Device for detecting defects in rotating equipment

Abstract

The present invention provides a device (1) for detecting defects of a rotating device (2). The rotating device (2) comprises one or more rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) or one or more rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) groups (4, 5). The device (1) comprises: a definition unit (10) for defining a dynamic threshold value based on the static threshold value (ST1, ST2) of the rotating part (6, 7, 8, 9) or the rotating part (6, 7, 8, 9) group (4, 5) actually being monitored and the average value of the static threshold values (ST1, ST2) of several rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) or the rotating part (6, 7, 8, 9) groups (4, 5) with similar functions; and a detection unit (12) for detecting defects by comparing the current parameter value of the rotating part (6, 7, 8, 9) or the rotating part (4, 5) actually being monitored with the defined dynamic threshold value.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting defects in rotating equipment and a method for detecting defects in rotating equipment. Background Art

[0002] In rotating equipment comprising one or more rotating parts or groups of rotating parts, it is necessary to monitor the rotating parts in order to detect defects or faults therein. The rotating parts may be, for example, bearings or bearing components such as bearing rings, cages, or rolling elements. Defects in rotating parts can lead to failure of the entire equipment and should therefore be avoided. Currently, methods and devices for detecting such defects monitor rotating parts that have already been installed in the rotating equipment. Therefore, they can be used to detect the emergence of new defects. However, if a defect already exists in the rotating part during installation, the defect may remain undetected for an unnecessarily long time. Summary of the Invention

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved device and method for detecting defects in rotating equipment, which device and method are also capable of detecting defects that are already present during installation.

[0004] This object is achieved by a device for detecting defects in a rotating device having one or more rotating components or groups of rotating components and by a method for detecting defects in a rotating device having one or more rotating components or groups of rotating components.

[0005] Such a rotating device can be any type of rotating machine. The rotating component, for example, can be a bearing, or a bearing component such as a bearing ring, a rolling element, a retainer or a seal. The rotating component group can be a group of multiple similar bearings or a group of multiple similar bearing components. The rotating component can also be any other type of rotating device. The rotating device can include multiple rotating components or multiple groups of rotating components. The multiple rotating components or multiple groups of rotating components can be physically arranged in the same device, or they can be physically far away from each other, for example, in the same factory or workshop, but all virtually related to the same device.

[0006] Each rotating component or group of rotating components has different parameters that can be monitored. To detect deviations in these parameters, static thresholds are assigned to the rotating component or group of rotating components and the corresponding parameters. However, these thresholds are static and their setting only takes into account the current state of the rotating component or group of rotating components. If a rotating component or group of rotating components is damaged, this damage will affect the static thresholds and cannot be detected.

[0007] To detect such damage that may already be present at the time of installation, the apparatus for detecting defects in rotating equipment includes a definition unit configured to define a dynamic threshold value based on a static threshold value of the actual monitored rotating component or rotating component group and an average of the static threshold values of several rotating components or rotating component groups with similar functions from the same rotating equipment or one or more different rotating equipment. Once the dynamic threshold value of the actual monitored rotating component or rotating component group is defined, a detection unit detects the presence of a defect by comparing the current parameter value of the actual monitored rotating component or rotating component group with the defined dynamic threshold value.

[0008] When no damage is present, the static threshold value of the rotating component or group of rotating components actually being monitored and the static threshold values of the plurality of rotating components or groups of rotating components with similar functions are substantially equal. In contrast, when damage is present, the static threshold value of the rotating component or group of rotating components actually being monitored and the static threshold values of the plurality of rotating components or groups of rotating components with similar functions are different from each other.

[0009] Therefore, since the dynamic thresholds are defined based on a combination of these static thresholds, and therefore also based on a combination of non-defective and potentially defective components, defects that already exist before the corresponding rotating component or rotating component group is installed can be detected. As a result, earlier and more accurate detection of defects can be achieved.

