Additive manufactured component that indicates wear and system and method thereof
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorLonny E. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A three-dimensional printed metal component for a lubricated system is provided. The metal component includes a three-dimensional printed metal body formed of a plurality of metal layers of a first metal and having a contact surface configured to movingly contact another component of the lubricated system. The metal component further includes at least one first three-dimensional printed wear-identifying layer of a material different from the first metal embedded in the metal body at a predetermined depth, a predetermined distance from an outer surface portion of the contact surface. The predetermined distance defines a predetermined wear state of the contact surface associated with replacement of the metal component.
Claims16
A system comprising:
- a first three-dimensional printed metal part for a first lubricated sub-system, the first three-dimensional printed metal part including:
- a first three-dimensional printed metal body formed of a plurality of metal layers of a first metal and having a plurality of contact surfaces,
- at least one first three-dimensional printed marker layer of a first material different from the first metal, positioned in the first three-dimensional printed metal body at a first predetermined depth from a first contact surface of the plurality of contact surfaces,
- wherein the first predetermined depth is indicative of an amount of wear of the first contact surface associated with replacement of the first three-dimensional printed metal part, and
- lubricant analysis sensor circuitry configured to perform an on-board detection of loose portions of the at least one first three-dimensional printed marker layer in lubricant of the first lubricated sub-system where the lubricant and the first three-dimensional printed metal part remain in the first lubricated sub-system and the first lubricated sub-system remains closed.
A method comprising:
- additive printing a plurality of metal layers of a first metal to form a first printed metal body having a first contact surface;
- additive printing at least one first wear marker layer of a second metal, different from the first metal, the at least one first wear marker layer being provided in the first printed metal body at a first predetermined distance away from the first contact surface,
- wherein the first predetermined distance is indicative of an amount of wear of the first contact surface associated with replacement of the first printed metal body,
- providing a lubricant analysis sensor circuitry configured to detect loose portions of the at least one first three-dimensional printed marker layer in lubricant of the first lubricated sub-system;
- and
- performing, using the lubricant analysis sensor circuitry, an on-board detection of the loose portions of the at least one first three-dimensional printed marker layer in the lubricant of the first lubricated sub-system when the lubricant and the first three-dimensional printed metal part remain in the first lubricant sub-system and the first lubricated sub-system remains closed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.