A

Acceleration Pickup

Transducer which generates output (generally, an electric signal) proportional to the input acceleration.

Acceleration Transducer

Synonym for acceleration pickup.

Accuracy

Coincidence of indicated value with approved standard value or desired value.
Note: The limit of error is used only as a qualitative concept.

Adjustable Range

Range of quantity adjustable by an adjuster.
Example: Zero adjustment, span adjustment, or bias adjustment.

Air Purge

Clean air externally supplied to the equipment for the following purposes:
(1) To prevent corrosive gages entering the equipment.
(2) To prevent temperature rise inside the equipment.
(3) To prevent explosive gases entering the equipment for flame proof construction, etc.

Allowable Error

Difference between the preset reference and the allowable limit value.

Allowable Load Resistance

Connectable load resistance within the range that the performance is guaranteed.

Amount of Unbalance

Quantitative scale of unbalance (on certain surface) in the rotor, and angular position is not considered.
It is also the product of unbalance mass and mass eccentricity.
Note: Unit of unbalance is g-mm, for example.

Amplitude

Maximal value of sinusoidal quantity.

Angle of Unbalance

Angle of location where unbalance mass exists with respect to the reference line in the polar coordinates system fixed in the plane perpendicular to the axial center line.

API Standard

Standard defined by the American Petroleum Institute.

Attenuation

(1) Reduction in signal size.
(2) Reduction in vibration amplitude with time.

B

Balancing

Maintaining vibration or force synchronous with the rotating speed within the specified limit by checking the rotor mass distribution and adjusting the distribution if necessary.

Bode Diagram

A pair of diagrams which show the amplitude ratio and phase shift with respect to frequency for a frequency response.

C

Calibration

To determine the equipment output corresponding to a series of known value of the quantity to be measure, received or transmitted.
Note: The following steps are conducted during actual calibration.
(1) To determine each position where a scale line is drawn on a scale plate.
(2) To perform adjustment to match the output with the desired value within an
allowable error stipulated in the specifications.
(3) To determine the error by comparing the equipment output readings with
the standard output values.
(4) Generally, calibration is performed to match independent quantities with
the specifications.

Contact Capacity

Contact capacity expressed by the maximum allowable voltage applicable to the contact part and the maximum allowable current at which the contact part can be opened or closed.

Contact Input

Input of which the signal represents open/close state of an electrical contact.

Contact Output

Output signal generated by an electric contact opening or closing.

Contact Type

Contact type resulting from the difference between circuit configurations of switches, etc.
Example:
Single-pole normally open (SPNO) type.
Signal-pole normally closed (SPNC) type.
Single-pole double-throw (SPDT) type
Double-pole double-throw (DPDT) type.

Crest Factor

Ratio of the peak value to rms value.
Note: The crest factor of a sine wave is 2

Critical Speed

Rotating speed when a rotating system becomes resonant.

Cycle

All states or values in the entire range followed by a cyclic phenomenon of function until returns to the previous status again.

D

Damped Natural Frequency

Frequency of natural vibration in a linear system having attenuation.

Damper

Device to absorb energy to reduce the shock or amplitude.

Damping Ratio

Ratio of actual damping coefficient to critical damping coefficient in a system having linear Viscous Damping.
Note: The camping ratio is also expressed as a percentage to critical damping.

Delay Time

Time which characterizes the time lag.
Generally, this is expressed as the time until the tangential line drawn at the point with the sharpest gradient on the response curve of the output signal intersects with the time axis just after the step input signal is applied.
Note: This time is also called “effective dead time.”

Differential Expansion

Measurement of dimensional changes of the gap between the rotor and casing which changes with the difference between the thermal expansion speeds of the rotor and casing.

Digital Signal

Signal having a parameter which gives a set of digitized values displayed numerically.

Displacement Pickup

Transducer which generates an output (generally, an electrical signal) proportional to the input displacement.

Dry Contact Output

Electric contact output which does not feed power to the contact part from the contact activation side.

Dynamic Characteristic

Response characteristics of equipment covering the input changing with time.

E

Eccentricity P-P

The amount of rotor-shaft deflection produced when the rotor of rotating machinery is at a standstill caused by the dead weight of the rotor itself or at an uneven cooling speed.

