Patent Description:
The patent application publication <CIT> describes a magnetic mounting device for mounting a vibrational sensor or other device to a machine or structure, and particularly a vibrating machine or structure. It includes a mount surface and a mounting base with an encapsulated magnet and including three mounting projections projecting therefrom, which provide an exact constraint mounting of the magnetic mounting device on the vibrating machine or structure. The three-point mounting arrangement allows the magnetic mounting device to be rigidly mounted to flat, curved and irregular surfaces without requiring a specific orientation of the magnetic mounting device on the surface.

The patent application publication <CIT> describes a vibration monitoring system used to detect and analyze mechanical characteristics such as vibrations from a rotating system (including the shaft and bearing system). The system comprises a vibration detection device and a device base upon which the vibration detection device is disposed. In a realization the device base is configured to be attached to the hexagonal head of a shaft of a machine, it has a non-magnetic shaft/nut receptacle with a hexagonal cut-out with a threaded thru hole at the centre of the receptacle. A hexagonal magnet with a countersunk hole is placed in the hexagonal cut-out. A screw passes through the hole and constrains the magnet into its appropriate position.

The patent application publication <CIT> describes a vibration detection device that includes a vibration detection element, a circuit board on which the vibration detection element is mounted, a housing having a portion to which the circuit board is fixed, a yoke made of a magnetic material and fixed to the outside of the housing and a magnet mounted on the yoke. The yoke has a cross sectional U-shape, it includes a flat portion and leg portions protruding at both ends of the flat portion, which house the magnet.

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention.

Monitoring devices configured for direct physical attachment (e.g., as a single unit) to pump equipment provide a convenient way to provide monitoring data for new and retrofit pump applications. The monitoring device may support monitoring of internal vibration, temperature, and/or location sensors, along with data uploading over a wireless network. In one implementation, the monitoring device may be an industrial internet-of-things (IIoT) device. A mechanical coupling between the pump equipment (e.g., the pump frame) and the monitoring device provides heat transfer (e.g., for temperature sensing) and mechanical contact (e.g., for vibration sensing).

Previously, monitoring devices have been mounted to pumps using mechanical fasteners, such as screws, which require tapped holes in the pump frame. Some types of equipment that would benefit from having a monitoring device do not have convenient locations to drill and tap the necessary mounting holes. Drilling and tapping the holes requires precise alignment and can be a difficult field operation. If drilling is done improperly, there is the possibility of damage to the pump equipment. Furthermore, the threaded mounting holes can be stripped, which requires repair.

An adaptor for a monitoring device according to the invention is defined by the appended claims.

According to implementations described herein, a magnetic adaptor is provided to securely mount a monitoring device to a pump frame. The adaptor includes a metal (e.g., stainless steel) plate with one or more pockets machined into one side for mounting magnets. On the side opposite from the magnets, the plate includes mounting holes for mounting the plate to a monitoring device (e.g., an IIoT device). The mounting plate can be altered to conform to a flat or curved pump frame surface. The monitoring device/adaptor can then be magnetically attached to any equipment that has ferrous metal. The magnet(s) have sufficient holding strength to withstand any vibration produced by the pump equipment to which it is mounted without slipping.

The magnetic adaptor overcomes disadvantages of the previous mounting methods in that there are no threaded holes in the pump frame to drill or potentially strip. The magnetic adaptor also provides more options for mounting locations than with the previous mounting methods, since little to no preparation or modification work is required of the pump equipment prior to mounting. Furthermore, no extra equipment is required to install the monitoring device when configured with the magnetic adaptor.

<FIG> is a diagram of an assembly view of a monitoring device <NUM> with a magnetic adaptor <NUM>, according to an implementation described herein. <FIG> is a schematic exploded view of monitoring device <NUM> and magnetic adaptor <NUM>. Referring collectively to <FIG> and <FIG>, monitoring device <NUM> may be attached to magnetic adaptor <NUM> that connects monitoring device <NUM> to a pump frame <NUM>.

