AU717448B2 - Vibration dosimeter worn by an operator - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant(s): BG PLC Invention Title: Vibration Dosimeter Worn by an Operator *r 6* e* The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: VIBRATION DOSIMETER WORN BY AN OPERATOR The invention relates to a plant identity mechanism for use with vibration monitors.

Personnel are required to operate in the field of gas operations apparatus such as road breakers, vibro tampers, rock drills, pole tampers and hand drills for example all of which impose vibrations on the hands of the operator. In other fields, operatives are required to use similar or other vibratory apparatus which impose vibrations on the hands or on other parts of the body or on the body as a whole. These vibrations can cause disease.

The invention is concerned with providing a low cost vibration monitor useful in monitoring the vibrations 15 experienced by an operative.

According to the present invention, there is provided a plant identity mechanism for use with a vibration monitor "including means for producing an electrical output indicative of the plant or equipment being utilised to allow vibration levels 20 to be determined.

Preferably the means includes a transmitter attached to the plant for transmitting a code indicative of the type of equipment being utilised.

Preferably the means includes a transmitter attached 999* 25 to the plant for automatically transmitting information 9 indicative of the level of vibration expected for that equipment.

Preferably the mechanism includes a kinetic power source for generating electrical power for powering the mechanism output.

Preferably the mechanism includes power conversion means for regulating the output from the power source.

Preferably the mechanism includes vibration detector means to control when the mechanism output is made available dependent on detected vibration.

Also disclosed herein, is a vibration monitor to i:\Speci\300 399\300 349\3 1947do 8/10199 2 be worn by an operative comprising: means for identifying plant or equipment in use by the operative to allow a predetermined vibration level value associated with that plant or equipment to be available to the monitor; sensor means for detecting that vibration is occurring; and means for determiningthe elapsed time during which the vibrations are detected.

A code identifying the apparatus responsible for imposing the vibrations can, in one form of monitor, be manually entered into the monitor; alternatively the code can be transmitted by a transmitter attached to the plant and received by the monitor.

Alternatively, the actual value of the previously 15 measured vibration magnitude of the apparatus responsible for imposing the vibrations is transmitted by a transmitter attached to the plant and is received by the vibration monitor as the expected vibration level.

*.Preferably, the data logger has an external 20 communication facility which allows communication with a visual display, printer, computer, or other data processing device.

Also disclosed herein is a method of monitoring vibration imposed by apparatus on an operative and comprising: identifying plant or equipment in use by the operative to allow predetermined vibration level value associated with that plant or equipment to be available to the monitor; sensing whenever vibrations are occurring and determining the elapsed time during which the vibrations are detected.

The data captured may be processed to give an accumulated measure of the vibration dose experienced by the operative.

Notwithstanding any other embodiments which may fall within the scope of the present invention as herein H:\USERS\SPEC\31947.doc 11/08/98 3 disclosed, one embodiment will now be described as well as several examples of the vibrations monitor and associated equipment, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a block diagram of a basic vibration monitor; Figure 2 is a block diagram showing the principal components of vibration monitor; Figure 3 is a block diagram showing a personal vibration monitor; Figure 4 is a block diagram of an automatic plant recognition transmitter in accordance with the present invention, using a piezo electric kinetic power source; Figure 5 is a block diagram showing the main 15 elements of a logger used with the vibration monitor; Figure 6 shows a flow chart associated with the Figure 5 operation; and 9* \\GHACK\VOL2\USERS\ SPEC\31947 .doc 7/08/98 Figure 7 is a block diagram of a vibration monitor showing a host computer to which it is connected.

The arrangement of Figure 1 shows an implementation of a basic vibration monitor.

Vibrating plant or apparatus is shown at 10 imposing vibrations on a user or operative (shown schematically as block 12). The operative wears the vibration monitor 14, preferably on his wrist though other locations are possible.

ne The vibration monitor 14 could emit an alarm when the accumulated vibration dose exceeds a predetermined threshold, although it can alternatively simply record the time period over which the vibrations are detected.

