Fault Detection in Ceramic Hybrid Bearings using ImpactEnergyT

Impact Technologies, in cooperation with the Timken Company, proposes the development, implementation and validation of diagnostic and prognostic (D&P) technologies specifically designed for real-time, automated health assessment of ceramic hybrid bearings. Using the team's in-depth knowledge of bearing failure, the optimal set of operating data required for early detection will be determined. Through intelligent fusion of the vibration-based and other health monitoring data with model-based techniques, a comprehensive fault detection capability will be achieved. The vibration monitoring approach will be adapted from the existing ImpactEnergyT processing suite developed by Impact over the past several years. This suite consists of higher frequency bandpass demodulation and sensor resonance processing techniques that have been demonstrated on hundreds of data sets to produce early indicators of bearing component failure. The methods proposed produce indications well in advance of conventional Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) bearing fault detection approaches, which may not "see" the fault until it is near catastrophic failure especially in mechanically complex systems with significant "normal" noise. In addition, up-to-date assessments and predictions of the ceramic bearing's remaining useful life for use in automated maintenance systems will also be pursued through the utilization of these multiple sources of engineering information.