by a motor. The magnet array is mounted in the bearing isolator. The power supply and slip frequency are detected and processed by a magnetic flux sensor mounted on top of the bearing housing, consistent with that set forth above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT (S) OF INVENTION

By way of example, and in accordance with some embodiments, the invention may comprise, or take the form of, apparatus featuring a signal processor configured to

Receiving signaling from a magnetic flux sensor, the signaling containing information about a residual field from a power supply to a motor of the driven machine and a magnetic field from one or more rotating magnets placed on a rotating component of the driven machine; and is

Based on the difference between the power supply frequency and the slip frequency determined from the received and processed signaling, corresponding signaling containing information about the operation of the driven machine is determined.

According to some embodiments, the invention may include one or more of the following features:

the signal processor may be configured to provide corresponding signaling for further processing to determine further information regarding the operation of the slave machine.

The signal processor may be configured to determine a percentage of load and power output of the driven machine based on a comparison of the slippage to a motor characteristic of the driven machine.

The signal processor may be configured to determine torque and current loss of the driven machine due to slippage.

The signal processor may be configured to detect a fault of the driven machine based on an amount of slip outside a normal range, including an amount of slip that is too small in the case of a dry running pump, or too large in the case of an overloaded or stuck pump, and may provide information containing information about an alarm or other notification in corresponding signaling.

The signal processor may be configured to detect increased tape slippage over time in a tape drive application and may provide information containing information about an alarm or other notification in corresponding signaling.

The signal processor may be configured to receive associated signaling from a vibration sensor placed on or associated with the driven machine, and may provide synchronization of vibration time waveforms detected on the driven machine based on the determined slip frequency.

The device may include a vibration sensor.

The apparatus may include a magnetic flux sensor and a driven machine bearing housing, the magnetic flux sensor being disposed on or associated with the driven machine bearing housing.

The device may include a rotating component having one or more magnets placed thereon or therein.

The rotating component may include a bearing isolator having a stationary portion and a rotating portion on which the one or more magnets are disposed.

The rotating component may include a shaft of the driven machine having one or more magnets placed thereon.

The magnetic flux sensor may be mounted to the driven machine bearing housing at one location; and the rotating component may be configured to rotate with the shaft of the driven machine, or near the driven machine bearing housing or the location where the magnetic flux sensor is mounted.

The signaling may be received as an output signal from an output of the magnetic flux sensor.

The signal processor may be configured to process the received signaling and determine the power supply frequency and the slip frequency based on a frequency isolation technique.

The frequency isolation technique may include using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) technique.

One or more magnets can be placed on the rotating component in a controlled pattern; and the signal processor may be configured to determine a direction of rotation of the shaft of the driven machine based on the received signaling. By way of example, the controlled mode may include or take the form of one or more of: magnet position, number of magnets, magnet strength, or magnet polarity.

The signal processor may be configured to determine the direction of rotation of the shaft of the driven machine, for example based on received signaling containing information about the motion of one or more magnets that are rotating past the magnetic flux sensor and that produce a series of unique pulses that are processed to determine whether the rotation of the shaft is clockwise or counterclockwise.

The rotating component may comprise or take the form of a bearing isolator having a fixed part and a rotating part in or on which one or more magnets are located.

The driven machine may comprise or take the form of a motor for driving the pump.

The apparatus may comprise or take the form of a driven machine having a motor for driving the pump.

Controller

By way of further example, the invention may comprise or take the form of a controller featuring a signal processor configured to:

receiving signaling from a magnetic flux sensor, the signaling containing information about a residual field from a power supply to a motor of the pump and a magnetic field from one or more rotating magnets placed on a rotating component of the pump; and is

Based on the difference between the power supply frequency and the slip frequency determined from the received and processed signaling, corresponding signaling containing information about the operation of the pump is determined.

The controller may also include one or more of the features set forth herein. For example, the controller may be or form part of a variable frequency drive for controlling the operation of the motor and pump.

Method

According to some embodiments, the invention may include or take the form of a method having steps, e.g. for

Receiving, with a signal processor, signaling from a magnetic flux sensor, the signaling containing information about a residual field from a power supply to a motor of the driven machine and a magnetic field from one or more rotating magnets placed on a rotating component of the driven machine; and

determining, with the signal processor, corresponding signaling containing information about the operation of the driven machine based on a difference between the power supply frequency and the slip frequency determined from the received and processed signaling.

