Bearing Component Re-manufacturing Selection via Sub-surface Damage Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to develop technology that can select suitable bearing components for re-manufacturing, as not all bearings are suitable for re-manufacturing due to damage extent, and existing methods lack efficiency in estimating bearing life.
Innovation Solution
A method involving non-destructive inspection to detect sub-surface damages in bearing components, followed by calculating the remaining life based on predetermined load values and effective damage, to determine if the component is a good candidate for re-manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If re-manufacturing is performed on all bearing components to extend service life, then bearing service life is improved, but resource waste and cost increase due to re-manufacturing unsuitable components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary assessment of bearing components before re-manufacturing by detecting sub-surface damages and calculating remaining life. This preliminary action identifies suitable candidates for re-manufacturing, preventing resource waste on unsuitable components while ensuring service life extension for viable ones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the assessment parameters from simple surface inspection to comprehensive sub-surface damage detection and remaining life calculation. By using advanced detection methods and quantitative remaining life parameters, the system accurately distinguishes between components suitable for re-manufacturing and those that are not, optimizing resource allocation.
2Measurement precision
If traditional inspection methods are used to assess bearing components, then inspection cost is reduced, but measurement precision is insufficient to detect sub-surface damages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical surface inspection methods with advanced non-destructive detection technology that can penetrate and detect sub-surface damages. This substitution significantly improves measurement precision for damage detection while the automated calculation system manages the complexity of the enhanced inspection process.
3Ease of manufacture
If bearing components with sub-surface damages are re-manufactured without detection, then re-manufacturing cost is reduced, but reliability decreases due to undetected effective damages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of sub-surface damages and calculation of remaining life before re-manufacturing decisions are made. This preliminary action identifies components with effective damages that would compromise reliability, allowing selective re-manufacturing of only suitable components while maintaining cost efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for selecting a candidate bearing component to be re-manufactured includes performing a non-destructive inspection of at least one portion of a bearing component to detect sub-surface damages in the at least one portion and obtain a result indicative of an effective damage in the at least one portion, calculating a remaining life of the bearing component based on a predetermined load value and on the result indicative of the effective damage in the at least one portion, and selecting the bearing component as the candidate bearing component to be re-manufactured if the calculated remaining life is within a predefined range. The remaining life is calculated from the formula: N=c*Dα, where N is the remaining life until reaching end of life of the bearing component, c is a first constant value associated with the predetermined load value, D is the effective damage and α is a second constant value.