Embedded wear sensor
First Claim
1. The wear detector combination comprising a bearing member and a fiber optic line, said fiber optic line including at least one optical fiber, said bearing member including a bearing surface, said fiber optic line accessing and exiting said bearing member whereby a segment of said fiber optic line is embedded at said bearing surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Fiber optic filaments are embedded at a bearing surface. In the context of a mechanical bearing system, the filaments wear as the surface wears. Based on the observed amount of light which is transmitted through the filaments, the degradation of the filaments is related in a measurable way to the wear of the bearing surface. The sole power requisite for inventive operation is light, for observation purposes. As compared with convention approaches to wear measurement, the invention more accurately measures wear of the bearing itself and is therefore a better predictor of servicing requirements. Inventive practice of remote wear monitoring is a viable and preferable option.
84 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. The wear detector combination comprising a bearing member and a fiber optic line, said fiber optic line including at least one optical fiber, said bearing member including a bearing surface, said fiber optic line accessing and exiting said bearing member whereby a segment of said fiber optic line is embedded at said bearing surface.
- 6. A wear-sensing device comprising fiber optic means and bearing means, said bearing means having passage means and an inwardly-facing surface which is provided with channel means communicating with said passage means, said bearing means thereby being adapted to accommodating ingress and egress of said fiber optic means whereby said channel means retains a portion of said fiber optic means, and whereby said portion of said fiber optic means is nearly flush with respect to said inwardly-facing surface.
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15. For a mechanical system of the type including a rotatable shaft and a bearing, wherein said bearing includes an inside bearing surface and wherein said rotatable shaft is in slidable engagement with said inside bearing surface, a method of ascertaining wear of said inside bearing surface which is consequential of said engagement, said method comprising:
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providing a fiber optic bundle having a substantially uniform fiber optic thickness, a first fiber optic end, a second fiber optic end and a total fiber optic length between said first fiber optic end and said second fiber optic end, said total fiber length including a partial fiber optic length intermediate said first fiber optic end and said second fiber optic end; associating said fiber optic bundle with said bearing, said associating including entrenching said partial fiber optic length in said inside bearing surface whereby said partial fiber optic length reaches a substantially uniform depth beneath said inside bearing surface which is at least fifty percent of said fiber optic thickness; transmitting light through said total fiber optic length from said first fiber optic end to said second fiber optic end; and comparing the quantity of said transmitted light at said first fiber optic end with the quantity of said transmitted light at said second fiber optic end. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification