Rolling Bearing Flaking Diagnosis by Passage Time Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for diagnosing rolling bearing damage, such as those described in Patent Literatures 1 and 2, lack the ability to quantitatively evaluate the progress of flaking in bearing rings, limiting the determination of replacement timing.

Innovation Solution

The method involves measuring the time when a rolling element enters and escapes a flaking region of the bearing ring, calculating the flaking size based on the time difference, and forming a gradation image to visually assess the flaking progress, allowing for quantitative evaluation and timely replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If vibration analysis methods are used to detect bearing damage, then damage detection capability is improved, but quantitative evaluation of flaking progress is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage detection capabilityVSAvoidquantitative flaking progress information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional vibration analysis methods with a time-interval measurement approach. Instead of analyzing vibration waveforms and spectral data, the invention directly measures the time interval between when a rolling element enters and exits the flaking region, substituting complex mechanical vibration analysis with a simpler temporal measurement that directly yields quantitative flaking size information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If relative displacement measurement is used to monitor bearing state, then damage detection is improved, but quantitative flaking size evaluation is not achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebearing state monitoringVSAvoidflaking size measurement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces relative displacement measurement with direct time-interval measurement of the rolling element passing through the flaking region. This substitution transforms an indirect mechanical measurement (displacement) into a direct temporal measurement that can be converted into precise flaking size quantification through mathematical relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If envelope processing and frequency analysis are applied to vibration waveforms, then damage frequency identification is improved, but quantitative flaking progress evaluation remains unachieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedamage frequency identificationVSAvoidflaking size information
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential information needed for flaking size evaluation from the complex vibration analysis process. Instead of performing full envelope processing and frequency analysis, the invention extracts only the time interval when the rolling element is in contact with the flaking region, discarding unnecessary spectral information while retaining the critical quantitative measurement needed for flaking progress evaluation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3842780B1Method and device for diagnosing abnormality in rolling bearing
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 NSK LTD
  • EP3842780B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3842780B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP3842780B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An abnormality diagnosis method of a rolling bearing used in rotating machinery includes: a time acquisition step of acquiring, from an output signal detected by a sensor during the rotation of the rolling bearing, an entry time when a rolling element enters a flaking region of a bearing ring, and an escape time when the rolling element escapes from the flaking region of the bearing ring; and an estimation step of estimating a flaking size based on a flaking passage time, which is a time difference between the entry time and the escape time. When the bearing ring receives repeated load from the rolling element, the progress of the flaking occurring in the bearing ring can be quantitatively evaluated.