Electromagnetic Interference

Unfavorable effect imposed on circuits and parts by an external magnetic field.
Note: Ratio frequency interference (RFI) is a well-known example.

Elliptical Vibration

Vibration whose vibrating points describe an elliptical locus.

Error

Algebraic difference between a measured value and an ideal variable to be measured.

Excitation

External force acting on the system or input.

Explosion Class

Explosion class or ignition temperature of explosive gases existing (or assumed to exist) in the hazardous area where the explosion-proof equipment is installed.

Explosion-proof

When equipment is installed in a hazardous area with explosive gases (inflammable gases or vapor generated from inflammable liquids), protection from explosion or fire caused by the equipment itself.

Explosion-proof Construction

Equipment designed to the explosion-proof.
Note: The following constructions are frequency used for explosion-proof construction of electrical equipment as industrial control equipment:
(1) Flameproof construction
(2) Intrinsically safe construction
(3) Combination of (1) and (2)

External Magnetic Field

Strength of magnetic field existing where the equipment is installed.
(Not the magnetic field generated by the equipment itself.)

F

Failure Rate

Rate of failure of equipment or system operated until a certain period occurring within the succeeding unit of period.

Field Balancing

Balancing conducted using the bearing of the machine itself to be balanced and the support structure without using a balancing machine.

Flameproof Construction

Explosion-proof construction in which if explosive gases explode in a fully closed enclosure, it is tested and approved by a public agency that the enclosure can withstand the explosion pressure and does not produce flames which may ignite external explosive gases.

Flexible Rotor

Rotor which does not satisfy the definition of rigid rotor.

Flexural Critical Speed

Rotating speed at which one of the main flexural modes of the flexible rotor becomes a maximum. Rotor defection is more important than bearing displacement.

Flexural Principal Mode

Mode a rotor takes through flexural critical speed.

Flexural Vibration

Vibration appears as change in flexure of an elastic body.

FM STANDARD

Abbreviation of Factory Mutual Laboratories Standard defined by an American insurance company.

Form Factor

Ratio of the rms value to the mean value in a half cycle passing through two zero points.

Foundation

Structure which supports a mechanical system.
Note: This may be fixed in space or may give excitation to the supported mechanical system by its motion.

Free Vibration

Vibration without excitation.
Note: In free vibration, a system vibrates at its natural frequency.

Frequency

Number of cycles/second.

Frequency Analysis

Spectrum analysis of vibration phenomenon.

Frequency Response (Characteristic)

Time response of the output signal when the input signal changes sinusoidally.
Generally, it is expressed using a Bode diagram.

Fundamental Natural Mode of Vibration

Vibration mode having the minimum natural frequency.

G

H

Harmonic

Sinusoidal quantity with a frequency equal to an integer times the fundamental frequency.
Note: A sinusoidal quantity with a frequency equal to an integer of 2 or more times the fundamental frequency is called a higher harmonic.

High-Speed Balancing

Balancing performed at a rotating speed under which the rotor cannot be assumed to be a rigid body.

Hysteresis

Dependency of output value occurring from the past record and direction of changes with respect to changes of a given input.
Note:
(1) Generally, hysteresis is obtained by subtracting the dead band value from the
maximum measurement interval occurring between the forward and backward
travels of the measured-quantity indication (or output) after the transient state
ahs settled.(unless otherwise noted, the indication or output is changed over
the entire range.)
(2) If an extremely small input is reversed a few times, output is also expected to
be reversed a few times. According to this method, the dead band is distinguished
from the hysteresis.

I

Inductive Load

Load containing a reactance component.

Input Bias

Bias added to the input signal.

Input Impedance

Impedance included in a circuit of a device when its inside is looked from the input terminal.

Input/Output Isolation

Synonym for isolation.

Input Resistance

Resistance component in a circuit when the equipment is viewed from the input terminal side of the equipment.

Insulation Resistance

Electric resistance between two conductors insulated by an insulator.
Example: More than 20 MΩ at 500 VDC (between each power terminal and the grounding terminal)

Interchangeability

Capable of being mutually interchanged.
For products, there is dimensional or characteristic interchangeability.

Internal Resistance

Resistance component in a circuit when the equipment is viewed from the input or output terminal side of the equipment.

Intrinsically Safe Construction

Explosion proof construction that the electric spark during normal operation or in a failure state, or heated part will not ignite the surrounding explosive gas, which has been proven by an official body’s evaluation or equivalent.