[0010] The thresholds, namely, the static threshold value of the actual monitored rotating component or group of rotating components and the average of the static threshold values of multiple rotating components or groups of rotating components with similar functions, can have different weights. For example, the average of the static threshold values of multiple rotating components or groups of rotating components with similar functions can have a first weighting factor, while the static threshold value of the actual monitored rotating component or group of rotating components can have a second weighting factor. In preferred embodiments, the first and second weighting factors can be correlated.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the dynamic threshold may be defined according to the following relationship:

[0012] DynTL=CF*MeanTL+(1-CF)*TL, where 0≤CF≤1.

[0013] In this example, DynTL is the dynamic threshold, MeanTL is the average of the static thresholds of multiple rotating components (groups) with similar functions, TL is the static threshold of the actual monitored rotating component (group), CF is the first weighting factor, and (1-CF) is the second weighting factor. These thresholds can also be assigned different weights, so that the average of the static thresholds of rotating components (groups) with similar functions and the static threshold of the actual monitored rotating component (group) contribute different weights to the dynamic threshold.

[0014] According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting defects in rotating equipment. The method comprises the following steps: defining a dynamic threshold value based on a static threshold value of an actual monitored rotating component or group of rotating components and an average of the static threshold values of a plurality of rotating components or groups of rotating components with similar functions; and detecting defects by comparing a current parameter value of the actual monitored rotating component or group of rotating components with the defined dynamic threshold value.

[0015] The specific embodiments and features described according to the device of the present invention are also applicable to the method of the present invention after making necessary adjustments.

[0016] According to a further aspect, the present invention also relates to a computer program product, wherein the program code contained therein is capable of being used to perform the above method when the program code is run on at least one computer.

[0017] The computer program product, such as a computer program device / tool, can be embodied as a memory card, USB memory stick, CD-ROM, DVD or a file that can be downloaded from a network server. The file can be obtained, for example, by transmitting the file containing the computer program product over a wireless communication network.

[0018] Further advantages and preferred embodiments of the present invention will be disclosed in the claims, description and drawings. In particular, it should be noted that those skilled in the art may consider or use the individual features or combinations of these features described in the present invention in other ways not disclosed herein, without exceeding the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0019] The present invention is described below with reference to specific embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments shown in the drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection, which is determined solely by the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Figure 1 A block schematic diagram showing an apparatus for detecting defects in rotating equipment.

[0021] Reference Signs List

[0022] 1 device

[0023] 2 Rotating equipment

[0024] 4, 5 rotating parts group

[0025] 6, 7, 8, 9 rotating parts

[0026] 10. Define Unit

[0027] 12 Detection Units

[0028] ST1 static threshold

[0029] ST2 static threshold DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In the following description, the same or similar functional elements will be given the same reference numerals.

[0031] Figure 1 A device 1 is shown for detecting defects in a rotating device 2. The rotating device 2 may be any type of rotating device comprising a plurality of rotating parts 6, 7, 8, 9 of the same type or a plurality of groups 4, 5 of rotating parts 6, 7, 8, 9 of the same type. Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the rotating device 2 comprises two groups 4, 5 of similar components, for example bearings, wherein each group 4, 5 (of similar components) comprises two rotating components 6, 7, 8, 9. The rotating components may be, for example, bearing rings, rolling elements, cages or seals of a bearing.

[0032] The apparatus 1 can be used to detect defects in at least one rotating component 6, 7, 8, 9 or at least one group 4, 5 of rotating components 6, 7, 8, 9. For this purpose, the apparatus 1 includes a definition unit 10 for defining dynamic threshold values for the rotating component 6, 7, 8, 9 or the group 4, 5 of rotating components 6, 7, 8, 9 actually being monitored. In the following description, as an example, the component group 4 having rotating components 6, 7 is monitored.

