Method of locating friction generating defects in a multiple bearing assembly

Claim 1

A method of determining the location and type of dimensional defects in an assembly having certain sliding or rolling contact surfaces during simulated operation of such assembly and before any damage results to such assembly, comprising: (a) initiating simulated operation of said assembly; (b) sensing any change in the temperature of said assembly surrounding the location of each said certain sliding or rolling contact surface (i) with a resolution power of 0.02-1.0 C° and (ii) during a time span of 2-10 seconds measured from such initiation to provide separated voltage signals for each location; (c) digitizing said signals; and (d) comparing the sensed digitized signals with reference digitized signals for such an assembly without defects operated during the same time span and adjusted to compensate for any differing ambient thermal conditions, any deviations detected by such comparison representing defects.

Claim 2

A method of determining the location and type of dimensional defects in an assembly having certain sliding or rolling contact surfaces during simulated operation of such assembly and before any damage results to such assembly, comprising: (a) initiating simulated operation of said assembly; (b) sensing any change in the temperature of said assembly surrounding the location of each said certain sliding or rolling contact surface (i) with a resolution power of 0.02-1.0 C° and (ii) during a time span of 2-10 seconds measured from such initiation to provide separated voltage signals for each location; (c) digitizing said signals; and (d) comparing the sensed digitized signals with reference digitized signals for such an assembly without defects operated during the same time span and adjusted to compensate for any differing ambient thermal conditions, any deviations detected by such comparison representing defects.

Claim 14

A method of determining the location and type of friction generating defects in an engine subassembly containing pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft, comprising: (a) motoring such subassembly at ambient conditions on-line during engine assembly; (b) sensing the infrared thermal emission of said subassembly at one or more predetermined focus locations (i) within a resolution power of 0.1-0.7 C° change and (ii) during a time span of 2-10 seconds measured from the initiation of said motoring to provide a continuous analog signal; (c) converting said signal to a digitized thermal map within a computer; (d) comparing the sensed digitized thermal map to a reference digitized thermal map (i) for such an engine subassembly known to be without defects, (ii) operated during the same time span, and (iii) adjusted to compensate for any differing ambient conditions; (e) transport said subassembly off-line if said comparison indicates a deviation in temperature of plus or minus the resolution power of said sensing from the reference digitized thermal map at a zone of said sensed digitized thermal map associated with selected sliding or rolling contact surfaces; (f) repair defect at zone location indicated in step (e) for said deviation; and (g) return to on-line assembly for repeat of steps (a)-(f).

Claim 15

A method of determining the location and type of friction generating defects in an engine subassembly containing pistons, connecting rods and crankshaft, comprising: (a) motoring such subassembly at ambient conditions on-line during engine assembly; (b) sensing the infrared thermal emission of said subassembly at one or more predetermined focus locations (i) within a resolution power of 0.1-0.7 C° change and (ii) during a time span of 2-10 seconds measured from the initiation of said motoring to provide a continuous analog signal; (c) converting said signal to a digitized thermal map within a computer; (d) comparing the sensed digitized thermal map to a reference digitized thermal map (i) for such an engine subassembly known to be without defects, (ii) operated during the same time span, and (iii) adjusted to compensate for any differing ambient conditions; (e) transport said subassembly off-line if said comparison indicates a deviation in temperature of plus or minus the resolution power of said sensing from the reference digitized thermal map at a zone of said sensed digitized thermal map associated with selected sliding or rolling contact surfaces; (f) repair defect at zone location indicated in step (e) for said deviation; and (g) return to on-line assembly for repeat of steps (a)-(f).