Isolation

No common line should exist between input and output signals of equipment.
Isolation between input and output signals of equipment.

J

K

L

Linearity

Linearity obtained when the maximum deviation between a calibration curve and the specified straight line is approximated to become a minimum.

Linear Range

Measurement range that satisfies the specifications of a transducer, such as sensitivity, scale factor, linearity, etc.

Linear System

System whose response is proportional to the size of excitation.
Note: According to this definition, the dynamic characteristic of each element in the system is expressed by a series of linear differential equations and the principle of superposition can be applied to this system.

Linear Transducer

Transducer whose output is proportional to input within the specified frequency range.

Linear Viscous Damping Coefficient / Viscous Damping Coefficient

Ratio of damping force to speed.

Linear Viscous Damping / Viscous Damping

Energy consumed when an element or a part of an element in a vibration system receives a resistance for proportional to the element speed in the opposite direction.

Lissajous Figure

Steady diagram draw when two simple harmonic motions whose frequency rates are expressed by a simple integer ratio are initiated in mutual directions at right angles.
Note: The Lissajous figure varies with the difference of phase angles of simple harmonic motions.

Load

Part connected to the output side of equipment and consuming or absorbing output energy.

Low-speed Balancing

Balancing performed at a rotating speed at which the rotor is assumed to be a rigid body (generally, the speed slower than the operating speed).

M

Mass Eccentricity

Distance from the shaft center line to the rotor center of gravity.

Maximum Load

Maximum load which can be connected to the output side of the equipment.

Measuring Period

Time interval between the present and nest measurements when measuring at fixed intervals.

Measuring Range

Range of the maximum and minimum measured variables.

Measuring Span

Difference between measurement result is obtained from the start of measurement.

Measuring Time

Time required from measurement start to acquirement of measurement result.

Modal Analysis

(1) To conduct response analysis in each mode and to obtain the response waveform
of the entire system by adding response waveform.
(2) To obtain the maximum response value in each mode and to obtain the estimated
maximum response value of the entire system by an appropriate method of addition.

Modal Balancing

Balancing operation to correct the flexible-rotor vibration amplitude to within the specified limit for each mode.

MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)

Mean time between consecutive failures occurring in the specified period, and condition within the service life of each equipment.

MTTR (Mean Time to Repair)

Mean time required for repair work.

N

Natural Mode of Vibration

vibration mode in a freely vibrating system.
Notes:
(1) If there is no attenuation in the system, the natural mode is the same as the normal mode.
(2) The natural mode of vibration exists corresponding to each degree of freedom in the system.

NC (Normally Closed)

Contact which opens when the contact is activated or at power-ON.
Note: Also called “b” contact.

NO (Normally Open)

Contact which closes when the contact is activated or at power-ON.
Note: Also called “a” contact.

Nyquist Diagram

Technique of evaluating the safety in a control system conceived by H. Nyquist.
Diagram which shows the shaft vibration vector of rotating machinery on polar coordinates with the number of revolutions as a parameter.

O

Oil-Whip

Self-excited journal whirling caused by the properties of the oil film on a fully lubricated journal bearing.

Open Collector (Contact)

Transistor contact without collector load resistance on the contact activation signal.

Output Bias

Bias added to the output signal.

Output Contact Capacity

Maximum current which can be supplied to the load while maintaining the specified performance of the voltage output equipment.

Output Current Capacity

On equipment with current output, the maximum amount of current that can be supplied to a load within a range that a certain level of performance can be maintained.

Output Impedance

Impedance included in the internal circuit of equipment when viewed from the output terminal side.

Output Resistance

Resistance component included in the internal circuit of the equipment when viewed from the output terminal side.

Outside Contact Capacity

Outside contact capacity when equipment with a built-in power supply supplies power to an outside contact and the equipment is operated by that outside contact.

P

Peak-to-Peak Value

The maximum algebraic difference between extreme values of vibrating quantity in the given section.

Peak Value

Maximal value in the given section.
Note: Generally, the peak value of a vibrating quantity is defined as the maximum variation from the mean value in the given section. The positive maximum variation is called the positive peak value, and the negative maximum variation is called the negative peak value.

Period

Inverse number of frequency.

Phase Angle/Phase

Lead angle of sinusoidal quantity measured from an independent variable set as a reference.

