Non-Contact Video Vibration Analysis for Mechanical Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for analyzing periodic movements in machinery require physical contact, which is not feasible for all industrial processes, especially those involving moving components like paper webs or rolling metal, limiting their applicability in predictive maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A non-contacting system using video image acquisition and data analysis to visualize and quantify periodic motions in mechanical components, employing adaptive array comparison and fast Fourier transform analysis to extract vibration data without the need for physical contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical contact methods are used for vibration analysis, then measurement precision can be improved, but the system becomes less adaptable to moving components and industrial processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based vibration sensors with an optical measurement system that uses video imaging to detect and analyze vibrations of mechanical components. The system captures video frames of the component, extracts pixel intensity variations over time, and transforms these into vibration signals for spectral analysis, eliminating the need for physical contact while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces video images as an intermediary medium between the mechanical component and the measurement system. Instead of directly measuring vibrations through physical contact, the system captures optical reflections from the component surface, extracts motion information from pixel intensity changes, and uses this intermediate optical data to infer vibration characteristics
2Adaptability or versatility
If non-contacting video analysis is used, then adaptability to moving components is improved, but measurement precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the video image into multiple pixels and analyzes intensity variations at each pixel location independently. By segmenting the component surface into discrete pixel regions and tracking their temporal intensity changes, the system extracts multiple vibration signals simultaneously, improving both the precision and reliability of the measurement through statistical aggregation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms spatial video data into temporal vibration signals by analyzing the time-varying intensity of pixels. The system converts the two-dimensional spatial information from video frames into one-dimensional temporal vibration waveforms, enabling spectral analysis in the frequency domain and achieving precise vibration characterization without physical contact
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for visualizing physical movements includes: a device for acquiring video image files; a data analysis system including processor and memory; a computer program operating in the processor to identify an area in the images where periodic motions associated with physical movement of an object may be detected and quantified, and compute a new image sequence in which the motions are visually amplified; and, a user interface that displays the motion-amplified video image of the mechanical component. An associated method for using the apparatus is also disclosed.