Monitoring device <NUM> may be configured for physical attachment, as a single unit, to an outside surface of pump frame <NUM>. Monitoring device <NUM> may include an Internet of Things device (e.g., an IIoT) device, a Machine Type Communication (MTC) device, a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, an enhanced MTC device (eMTC) (also known as Cat-M1), an end node employing Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) technology such as Narrow Band (NB) IoT (NB-IoT) technology, or some other type of wireless end node. According to various exemplary embodiments, monitoring device <NUM> may include hardware, such as a processor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), or a combination of hardware and software (e.g., a processor executing software) to execute various types of functions. As described further herein, monitoring device <NUM> may include calibrated sensors to collect vibration, temperature, and/or other pump data, and forward the collected data via a wireless interface (not shown) for access by users. Monitoring device <NUM> may include a sealed casing to protect against dust or spray. Monitoring device <NUM> may also include an internal battery that supports monitoring of internal vibration, temperature, and/or location sensors, along with data uploading over a wireless network. In another implementation, monitoring device <NUM> may also include an external power port to provide continuous power and support additional monitoring of external sensors (e.g., flow sensors, other vibration sensor, other temperature sensors, etc.) through hard-wired sensor ports of monitoring device <NUM>.

Pump frame <NUM> (also referred to as "monitored equipment") may include a housing for a pump, engine, electric motor, a bearing frame, or any other piece of equipment (e.g., rotating equipment) that a user wishes to monitor using vibration, temperature, and other sensors. According to implementations described herein, pump frame <NUM> may include a ferrous metal, such as steel, stainless steel, carbon steel, cast iron, etc. In some implementations, pump frame <NUM> may include a mounting surface <NUM> onto which monitoring device <NUM> may be attached. Mounting surface <NUM> may be a flat, machined surface located, for example, over the bearing housing of pump frame <NUM>. In other implementations, pump frame <NUM> may not include a dedicated mounting surface.

<FIG> are a rear perspective view, a rear view, and a front view of magnetic adaptor <NUM>. Magnetic adaptor <NUM> includes a mounting plate <NUM> and at least one magnetic disk <NUM> (shown as magnetic disks <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG>). <FIG> is a side cross-section view of mounting plate <NUM> along section A-A of <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view of magnetic adaptor <NUM>. <FIG> is a side cross-section view of magnetic disk <NUM> along section A-A of <FIG>. Referring collectively to <FIG>, mounting plate <NUM> includes a rigid plate with a substantially parallel rear surface <NUM> and a front surface <NUM>. Rear surface <NUM> may be configured to contact pump frame <NUM> (e.g., mounting surface <NUM> or another portion of pump frame <NUM>). Front surface <NUM> may be configured to mate to a rear surface <NUM> (e.g., a flat or substantially flat surface) of monitoring device <NUM>. Mounting plate <NUM> may be mechanically attached to monitoring device <NUM>, and the rear surface <NUM> of mounting plate <NUM> adheres to pump frame <NUM> due to the pull force of magnetic disks <NUM>. When rear surface <NUM> is secured against pump frame <NUM>, sensors in monitoring device <NUM> may detect pump indicators, such a vibration and temperature, via magnetic adaptor <NUM>.

Mounting plate <NUM> may be formed from a non-magnetic material (e.g., austenitic stainless steel, aluminum, rigid plastic, etc.) or a magnetic material (e.g., ferritic stainless steel). The front/rear perimeter shape of plate <NUM> (e.g., <FIG> and <FIG>) may be generally similar to the perimeter shape of the rear surface <NUM> of monitoring device <NUM> (e.g., a square with rounded corners). In other embodiments, mounting plate <NUM> may have other perimeter shapes, such as rectangular, circular, oval, or an irregular shape. Mounting plate <NUM> may include threaded holes <NUM> at, for example, each corner of plate <NUM> and at least one recessed hole <NUM>. In one implementation, holes <NUM> extend through the thickness of mounting plate <NUM>. According to an implementation, mounting plate <NUM> may have a thickness, T, of about <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters. Plate <NUM> may be attached to a rear surface <NUM> of monitoring device <NUM> using, for example, threaded mounting pins <NUM> (e.g., screws/bolts) inserted through a housing of monitoring device <NUM> and into mounting holes <NUM>. In another implementation, some of the holes <NUM> may open at front surface <NUM> and extend partially through the thickness of mounting plate <NUM> to prevent installed mounting pins <NUM> from extending beyond rear surface <NUM>.

