Rotor diagnostic and balancing system

Claim 1

A method of providing data for use in diagnosing and balancing a rotor, comprising the steps of: (a) generating vibrational data from a plurality of vibration sensors positioned about a rotor during rotation of the rotor; (b) generating rotational data from rotational sensors corresponding to the rotation of the rotor; (c) synchronizing the vibrational data with the rotational data and determine the maximum vibration at respective vibration sensors as the rotor accelerates and decelerates at predetermined intervals; (d) providing means for comparing the maximum vibrational outputs from the vibration sensors with a predetermined standard to ascertain the probable location of and reason for the vibration sensed; (e) increasng and decreasing the rotor's rotation in a continuous fashion and monitoring the vibrational data for discontinuity of vibrational signals from the vibration sensors; (f) monitoring the steady state vibrational data as the rotors rotate at predetermined intervals generating a time-to-frequency spectrum of the components of the steady state vibrational data; (g) extracting from the spectrum the synchronous components thereof which correspond to predetermined critical speeds of the components of the rotor; and (h) providing means for generating a data output of the probable location and cause of vibrations in the rotor based upon the data obtained in steps d, e, f and g herein.

Claim 2

A method of providing data for use in diagnosing and balancing a rotor, comprising the steps of: (a) generating vibrational data from a plurality of vibration sensors positioned about a rotor during rotation of the rotor; (b) generating rotational data from rotational sensors corresponding to the rotation of the rotor; (c) synchronizing the vibrational data with the rotational data and determine the maximum vibration at respective vibration sensors as the rotor accelerates and decelerates at predetermined intervals; (d) providing means for comparing the maximum vibrational outputs from the vibration sensors with a predetermined standard to ascertain the probable location of and reason for the vibration sensed; (e) increasng and decreasing the rotor's rotation in a continuous fashion and monitoring the vibrational data for discontinuity of vibrational signals from the vibration sensors; (f) monitoring the steady state vibrational data as the rotors rotate at predetermined intervals generating a time-to-frequency spectrum of the components of the steady state vibrational data; (g) extracting from the spectrum the synchronous components thereof which correspond to predetermined critical speeds of the components of the rotor; and (h) providing means for generating a data output of the probable location and cause of vibrations in the rotor based upon the data obtained in steps d, e, f and g herein.

Claim 5

A method of providing data for use in diagnosing and balancing low and high pressure rotors R 1 and R 2 respectively which are interposed between a compressor and turbine of a jet engine and the like comprising the steps of: (a) generating vibrational data from at least three vibration sensors during rotation of the rotor wherein one sensor is positioned adjacent R 1 's compressor side, the second sensor is positioned adjacent R 1 's turbine side, and the third sensor is positioned adjacent R 2 and each capable of picking up vibrations in the engine; (b) generating rotational data from rotational sensors corresponding to the rotation of the rotor, one rotational sensor being capable of monitoring the rotation of R 1 , the second rotational sensor being capable of monitoring the rotation of R 2 ; (c) synchronizing the vibrational data with the rotational data and determine the maximum vibration at respective vibration sensors as the rotors accelerate and decelerate at predetermined intervals; (d) providing means for comparing the maximum vibrational outputs from the respective vibration sensors with a predetermined standard to ascertain the probable location of and reason for the vibration sensed; (e) increasing and decreasing the rotors' rotation in a continuous fashion and monitoring the vibrational data for discontinuity of vibrational signals from the respective vibration sensors; (f) monitoring the steady state vibrational data as the rotors rotate at predetermined intervals and generating a time-to-frequency spectrum of the components of the steady state vibrational data for the respective vibration sensor; (g) extracting from the spectrum the synchronous components thereof which correspond to predetermined critical speeds of the components of the rotors; and (h) providing means for generating a data output of the probable location and cause of vibrations in the rotors based upon the data obtained in steps d, e, f and g herein.

Claim 6

A method of providing data for use in diagnosing and balancing low and high pressure rotors R 1 and R 2 respectively which are interposed between a compressor and turbine of a jet engine and the like comprising the steps of: (a) generating vibrational data from at least three vibration sensors during rotation of the rotor wherein one sensor is positioned adjacent R 1 's compressor side, the second sensor is positioned adjacent R 1 's turbine side, and the third sensor is positioned adjacent R 2 and each capable of picking up vibrations in the engine; (b) generating rotational data from rotational sensors corresponding to the rotation of the rotor, one rotational sensor being capable of monitoring the rotation of R 1 , the second rotational sensor being capable of monitoring the rotation of R 2 ; (c) synchronizing the vibrational data with the rotational data and determine the maximum vibration at respective vibration sensors as the rotors accelerate and decelerate at predetermined intervals; (d) providing means for comparing the maximum vibrational outputs from the respective vibration sensors with a predetermined standard to ascertain the probable location of and reason for the vibration sensed; (e) increasing and decreasing the rotors' rotation in a continuous fashion and monitoring the vibrational data for discontinuity of vibrational signals from the respective vibration sensors; (f) monitoring the steady state vibrational data as the rotors rotate at predetermined intervals and generating a time-to-frequency spectrum of the components of the steady state vibrational data for the respective vibration sensor; (g) extracting from the spectrum the synchronous components thereof which correspond to predetermined critical speeds of the components of the rotors; and (h) providing means for generating a data output of the probable location and cause of vibrations in the rotors based upon the data obtained in steps d, e, f and g herein.