Phase Difference

Difference between phase angles existing in two periods of equal frequency.
For a sinusoidal quantity, the difference between phase angles measured from the same reference.

Phase Marker

Rotor-shaft phase reference signal used for comparing the vibration phase of rotating machinery.

Pulse Interval

Time interval from one pulse to the next pulse.

Pulse Voltage

(1) Broadly: pulse voltage defined by the specified method.
(2) Detailed: Voltage obtained by subtracting the pulse base voltage
(voltage below the base line) from the pulse top voltage defined by the common
method.

Pulse Width

Duration of pulse. Unless otherwise specified, the time from the pulse rise mesial point to the pulse fall mesial point.

Q

Q

Degree of sharpness of resonance in a vibration system. It is defined as 2 times the ratio of energy/cycle externally applied in order to maintain a constant amplitude to energy (in a mechanical oscillating system, the sum of kinetic energy and potential energy) in the vibration system at the resonance frequency.

R

Random Failure

Failure accidentally occurring before the wear-out failure period following the period of initial failures.

Range

Range between the maximum and minimum values of input or output variables.

Reliability

Capability for displaying a required function of the equipment in the specified period and condition.

Reproducibility

The maximum output difference obtained when the same input is repeatedly measured by approaching it from both directions under the same operating conditions after a fixed time.

Resistance Against Vibration

Strength against externally-applied vibration.
Note: Since the strength varies with the vibration frequency and amplitude, resistance against vibration should be expressed together with the allowable limits of frequency and amplitude or acceleration.

Resistance Load

Load consisting only of electrical resistance components.

Resolution

Minimum interval between two mutually distinguishable, adjacent values.

Resonance

Status or phenomenon occurring in a forced vibration system when the response lessens by slight changes in the excitation frequency in any directions.

Resonance Frequency

Frequency at which resonance occurs.

Response Time

Time required until the output signal arrives at the specified value of the final value by applying a step input signal.
Generally, the time to arrive at 90%, 95% or the final value is used, but the time to arrive at 63.2% of the final value (time constant) is used unless otherwise specified.
Note: When response time only is used, this means step response time.

Rigid Rotor

Rotor whose unbalance does not exceed the allowable error (with respect to the shaft center line) by rotor deformation, even when rotated at a speed of less than the maximum speed under the support condition close to the operating condition while balanced between two freely selected planes.

RMS Value

Root Mean Square Value.
Note: Also called effective value.

Run Out

When an eddy-current non-contact displacement sensor detects vibration and eccentricity of rotating machinery this is a measurement error caused by the rotor surface status. It is classified into mechanical runout and electrical runout.
Their causes are as follows:
For mechanical runout;
Rotor bending, uneven surface
For electrical runout;
Residual magnetic field, non-uniform material, etc.

S

Sampling

To capture instantaneous input values at a preset time (for example, at fixed intervals).

Sampling Period

Time intervals of observation in a periodic sampling control system.

Sampling Time

Time to sense the input during sampling.

Scale Factor

Output changes per specified length in the static eddy-current displacement sensor characteristic.

Scale Factor Error

Difference between a specified sensitivity (s) and the measured scale factor expressed on percentage.
Scale Factor Error = {(SCF-s)/s} × 100[%]

Secular Change

Characteristic changes occurring in the equipment or its elements with time.

Seismic Pickup

Transducer which consists of a seismic system and generates an output signal as a result of relative motion between two elements in the seismic system.

Seismic System

System having one mass element installed via a base frame and one or more spring elements attached to the frame. Generally, damping elements are also included in this system.

Self-excited Vibration

Vibration occurring after non-vibrating energy is converted to vibration excitation in the system.

Sensitivity

Ratio of change in quantity to be indicated to change in quantity to be measured of the equipment.

Sensitivity Error

Difference between a measured value (b) and a specified sensitivity (s) expressed on percentage.
Sensitivity Error = {(b – s)/s} × 100 [%]

SN Ratio (S/N)

(1) Ratio of noise amplitude to signal amplitude.
Note: For a sinewave signal, the peak value or rms value is used. For a non-sinewave
signal, the peak value is used.
(2) Ratio of signal power to noise power.
Note: For impulse noise, the ratio of signal peak value is used.

Span

Difference between high and low range limits.