The method may include one or more features set forth herein, including, for example, providing corresponding signaling with the signal processor for further processing to determine further information regarding operation of the slave machine; or arranging a magnetic flux sensor with respect to a power supply to a motor of the driven machine and one or more rotating magnets placed on a rotating part of the driven machine so as to sense the residual field and the magnetic field; or a magnetic flux sensor is arranged on or relative to a driven machine bearing housing of the driven machine.

Advantages of the invention

An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a better way to monitor the operation of a driven machine, such as a pump in a pump system.

Drawings

The drawings comprise fig. 1-5, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, as follows:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to some embodiments of the invention, for example, including a pump system having a motor, a coupling, a drive-end bearing assembly, and a pump or driven machine.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of figure 1 showing the drive end bearing assembly with a magnetic flux sensor arranged relative to the rotating magnet array in further detail, according to some embodiments of the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus of figure 2 showing the drive end bearing assembly with a magnetic flux sensor arranged relative to the rotating magnet array in further detail, according to some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 includes FIGS. 4A-4C, where FIG. 4A shows a view of the rotating magnetic array of FIGS. 1-3; FIG. 4B illustrates a cross-sectional view of the rotating magnetic array of FIG. 4A along line 4B-4B; and FIG. 4C illustrates a top view of the rotating magnetic array of FIG. 4A, all in accordance with some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram of an apparatus, for example, a pump system including a motor, a coupling, a drive-end bearing assembly, and a pump or driven machine, having a signal processor for performing signal processing functions, according to some embodiments of the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 to 3: apparatus 10, e.g. pump system

By way of example, and according to some embodiments, the present invention may include or take the form of an apparatus, generally indicated at 10, such as a pump system having a motor 12, a coupling 14, a drive-end bearing assembly 16, a pump or driven machine 18, a shaft 20, a magnetic flux sensor 22, a rotating component 24 (e.g., such as a rotating magnet array 24 (see also fig. 4)), and a signal processor 100 (see fig. 5), according to some embodiments of the present invention.

By way of example, a shaft 20 extends from the pump or driven machine 18 and is coupled to and rotates within the drive end bearing assembly 16. On one side of the drive end bearing assembly 16, a coupling 14 connects the motor 12 to the shaft 20. On the other side of the drive end bearing assembly 16, the shaft 20 is coupled or connected to a rotating magnet array 24, which rotates the rotating magnet array 24 as the shaft 20 is rotated relative to the magnetic flux sensor 22 by the motor 12. By way of example, the drive end bearing assembly 16 includes a driven machine bearing housing 26, and the magnetic flux sensor 22 is disposed on the driven machine bearing housing 26. The rotating magnet array 24 may include one or more magnets 24A, 24e, 24h, which may be configured, for example, in one or more radially extending members, such as 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, 25g, 25h (see fig. 4A). The one or more magnets 24a, 24e, 24h may be placed on one or more radially extending members of the rotating magnet array 24 (e.g., disposed on or inside one or more radially extending members of the rotating magnet array 24), e.g., consistent with that set forth below with respect to fig. 4.

In operation, signal processor 100 (fig. 5) may be configured to receive signaling from magnetic flux sensor 22 containing information about the residual field from the power supply to motor 12 of pump or driven machine 18 and the magnetic field from one or more rotating magnets 24a, 24e, 24h disposed on rotating magnet array 24 of pump or driven machine 18. Signal processor 100 may also be configured to determine corresponding signaling containing information regarding the operation of pump or driven machine 18, e.g., based on a difference between the power supply frequency and the slip frequency determined from the received and processed signaling.

By way of further example, signal processor 100 may be configured to provide corresponding signaling for further processing to determine further information regarding the operation of pump or driven machine 18. For example, signal processor 100 may also be configured to determine a percentage of load and power output of pump or driven machine 18 based on a comparison of the amount of slippage to motor characteristics of pump or driven machine 18. Signal processor 100 may be configured to determine torque and, thus, current draw of pump or driven machine 18 due to slippage. Signal processor 100 may be configured to detect a failure of pump or driven machine 18, such as based on an amount of slippage outside of a normal range, including an amount of slippage that is too small in the case of a dry running pump, or an amount of slippage that is too large in the case of an overloaded or stuck pump, and may be configured to provide an alarm or other notification in corresponding signaling. The signal processor 100 may be configured to detect increased tape slippage over time in a tape drive application and may provide information containing information about an alarm or other notification in corresponding signaling.