Mounting holes <NUM> in plate <NUM> may be configured to receive mounting pins <NUM> inserted through holes <NUM> of monitoring device <NUM>. Mounting holes <NUM> may be configured in a pattern to align with the pattern of holes <NUM> in monitoring device <NUM>. Particularly, in the examples shown, four mounting holes <NUM>, each distributed in a corner of mounting plate <NUM>, may be matched to four holes <NUM> of monitoring device <NUM>. According to an implementation, at least four mounting holes <NUM> and corresponding mounting pins <NUM> (e.g., located near respective corners of plate <NUM>) may be used to ensure vibration and thermal energy are effectively transmitted between magnetic adaptor <NUM> and monitoring device <NUM>. In other implementations, other numbers of mounting holes <NUM> may be used (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, etc.).

As shown, for example, in <FIG>, front surface <NUM> (and corresponding rear surface <NUM>) includes a substantially square perimeter with each of mounting holes <NUM> located near a different corner of the substantially square perimeter. According to an implementation, each of mounting holes <NUM> may be positioned within an area, C, which may include the intersecting <NUM> percent of length L (e.g., <NUM>) along each side of the perimeter. In other implementations, mounting plate <NUM> may include additional mounting holes (e.g., holes <NUM>, Fig. 8A) to accommodate different hole patterns for different types of monitoring devices <NUM>.

In one implementation, mounting pins <NUM> may include threaded bolts that are separate from the housing of monitoring device <NUM>. In another implementation, mounting pins <NUM> may be integrated into the housing of monitoring device <NUM>. Mounting pins <NUM> may be inserted through holes <NUM> of monitoring device <NUM> and secured in mounting holes <NUM> to attach monitoring device <NUM> to magnetic adaptor <NUM>.

Magnetic adaptor <NUM> is configured to transfer thermal energy from pump frame <NUM> to the monitoring device <NUM>, where sensors in monitoring device <NUM> may detect changes in surface temperature. According to one implementation, a monitoring device <NUM> attached to pump frame <NUM> via magnetic adaptor <NUM> may be calibrated differently for thermal sensing, to account for heat transfer through magnetic adaptor <NUM>, than a monitoring device <NUM> that is directly attached to pump frame <NUM>. Magnetic adaptor <NUM> also transfers mechanical vibrations from pump frame <NUM> to monitoring device <NUM> for detection.

Mounting plate <NUM> includes one or more pockets <NUM> (shown as pockets <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> in <FIG>, also referred to as a "recess") that is machined into rear surface <NUM>. Each pocket <NUM> is configured to receive a magnetic disk <NUM> therein. In one implementation, a depth, H, of pocket <NUM> may correspond to the height of magnetic disk <NUM>, and a diameter, D, of pocket <NUM> may correspond to a diameter of magnetic disk <NUM> (with nominal tolerances). According to another implementation, a pry slot <NUM> may also be machined into rear surface <NUM>. Pry slot <NUM> may include an opening <NUM> along a perimeter of rear surface <NUM>. Pry slot <NUM> may facilitate removal of magnetic adaptor <NUM> from pump frame <NUM>, for example. For example, pry slot <NUM> may be configured to accommodate a tool, such as a flat-head screw driver or small pry bar. The orientation of pry slot <NUM> relative to monitoring device <NUM> may be adjusted during attachment of magnetic adaptor <NUM> to monitoring device <NUM>. For example, depending on the mounting location and shape of pump frame <NUM>, it may be preferable to orient pry slot <NUM> with opening <NUM> facing up, down, left, or right to permit access by the tool.

Magnetic disk <NUM> may include a magnet, such as a cup magnet, with sufficient pull capacity to hold the combination of monitoring device <NUM> and magnetic adaptor <NUM> securely against pump frame <NUM>. The pull strength of magnetic disk <NUM> may be sufficient to prevent movement of monitoring device <NUM>/magnetic adaptor <NUM> relative to pump frame <NUM> during pump operation. As a non-limiting example, magnetic disks <NUM> in combination may have a pull strength in the range of <NUM> to <NUM> kilograms. For example, magnetic disks <NUM> may each have a <NUM> kilograms, <NUM> kilograms, or <NUM> kilograms pull capacity. Magnetic disk <NUM> may include, for example, a neodymium cup magnet with a thickness of approximately <NUM> to <NUM> millimeters and a diameter of <NUM> In some implementations, magnetic disk <NUM> may include a steel reinforcing cover <NUM>, a magnet <NUM>, and/or spacing material (not shown). According to an implementation, magnetic disk <NUM> may also include a hole <NUM> to receive a bolt <NUM> or screw therein. Bolt <NUM> may be inserted, for example, through a countersunk hole <NUM> of magnetic disk <NUM> and into a corresponding hole <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of plate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, for example, each bolt <NUM>, secures a magnetic disk <NUM> in pocket <NUM> so that magnetic disk <NUM> and rear surface <NUM> are substantially flush. In another implementation, the exposed surface of magnetic disk <NUM> may protrude out of pocket <NUM> slightly beyond rear surface <NUM>.

