Debris detector for non-ferrous bearings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9879824-B2
Application number	US-201313863126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2013
Priority date	Apr 15, 2013
Publication date	Jan 30, 2018
Grant date	Jan 30, 2018

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

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.

Assignees

• Bell Helicopter Textron Inc

Inventors

• Mccollough James M
• Ehinger Ryan T
• Bunch Troy

Classifications

• F16N29/00 Primary

  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 title

• G01N33/2858

  Metal particles · CPC title

• B64C27/00

  Rotorcraft; Rotors peculiar thereto · CPC title

• G01N33/2888

  Lubricating oil characteristics, e.g. deterioration (lubricating properties G01N33/30) · CPC title

• G01M13/04

  Bearings · CPC title