Main Features and Advantages

• Integrated Electronics: The built-in charge-to-current converter simplifies installation and allows for long-distance signal transmission (up to 1000 m) over a simple 2-wire cable, reducing noise and installation costs.
• High Temperature Operation: Designed for continuous operation at high temperatures, with the transducer head rated up to 350 °C, making it suitable for hot machinery.
• Robust and Hermetically Sealed Construction: The use of Inconel 600 and stainless steel, along with hermetic welding, provides exceptional protection against corrosive environments, high humidity, water, steam, and lubricants. This ensures long-term reliability in harsh industrial settings.
• Intrinsically Safe (Ex i) Certification: Approved for use in potentially explosive atmospheres (hazardous areas), which is critical for applications in oil & gas, petrochemical, and power generation industries.
• Integral Cable with Flexible Protection Tube: The sensor is supplied with a permanently attached 3-meter cable protected by a flexible stainless-steel hose, offering mechanical durability and preventing damage to the signal line.
• Low-Frequency Version: The “-405” variant is specifically designed for low-frequency vibration monitoring, which is often crucial for detecting imbalances, misalignments, and bearing faults in rotating machinery.
• Stable and Accurate Measurements: High sensitivity and linearity across its dynamic range ensure reliable and precise vibration data.
• Case Insulation: Integral case insulation helps prevent ground loops and electrical interference.

Application Field

The VIBRO-METER 444-134-000-405 (CE 134 LF) is widely used for continuous vibration monitoring and machinery protection in demanding industrial applications, especially where high temperatures, hazardous areas, and long cable runs are present.

Typical applications include:

• Gas and Steam Turbines: Monitoring vibration on turbine casings, bearings, and other critical components in power generation plants.
• Generators: Assessing vibration levels on large electrical generators.
• Pumps, Fans, and Compressors: General purpose vibration monitoring for condition-based maintenance.
• Gearboxes: Detecting gear mesh problems, bearing faults, and imbalance.
• Industrial Electric Motors: Monitoring for bearing wear, imbalance, and misalignment.
• Refineries and Petrochemical Plants: Its Ex i certification makes it ideal for use in hazardous zones for monitoring various rotating and reciprocating machinery.
• Pulp and Paper Mills: Withstanding harsh and humid environments.
• Steel Mills: Operating effectively in high-temperature areas.

Related Products

The VIBRO-METER 444-134-000-405 forms part of a complete vibration monitoring chain. Related products include:

• Signal Conditioning Units/Monitoring Systems: While the sensor has integrated electronics, an external galvanic separation unit (e.g., from Vibro-Meter or compatible systems) is often required for intrinsically safe applications to provide power and isolate the signal. The current output then feeds into a machinery protection system (MPS) or condition monitoring system (CMS). Examples include:
  • Vibro-Meter VM600 series (e.g., IPC601, MPC4, CMC16)
  • Third-party protection and condition monitoring systems (e.g., from Bently Nevada, GE, Siemens)
• Extension Cables: Depending on the distance, additional extension cables (e.g., Vibro-Meter EC175, EE139, EE143) with compatible bayonet connectors would be used to connect the sensor to the monitoring system.
• Mounting Accessories:
  • Mounting Studs/Bolts: For secure attachment to the machine casing. The CE 134 uses M4 Allen screws for the transducer and M6 for the electronics box.
  • Mounting Pads/Brackets: To ensure proper surface contact and isolation if needed.
• Calibration Equipment: Vibration exciters and reference accelerometers for periodic calibration and verification of the sensor’s performance.

Installation and Maintenance

Proper installation and regular maintenance are critical for the accuracy and longevity of the VIBRO-METER 444-134-000-405, especially given its use in demanding and potentially hazardous environments. Always refer to the official Vibro-Meter (Meggitt Sensing Systems) CE 134 instruction manual (e.g., PI 262-061) for detailed procedures.

Installation (General Guidelines):

1. Safety First: For hazardous area installations, adhere strictly to intrinsically safe wiring practices, grounding requirements, and local electrical codes (e.g., IEC 60079, NEC, CSA). Ensure power is off before connecting.
2. Mounting Surface Preparation: The mounting surface for the accelerometer must be flat, clean, and free of burrs or paint. This ensures proper mechanical coupling and accurate vibration transmission. The sensor head mounts with three M4 screws, and the electronics box with four M6 screws. Apply recommended mounting torque (4.5 Nm for transducer, 15 Nm for electronics box).
3. Sensor Orientation: Mount the accelerometer with its sensitive axis aligned with the direction of the vibration to be measured. For general machine monitoring, mounting vertically, horizontally, or axially on bearings is common.
4. Cable Routing: Route the integral cable securely, avoiding sharp bends, crushing, or exposure to excessive heat or sharp edges. The flexible stainless-steel hose provides good protection, but still route carefully.
5. Electrical Connection: Connect the 2-wire output to the appropriate input of the signal conditioner or monitoring system. Ensure proper polarity. For intrinsically safe systems, connect to a certified galvanic separation unit.
6. Grounding: Follow specific grounding instructions in the manual for hazardous area installations. The sensor has integral case insulation, which simplifies some grounding considerations, but the system must be properly earthed.
7. Functional Test: After installation, verify the sensor’s output and signal integrity using the monitoring system’s diagnostics.

Maintenance (General Guidelines):

• Visual Inspection: Periodically inspect the sensor, cable, and connector for any signs of physical damage, corrosion, or wear. Check the integrity of the hermetic seals.
• Cable Integrity: Inspect the flexible stainless-steel hose for any kinking or damage. Ensure connections are secure and free of contamination.
• Mounting Tightness: Periodically check the mounting screws for tightness, as loosening can affect measurement accuracy.
• Calibration Check: While accelerometers are generally very stable, it’s good practice to periodically verify the calibration (e.g., every 1-3 years depending on criticality) using a vibration shaker table and a traceable reference.
• Environmental Protection: Ensure the sensor’s operating environment remains within its specified temperature limits. Protect the cable from mechanical damage or aggressive chemicals.
• System Diagnostics: Regularly review diagnostics from the connected monitoring system for any fault indications related to the sensor (e.g., open circuit, short circuit).

Product Guarantee

Vibro-Meter products, as part of Meggitt Sensing Systems (Parker Hannifin), typically come with a standard manufacturer’s warranty for new products. This warranty usually covers defects in materials and workmanship for a specified period (e.g., 1 year) from the date of purchase.

For the 444-134-000-405:

• New Purchase: If purchased new from an authorized Parker Hannifin/Meggitt Sensing Systems distributor, it will typically carry the full manufacturer’s warranty.
• Aftermarket/Used: If acquired from a surplus dealer or as “new old stock,” the original manufacturer’s warranty may no longer be valid due to age or transfer of ownership. In such cases, the seller might offer their own limited warranty (e.g., 30-day, 1-year), or the item might be sold “as-is.” Given its high-performance and safety-critical nature, it is crucial to understand the warranty terms for such purchases.