Patents by Inventor Eric R. Bechhoefer

Eric R. Bechhoefer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11885711
    Abstract: Using tachometer-from-vibration processing of component signals and appropriate configuration allows for the analysis of both the compressor turbine and the power turbine of a turboshaft, turboprop, or twin spindle turbofan engine. One smart vibration sensor is positioned on or near the turbo engine and detects vibration data for components of both the gas compressor turbine and power turbine without the need for direct measurements of tachometer data from both the compressor and power turbine. From this, condition indicators are determined for monitored components on the sensor and returned to an onboard control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: GPMS International, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R Bechhoefer, John Taylor
  • Publication number: 20230417792
    Abstract: The magnitude and frequency of a peak in detected vibrational energy emitted from a component that includes a periodic portion is provided to monitor the component for faults. A Fast Fourier Transform of the signal is taken to generate a spectrum. A maximum index in the spectrum is found between a determined frequency bound. An array of parameters is generated and a determined optimized transform root is used on the array of parameters. An interpolated peak location is estimated based on the array and an interpolated frequency is found based on the peak location. An interpolated magnitude is then determined. The use of the optimized transform root in the processing results in significant improvements to the magnitude and frequency estimations, which can improve, for example, detection of defects from vibration spectra of rotating components, estimates of energy radiated from an electronic component, or analysis of spectral content of ionizing radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventor: Eric R Bechhoefer
  • Patent number: 11754592
    Abstract: The magnitude and frequency of a peak in detected vibrational energy emitted from a component that includes a periodic portion is provided to monitor the component for faults. A Fast Fourier Transform of the signal is taken to generate a spectrum. A maximum index in the spectrum is found between a determined frequency bound. An array of parameters is generated and a determined optimized transform root is used on the array of parameters. An interpolated peak location is estimated based on the array and an interpolated frequency is found based on the peak location. An interpolated magnitude is then determined. The use of the optimized transform root in the processing results in significant improvements to the magnitude and frequency estimations, which can improve, for example, detection of defects from vibration spectra of rotating components, estimates of energy radiated from an electronic component, or analysis of spectral content of ionizing radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: GPMS International, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric R Bechhoefer
  • Publication number: 20230103781
    Abstract: Using tachometer-from-vibration processing of component signals and appropriate configuration allows for the analysis of both the compressor turbine and the power turbine of a turboshaft, turboprop, or twin spindle turbofan engine. One smart vibration sensor is positioned on or near the turbo engine and detects vibration data for components of both the gas compressor turbine and power turbine without the need for direct measurements of tachometer data from both the compressor and power turbine. From this, condition indicators are determined for monitored components on the sensor and returned to an onboard control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Eric R Bechhoefer, John Taylor
  • Patent number: 11486483
    Abstract: Conditioning monitoring is provided for rotating components in gearboxes that accounts for gear system dynamics, allowing for improved analysis. A rotation rate for the component is generated from vibration data by estimating the rotation rate based on a tachometer measurement of another shaft and the shaft ratio. This estimated rotation rate is used, together with the known configuration of the component, to estimate a known gear mesh frequency of the component. By filtering for a range of frequencies around the gear mesh frequency based on variation in the shaft rate, the gear mesh frequency can be determined and from that signal, an actual rotation rate for the component can be determined. The actual or determined rotation rate can then be used in deriving an analytic vibration spectrum for the component that is not degraded due to gear system dynamics effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: GPMS International, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric R. Bechhoefer
  • Patent number: 11138816
    Abstract: A system for determining a remaining useful life of a component is provided that includes an onboard control unit including a processor, a plurality of sensors to detect a plurality of signals from the component, and a data bus connecting the sensors to the onboard control unit. The processor receives data from the plurality of sensors and determines a plurality of condition indicators for the component, a health indicator from the plurality of condition indicators, and a remaining useful life for the component. An alert or warning may be given if the remaining useful life reaches a certain value provided that certain automated reporting conditions are also met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: GPMS International, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric R. Bechhoefer
  • Patent number: 10768072
    Abstract: Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Bechhoefer, John T. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20180120200
    Abstract: Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Inventors: Eric R. Bechhoefer, John T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9897516
    Abstract: Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Simmonds Precision Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Bechhoefer, John T. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20170023438
    Abstract: Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Inventors: Eric R. Bechhoefer, John T. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20140163904
    Abstract: Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: NRG Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Bechhoefer, John T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8442778
    Abstract: Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: NRG Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Bechhoefer, John T. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20120065901
    Abstract: Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: NRG SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric R. Bechhoefer, John T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 8082115
    Abstract: Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: NRG Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric R. Bechhoefer, John T. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20110125419
    Abstract: Generally, a system and method consistent with the present disclosure may provide a relatively low cost, relatively robust data acquisition and analysis system useful for condition-based maintenance. The system may be useful for condition-based maintenance in industrial applications, e.g., of equipment and/or machinery. The industrial monitoring system may be used, for example, to monitor a condition of rotating machinery, e.g., a wind turbine. The system and method may include data analysis that may be useful for anticipating a need for maintenance, repair and/or replacement of one or more components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: NRG SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Eric R. Bechhoefer, John T. Taylor