Description:DESCRIPTION:
Field of the invention:
[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to the technical field of bearing test apparatus, and in specific relates to a bearing test apparatus for center bearings that aids to simulate worse field conditions and evaluate center bearing and other propeller shaft components against angular axial loads.
Background of the invention:
[0002] The drive shaft (also called propeller shaft or prop shaft) is a component of the drive train in a vehicle, with the purpose of delivering torque from the transmission to the differential, which then transmits this torque to the wheels in order to move the vehicle. The driveshaft is primarily used to transfer torque between components that are separated by a distance since different components must be in different locations in the vehicle. A front-engine rear-wheel-drive car must have a long drive shaft connecting the rear axle to the transmission since these parts are on opposite sides of the car.
[0003] In the drive train assembly for the particular vehicle, the Center Bearing assembly is used as a Center Support assembly which holds the Propeller Shaft with the vehicle chassis or mounting bracket when multiple shafts are used in the vehicle to compensate for the high separation distance from the gearbox to Axle. The Propeller shaft consists of Center Bearing, called a Coupling shaft and the Propeller shaft consists of a Sliding joint, called a Driveshaft.
[0004] To isolate the vibration from the propeller shaft assembly, the Center Bearing assembly is used as a vibration isolator and it is rotatably fitted with the Coupling shaft. The U-shaped Center bearing bracket is mounted with the Cross member/support member of the vehicle chassis to hold the Coupling shaft at the required position. The Center bearing assembly is used to assemble with the Coupling shaft to hold the shaft with the Vehicle chassis. The Center Bearing assembly comprises a Center Bearing Bracket, Rubber housing, Bearing and the Seals on both sides of the bearing.
[0005] In a Drive train assembly, the Center Bearing assembly is subjected to Dynamic forces such as secondary couple forces, centrifugal force generated from the propeller shaft unbalance etc. Also, the Center Bearing is subjected to the axial forces generated from propeller shaft Sliding joint assembly during length compensation due to change in vehicle suspension condition caused by road /load condition from the differential side. Also, the Engine floating phenomena of the Engine mounting imparts the axial force to the Center Bearing from the transmission side.
[0006] Conventional test apparatus and test methods evaluate center bearing stiffness by utilizing axial forces in X, Y, and Z directions. But the tests do not consider heavy overloading in the vehicle and rough road conditions which cause a change in suspension position which further leads to the change in driveshaft angle. The change in driveshaft angle and suspension position often causes various unknown failure modes of the center bearing assembly and other propeller shaft components.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a bearing test apparatus for center bearings that aids to simulate angular load conditions to evaluate center bearing and other propeller shaft components against angular axial loads. Such a test apparatus should possess the capability to evaluate other components of the propeller shaft such as flange yoke, universal joint and other components along with center bearing are evaluated against the angular axial forces using the test apparatus.
[0008] In addition, there is a need for a need to prolong the life of the center bearing assembly by simulating angular load conditions in the test apparatus. A test apparatus that aids to simulate failure mode in angular load conditions and thereby prevents unexpected failure modes and enhances existing centre bearing assembly or propeller shaft components.
Objectives of the invention:
[0009] The primary objective of the invention is to provide a bearing test apparatus for center bearings that aids to simulate angular load conditions to evaluate center bearing and other propeller shaft components against angular axial loads.
[0010] The other objective of the invention is to apply angular axial forces to the center bearing in X, Y and Z directions by placing the flange yoke of the fixed joint at a required angular position to simulate the angular load conditions in the test apparatus.
[0011] Yet another objective of the invention is to evaluate the other components of the propeller shaft such as flange yoke, universal joint and other components along with center bearing against the angular axial forces using the test apparatus.
[0012] Another objective of the invention is to prolong the life of the center bearing assembly by simulating angular load conditions in the test apparatus.
[0013] Further objective of the invention is to simulate failure mode in angular load conditions while the center bearing assembly is in use and thereby prevent unexpected failure modes and enhance existing centre bearing assembly or propeller shaft components.
Summary of the invention:
[0014] The present disclosure proposes a test apparatus for center bearings and method of testing thereof. The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the claimed subject matter. This summary is not an extensive overview. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
[0015] In order to overcome the above deficiencies of the prior art, the present disclosure is to solve the technical problem to provide a bearing test apparatus for center bearings that aids to simulate worse field conditions and evaluate center bearing and other propeller shaft components against angular axial loads.
