Sealed bearing assembly failure detection
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorsStephen R. Sammataro, Michael F. Mullen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and system for magnetically detecting thermal degradation of a component. A multiple of ferrous metal segments are attached to a component not within a lubrication circuit of a lubrication system with a thermally-affected bonding agent. The thermally-affected bonding agent is operable to detach at a threshold temperature at least one of the multiple of ferrous metal segments such that the at least one of the multiple of detached ferrous metal segments enters the lubrication circuit of the lubrication system. The at least one of the multiple of ferrous metal segments which detached are then detected within the lubrication system.
Claims18
A method of magnetically detecting thermal degradation of a component comprising:
- attaching a multiple of ferrous metal segments to a component not within a lubrication circuit of a lubrication system with a thermally-affected bonding agent, the thermally-affected bonding agent operable to detach at a threshold temperature at least one of the multiple of ferrous metal segments such that the at least one of the multiple of detached ferrous metal segments enters the lubrication circuit of the lubrication system;
- and
- detecting the at least one of the multiple of ferrous metal segments within the lubrication system.
An anti-torque system for a rotary ring aircraft comprising:
- an outer ring of a sealed bearing;
- an inner ring of said sealed bearing
- a bearing element between said outer ring and said inner ring;
- and
- a multiple of ferrous metal segments bonded to said inner ring with a thermally-affected bonding agent, the thermally-affected bonding agent operable to break down at a temperature threshold and detach at least one of the multiple of ferrous metal segments from the inner ring.
A system comprising:
- a lubrication system having a lubrication circuit;
- a component not within said lubrication circuit, said component having attached a multiple of ferrous metal segments with a thermally-affected bonding agent, the thermally-affected bonding agent operable to detach at a threshold temperature at least one of the multiple of ferrous metal segments such that the at least one of the multiple of detached ferrous metal segments enters the lubrication circuit of the lubrication system;
- and
- a detector in communication with said lubrication system, said detector operable to detect said at least one of said multiple of ferrous metal segments which detach.
A rotary ring aircraft comprising:
- a lubrication system having a lubrication circuit;
- a component not within said lubrication circuit, said component having attached a multiple of ferrous metal segments with a thermally-affected bonding agent, the thermally-affected bonding agent operable to detach at a threshold temperature at least one of the multiple of ferrous metal segments such that the at least one of the multiple of detached ferrous metal segments enters the lubrication circuit of the lubrication system;
- and
- a detector in communication with said lubrication system, said detector operable to detect said at least one of said multiple of ferrous metal segments which detach.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.