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BR-102024017630-A2 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING DEFORMATION IN COUPLINGS

BR102024017630A2BR 102024017630 A2BR102024017630 A2BR 102024017630A2BR-102024017630-A2

Abstract

The present invention describes a monitoring of the operating state of couplings, enabling, for example, the collection of coupling deformation data and the identification of potential operational problems that may impact machine operation. The present invention has at least one detector (2) that reads one or more data from the coupling (1), wherein the detector (2) communicates with a controller (3) that processes the read data and shares it with a control center (4). The present invention falls within the fields of mechanical engineering, telemetry, and component monitoring.

Inventors

  • LOURENÇO DE SIQUEIRA DAUDT

Assignees

  • ANTARES ACOPLAMENTOS LTDA

Dates

Publication Date
20260310
Application Date
20240827

Claims (15)

  1. 1. Method for monitoring deformation in coupling characterized by comprising the steps: a. reading at least one deformation data point of the coupling (1), said reading performed by means of at least one detector (2) communicating with a controller (3); and b. making available, in a control center (4), the deformation data point, said deformation data point being sent to the control center (4) by the controller (3).
  2. 2. Monitoring method according to claim 1, characterized in that the reading step is performed by two detectors (2), which collect deformation data from opposite regions of said coupling (1).
  3. 3. A monitoring method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the deformation data read are compared with a previously defined displacement reference.
  4. 4. Monitoring method, according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the controller (3) computes a difference between the data received by the detector (2a) and the detector (2b) and sends this information to the control center (4).
  5. 5. Method for monitoring, according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each detector (2a) and (2b) sends pulses relating to the deformation of the coupling, said pulses are compared by the controller (3), wherein said comparison comprises a verification of the difference between the pulses sent by each detector (2a) and (2b).
  6. 6. System for monitoring deformation in coupling (1) characterized by comprising at least one detector (2) communicating with a controller (3), said controller communicating with a control center (4), wherein the detector (2) is positioned in the coupling performing the reading of deformation data, which are identified by the controller (3) and sent to the control center (4).
  7. 7. Monitoring system according to claim 6, characterized by comprising two detectors (2a) and (2b) positioned oppositely and collecting displacement data from opposite regions of the coupling (1).
  8. 8. Monitoring system according to claim 7, characterized in that the two detectors (2a) and (2b) are positioned one on each flange of the coupling (1).
  9. 9. Monitoring system according to claim 7, characterized in that the controller (3) receives displacement data from detectors (2a) and (2b) and computes a difference between the respective data.
  10. 10. Machine coupling characterized by comprising at least one strain detector (2) communicating with a controller (3), said controller (3) sending data to a control center (4), wherein said detector (2) is positioned in one or more regions of the coupling (1) and performs strain data readings of the coupling (1).
  11. 11. Machine coupling, according to claim 10, characterized by comprising two detectors (2a) and (2b) being positioned one on each flange of the coupling (1).
  12. 12. Machine coupling, according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that said coupling is a flexible coupling.
  13. 13. Method for real-time monitoring of coupling health status characterized by comprising: a. a data reading step from the coupling (1), by means of at least one detector (2) communicating with a controller (3); and b. a data making available from the coupling (1) to a control center (4), said making available comprising at least one of: issuing a report on the health status of the coupling (1), fault alerts, predictive alerts about the coupling (1), generation of operating and health metrics of the coupling (1), or a combination thereof.
  14. 14. Method, according to claim 13, characterized by comprising a step of arranging one or more detectors (2) in said coupling (1), wherein said detectors (2) collect data relating to the deformation of the coupling (1).
  15. 15. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the coupling data (1) are stored in a database integrated or communicating with the control center (4).

Description

Field of Invention [0001] The present invention is situated in the fields of mechanical engineering, telemetry and component monitoring, in order to propose a monitoring of the operation of couplings. Background of the Invention [0002] Couplings are devices used to join shafts of rotating machines, connecting a drive shaft and a driven shaft. Among the various types of couplings, flexible couplings have an elastic center and are generally arranged between two metal hubs. [0003] One of the types used in industry are flexible couplings. Flexible couplings are designed to accommodate misalignments and mechanical shocks, as well as impacting the reduction of vibrations and noise. Misalignment is the cause of 50% of bearing failures, as machine elements (bearings, seals, retainers, gears) are not normally prepared for the bending induced in the shaft. The use of this type of coupling, then, accommodates these misalignments, reducing stress and increasing the service life of machine components. [0004] Flexible couplings generally act as a mechanical fuse in case of overloads. Therefore, the lifespan of the flexible coupling's elastic center is impacted by aspects inherent to each application, such as operating conditions, overloads, and the degree of misalignment the coupling needs to accommodate. Thus, the coupling has a direct impact on the productivity of the industrial plant where the machines operate. The breakage or failure of a coupling generates unforeseen maintenance shutdowns in industries, and a chain reaction that begins within the factory but almost always entails very high costs. Labor, machine shutdowns, inventory movement, and emergency purchases of replacement parts are examples of expenses that companies must bear when equipment goes out of operation. In certain sectors, such as the food, chemical, and metallurgical industries, downtime is even more crucial. And in 24/7 industries, the losses are even greater. [0005] Industry managers lack predictability regarding coupling wear, which directly hinders their operational planning, since coupling failure cannot be predetermined but rather depends on each operating regime and overload. One technique that can be used to assess the coupling is visual inspection. However, this technique, besides being costly, does not guarantee great effectiveness, as some damage is not visible during inspection and, moreover, couplings are often mounted in hard-to-reach places. [0006] Given this, based on current knowledge, the state of the art lacks effective solutions that would provide an early warning of the impending failure of the coupling, as well as offering industry or machine managers data that would enable operational predictability of their equipment equipped with couplings. [0007] Based on what can be inferred from the literature reviewed, no documents were found anticipating or suggesting the teachings of the present invention, so the solution proposed here has novelty and inventive activity compared to the state of the art. Summary of the Invention [0008] In this way, the present invention solves the problems of the prior art by collecting data and monitoring the operating status of couplings, making it possible, for example, to collect coupling deformation data, identify possible operational problems that may impact machine operation, and generate predictive information about possible coupling failure. This monitoring assists and facilitates the efficient implementation of corrective and preventive measures, providing the machine operator or manager with predictability for incorporation into their planning. [0009] For monitoring purposes, the present invention has at least one detector (2) that reads one or more data from the coupling (1), the detector (2) communicating with a controller (3) that processes the data read and shares it with a control center (4). This arrangement also allows remote and real-time monitoring of the coupling (1) data. [0010] It is an object of the invention, a method for monitoring deformation in coupling, which comprises the steps: a) reading at least one deformation data point of the coupling (1), said reading being carried out by means of at least one detector (2) communicating with a controller (3); and b) making available, in a control center (4), the deformation data, said deformation data being sent to the control center (4) by the controller (3). [0011] It is also an object of the invention, a system for monitoring deformation in coupling (1) comprising at least one detector (2) communicating with a controller (3), said controller communicating with a control center (4), wherein, the detector (2) is positioned in the coupling performing the reading of deformation data, which are identified by the controller (3) and sent to the control center (4). [0012] Another object of the invention is a machine coupling comprising at least one strain detector (2) communicating with a controller (3), said controller (3) sending dat