High sensitivity bearing tester and systems thereof
| DWPI Title: Apparatus for testing bearing has which rotates motor shaft, allowing inner race to be rotated and permitting torsional loss to be determined by measuring force applied to load cell by arm |
| Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for testing a bearing, as well as systems including such an apparatus. In one instance, the apparatus allows for torsional losses of a bearing to be determined in a highly sensitive manner. Results can be determined in a controlled environment, as the system can include an environmental enclosure to encapsulate the testing apparatus. |
| Use: Apparatus for testing a bearing. Can be used for ball bearings, plain bearings, rolling element bearings, jewel bearings, fluid bearings, magnetic bearings, flexure bearings, composite bearings, needle roller bearings, tapered roller bearings, thrust bearings e.g., ball thrust bearings and/or roller thrust bearings, spherical roller bearings. |
| Advantage: Allows for coupled torsional losses to be measured in a highly sensitive manner. Torque measurements can be determined in a controlled environment, as the apparatus can be provided within an enclosure with controlled inlets and outlets to deliver one or more cover gases. The apparatus allows for rotation of an inner race of a test bearing by a reliable motor, in which a measurement of torsional loss includes use of a multiplier arm attached to an outer race of the test bearing, in turn, the arm is further coupled to a highly sensitive load cell configured to measure an exerted force, and by measuring the exerted force and knowing the distance between the load cell and the center of the test bearing, torque can be calculated. |
| Novelty: The apparatus has a cartridge (103) to couple directly or indirectly to an outer race (102) of a bearing, an arm (104) attached to the cartridge, a load cell (105) comprising a contact point (115) attached to the arm, and a motor shaft (107) which couples directly or indirectly to an inner race (101) of a bearing. The cartridge couples to the outer race but not to the inner race, and comprises a first end and a second end, the first end configured to attach to the arm, and the second end to a mechanical balance. The motor shaft rotates, allowing the inner race to be rotated and permitting the torsional loss to be determined by measuring a force applied to the load cell by the arm. |
| Filed: 7/25/2017 |
| Application Number: US15659479A |
| Tech ID: SD 13670.1 |
| This invention was made with Government support under Contract No. DE-NA0003525 awarded by the United States Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration. The Government has certain rights in the invention. |
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