Apparatus and method for monitoring shaft cracking or incipient pinion slip in a geared system

摘要

A diagnostic technique for monitoring shaft cracking or incipient pinion slip involves monitoring a shift in a characteristic natural frequency of an operating system such as a geared system of a locomotive. The technique involves monitoring (42-52) a shift in the characteristic natural frequency or resonance of a shaft for detecting shaft cracking. The technique also involves monitoring a shift in the characteristic natural frequency of one or more assemblies of the operating system which include a pinion and detecting a shift in the one or more characteristic natural frequencies of the assemblies. A vibration sensor or measurement of current changes of a motor of the operating system can be used to detect vibrations to monitor the characteristic natural frequencies. Torsional oscillations or measurement of current and voltage changes of a motor of the operating system, can also be used to monitor the characteristic natural frequencies.