[0016] According to an aspect, the invention provides a bearing test apparatus for center bearings. The bearing test apparatus for center bearings comprises a vertical support structure, a short shaft member, a center bearing assembly, a flange shaft member, a lever and an actuator.
[0017] The short shaft member is configured with a center bearing provision on one end and configured with an adapter on the other end to slidably connect to the vertical support structure. The center bearing assembly is mounted on the center bearing provision of the short shaft member and fixedly mounted on a spacer at a certain height for support.
[0018] The flange shaft member is connected to the other end of the short shaft member that is configured with plurality of fixed joints connected in series with each other to transmit a combined load to the center bearing assembly through the short shaft member. In specific, the plurality of fixed joints comprise a first fixed joint and a second fixed joint each configured with two flange yokes connected to each other using a universal joint and each fixed joint connected to each other that enable applying angular force on the center bearing assembly.
[0019] The fixed joint near the center bearing assembly is inclined at a certain angle before starting the simulation to simulate angular operating conditions. In specific, the angle of the fixed joint of the flange shaft member is varied based on the load required for the simulation of angular operating conditions. The lever is connected to the flange shaft member that is configured to apply combined load in X, Y, and Z directions on the short shaft member through the fixed joints of the flange shaft member.
[0020] The actuator connected to the lever is configured to actuate the lever to simulate angular operating conditions. In specific, the actuator is a hydraulic actuator or any other similar actuator. The bearing test apparatus for center bearings aids to simulate angular operating conditions, identifying the worst failure mode due to combined loading and thereby aids to enhance the life of center bearings and other propeller shaft components. In specific, the worst failure mode includes wear of rubber housing from its contact surfaces and tearing of honeycomb pockets of the center bearing assembly.
[0021] According to another aspect, the invention provides a method of testing a center bearing using a bearing test apparatus. Firstly, an axial load is calculated based on the requirement. Next, the center bearing assembly is mounted on a short shaft member and thereby the mounted canter bearing is fixed on a spacer of a certain height. Next, the flange shaft member is aligned at a certain inclination based on the required angular load and required degree of freedom during simulation.
[0022] Next, the required angular load is applied to the center bearing assembly using a lever and an actuator. Finally, the process is repeated for a number of cycles to thereby identify failure modes of the center bearing assembly. In specific, in each cycle of testing, the failure modes are identified by monitoring deflection in the bracket of the center bearing assembly. The number of cycles varies based on the vehicle in which the center bearing is utilized.
[0023] Further, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from a study of the following portion of the specification, the claims, and the attached drawings.
Detailed description of drawings:
[0024] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, explain the principles of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 1A illustrates an exemplary isometric view of a bearing test apparatus for center bearings in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0026] FIG. 1B illustrates an exemplary front view of an exemplary bearing test apparatus for center bearings in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0027] FIG. 1C illustrates an exemplary top view of an exemplary bearing test apparatus for center bearings in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0028] FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary front view of a short shaft member in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0029] FIG. 2B illustrates an exemplary exploded view of the short shaft member in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0030] FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary front view of an exemplary flange shaft member in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0031] FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary exploded view of the flange shaft member in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary method of bearing test apparatus for center bearings in accordance to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
Detailed invention disclosure:
[0033] Various embodiments of the present invention will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same or similar reference numerals are used in the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts or steps.
[0034] The present disclosure has been made with a view towards solving the problem with the prior art described above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a bearing test apparatus that aids to simulate worse field conditions and evaluate center bearing and other propeller shaft components against angular axial loads.
[0035] According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1A refers to bearing test apparatus 100 for center bearings. The bearing test apparatus 100 for center bearings comprises a vertical support structure 112, a short shaft member 110, a center bearing assembly 108, a flange shaft member 106, a lever 102 and an actuator 104. The bearing test apparatus 100 for center bearings aids simulate worse field conditions and evaluate center bearing and other propeller shaft components against angular axial loads.
[0036] The short shaft member 110 is configured with a center bearing provision on one end and configured with an adapter on the other end to slidably connect to the vertical support structure 112. The center bearing assembly 108 is mounted on the center bearing provision of the short shaft member 110 and fixedly mounted on a spacer 114 at a height for support.
