Electrical impedance observation for lubrication conditions of helical gears under actual operation

Abstract

In this study, the effectiveness of the electrical impedance method (EIM) for monitoring lubrication conditions in helical gear systems during actual operation was investigated. A custom-built gear tester equipped with helical gears, and an alternating current circuit was used to monitor the lubrication conditions through EI signals. The temporal changes in EI signals were analyzed to estimate the dimension less thickness and breakdown ratio of the lubricant film at the gear mesh. The results revealed that the EIM effectively monitors the temporal changes in the lubricated conditions at the gear mesh of the helical gear. The technique also demonstrated the ability to monitor lubrication regimes through evaluating the dimension less thickness and breakdown ratio simultaneously. Thus, the EIM presents a promising tool for real-time monitoring of the lubricated conditions in helical gear systems.