By way of example, signaling may be received as an output signal from the output of the magnetic flux sensor 22. The signal processor 100 may be configured to process the received signaling and determine the power supply frequency and the slip frequency based on a frequency isolation technique. The frequency isolation techniques may include the use of Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) techniques, as well as other types or kinds of transform techniques now known or later developed in the future.

By way of example, a rotating component such as element 24 may include or take the form of a bearing isolator having a stationary portion and a rotating portion such as element R in or on which one or more magnets 24a, 24e, 24h are placed or disposed. The fixed portion may include or take the form of portions such as element S (fig. 3) that are connected to the driven machine bearing housing 26.

By way of example, and consistent with that shown in fig. 1-3, the magnetic flux sensor 22 may be mounted to the driven machine bearing housing 26 at a location as shown; and a rotating component, such as rotating magnet array 24, may be configured to rotate with shaft 20 of pump or driven machine 18, or may be reasonably close to driven machine bearing housing 26. In other words, the magnetic flux sensor 22 need not be mounted directly on the driven machine bearing housing 26 or directly connected to the driven machine bearing housing 26. The scope of the present invention is intended to include and contemplate that in embodiments, magnetic flux sensor 22 is mounted or mounted on or to some other component on or near the pump system for sensing rotating magnet array 24.

Direction of rotation

The signal processor 100 may be configured to determine the direction of rotation of the shaft 20 of the pump or driven machine 18, for example, based on received signaling containing information about the movement of one or more magnets 24a, 24e, 24h that rotate past the magnetic flux sensor 22 and generate a unique series of pulses that are processed to determine whether the shaft rotation is clockwise or counterclockwise. The number and placement of magnets can affect the detection of the direction of rotation.

FIG. 4: rotating magnetic array

Fig. 4 shows a rotating magnet array 24, which rotating magnet array 24 may comprise one or more radially extending members 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, 25g, 25h, each of which may have or may be configured to receive or contain a respective magnet such as element 24a, 24e, 24 h. In fig. 4B and 4C, the radially extending members 25a, 25e, 25h may be configured with apertures, openings or holes 25a ', 25e ', 25h ' to receive one or more of the magnets 24a, 24e, 24 h.

One or more magnets can be placed on or in the rotating magnet array 24 in a controlled pattern, for example, as shown in fig. 1-4, the rotating magnet array 24 includes eight equally spaced radially extending members 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d, 25e, 25f, 25g, 25 h. Signal processor 100 may be configured to determine a direction of rotation of shaft 20 of pump or driven machine 18 based on the received signaling. The controlled mode may include or take the form of one or more of: magnet position, number of magnets, magnet strength, or magnet polarity.

The rotating magnet array 24 may be configured with a central aperture, hole, or opening, generally indicated as 0, e.g., configured to receive the shaft 20. The rotating magnet array 24 may be fixedly coupled to the shaft 20, for example, using techniques known in the art.

The rotating magnet array 24 may also include a member 28 configured or coupled thereto, and a sealing member (not shown) to rotatably couple to the stationary portion S such that the rotating magnet array 24 may rotate relative to the stationary portion S and function as a bearing isolator, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

FIG. 5: signal processor implementation

The device 10 may include a signal processor or signal processing circuitry/module 100, for example, which may be configured to perform basic signal processing functions for implementing the present invention, e.g., consistent with the functionality disclosed herein. By way of example, the signal processor 100 may be configured as a stand-alone signal processor or signal processing module, form part of a control or controller circuit/module, or the like, or form part of some other circuit/circuitry/module. Many different types and kinds of signal processors, controllers, and controller modules are known in the art, including, for example, programmable logic controllers, and the like. By way of example, based on an understanding of such known signal processors, those skilled in the art will be able to configure signal processor 100 to perform the aforementioned signal processing functions consistent with the signal processing functions described herein. The controller may comprise or take the form of a VFD.

By way of further example, the functions of signal processor 100 may be implemented using hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof, although the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular embodiment thereof. In a typical software implementation, such a signal processor or signal processing module may comprise one or more microprocessor-based architectures having a microprocessor, Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), input/output devices and control, data and address buses connecting the same as in element 102, e.g., for executing program code based on algorithms consistent with those disclosed herein. Those skilled in the art will be able to program such microprocessor-based embodiments to perform the signal processing functions described herein without undue experimentation, including where a signal processor and memory are combined to implement program code, for example, stored in the memory, to cause the signal processor to perform the aforementioned signal processing functions. The scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular embodiment using technology now known or later developed in the future.

