High Performance Cage Sensors for Rolling Element Bearing Health Monitoring

Obtaining reliable diagnostic information on turbine engine main shaft bearings is difficult due to space constraints, operating environment, and poor transmissibility of vibration from the bearing to a case-mounted accelerometer. Prior work has shown that bearing cage parameters provide valuable information on bearing health, and might be used to detect incipient spalls in a turbine engine bearing. A passive miniature wireless sensor used to collect this cage data has already been demonstrated on a number of different bearings during rig testing. For this project, Sentient Corporation will enhance this wireless sensor to address the needs of the turbine engine main bearing application. During Phase I, a working prototype of one or more new designs will be tested on a subscale bearing at moderate temperatures, and in a thermal chamber to show 300 deg C capability. Sentient will also work with a major turbine engine manufacturer to determine design constraints and options, and explore opportunities to test a prototype device on a full-scale, full speed rig test of an actual turbine engine bearing as part of the DARPA Prognosis Program.