This paper reports on the early findings of a study that used extremely precise and accurate measurements of shaft rotational position to detect gearbox faults. The basic operation of the magnetic field based, non-contact sensors is explained. The results show that small rapid variations in the rotational speed (position as a function of time) can be used to reveal gear mesh and other fundamental signal characteristics. Larger scale variations show rotational speed related faults such as a bent shaft. These results suggest that shaft rotational position measurements, if made accurately and precisely, can reveal gearbox faults and have distinct advantages over traditional methods such as vibration and oil analysis. Useful information (gearbox component condition indicators) can be extracted from this robust and inexpensive sensor as a result of more direct measurements than traditional vibration based approaches.
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