Signal processor 100 may include one or more other circuits/modules, such as element 102, to perform other functions known in the art that do not form part of the present invention and that are not described in detail herein. By way of example, other circuits/modules 102 may include input/output circuits/modules, memory circuits/modules (e.g., RAM, ROM, EPROM, etc.), bus circuits/modules or architectures for exchanging signaling between the various circuits/modules, and so forth.

In operation, the signal processor 100 may be configured to receive signaling containing information about the residual field from the power supply to the motor of the driven machine and the magnetic field from one or more rotating magnets placed on a rotating component of the driven machine; and determining corresponding signaling containing information about the operation of the slave machine based on a difference between the power supply frequency and the slip frequency determined from the received and processed signaling. By way of example, the signaling may be stored in a database in a memory forming part of the element 102 and provided to the signal processor 100.

Additionally, the signal processor 100 may be configured to determine and provide corresponding signaling containing information about the operation of the slave machine for further processing, including shutting down the pump or slave machine for repair, providing an audio or visual alarm warning signal, or scheduling appropriate maintenance activities. By way of example, the provision of the respective signaling may be implemented by an output module forming part of the element 102.

Vibration sensor

The signal processor may be configured to receive associated signaling from a vibration sensor disposed on or associated with the pump or driven machine, and may provide synchronization of vibration time waveforms detected on the pump or driven machine based on the determined slip frequency. The vibration sensor may include or form part of an alarm and/or condition monitoring device, for example, as disclosed in one or more of the patents or patent applications listed below, assigned to the assignee of the present application, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. By way of example, an alarm or condition monitoring device may be configured on the driven machine bearing housing 26.

Alarm or condition monitoring device

The assignee of the present invention has developed and manufactured a series of alarm and/or condition monitoring devices for bearings and pumps, known as iAlert, for example^TMProvided is a device. By way of example, a family of such alarm and/or condition monitoring devices may include those disclosed below:

patent application serial No. 14/685,134, entitled "Sensing module for monitoring conditions of a pump or pump assembly" filed on 13.4.2015, with case number 911-002.071/F-GI-1501 US;

patent application serial No. 29/516,282, entitled "Mounting break and a combination of a Mounting break and a sensing module" filed on 30.1.2015, with case number 911-002.070/F-GI-1502 US;

patent application serial No. 29/516,277, entitled "Sensing module" filed on 30.1.2015, case No. 911-002.069/F-GI-1501 US;

patent application serial number 14/681,577, entitled "Nodal dynamic data acquisition and distribution device" filed on 8.4.2015, with case number 911-002.067/F-GI-1401 US;

patent application serial No. 12/240,287, entitled "Compact self-contained condition monitoring device", filed on 29.9.2008, issued as U.S. patent No. 8,154,417 on 10.4.2012, case No. 911-002.030/07GI006 US; and

patent application serial No. 29/292,324, entitled "Compact self-contained condition monitoring device" filed on 5.10.2007, issued as us patent Des 586,670 on 17.2.2009, with case No. 911-002.031/07GI 006D.

Driven machine

Driven machines, such as pumps or rotating devices, reciprocating machines, engines, blowers, are known in the art and are not described in detail herein. Moreover, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof either now known or later developed in the future.

Bearing isolator

Bearing isolators are known in the art, and the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof, including, for example, bearing isolators now known or later developed in the future. In addition to the techniques disclosed herein, and by way of further example, bearing isolators can be included in one or more of the following patent numbers 5,044,784; 5,044,785, respectively; 9,051,968, respectively; 9,140,366, respectively; 9,249,831, which are all incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety.

The present invention overcomes the problems of the prior art

Indeed, the present invention solves and resolves the problems discussed in the preceding background of the invention section, for example, including in particular:

the need to provide better VFDs;

the fact that prior art VFDs only provide a calculated sliding value;

the prior art VFD is unable to detect belt slippage in V-belt drive applications;

a separate optical or inductive sensor is required;

the line of sight of the sensor needs to be designed;

the possibility of signal loss due to fouling of the optical target;

a recess in the shaft or coupling needs to be designed;

the need to insert an inductive sensor near the notch; and

two sensors or optical modes (subject to the above-described fouling) need to be utilized to sense the direction of shaft rotation.

Scope of the invention

It should be understood that any feature, characteristic, substitution, or modification described with respect to a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or combined with any other embodiment described herein, unless stated otherwise herein. Furthermore, the drawings herein are not drawn to scale.

Although described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.