Vibration monitoring system and apparatus

Claim 3

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said signal conditioner first circuit means comprises a power supply circuit adapted for connection to a source of electric power, a transformer, a rectifier, and a capacitor, a multivibrator comprising a pair of NOR gates connected in circuit with said probe assembly, an isolator/test circuit including an AND gate connected to receive the output from said multivibrator, said signal conditioner being operable to energize said probe assembly on contact of said probe element with said shaft, and to transmit an intermittent signal to said monitor, said monitor comprises switch means connected to switch external power between off and on, a digital counter connected to count the time since first contact was detected and to indicate the time left before shutdown, said alarm means including optical signal means indicating intermittent contact by said shaft and said probe element, and signal means indicating predetermined excessive contact by said shaft and said probe element, and counting means for distinguishing intermittent signals from said probe assembly from predetermined excessive signals and operable to energize said optical signal means on occurrence of said intermittent signals and to energize said last named signal means on occurrence of said predetermined excessive signals, said counting means comprises a clock signal generator, first and second ripple counters connected to receive the output from said clock signal generator, programmable coincidence gates associated with said first and said second ripple counters to compare the counts, said second ripple counter being connected to receive signals from said probe assembly and signal conditioner causing said second ripple counter to reset, and further including a test circuit interconnecting said first named and second named signal means and said signal conditioner and having a switch operable to initiate a test sequence for verifying that the apparatus is operative, and switch means associated with said optical signal means to acknowledge an unsafe condition and shut down operation of said shaft and to reset the monitor for further operation.

Claim 4

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said monitor comprises switch means connected to switch external power between off and on, a digital counter connected to count the time since first contact was detected and to indicate the time left before shutdown, said alarm means including optical signal means indicating intermittent contact by said shaft and said probe element, signal means indicating predetermined excessive contact by said shaft and said probe element, and counting means for distinguishing intermittent signals from said probe assembly from predetermined excessive signals and operable to energize said optical signal means on occurrence of said intermittent signals and to energize said last named signal means on occurrence of said predetermined excessive signals.

Claim 5

An apparatus according to claim 3 in which said counting means comprises a clock signal generator, first and second ripple counters connected to receive the output from said clock signal generator, programmable coincidence gates associated with said first and said second ripple counters to compare the counts, and said second ripple counter being connected to receive signals from said probe assembly and signal conditioner causing said second ripple counter to reset.

Claim 6

An apparatus according to claim 3 including switch means associated with said optical signal means to acknowledge an unsafe condition and shut down operation of said shaft and to reset the monitor for further operation.

Claim 7

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said monitor comprises switch means connected to switch external power between off and on, a digital counter connected to count the time since first contact was detected and to indicate the time left before shutdown, said alarm means including optical signal means indicating intermittent contact by said shaft and said probe element, audible and optical signal means indicating predetermined excessive contact by said shaft and said probe element, counting means for distinguishing intermittent signals from said probe assembly from predetermined excessive signals and operable to energize said optical signal means on occurrence of said intermittent signals and to energize said last named signal means on occurrence of said predetermined excessive signals, switch means associated with said optical signal means to acknowledge and unsafe condition and shut down operation of said shaft and to reset the monitor for further operation, said counting means comprises a clock signal generator, first and second ripple counters connected to receive the output from said clock signal generator, programmable coincidence gates associated with said first and said second ripple counters to compare the counts, said second ripple counter being connected to receive signals from said probe assembly and signal conditioner causing said second ripple counter to reset, and signal lights indicating energization of said clock signal generator and external power switch.

Claim 8

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said signal conditioner first circuit means comprises a power supply circuit adapted for connection to a source of electric power, a transformer, a rectifier, and a capacitor, a multivibrator comprising a pair of NOR gates connected in circuit with said probe assembly, an isolator/test circuit including an AND gate connected to receive the output from said multivibrator, said signal conditioner being operable to energize said probe assembly on contact of said probe element with said shaft, and to transmit an intermittent signal to said monitor, said monitor comprises switch means connected to switch external power between off and on, a digital counter connected to count the time since first contact was detected and to indicate the time left before shutdown, said alarm means including optical signal means indicating intermittent contact by said shaft and said probe element, signal means indicating predetermined excessive contact by said shaft and said probe element, and counting means for distinguishing intermittent signals from said probe assembly from predetermined excessive signals and operable to energize said optical signal means on occurrence of said intermittent signals and to energize said last named signal means on occurrence of said predetermined excessive signals.

Claim 9

An apparatus according to claim 7 in which said counting means comprises a clock signal generator, first and second ripple counters connected to receive the output from said clock signal generator, programmable coincidence gates associated with said first and said second ripple counters to compare the counts, said second ripple counter being connected to receive signals from said probe assembly and signal conditioner causing said second ripple counter to reset, and further including a test circuit interconnecting said first named and second named signal means and said signal conditioner and having a switch operable to initiate a test sequence for verifying that the apparatus is operative, and switch means associated with said optical signal means to acknowledge an unsafe condition and shut down operation of said shaft and to reset the monitor for further operation.

