Bearing life cycle prognostics

• US 9,080,926 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2009
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Murray, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Tan V.
• Application Number:
  US13/392,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20120239716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,147 Days
• Field of Search: 708/160
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/52 with devices affected by abnormal or undesired conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2233/00 Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/004 Electro-dynamic machines, e.g. motors, generators, actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/007 Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/04 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/025 adapted to a specific application

Abstract

A life-cycle prognosis is created of a rolling-element bearing. As from manufacturing of the bearing and during the bearing'"'"'s life-cycle that may include periods of the bearing'"'"'s non-use, service life data is obtained indicative of one or more factors that occur during the life-cycle and that affect the length of the life-cycle. The service life data is obtained together with identification data that is representative of a machine-readable identifier, applied to the bearing at manufacturing. The identifier serves to uniquely identify the bearing throughout its life. The identification data is used for identifying in a database a history log of the bearing. The service life data is accumulated in the history log of the bearing as from the manufacturing. The history log is used with a specific mathematical life-cycle model for creating an update of the life-cycle prognosis.

Claims

1. A method of creating a prognosis of a life-cycle of a particular rolling-element bearing, the method comprises:

obtaining service life data, indicative of one or more factors occurring during the life-cycle of the particular rolling-element bearing and affecting a length of the life-cycle of the particular rolling-element bearing;

obtaining identification data, representative of a machine-readable identifier, applied to the particular rolling-element bearing at the manufacturing of the particular rolling-element bearing, for uniquely identifying the particular rolling-element bearing;

using the obtained identification data for identifying in a database a history log of the particular rolling-element bearing;

accumulating the obtained service life data, as from the manufacturing, in the history log of the particular rolling-element bearing; and

by operation of a data processing unit, using the history log with a specific mathematical life-cycle model for creating an update of the prognosis, wherein the prognosis of the particular rolling-element bearing is created over a time span that begins as of a date manufacture and extends through the life-cycle and including a period of non-use.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the specific mathematical life-cycle model from a plurality of mathematical life-cycle models on the basis of the identification data.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising enabling an end-user of the particular rolling-element bearing to do at least one of the following:

specifying one or more parameters of the specific mathematical life-cycle model;

specifying the specific mathematical life-cycle model; and

changing the specific mathematical life-cycle model.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the service life data is obtained during the period of non-use.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the service life data obtained during the period of non-use includes vibrations experienced by the particular rolling-element bearing.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the period of non-use includes when the particular rolling-element bearing is positioned within a package and is being shipped to a destination.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the period of non-use includes when the particular rolling-element bearing is kept in storage.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the period of non-use includes when the particular rolling-element bearing is being installed before a first use of the particular rolling-element bearing.