Rolling Bearing Flaking Size Estimation from Entry and Escape Times
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for diagnosing rolling bearing abnormalities, such as those in wind turbine drive trains and mining equipment, are limited in their ability to quantitatively assess the progression of flaking damage, which is crucial for timely replacement and preventing serious damage.
Innovation Solution
An abnormality diagnosis method and apparatus that acquire the entry and escape times of rolling elements within a flaking region of the bearing ring from sensor output signals, estimating flaking size based on the time difference between these events, and optionally forming a gradation image to visually represent the damage progression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If qualitative determination methods are used for bearing damage assessment, then the diagnostic system is simple, but the measurement precision of flaking size is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with signal processing methods. By analyzing vibration signals and extracting timing information about rolling element passage through flaking regions, the system achieves quantitative flaking size measurement without requiring direct physical measurement devices, thus maintaining simplicity while improving precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the measurement approach by changing from direct physical measurement to indirect measurement through signal parameters. By measuring time differences (entry time and escape time) from vibration signals and converting these temporal parameters into spatial measurements (flaking size), the system achieves precise quantitative assessment through parameter transformation
2Loss of information
If bearing damage is monitored using existing methods, then early damage detection is possible, but quantitative evaluation of damage progression is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where vibration signals are continuously monitored, analyzed, and converted into quantitative damage progression information. The system provides feedback about flaking size evolution over time, enabling informed decisions about bearing replacement timing based on actual damage progression rather than fixed schedules
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary assessment of damage progression by continuously monitoring and quantifying flaking development before catastrophic failure occurs. By establishing baseline measurements and tracking changes over time, the system allows for proactive planning of bearing replacement to optimize productivity while preventing serious damage
Data Source
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.