Span Adjustment

To adjust the span of equipment to the specified value by an electrical or mechanical operation.

Span Setting

To set the span of equipment to the specified value or position by an electrical or mechanical operation.

Spectrum

Description of a certain quantity as a function of frequency or wave-length.

Static Characteristics

Response characteristics of the equipment with respect to the measured variable which do not change with time.

Step Response

Time response occurring when one of the input variables change stepwise.

Sub Harmonic

Sinusoidal quantity having cycles equal to an integer of 2 or more times the basic excitation cycle.

Sweep

Process in which a controlled variable (generally, frequency) of a vibration generator continuously passes through a certain range.

Sweep Rate

Rate of change of a controlled variable (generally, frequency) of a vibration generator.
Example: Sweep speed = df/dt
Where, f = frequency, t = time

T

Temperature Drift

Drift caused by changes in the ambient temperature.

TIIS Standard

Standard defined by Technology Institution of Industrial Safety (TIIS), Japan.

Time Constant

Time required to arrive at 63.2% of the final output value in a linear 1st-order lag system by applying a step input.
(1) Time constant with time response expressed by A(1-e^-t/T).
(2) In a higher-order lag system, each 1st order lag element in a process has a time constant.
The corner frequency is expressed by ω = 1/T in the Bode diagram.

Time Response

Time changes in the output variable caused by changes in the input variable.

Torsional Vibration

Vibration which occurs as torsional changes of a rigid body.

Transfer Function

Arithmetic relationship between the output and input in a system.
Note: Generally, the transfer function is given as a function of the frequency and is a function of a complex variable.

Transient Response

Time required until an output (signal) returns to steady state when an input (signal) changes to another steady state.

Transmission Distance

Length of an electrical conductor that can transmit signals accurately at a required transmission speed.
Note: Transmission distance is decided based on the conditions including impedances of electrical conductor, device specific input/output characteristics, external noises, property of the measurement system, etc.

Transverse Sensitivity

Sensitivity of excitation in any direction at right angles to the sensing shaft.
Note: This is a function of the excitation direction.

Trigger Voltage

Pulse voltage to trigger rapid changes in status or output of an electronic circuit.

U

Unbalance

Rotor status of producing a vibration forcer or motion on the shaft as a result of centrifugal force.
Note: Sometimes used as a synonym for the size of unbalance or the vector of unbalance.

Unbalance Mass

Mass considered to exist in the specific radius position and whose product with centripetal acceleration becomes equal to the unbalance force.

Unbalance Tolerance

Size of rigid-rotor shaft unbalance defined as the tolerable maximum value within a plane at right angles to the shaft (corrected or measured surface).

Undamped Natural Frequency

Frequency of free vibration generated only by system inertia and elastic force.
Note: Simply called natural frequency, if this does not cause confusion.

V

Velocity Pickup

Sensor which generates an output (generally, electrical output) proportional to the input speed.

Velocity Transducer

Measures velocity in millimeter per second. Usually IEPE (Integrated electronics Piezoelectric) type or moving coil type.

Vibration Proof

Synonym for resistance against vibration.

Vibration Vector

Vibration signal expressed with a phase angle with respect to the reference (e.g. keyway) on a rotor and also with vibration amplitude.

Vibrometer

Measuring instrument capable of indicating the size of vibration expressed by the peak value, rms value, etc. on the scale.

W

Waterproof Construction

Construction of equipment or system installed outdoors without a cover which protects it from the effects of wind and rain.
There are the following types of water-proofing:
Water-proof types: Drip-proof, Rain-proof, Splash-proof, Water injection-proof, Water-proof, Water immersion-proof, Water dipping-proof and Humidity-proof.
Note: For the definition of each water-proof term, see JIS C0920.

Wave Length

Distance a wave travels in one cycle.

Whirling

Turning motion of the shaft center line.

Withstand Voltage (Electric Strength)

Voltage which the insulation of electrical equipment can withstand over a fixed period.
Example: 1 minute at a withstand voltage of 1000VAC (between each power terminal and the grounding terminal)

X

Y

Z

Zero Adjustment

Synonym for zero-point adjustment.

Zero-point Adjustment

To adjust the zero point of the equipment to a specified value or position by an electrical or mechanical operation.

Zero Shift

Parallel changes of input/output characteristic curves.