Structurally tuned vibration based component checking system and method
First Claim
1. A method for detecting anomalies in a component of an assembly prior to the component being installed in the assembly, the component being movable at one or more speeds in the assembly, the method comprising:
- configuring a component checking system, including at least one checking system sensor, capable of operating the component at one or more predetermined speeds;
determining a speed of operation for the component in the checking system, chosen from the one or more predetermined speeds;
determining at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system, the at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system being a function of the speed of operation of the component in the checking system;
configuring at least a portion of the checking system using the at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system to have at least one modal frequency within a predetermined frequency range of the checking system, the predetermined frequency range of the checking system including the at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system;
configuring at least a portion of the checking system to have modal characteristics such that discrimination for the component in the checking system is within a predetermined range based on discrimination for the component in the assembly, the discrimination for the component in the checking system being determined by comparing an amplitude response of the checking system using a component having at least one anomaly and an amplitude response of the checking system using a component having substantially no anomalies, the modal characteristics and the amplitude responses of the checking system being determined using the at least one checking system sensor;
operating the component in the checking system; and
measuring values of a response parameter of the checking system while the component is being operated in the checking system, thereby facilitating detection of anomalies in the component.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A structurally tuned, vibration-based component checking system for detecting anomalies in a component of an assembly prior to the component being installed in the assembly is provided. The component checking system operates the component being tested at a speed that is different from the speed at which the component operates during normal use in the assembly, and also under a different load. To compensate for this difference in speed and load, the component checking system is structurally tuned such that a relationship exists between the modal frequencies and speed of operation of the component checking system and the modal frequencies and speed of operation of the assembly.
24 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for detecting anomalies in a component of an assembly prior to the component being installed in the assembly, the component being movable at one or more speeds in the assembly, the method comprising:
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configuring a component checking system, including at least one checking system sensor, capable of operating the component at one or more predetermined speeds; determining a speed of operation for the component in the checking system, chosen from the one or more predetermined speeds; determining at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system, the at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system being a function of the speed of operation of the component in the checking system; configuring at least a portion of the checking system using the at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system to have at least one modal frequency within a predetermined frequency range of the checking system, the predetermined frequency range of the checking system including the at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system; configuring at least a portion of the checking system to have modal characteristics such that discrimination for the component in the checking system is within a predetermined range based on discrimination for the component in the assembly, the discrimination for the component in the checking system being determined by comparing an amplitude response of the checking system using a component having at least one anomaly and an amplitude response of the checking system using a component having substantially no anomalies, the modal characteristics and the amplitude responses of the checking system being determined using the at least one checking system sensor; operating the component in the checking system; and measuring values of a response parameter of the checking system while the component is being operated in the checking system, thereby facilitating detection of anomalies in the component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for detecting anomalies in a selected gear for a vehicle transmission prior to the selected gear being installed in the transmission, the method comprising:
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determining at least one modal frequency of the transmission using at least one sensor on a housing of the transmission determining a transmission gear mesh frequency as a function of the number of teeth on the selected gear and a speed of rotation of the selected gear in the transmission; determining whether the transmission gear mesh frequency is within a predetermined transmission frequency range, the predetermined transmission frequency range including the at least one modal frequency of the transmission determining a location of the transmission gear mesh frequency with respect to the at least one modal frequency of the transmission; determining whether at least one harmonic frequency of the transmission gear mesh frequency is within the predetermined transmission frequency range; determining a location of the at least one harmonic frequency of the transmission gear mesh frequency with respect to the at least one modal frequency of the transmission; using the at least one sensor on the transmission housing to determine a first amplitude response of the transmission, the transmission including a gear having at least one anomaly; using the at least one sensor on the transmission housing to determine a second amplitude response of the transmission, the transmission including a gear having substantially no anomalies; determining a discrimination for the selected gear in the transmission by comparing the first and second amplitude responses; configuring a gear checking system, including at least one checking system sensor, capable of rotating the selected gear at one or more predetermined speeds; determining a speed of rotation for the selected gear in the checking system, chosen from the one or more predetermined speeds; determining a checking system gear mesh frequency as a function of the number of teeth on the selected gear and the speed of rotation of the selected gear in the checking system; determining at least one harmonic frequency of the checking system gear mesh frequency; configuring at least a portion of the checking system to have at least one modal frequency within a predetermined frequency range of the checking system, the predetermined frequency range of the checking system including the checking system gear mesh frequency and the at least one harmonic frequency of the checking system gear mesh frequency; further configuring at least a portion of the checking system to have modal characteristics such that discrimination for the selected gear in the checking system is within a predetermined range based on the discrimination for the component in the transmission, the discrimination for the selected gear in the checking system being determined by comparing an amplitude response of the checking system using a gear having at least one anomaly and an amplitude response of the checking system using a gear having substantially no anomalies, the modal characteristics and the amplitude responses of the checking system being determined using the at least one checking system sensor; rotating the selected gear in the checking system; and measuring values of a response parameter of the checking system while the selected gear is being rotated in the checking system, thereby facilitating detection of anomalies in the gear. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for detecting anomalies in a component of an assembly prior to the component being installed in the assembly, the component being movable at one or more speeds in the assembly, the method comprising:
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configuring a component checking system, including at least one checking system sensor, capable of operating the component at one or more predetermined speeds; determining a speed of operation for the component in the checking system, chosen from the one or more predetermined speeds; determining at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system, the at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system being a function of the speed of operation of the component in the checking system; configuring at least a portion of the checking system to have at least one modal frequency within a predetermined frequency range of the checking system, the predetermined frequency range of the checking system including the at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the checking system; configuring at least a portion of the checking system to have modal characteristics such that discrimination for the component in the checking system is within a predetermined range based on discrimination for the component in the assembly, the discrimination for the component in the checking system being determined by comparing an amplitude response of the checking system using a component having at least one anomaly and an amplitude response of the checking system using a component having substantially no anomalies, the modal characteristics and the amplitude responses of the checking system being determined using the at least one checking system sensor; operating the component in the checking system; measuring values of a response parameter of the checking system while the component is being operated in the checking system, thereby facilitating detection of anomalies in the component; determining at least one modal frequency of the assembly using at least one assembly sensor; determining at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the assembly, the at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the assembly being a function of a speed of the component at which at least one anomaly is detectable when the component is operating in the assembly; determining whether the at least one anomaly frequency of the component in the assembly is within a predetermined frequency range of the assembly, the predetermined frequency range of the assembly including the at least one modal frequency of the assembly; and determining a location of the at least one anomaly frequency with respect to the at least one modal frequency of the assembly. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification