ROLLER BEARING INSPECTION SYSTEM

PHASE I OBJECTIVES ARE TO DEVELOP THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN OF A ROLLER BEARING MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND TO DEMONSTRATE ITS FEASIBILITY. THEN, APPROPRIATE MEASURING TECHNIQUES FOR THE VARIOUS PARAMETERS WILL BE IDENTIFIED. CANDIDATE MEASURING TECHNIQUES WILL INCLUDE HETERODYNE INTERFEROMETERS, EDDY CURRENT SENSORS, OPTICAL TRIANGULATION SENSORS, MOIRE DEFLECTOMETRY, AND LASER MICROMETERS. THE CRITICAL TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE PART OF THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN WILL BE MOCKED UP AND TESTED AND THEN DEMONSTRATED TO THE NAVY. TECHNOLOGIES SELECTED WILL DEPEND UPON THE NAVY'S GAUGING REQUIREMENTS AND THE SPECIFIC PARAMETERS TO BE MEASURED. IT IS ASSUMED THAT SEVERAL OPTICAL AND ELECTRONIC SENSORS WILL BE COMBINED INTO ONE INSPECTION STATION. THE MECHANICAL HANDLING SYSTEM WILL ALSO BE CONSIDERED AND WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN FOR THE FINAL SYSTEM.