C

In order to reduce the cost of the device, the monitor is designed simply to determine that vibrations are occurring and not to measure the actual level of the vibrations. The expected level of vibrations is known for any given apparatus to be used by an operative, because these will have been premeasured when designing the system and values prestored within the monitor. This information can then be identified for any given apparatus or plant which is to be used.

A code identifying the type of apparatus 10 is manually entered into the vibration monitor 14. For example, a set of keys (not shown) fitted to the monitor 14 may be operated by the operative 12 which result in the insertion of the code.

The code identifies the type of apparatus and hence the level of vibration expected when it is used.

As the vibration monitor requires a low cost vibration measurement transducer and the most commonly used and economical transducer for vibration is the accelerometer (typical cost £50) this is too expensive when compared to the target cost of the monitor. It became clear that an alternative to commercially available vibration transducers j was required. Following experimentation, it was discovered that a piezo electric sounder disc could be used in conjunction with suitable signal processing electronics to ofulfil the need.

Piezo electric sounder discs are generally thin circular discs, with two electrodes, and are available in diameters *999e9 S9 suitable for incorporation in the monitor described so far.

These discs are commonly used as audio sounders in, for example, digital wrist watches which cost only a few pence.

Figure 2 shows a schematic diagram of the piezo-electric transducer and the associated electronic circuitry used in the vibration monitor which is used merely to determine that vibrations are occurring rather than measuring the specific value or level of vibration.

The monitor would typically be of the approximate size and shape of a wrist watch, and would be worn as such.

The piezo-electric transducer 20 is subjected to an acceleration, e.g. as produced by vibrations from the vibrating apparatus 10 and a very small voltage is generated.

This voltage is amplified in amplifier 22 and passes through filter 24. The voltage Vs after the filter 24 is compared with a reference voltage Vr from a voltage source 26 in a comparator 28. If Vs is greater than Vr then a change in i state occurs in a binary switching signal provided at output If Vs is less than Vr then the digital output signal Sreverts to its previous state. Hence a simple vibration detector is provided which provides a signal indicative that vibrations are occurring above a predetermined threshold without the need to actually measure the value itself.

Figure 3 shows a personal vibration monitor in a preferred form which includes a wireless receiver 30 to receive S• information concerning the plant 10 being utilised.

The apparatus or plant 10 has firmly fitted to it a low frequency transmitter 31 which transmits a coded burst of data periodically to the monitor so that it can determine the type of apparatus being utilised and hence the levels of vibrations which will be experienced. Information on the types of equipments and the usage is stored in logger 32. Different 7 types of equipment may be used by an operative in any one day and the cumulative levels can be stored.

Figure 4 shows on embodiment in accordance with the present invention, of an automatic plant (or apparatus) recognition (APR) transmitter system 31 powered by a kinetic electrical generator.

The transmitter power source, typically piezo electric generator 40 utilises the kinetic energy of the plant when in use, to provide electrical power by converting the mechanical energy to electrical energy. The output is rectified, filtered and regulated by circuit 41 to provide a suitable electrical output, capable of operating the transmitter and associated control *electronics. Such a permanent power source eliminates the 15 need to replace batteries, etc. for maintenance of the transmitter.

A vibration detector 42 similar to that of the monitor is employed to detect when the plant is actually being operated. This signal is received by controller 43 so as to only send signals to the monitor when the apparatus is in use via the data encoder 44 and transmitter The power is sufficiently low so that the signal is only received by the operator actually using the plant transmitting the code identifying the plant.

°°i o HACK\VOL2\USERS\SPEC\31947 .doc 7/08/98 In an alternative form, the APR system may be powered by a battery supply or a solar cell/rechargeable battery combination.

This data transmitted provides information about the plant.

Each transmitter may be programmed with a code, which uniquely identifies the plant type to which it is fitted. This allows many types of plant to be used with the vibration monitor.

The transmitter only sends its coded data, when the plant is in use, otherwise it is quiescent.