[0033] Definition unit 10 uses the static threshold ST1 for component set 4. The static threshold ST1 is set within component set 4 and does not take into account any pre-existing damage within it. To detect such damage, definition unit 10 uses not only the static threshold ST1 for component set 4 but also the average of the static thresholds ST1 and ST2 for multiple component sets 4 and 5 with similar functions, using this combination to define a dynamic threshold for component set 4. In this case, the dynamic threshold for component set 4 is defined by combining the static threshold ST1 for component set 4 and the average of the static thresholds ST1 and ST2 for both component sets 4 and 5. The average of the thresholds ST1 and ST2 and the static threshold ST1 can be assigned different weights, thereby influencing the dynamic threshold in varying proportions. The weighting coefficients can be set based on user knowledge or historical experience.

[0034] After the dynamic threshold is set, the detection unit 12 can detect defects in the component assembly 4 and even the entire rotating equipment 2 by comparing the current parameter value of the component assembly 4 with the (set) dynamic threshold. If the current value of the monitored component assembly is higher or lower than the dynamic threshold, a defect may have occurred.

[0035] Therefore, a dynamic threshold is defined using a combination of static thresholds of components with similar functions in the rotating equipment, and the dynamic threshold is utilized to detect defects in the rotating equipment. By providing such a device, improved defect detection becomes possible, especially defects that already exist during the installation stage of the rotating equipment can be detected early with fewer false alarms.

Claims

1. A device (1) for detecting defects in a rotating device (2), the rotating device (2) comprising one or more rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) or one or more groups (4, 5) of rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9), characterized in that The device (1) comprises: A definition unit (10) is used to define a dynamic threshold value based on the static threshold value (ST1, ST2) of the rotating component (6, 7, 8, 9) or the rotating component (6, 7, 8, 9) group (4, 5) actually being monitored and the average value of the static threshold value (ST1, ST2) of several rotating components (6, 7, 8, 9) or the rotating component (6, 7, 8, 9) group (4, 5) with similar functions; and A detection unit (12) is used to detect defects by comparing the current parameter value of the rotating component (6, 7, 8, 9) or the rotating component (6, 7, 8, 9) group (4, 5) actually monitored with the dynamic threshold value.

2. The device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: The average value of the static threshold values (ST1, ST2) of the plurality of rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) with similar functions or the group (4, 5) of rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) has a first weight coefficient, and the static threshold values (ST1, ST2) of the rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) or the group (4, 5) of rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) actually monitored have a second weight coefficient.

3. The device (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that: The first weight coefficient and the second weight coefficient are associated with each other.

4. The device (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: The dynamic threshold is defined as DynTL=CF*MeanTL+(1-CF)*TL, where 0≤CF≤1 Wherein, DynTL is the dynamic threshold, MeanTL is the average value of the static thresholds (ST1, ST2) of several rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) with similar functions or a group (4, 5) of rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9), TL is the static threshold (ST1, ST2) of the rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) or a group (4, 5) of rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) actually monitored, CF is the first weight coefficient, and 1-CF is the second weight coefficient.

5. The device (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that: The rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) are bearings or bearing parts.

6. The device (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: The bearing components are bearing rings, cages, rolling elements or seals.

7. The device (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that: The rotating component (6, 7, 8, 9) group (4, 5) is a group of multiple similar bearings or a group of multiple similar bearing components.

8. A method for detecting defects in a rotating device (2), the rotating device (2) comprising one or more rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) or one or more groups (4, 5) of rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9), characterized in that The method comprises: The dynamic threshold is defined based on the static thresholds (ST1, ST2) of the rotating component (6, 7, 8, 9) or the group (4, 5) of rotating components (6, 7, 8, 9) actually being monitored and the average value of the static thresholds (ST1, ST2) of several rotating components (6, 7, 8, 9) or the group (4, 5) of rotating components (6, 7, 8, 9) with similar functions; and Defects are detected by comparing the current parameter values of the rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) actually being monitored or the group (4, 5) of rotating parts (6, 7, 8, 9) with defined dynamic threshold values.

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