Shock Absorber Failure Prediction Using TTS and RRT Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial shock absorbers lack effective monitoring and prediction systems for detecting failure, leading to unexpected breakdowns and reduced operational efficiency in various industrial applications.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a sensor network and computing device that measures and analyzes Time-Through-Stroke (TTS) and Rod Return Time (RRT) parameters, using machine learning to compare real-time data with historical patterns, detect anomalies, and predict potential failures, thereby providing timely notifications and improving maintenance schedules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional shock absorbers are used without monitoring systems, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of failure detection is poor leading to unexpected breakdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical monitoring approaches with sensor-based electronic monitoring. Sensors measure physical parameters (position, velocity, acceleration, force) and convert them to electrical signals for digital processing, enabling reliable failure detection without complex mechanical linkages or moving parts in the monitoring system itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary devices between the shock absorber's mechanical components and the monitoring system. These sensors act as mediators that convert mechanical parameters into measurable electrical signals, allowing the system to detect failures indirectly through parameter changes rather than direct mechanical observation.
2Reliability
If real-time sensor monitoring is implemented, then the reliability of failure prediction is improved, but the use of energy increases due to continuous data collection and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system utilizes the shock absorber's own operational parameters (position, velocity, acceleration, force) as measured by sensors to detect failures. The system serves itself by using its normal operational data for self-diagnosis, eliminating the need for separate test operations or additional energy-intensive monitoring mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors changes in operational parameters over time to detect failures. By tracking variations in position, velocity, acceleration, and force parameters across multiple cycles, the system can identify degradation patterns and predict failures without requiring continuous high-energy processing, instead using threshold-based or trend-based analysis.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to measure TTS and RRT parameters, then the measurement precision is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sensors that serve multiple functions: position sensors simultaneously provide position data for calculating both TTS (Time-Through-Stroke) and RRT (Rod Return Time), and can also detect abnormal positions or velocities. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each measurement, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system divides the measurement task into discrete parameter measurements (position, velocity, acceleration, force) that can be independently captured by sensors and then computationally combined to derive TTS and RRT. This segmentation allows each sensor to focus on a specific physical quantity, simplifying sensor selection and placement while achieving precise derived measurements through data processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A shock absorber system may include at least one sensor that is configured to measure an operating parameter of the shock absorber during operation of the shock. The system may be configured to determine Time-Through-Stroke (TTS) and/or Rod Return Time (RRT) utilizing data from the sensor or sensors. The system may be configured to utilize machine learning to detect and/or predict a failure of the shock absorber.