Segmented Radial Bearing Test Rig for Fatigue Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing radial bearing wear and fatigue, such as laboratory tests and full-scale fatigue testing, are prone to large errors and are time-consuming and costly, necessitating a more efficient and reliable assessment approach.
Innovation Solution
A test rig is designed with sections of radial bearing raceways and rolling elements, allowing for controlled load application and movement, enabling reliable fatigue testing of radial bearings without the need for full-scale setups, using hydraulic cylinders and motor-rod systems for precise load application and movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If full scale fatigue testing is performed on radial bearings, then reliable results regarding wear and fatigue can be obtained, but the costs and time span become considerable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the complete bearing into separate testable components: raceway sections (with curvature matching the original bearing) and rolling elements. This segmentation allows testing of critical wear and fatigue zones without requiring the entire bearing assembly, thereby reducing testing time and costs while maintaining reliability through focused observation of damage mechanisms in representative sections.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential elements needed for fatigue testing: curved raceway sections and rolling elements, removing non-essential bearing components. This extraction enables standalone fatigue testing of the critical contact zones, achieving reliable wear and fatigue assessment without the time and cost overhead of full-scale bearing testing.
2Measurement precision
If laboratory tests are performed to simulate contact between rolling elements and raceways, then material characteristics can be assessed, but large error sources and long testing times result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates physical test sections with actual bearing raceway curvature and rolling elements, segmenting the bearing into testable units. This approach eliminates simulation errors by using real bearing geometry and materials, providing trustworthy results without requiring extensive laboratory simulation time, thus improving both measurement precision and reliability simultaneously.
3Productivity
If sections of raceways and rolling elements are used instead of full scale bearings, then testing costs and time are reduced, but test rig complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs segmentation to create modular raceway sections with standardized curved geometries that match original bearing profiles. This modularity, combined with the use of standard rolling elements, actually simplifies the test rig compared to full-scale bearing handling, as smaller sections are easier to position, load, and replace. The segmented approach improves productivity while keeping device complexity manageable through standardization.
Data Source
AI summary
A test rig to test a radial bearing including a first raceway, a second raceway and a plurality of rolling elements which are arranged between the first raceway and the second raceway. The test rig includes a section of the first raceway, a section of the second raceway and one or several of the plurality of rolling elements, wherein the section of the first raceway is arranged opposite to the section of the second raceway, the rolling elements are arranged between the section of the first raceway and the section of the second raceway, and the rolling elements are in contact with the sections of the first raceway and second raceway, and a means for applying load on the section of the first raceway and means for moving the section of the first raceway and the section of the second raceway relative to the one or several rolling elements.