[0037] The flange shaft member 106 is connected to the other end of the short shaft member 110 that is configured with plurality of fixed joints connected in series with each other to transmit a combined load to the center bearing assembly 108 through the short shaft member 110. In specific, the plurality of fixed joints of the flange shaft member 106 comprises at least two fixed joints which further comprise a first fixed joint and a second fixed joint each configured with two flange yokes connected to each other using a universal joint and each fixed joint connected to each other that enable applying angular force on the center bearing assembly 108.
[0038] The fixed joint near the center bearing assembly 108 is inclined at a certain angle before starting the simulation to simulate angular operating conditions. In specific, the angle of the fixed joint of the flange shaft member 106 is varied based on the load required for the simulation of angular operating conditions. The lever 102 is connected to the flange shaft member 106 that is configured to apply combined load in X, Y, and Z directions on the short shaft member 110 through the fixed joints of the flange shaft member 106.
[0039] The actuator 104 is connected to lever 102 that is configured to actuate the lever 102 to simulate angular operating conditions. In specific, the actuator 104 is a hydraulic actuator or any other similar actuator. The bearing test apparatus 100 for center bearings aids to simulate angular operating conditions, identifying the worst failure mode due to combined loading and thereby aids to enhance the life of center bearings and other propeller shaft components. In specific, the worst failure mode includes wear of rubber housing from its contact surfaces and tearing of honeycomb pockets of the center bearing assembly 108.
[0040] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B and FIG. 1C refer to the front view and top view of the bearing test apparatus 100 of center bearings. The short shaft 110 is connected between the vertical support structure 112 and center bearing assembly 108. In specific, the center bearing assembly 108 is mounted on a spacer 114. The spacer 114 can be a vertical spacer. The one end of the short shaft member 110 is connected to vertical support structure 112 and other end is connected to the center bearing assembly 108.
[0041] The center bearing assembly 108 combines both the short shaft member 110 and flange shaft member 106. The other end of the flange shaft member 106 is connected to lever 102 and thereby connected to the actuator 104 to simulate angular operating conditions. In specific, based on the load, the flange shaft member 106 transfers load to center bearing assembly 108. The flange shaft member 106 angle varies. The variation is observed in different directions. The angle variation is observed in X, Y and Z directions. The load travel from the vertical support structure 112 to lever 102 through the short shaft member 110, center bearing assembly 108 and the flange shaft member 106.
[0042] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B refer to exploded view short shaft member. The short shaft member is connected to the adapter 204 that is coupled with the vertical support structure 202. In specific, the short shaft member comprises plurality of components that are connected with each other. The short shaft member 200 includes a flange yoke 206, a universal joint 208, a short fork 210, a front end piece 212, a coupling flange 216 and a hex nut 218.
[0043] The flange yoke 206 is connected to one end of the short fork 210 with the help of the universal joint 208. The other end of the short fork 210 is connected to the front end piece 212 that has provision to accommodate the center bearing assembly 214.
[0044] One end of the short shaft member is connected to the adapter with the help of the flange yoke 206. The other end of the shaft member is connected to the center bearing assembly 214 with the help of the front end piece 212 followed by coupling flange 216 and hex nut 218. The coupling flange 216 is used to connect flange shaft member.
[0045] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B refer to the exploded view of the flange shaft member 300. The flange shaft member 300 comprises two halves, the first half comprises two short forks 304 and the universal joint 306. The first short fork 304a is connected to the second short fork 304b with the help of plurality of fasteners 310.
[0046] Similarly, the second half is prepared the same as the first half and both the halves are coupled with the help of the universal joints. The first half and the second half are stiffly connected together. In specific, the first half and the second half of the flange shaft member 300 are connected inversely with the help of plurality of fasteners 310.
[0047] According to another exemplary embodiment of the invention, FIG. 4 refers to a method of bearing test apparatus for the center bearing. At step 402, the axial load is calculated based on the requirement. At step 404, the center bearing is mounted on a short shaft member and thereby the mounted center bearing is fixed on a spacer of a certain height. At step 406, the flange shaft member is aligned at a certain inclination based on the required angular load and required degree of freedom during simulation.
[0048] For an instance, the load is applied to the test apparatus with the help of the lever and the actuator. The angle varied by the flange shaft member depends on the load applied which is transferred to the center bearing assembly from the flange shaft member. The center bearing assembly passes the load to the short shaft. In specific, the load applies to all elements of the test apparatus and the angle varies depending on the load.