The logger 32 within the monitor of Figure 3, which converts the received data burst from receiver 14, back to plant identity information. The data transmitted from the plant 99 includes error checking, which provides a measure of security against incorrect plant information being logged. In use, it 9 is conceivable that there may be several users, who are equipped with vibration monitors therefore the logger will only record plant information, when it experiences valid vibration trigger events. This together with the use of the low power (therefore short range) transmitter, largely precludes other users from acquiring plant information when not appropriate. This approach allows the receiver within the logger to be deactivated during periods when there are no valid vibration trigger events. This allows a power saving, and thus an increase in service life between battery changes in the logger.

In order to collect the information necessary, to allow an individuals' vibration exposure to be calculated, a recording system, employing an electronically re-writable memory was designed for the logger and is shown in Figure 5. The approach chosen allows several tasks to be carried out by the same electronic system. The logger must carry out the following operations:- Record the type of apparatus responsible for the vibration, provided that such apparatus are catered for; Be able to time and date 'tag' valid records; Record the duration of any valid vibration event; Determine the validity of a vibration event for an exposure calculation; and Be able to communicate the stored information to a system which can, by using this information together with information relating to the vibrating apparatus, allow an individuals' vibration exposure to be calculated.

The vibration monitor described so far is intended to be of approximately the same size and shape as a wrist watch. In considering the above requirements, it is clear that any power source to be integrated within the above package and run the electronics must be small and therefore will have limited capacity. To this end low power, low voltage electronic devices are used in Figure The main controller logging operations is an 8 bit low voltage/power microcontroller, e.g. Phillips chip type An audible warning device is connected to the controller as is a visual warning device The accelerometer and signal processing electronics has already been described above in Figure 2.

o The apparatus or plant recognition circuit is shown which receives plant ID information for the controller.

*V

A battery condition monitor measured battery condition and can effect shutdown.

f 5 9 A real time clock and logger configuration data store (G) provides timing and operation data.

An 8 kilobyte logged data store, e.g. EEPROM provides information storage.

A serial (RS423) 3 wire communications link provides the path for incoming and outgoing data (typically using an external host computer).

A flow chart suitable for monitor system operation is shown in Figure 6.

The monitor arrangement linked to a host computer is shown in Figure 7. The block I of Figure 5 is linked to the communications interface 50 to the host computer 51.

Information to be printed out is available via printer 52.

Functional Description of Logger Quiescent Mode While not logging a valid vibration event, the logger will attempt to conserve power. In practice, this will mean that the device electronics will power down, with only the battery monitor, plant recognition and accelerometer circuits being active. These are necessary features, which permit the user to be notified of a low battery condition, as well as providing the means whereby vibration can be monitored continuously, forcing data to be logged only under valid conditions.

Alarm Mode Valid alarm conditions are: Logged data exceeds 95% of the memory capacity (inactive when in standby mode) Low battery warning Invalid plant identity received (inactive when in standby mode) Communications error Internal fault detected When an alarm condition is detected the logger will sound and indicate an alarm. Such indications may be periodic. During the intervening time the logger will enter the quiescent mode described above. The only method of cancelling alarms will be via the host computer system, which will record the type, time and date of the latest alarm.

.o o 9 Standby Mode The logging of data is disabled, and the logger is in the quiescent mode. The host computer sets standby mode.

9 99* 9 Clear Mode :This is a transient condition, set by the host computer, always terminating in the standby mode. The following operations are carried out: Logged records counters are reset to 0 Alarms and related logger data are cleared The current plant identity is reset to the default value If modem based communications are implemented, the blacklisting count is reset to 0 (only allowed in the local communications mode).

Although it is preferred that the identification of apparatus be done automatically, it is possible in an alternative to manually enter the identification code. A set of keys, which may be colour coded, are used to enter a code which uniquely identifies a plant type. The use of the keys will signal a wake-up condition to the logger microcontroller. The logger will leave the quiescent mode.

This method of entering plant information could lead to errors if the operator unwittingly enters inappropriate information relating to the wrong type of equipment.

The vibration monitor shown in Figure 3 could be used as a 9 monitor, rather like a radiation badge, the user's exposure being constantly monitored. If the total cumulative exposure exceeds a present value the user is signalled via an audio and/or visual indicator, e.g. flashing light or beeps. The exposure level at which this signal occurs would be either programmed via a communications link with the host computer or may be preset at manufacture.

