Debris detector for non-ferrous bearings

• US 9,879,824 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2013
• Issued: 01/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron Incorporated (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: McCollough, James M., Ehinger, Ryan T., Bunch, Troy
• Primary Examiner(s): GURTOWSKI, RICHARD C
• Application Number:
  US13/863,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20140305740A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,751 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 27/00 Rotorcraft; Rotors peculiar thereto
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 45/00 Aircraft indicators or protectors not otherwise provided for camouflage F41H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/00 Special means in lubricating arrangements or systems providing for the indication or detection of undesired conditions; Use of devices responsive to conditions in lubricating arrangements or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/04 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2858 Metal particles
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2888 Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration lubricating properties G01N33/30

Abstract

A system and method to detect non-ferrous debris from a non-ferrous roller bearing element. The system includes a trap in fluid communication with a lubrication fluid of the non-ferrous bearing and a sensor operably associate with the trap. The method includes trapping the non-ferrous material debris in the lubrication fluid with the trap and triggering the sensor upon detection of the non-ferrous material debris trapped within the trap.

Claims

1. A system to detect non-ferrous material debris of a damaged roller bearing element, the system comprising:

a trap in fluid communication with a lubrication fluid of the roller bearing element, the trap having a body with a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the body;

wherein the openings provide fluid passage therethrough;

a compensator operably associated with the trap; and

a sensor operably associate with the trap;

wherein the trap is configured to collect the non-ferrous material debris while allowing passage of the lubrication fluid;

wherein the compensator pivots;

wherein the trap is configured to pivot due to non-ferrous debris collection; and

wherein the sensor is triggered by the trap pivoting upon detection of the non-ferrous material debris collected by the trap.

2. The system of claim 1,

wherein the compensator is configured to compensate for lubrication fluid pressure by pivoting.

3. The system of claim 2, the compensator comprising:

an orifice configured to allow fluid passage therethrough.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the orifice is configured to change in opening size to restrict fluid passage therethrough.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the orifice is composed of a material that expands as heat is applied thereagainst, thus changing the opening size of the orifice to restrict fluid passage therethrough.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising:

a control system; and

a driver operably associated with the orifice;

wherein the control system commands the driver to change the opening size of the orifice.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a linkage system operably associated with the trap and the sensor;

wherein the linkage system triggers the sensor as the non-ferrous material debris is trapped in the trap.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

the compensator operably associated with the trap and linkage system;

wherein the compensator is configured to compensate for lubrication fluid pressure; and

wherein the linkage system is configured to pivot the trap with pivoting movement of the compensator.

9. The system of claim 8, the linkage system comprising:

a first link attached to the compensator;

a second link attached to the trap; and

a third link configured to join the first link and the second link, the third link having a lever configured to trigger the sensor with pivoting movement of the trap.

10. The system of claim 8, the linkage system comprising:

a link attached to both the trap and the compensator, the link having a lever that triggers the sensor with pivoting movement of the trap.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a bypass valve positioned upstream of the trap;

wherein the bypass valve restricts lubrication fluid from passing through the trap.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a control system operably associated with the bypass valve;

wherein the control system is configured to open and close the bypass valve, thereby allowing lubrication fluid to pass through the trap.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control system operably associated with the sensor.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

an indicator operably associated with the control system and configured to indicate whether non-ferrous material debris is collected by the trap.

15. The system of claim 1, the trap comprising:

an orifice configured for fluid passage;

a perforated strainer configured to receive the lubrication fluid passing through the orifice and configured to trap the non-ferrous material debris.

16. An aircraft, comprising:

a rotor system having a non-ferrous bearing;

a lubrication system configured to lubricate the non-ferrous bearing with a lubrication fluid;

a non-ferrous material debris detection system, having;

a trap in fluid communication with a lubrication fluid, the trap having a body with a plurality of openings extending through a thickness of the body;

wherein the openings provide fluid passage therethrough; and

a sensor operably associated with the trap, the sensor configured to detect motion of the trap;

wherein the trap is configured to collect the non-ferrous material debris in the lubrication fluid;

wherein the trap is configured to pivot due to non-ferrous debris collection; and

wherein the sensor is triggered by the trap pivoting upon detection of the non-ferrous material debris collected by the trap.

17. The aircraft of claim 16, further comprising:

a linkage system operably associated with the trap and the sensor;

wherein the linkage system triggers the sensor as the non-ferrous material debris is collected in the trap.

18. The aircraft of claim 16, further comprising:

a control system operably associated with the sensor; and

an indicator operably associated with the control system and configured to indicate whether non-ferrous material debris is trapped in the trap.