[0049] At step 408, the required angular load is applied to the center bearing assembly using a lever and an actuator. At step 410, the process is repeated for a number of cycles and thereby the failure modes of the center bearing assembly is identified by monitoring deflection in the bracket of the center bearing. In specific, the number of cycles varies based on the vehicles in which the center bearing is utilized.
[0050] Numerous advantages of the present disclosure may be apparent from the discussion above. In accordance with the present disclosure, a bearing test apparatus that aids to simulate angular load conditions to evaluate center bearing and other propeller shaft components against angular axial loads is disclosed. The proposed test apparatus aids to apply angular axial forces to the center bearing in X, Y and Z directions by placing the flange yoke of the fixed joint at a required angular position to simulate the angular load conditions in the test apparatus.
[0051] The proposed bearing test apparatus prolongs the life of the center bearing assembly by simulating angular load conditions in the test apparatus. The proposed test apparatus evaluates the other components of the propeller shaft such as the flange yoke, universal joint along with the center bearing against the angular axial forces using the test apparatus.
[0052] The proposed test apparatus simulates failure mode in angular load conditions while the center bearing assembly is in use and thereby prevents unexpected failure modes and enhances existing center bearing assembly or propeller shaft components. The proposed test apparatus tests bearings under angular load conditions to avoid failure of bearings in angular working conditions. The proposed test apparatus aids in enhancing the design of the center bearing.
[0053] The proposed test apparatus further develops to stimulate the angular loads in multiple directions. The proposed test apparatus further utilizes multiple sizes of short shaft members and flange shaft members to stimulate the angular loads based on the requirement. The proposed test apparatus further connects with LED display that displays the calculated load on the shaft members. Further the proposed test apparatus may be utilized to evaluate other critical components such as propeller shafts, or similar components which operate in angular conditions.
[0054] It will readily be apparent that numerous modifications and alterations can be made to the processes described in the foregoing examples without departing from the principles underlying the invention, and all such modifications and alterations are intended to be embraced by this application. , Claims:CLAIMS:
We Claim:
1. A bearing test apparatus for center bearing assembly, comprising:
a vertical support structure;
a short shaft member configured with a center bearing provision on one end and configured with an adapter on the other end to slidably connect to said vertical support structure;
a center bearing assembly mounted on said center bearing provision of said short shaft member and fixedly mounted on a spacer at a height for support;
a flange shaft member connected to the other end of said short shaft member configured with plurality of fixed joints connected in series with each other to transmit a combined load to said center bearing assembly through said short shaft member;
a lever connected to said flange shaft member configured to apply combined load in X, Y, and Z directions on said short shaft member through said fixed joints of said flange shaft member; and
an actuator connected to said lever configured to actuate said lever to simulate angular operating conditions,
whereby said bearing test apparatus aids to simulate angular operating conditions, identify worst failure mode due to combined loading and thereby aids to enhance life of center bearings and other propeller shaft components.
2. The bearing test apparatus for center bearing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of fixed joints of said flange shaft member comprises at least two fixed joints which further comprise a first fixed joint and a second fixed joint each configured with two flange yokes connected to each other using a universal joint and each fixed joint connected to each other that enable applying angular force on the center bearing assembly.
3. The bearing test apparatus for center bearing assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fixed joint near said center bearing assembly is inclined at a certain angle before starting the simulation to simulate angular operating conditions.
4. The bearing test apparatus for center bearing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein inclination of said fixed joint of said flange shaft member is varied based on the load required for simulation of angular operating conditions.
5. The bearing test apparatus for center bearing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuator is a hydraulic actuator or any other actuator with similar properties of a hydraulic actuator.
6. The bearing test apparatus for center bearing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said worst failure mode includes wear of rubber housing from its contact surfaces and tearing of honeycomb pockets of said center bearing assembly.
7. A method of testing a center bearing assembly using a bearing test apparatus, comprising:
calculating axial load based on the requirements;
mounting a center bearing on a short shaft member and fixing the mounted center bearing on a spacer of certain height;
aligning the flange shaft member at a certain inclination based on the required angular load and required degree of freedom during simulation;
applying required angular load on the center bearing assembly using a lever and an actuator; and
repeating the process for number of cycles and thereby identifying failure modes of the center bearing assembly.
8. The method of testing a center bearing assembly using a bearing test apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein in each cycle of testing the failure modes are identified by monitoring deflection in bracket of the center bearing assembly.
9. The method of testing a center bearing assembly using a bearing test apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said number of cycles vary based on the vehicle in which said center bearing assembly is utilized.