Claim 10

An apparatus according to claim 1 including an insulated bushing for installation on said housing and having an internally threaded opening for receiving and supporting said probe element at said intermediate threaded portion thereof.

Claim 11

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said signal conditioner first circuit means comprises a power supply circuit adapted for connection to a source of electric power, a transformer, a rectifier, and a capactitor, a multivibrator comprising a pair of NOR gates connected in circuit with said probe assembly, an isolator/test circuit including an AND gate connected to receive the output from said multivibrator, and said signal conditioner being operable to energize said probe assembly on contact of said probe element with said shaft, and to transmit an intermittent signal to said monitor.

Claim 12

An apparatus according to claim 1 in which said signal conditioner first circuit means comprises a power supply circuit adapted for connection to a source of electric power, a transformer, a rectifier, and a capacitor, a multivibrator comprising a pair of NOR gates connected in circuit with said probe assembly, an isolator/test circuit including an AND gate, connected to receive the output from said multivibrator, and said signal conditioner being operable to energize said probe assembly on contact of said probe element with said shaft, and to transmit an intermittent signal to said monitor.

Claim 13

An apparatus according to claim 1 including an insulated bushing for installation on said housing and having an internally threaded opening for receiving and supporting said probe element at said intermediate threaded portion thereof.

Claim 14

A probe assembly for monitoring a rotating shaft having a supporting housing, said probe assembly comprises a probe element having an elongated body of electrically conductive metal having an enlarged outer end, an intermediate portion of reduced diameter threaded for support on said shaft housing, and a smaller inner end portion having an end recess, a probe member slidably positioned in said end recess, a cap member closing the end of said recess and securing said probe member therein, a spring member positioned in said recess urging said probe member against said cap member with the end portion protruding outward therefrom, and said probe member end portion being adapted to make electrical contact with said shaft on excessive vibration of said shaft.

Claim 15

A probe assembly for monitoring a rotating shaft having a supporting housing, said probe assembly comprises a probe element having an elongated body of electrically conductive metal having an enlarged outer end, an intermediate portion of reduced diameter threaded for support on said shaft housing, and a smaller inner end portion having an end recess, a probe member slidably positioned in said end recess, a cap member closing the end of said recess and securing said probe member therein, a spring member positioned in said recess urging said probe member against said cap member with the end portion protruding outward therefrom, and said probe member end portion being adapted to make electrical contact with said shaft on excessive vibration of said shaft.

Claim 16

A probe assembly according to claim 13 including an insulated bushing for installation on said housing and having an internally threaded opening for receiving and supporting said probe element at said intermediate threaded portion thereof.

Claim 17

A remote viewing monitor for a vibration monitoring apparatus having a vibration detecting probe assembly mounted adjacent to a rotating shaft, comprising switch means connected to switch external power between off and on, a digital counter connected to count the time since first contact was detected and to indicate the time left before shutdown, optical signal means indicating intermittent contact by said shaft and said probe assembly, signal mens indicating predetermined excessive contact by said shaft and said probe assembly, and counting means for distinguishing intermittent signals from said probe from predetermined excessive signals and operable to energize said optical signal means on occurrence of said intermittent signals and to energize said last named signal means on occurrence of said predetermined excessive signals.

Claim 18

A remote viewing monitor for a vibration monitoring apparatus having a vibration detecting probe assembly mounted adjacent to a rotating shaft, comprising switch means connected to switch external power between off and on, a digital counter connected to count the time since first contact was detected and to indicate the time left before shutdown, optical signal means indicating intermittent contact by said shaft and said probe assembly, signal mens indicating predetermined excessive contact by said shaft and said probe assembly, and counting means for distinguishing intermittent signals from said probe from predetermined excessive signals and operable to energize said optical signal means on occurrence of said intermittent signals and to energize said last named signal means on occurrence of said predetermined excessive signals.

Claim 19

A monitor according to claim 15 in which said counting means comprises a clock signal generator, first and second ripple counters connected to receive the output from said clock signal generator, programmable coincidence gates associated with said first and said second ripple counters to compare the counts, and said second ripple counter being connected to receive signals from said probe assembly and adapted to be connected to a signal conditioner causing said second ripple counter to reset.

Claim 20

A monitor according to claim 16 including a test circuit interconnecting said first named and second named signal means and said probe and having a switch operable to initiate a test sequence for verifying that the apparatus is operative.

Claim 21

A monitor according to claim 15 including switch means associated with said optical signal means to acknowledge an unsafe condition and shut down operation of said shaft and to reset the monitor for further operation.

Claim 22

A monitor according to claim 15 in which switch means associated with said optical signal means to acknowledge an unsafe condition and shut down operation of said shaft and to reset the monitor for further operation. said counting means comprises a clock signal generator, first and second ripple counters connected to receive the output from said clock signal generator, programmable coincidence gates associated with said first and said second ripple counters to compare the counts, said second ripple counter being connected to receive signals from said probe assembly and adapted to be connected to a signal conditioner causing said second ripple counter to reset, and signal lights indicating energization of said clock signal generator and external power switch.