Heat transfer between pump frame <NUM> and monitoring device <NUM> may occur via mounting plate <NUM> and/or magnetic disks <NUM>. According to one implementation, the material of mounting plate <NUM> (e.g., type <NUM> stainless steel) may provide similar thermal conductivity as the material(s) of magnetic disk <NUM> (e.g., neodymium and steel). According to another implementation, the material of mounting plate <NUM> (e.g., aluminum) may provide different thermal conductivity than the material(s) of magnetic disk <NUM> (e.g., neodymium and steel). The thickness of mounting plate <NUM> may be minimized to provide optimal and predictable heat transfer between pump frame <NUM> and monitoring device <NUM>, while preventing installed mounting pins <NUM> from extending beyond surface <NUM> when monitoring device <NUM> is attached to mounting plate <NUM>. Thus, according to an implementation, the thickness, T (<FIG>), of mounting plate <NUM> may not exceed <NUM> millimeters.

According to an implementation, magnetic adaptor <NUM> may be provided assembled with monitoring device <NUM> as factory supplied equipment. In other implementations, magnetic adaptor <NUM> may be provided as a retrofit component. For example, for pump frames <NUM> that have mounting holes configured to receive monitoring device <NUM>, magnetic adaptor <NUM> may provide an alternative to repairing damaged/stripped threads in the mounting holes of pump frame <NUM>.

<FIG> is a rear view of magnetic adaptor <NUM> according to another implementation. Generally, in the configuration of <FIG>, magnetic adaptor <NUM> may be configured to include a mounting plate <NUM> with one magnetic disk <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, mounting plate <NUM> includes a rear surface <NUM> with a pocket <NUM> therein. Similar to configurations of mounting plate <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, rear surface <NUM> may be configured to contact pump frame <NUM> and the opposing front surface may be configured to match a rear surface <NUM> of monitoring device <NUM>.

Mounting plate <NUM> may include different patterns of threaded holes <NUM> and <NUM>. Threaded holes <NUM> may be located, for example, at each corner of plate <NUM> to match a pattern of holes of monitoring device <NUM>. Threaded holes <NUM> may be located, for example, at different locations on plate <NUM> to match a different pattern of holes for a different type of monitoring device <NUM>. Thus, mounting plate <NUM> may be configured to accept mounting pin patterns for multiple different types of monitoring devices (e.g., different sizes, different manufactures, etc.).

Mounting plate <NUM> includes one pocket <NUM> machined into rear surface <NUM>. Pocket <NUM> may be configured to receive a magnetic disk <NUM> therein. As described above in connection with <FIG>, pockets <NUM> may include a threaded hole <NUM> to receive a bolt <NUM> therein.

Magnetic disk <NUM> includes a magnet with sufficient pull capacity to hold the combination of monitoring device <NUM> and magnetic adaptor <NUM> securely against pump frame <NUM>. For example, the pull strength of magnetic disk <NUM> may be sufficient to prevent movement of monitoring device <NUM>/magnetic adaptor <NUM> relative to pump frame <NUM> during vibrations from pump operation (e.g., including any vibrations produced due to pump malfunctions). As non-limiting examples, magnetic disk <NUM> may have a <NUM> kilograms, <NUM>-kilograms, or <NUM> kilograms pull capacity. In the implementation of <FIG>, magnetic disk <NUM> may be secured to mounting plate <NUM> using threaded fasteners <NUM>.

<FIG> are rear, side, and rear assembly views, respectively, of magnetic adaptor <NUM> configured according to another implementation. Generally, in the configuration of <FIG>, magnetic adaptor <NUM> may be configured with bar magnets <NUM> to accommodate mounting to a non-planar surface of pump frame <NUM>. More particularly, magnetic adaptor <NUM> may be configured to adhere to a curved surface with bar magnets <NUM> aligned parallel to an axis of the adhered surface's radius of curvature (e.g., as shown in <FIG>).

