Patent ID: 7409854
Filing Date: 2008-08-12
Classification: F02C,F05D

Abstract:
1. A method of determining the operating condition of a turbine engine, said method comprising the steps of: providing a sensor having a sensing field in communication with a plurality of rotating turbine blades during a revolution of a turbine engine, wherein said sensor generates signature data for each of a plurality of blade passings; defining a threshold point value for said signature data; identifying a plurality of positive threshold point pairs; identifying a plurality of negative threshold point pairs; determining a plurality of first threshold widths from a plurality of times elapsed between said positive threshold point pairs; determining a plurality of second threshold widths from a plurality of times elapsed between said negative threshold point pairs; determining a plurality of threshold ratios from a plurality of pairs of positive and negative threshold widths; and correlating a variance of said threshold ratios with an operating condition of said turbine engine.