The dosemeter as shown above, would have plant data stored internally in the form of a look-up table. Associating the plant data, together with the exposure duration, allows the daily exposure- level to be continuously monitored. The monitor could also calculate the cumulative dose over a period of time set alarm thresholds programmed for various cumulative exposure levels.

The monitor may also include a digital display which would show the daily exposure and the cumulative dose over several days.

Logging Mode 9..

The logging mode is normally entered subsequent to the quiescent mode. Logging of an elapsed time record begins upon receipt of a valid trigger condition.

9.

Trigger information is provided by a digital pulse applied to one of the microcontroller input pins. This signal occurs whenever the input transducer experiences an acceleration typically more than 3ms- 2 While a valid trigger exists an internal counter measures elapsed time. When the valid trigger conditions are no longer true the record start time, date, source and elapsed time are written to the logger's nonvolatile memory. The logger then re-enters the quiescent mode.

NOTE: Following the first occurrence of a valid trigger the current date and time is written to the logger's working memory.

External Communications (with host computer see Figure 7) The communication link with the host PC allows the logger to be configured as well as enabling data held in memory to be down-loaded to the host for post processing. Logging may continue during a dialogue, however, there are some restrictions to this (see below). This feature provides the following advantages: 1. The logger data can be monitored in real time.

2. The logger may be used as a remote instrument.

s* 3. The calibration accuracy of the logger can be checked.

4. Provides a powerful debugging tool during instrument

S

development.

The external communications facility may include support o for modem-based remote communication. This is an optional facility.

0 S: The vibration monitor shown in Figure 3 contains a 5semiconductor memory where the exposure duration, together with the type of plant responsible, is stored. Plant or apparatus details may be stored internally in the meter in the form of a look-up table or may be held in a host computer memory.

The logger will include facilities to communicate with a computer which will allow: i. The download of logged data.

2. Setting of exposure level thresholds (if applicable).

3. Updating plant related details (when stored internally) 4. Other operations associated with the logging of vibration exposures.

The instrument may also incorporate any or all of the features previously described.

This configuration allows a workforce equipped with vibration loggers to be managed in respect of their plant usage and S: overall exposure to vibration. Analysis of each users o* exposure record being carried out by a host computer system.

The vibration monitor 14 shown in Figure 3 may include a digital display showing vibration exposure level.

0 S"To re-cap, the vibration monitor may be implemented in several ooeoe different ways:- 1. PERSONAL MONITOR A monitor, containing a look-up table of plant or apparatus type, cross referenced with weighted acceleration factor for each type of plant catered for.

This will allow the current vibration exposure level to be calculated by the dosemeter itself.

2. VIBRATION LOGGER A monitor which logs vibration exposure time, together with type of plant or apparatus responsible for each exposure record. The actual exposure level being calculated following the transfer of logged data to a host or base station computer.

3. PERSONNEL MONITOR AND LOGGER •go S: A monitor which incorporates all the above features.

0 0 0 o*° A system in which monitor data can be transferred to a host or base station computer will allow both analysis and management of a user's vibration exposure.

Potentially, the host or base station computer system could be used to analyse data for many monitor users.

0 oooo 17

Claims (7)

1. A plant identity mechanism for use with a vibration monitor including means carried by the plant in use for producing an electrical output indicative of the plant or equipment being utilised to allow vibration levels to be determined.

2. A mechanism as claimed in claim L wherein the means includes a transmitter attached to the plant for transmitting a code indicative of the type of equipment being utilised.

3. A mechanism as claimed in 1 wherein the means includes a transmitter attached to the plant for automatically transmitting information indicative of the level of vibration 1 15 expected for that equipment. 99o

4. A mechanism as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 including a kinetic power source for generating electrical power for powering the mechanism output. A mechanism as claimed in claim 4 including "20 power conversion means for regulating the output from the power source.

6. A mechanism as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 including vibration detector means to control when the e• mechanism output is made available dependent on detected o, 25 vibration.

7. A plant identity mechanism substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9.99.9 Dated this 8th day of October 1999. BG PLC By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK J:\Speci\300 399\300 349\31947 doc 8/10199