As shown in <FIG>, mounting plate <NUM> may be configured with threaded holes <NUM> that open at rear surface <NUM> and extend at least partially into mounting plate <NUM>. Bar magnets <NUM> may be secured to rear surface <NUM> of mounting plate <NUM> using threaded fasteners <NUM> inserted through bar magnets <NUM> into holes <NUM>, for example. According to an implementation, bar magnets <NUM> (and a corresponding set of holes <NUM>) may be positioned in parallel near opposite edges along rear surface <NUM>. Bar magnets <NUM> may be installed instead of, or in addition to, magnetic disks <NUM>.

In the configuration of <FIG>, magnetic adaptor <NUM> may be attached to monitoring device <NUM> in a similar manner to that described above in connection with <FIG>. The orientation of bar magnets <NUM> relative to monitoring device <NUM> may be altered by rotating mounting plate <NUM> ninety degrees prior to attachment to monitoring device <NUM>.

When mounted on mounting plate <NUM>, bar magnets <NUM> may each have an exposed surface <NUM> that is in a different plane than rear surface <NUM>. As shown, for example, in <FIG>, the different planes of surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> may allow for multiple points of contact, as both bar magnets <NUM> simultaneously contact pump frame <NUM> along two radially-spaced lengths of a curved surface of pump frame <NUM>. Depending on the implementation, bar magnets <NUM> may have a same or different pull capacity than magnetic disks <NUM>. For example, if bar magnets <NUM> are used with magnetic disks <NUM> (e.g., as shown in <FIG>), the pull strength of all four magnets <NUM>/<NUM> combined may be between about <NUM> and <NUM> kilograms. According to an implementation, the magnetic adaptor <NUM> of <FIG> (e.g., with holes <NUM> in mounting plate <NUM>, bar magnets <NUM> and threaded fasteners <NUM>) may be provided to customers as a package that can be configurable on-site for selectively mounting to a flat or curved surface of monitored equipment.

A magnetic adaptor is provided for attaching a monitoring device to monitored equipment. A mounting plate of the adaptor includes a front surface, a rear surface, and a recess machined into the rear surface. A magnet is secured within the recess, such that an exposed surface of the magnet within the recess is substantially flush with the rear surface. The mounting plate also includes, for example, four threaded mounting holes arranged in a hole pattern that corresponds to a bolt pattern of the monitoring device. The threaded mounting holes are configured to receive threaded bolts from the monitoring device to secure the front surface against the monitoring device. The magnet is configured to adhere to the monitored equipment and cause at least a portion the rear surface to contact the monitored equipment. The adaptor transfers vibration and thermal energy from the monitored equipment to the monitoring device.

As set forth in this description and illustrated by the drawings, reference is made to "an exemplary embodiment," "an embodiment," "embodiments," etc., which may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic in connection with an embodiment(s). However, the use of the phrase or term "an embodiment," "embodiments," etc., in various places in the specification does not necessarily refer to all embodiments described, nor does it necessarily refer to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiment(s). The same applies to the term "implementation," "implementations," etc..

The foregoing description of embodiments provides illustration, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Accordingly, modifications to the embodiments described herein may be possible. For example, various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented insofar as they fall within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The description and drawings are accordingly to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

The terms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to be interpreted to include one or more items. Further, the phrase "based on" is intended to be interpreted as "based, at least in part, on," unless explicitly stated otherwise. The term "and/or" is intended to be interpreted to include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated items. The word "exemplary" is used herein to mean "serving as an example. " Any embodiment or implementation described as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or implementations.

Claim 1:
An adaptor (<NUM>) for a monitoring device, the adaptor comprising:
a mounting plate (<NUM>) including:
a front surface (<NUM>),
a rear surface (<NUM>),
at least two threaded mounting holes (<NUM>) extending through the front surface and rear surface, and
at least one recess (<NUM>) machined into the rear surface; and
one or more magnets (<NUM>) secured within the at least one recess, such that an exposed surface of the magnet within the recess is substantially flush with the rear surface,
wherein the at least two threaded mounting holes are arranged in a hole pattern that corresponds to a bolt pattern of the monitoring device,
wherein the at least two threaded mounting holes are configured to receive threaded bolts from the monitoring device to secure the front surface against the monitoring device,
wherein the one or more magnets is configured to adhere to a monitored equipment frame and cause at least a portion the rear surface to contact the monitored equipment frame, and
wherein the mounting plate is configured to transfer vibration and thermal energy from the monitored equipment frame to the monitoring device.