UV-Sensitive Optical Tracker for Rotor Blade Vibration Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems for tracking rotating components in machines, such as helicopter rotor blades, are inefficient and dangerous due to the need for manual measurement of complex angles and distances, and require multiple accelerometers with cumbersome wiring, leading to time-consuming setup and potential errors in vibration analysis.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an orientation/motion sensor and centralized accelerometers within a tracker system that calculates the position and deflection of rotor blades using optical signals and trigonometric techniques, allowing for automated setup and reduced sensor placement, enabling efficient vibration profile determination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual measurement methods (flag on stick, reflective blade tips, strobe lights) are used to track rotor blades, then blade track can be visualized, but the process becomes time-consuming and dangerous to the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods (flag on stick, reflective tips, strobe lights) with an automated optical tracker system that uses optical sensors and processors to automatically detect and measure blade track, eliminating the need for operator intervention and manual measurements
Solution Approach 2:
The optical tracker system performs self-measurement by automatically detecting blade positions and calculating track parameters without requiring operator action, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating dangerous manual measurement procedures
2Measurement precision
If optical blade tracker is mounted at various distances and angles from the rotor, then track measurements can be obtained, but complex angular error calculations and measurements are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual angular measurements and calculations with an automated computational system that uses a processor to calculate track error based on optical sensor data, rotor diameter, RPM, and blade chord, eliminating the need for manual angular measurement procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a computational model of the rotor system that replicates the physical measurements through mathematical calculations, allowing track error to be determined through computation rather than direct physical measurement of angles and distances
3Measurement precision
If multiple accelerometers are mounted around the airship to maximize translational vibration detection, then vibration data can be collected, but attachment and wiring complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple accelerometer functions into a single centralized accelerometer mounted on the airship body, eliminating the need for multiple distributed sensors and their associated wiring while maintaining vibration detection capability through the tracker system's integrated measurement approach
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system simplifies the tracking and vibration analysis process by reducing setup time and sensor complexity, providing accurate calculations of track error and vibration profiles with minimal operator intervention and improved precision.
Implementation Method 1
The optical tracker may include one or more UV sensitive photodetectors
Implementation Method 2
one or more UV sensitive photodetectors that generate electrical signals in response to the optical signals
Data Source
AI summary
Tracker systems are disclosed, the system mountable on a device having one or more rotary component, comprising: an optical tracker having circuitry that causes the optical tracker to receive and filter optical signals including UV, visible, and infrared wavelengths so as to be more sensitive to UV wavelengths than the visible and infrared wavelengths. The optical tracker having circuitry transmitting data indicative of a distance; and one or more computer processor that utilizes the optical tracker determined distance to determine track error of the one or more rotary component of the device, and transmits data indicative of the track error.