Rolling Device Lubrication Diagnosis with Wiring Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for diagnosing the lubrication state in rolling devices, such as bearings, suffer from decreased measurement accuracy when the rotational speed is low, leading to inaccurate calculations of lubricating film thickness and metal contact ratio.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the application of an AC voltage to an electric circuit comprising a rolling element and its peripheral member, followed by measuring impedance and phase angle, and correcting these values using a correction formula based on Kirchhoff's law to account for wiring components, allowing for accurate calculation of lubricating film thickness and metal contact ratio.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If impedance and phase angle are measured using conventional methods, then the lubrication state can be diagnosed, but measurement accuracy decreases at low rotational speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement accuracyVSAvoidrotational speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and separates the wiring component parameters (resistance and reactance) from the total measured impedance and phase angle. By measuring the wiring parameters independently and subtracting them from the total measurements, the method isolates the rolling device parameters, thereby eliminating the source of measurement error that becomes significant at low rotational speeds

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the measurement approach by introducing a correction process that transforms the raw impedance and phase angle measurements into corrected values. This parameter transformation using Kirchhoff's law-based correction formulas adjusts the measurement data to compensate for wiring effects, maintaining accuracy across different rotational speed ranges

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If wiring components are not considered in measurement, then the diagnostic process is simpler, but calculation accuracy of lubricating film thickness and metal contact ratio deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecalculation accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the measurement system into distinct components: wiring components and rolling device components. By separating the measurement into these segments and analyzing each independently, the method achieves higher calculation accuracy for lubricating film thickness and metal contact ratio while maintaining a manageable measurement process structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention performs preliminary measurement of wiring parameters (resistance and reactance) before conducting the main rolling device measurement. This preliminary action allows the wiring characteristics to be characterized in advance, enabling their effects to be removed from the subsequent rolling device measurements without adding significant complexity to the overall process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances the accuracy of lubrication state diagnosis in rolling devices, particularly at low rotational speeds, preventing uncalculated film thickness and unreasonable metal contact ratio values.

Implementation Method 1

measuring an impedance and a phase angle of the electric circuit when the AC voltage is applied

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpedance measurement: Electrical Resistance

Implementation Method 2

correcting the measured impedance and the measured phase angle using a correction formula based on a solution of Kirchhoff s law defined corresponding to a resistance and a reactance by a wiring component

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectKirchhoff's law:

Data Source

PatentEP4597065A1Rolling device diagnosing method, diagnosing device, and program
Publication Date: 2025.08.06 NSK LTD
  • EP4597065A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4597065A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4597065A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This method for diagnosing a rolling device comprising rolling elements and peripheral members of the rolling elements includes: applying an alternating-current voltage to an electric circuit comprising the rolling elements and the peripheral members; measuring an impedance and a phase angle when the alternating-current voltage is applied; correcting the measured impedance and the measured phase angle using a correction formula based on a solution of Kirchhoff's laws, defined in accordance with a resistance and a reactance resulting from a wiring component in the electric circuit; and calculating a lubricating film thickness and a metal contact ratio on the basis of the corrected impedance and the corrected phase angle.