Rolling Element Marking for Bearing Reuse Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The service life of rolling bearings is often less than that of the rolling elements due to insufficient information about reused elements, making it difficult to estimate failure risk and authenticity.
Innovation Solution
A marking, such as a two-dimensional code, is provided on the rolling element's surface to identify and store information about its material, application history, and potential failure risks, which can be read optically, electronically, or by spectroscopy, without disrupting the lubricating film.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a marking is provided on the rolling element surface to enable identification, then the ability to identify and assess reused rolling elements is improved, but the surface quality and lubricating film formation may be disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The marking is applied locally on the rolling element surface in a controlled manner, creating a localized feature that provides identification information while minimizing impact on the overall surface quality and lubricating film formation in other areas
Solution Approach 2:
The marking parameters (size, depth, material composition) are optimized to balance information storage capacity with minimal disruption to the surface properties and lubricating film formation, ensuring both identification capability and functional performance
2Measurement precision
If the marking is made more prominent to improve readability and identification accuracy, then the identification precision is improved, but the surface defect and risk of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The marking is designed with optimal prominence - not too subtle to be unreadable, but not so prominent as to create excessive surface defects, achieving the right balance between identification accuracy and reliability through controlled marking intensity
3Loss of information
If multiple types of markings are combined to store more information about the rolling element, then the information storage capacity is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple types of markings (optical, magnetic, spectroscopic features) are combined into a single integrated marking system on the rolling element surface, enabling comprehensive information storage while streamlining the manufacturing process through unified application
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
Enables accurate identification and risk assessment of reused rolling elements, reducing the risk of failure and counterfeiting, and maintaining the performance of the rolling bearing.
Implementation Method 1
the at least one marking is configured to be read out optically, electronically, magnetically, by interferometry, and/or by spectroscopy
Implementation Method 2
the at least one marking is configured to be read out optically, electronically, magnetically, by interferometry, and/or by spectroscopy
Implementation Method 3
the at least one marking is configured to be read out optically, electronically, magnetically, by interferometry, and/or by spectroscopy
Data Source
AI summary
A rolling element for a rolling bearing has a body with an outer running surface. The running surface is provided with at least one marking designed to identify the rolling element. The marking may include at least one notch in the running surface of the rolling element body or a plurality of notches in the running surface. The plurality of notches of the marking may all be located within an area of the running surface having a predetermined size. Further, the notch or each one of the plurality of notches may be filled with a filler material, the filler material being different than a material of the rolling element.