ADDITIVE MANUFACTURED COMPONENT THAT INDICATES WEAR AND SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF
First Claim
1. A three-dimensional printed metal gear component for an enclosed oil system comprising:
- a three-dimensional printed metal body formed of a plurality of metal layers of a first metal and having a plurality of teeth; and
at least one first three-dimensional printed wear-identifying layer of a second metal, different from the first metal, embedded in at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth at a first predetermined depth from a first outer surface portion of the at least one tooth such that all sides of the first wear-identifying layer are surrounded by the metal body,wherein the first outer surface portion of the at least one tooth is constructed to movingly contact a metal gear component of the enclosed oil system different from the three-dimensional printed metal gear component, andwherein the first predetermined depth defines a predetermined wear state of the at least one tooth associated with replacement of the three-dimensional printed metal gear component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A three-dimensional printed metal component for a lubricated system is provided. The metal component includes a three-dimensional printed metal body formed of a plurality of metal layers of a first metal and having a contact surface configured to movingly contact another component of the lubricated system. The metal component further includes at least one first three-dimensional printed wear-identifying layer of a material different from the first metal embedded in the metal body at a predetermined depth, a predetermined distance from an outer surface portion of the contact surface. The predetermined distance defines a predetermined wear state of the contact surface associated with replacement of the metal component.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A three-dimensional printed metal gear component for an enclosed oil system comprising:
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a three-dimensional printed metal body formed of a plurality of metal layers of a first metal and having a plurality of teeth; and at least one first three-dimensional printed wear-identifying layer of a second metal, different from the first metal, embedded in at least one tooth of the plurality of teeth at a first predetermined depth from a first outer surface portion of the at least one tooth such that all sides of the first wear-identifying layer are surrounded by the metal body, wherein the first outer surface portion of the at least one tooth is constructed to movingly contact a metal gear component of the enclosed oil system different from the three-dimensional printed metal gear component, and wherein the first predetermined depth defines a predetermined wear state of the at least one tooth associated with replacement of the three-dimensional printed metal gear component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A system comprising:
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a first three-dimensional printed metal part for a first lubricated sub-system, the first three-dimensional printed metal part including; a first three-dimensional printed metal body formed of a plurality of metal layers of a first metal and having a plurality of contact surfaces, and at least one first three-dimensional printed marker layer of a first material different from the first metal, positioned in the first three-dimensional printed metal body at a first predetermined depth from a first contact surface of the plurality of contact surfaces, wherein the first predetermined depth is indicative of an amount of wear of the first contact surface associated with replacement of the first three-dimensional printed metal part. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method comprising:
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additive printing a plurality of metal layers of a first metal to form a first printed metal body having a first contact surface; and additive printing at least one first wear marker layer of a second metal, different from the first metal, the at least one first wear marker layer being provided in the first printed metal body at a first predetermined distance away from the first contact surface, wherein the first predetermined distance is indicative of an amount of wear of the first contact surface associated with replacement of the first printed metal body. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification