US 12,332,138 B2
Recognition of tooth contact with a luminescent agent
Hermann J. Stadtfeld, Manderscheid (DE)
Assigned to THE GLEASON WORKS, Rochester, NY (US)
Appl. No. 17/998,941
Filed by THE GLEASON WORKS, Rochester, NY (US)
PCT Filed May 17, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/032689
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 16, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/242549, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 2, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/031,919, filed on May 29, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0168149 A1, Jun. 1, 2023
Int. Cl. G01M 13/021 (2019.01); G01N 21/64 (2006.01)
CPC G01M 13/021 (2013.01) [G01N 21/64 (2013.01); G01N 2021/6497 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of testing gears on a gear testing machine having a plurality of machine axes, said method comprising:
providing a first member of a gearset, said first member having a plurality of tooth flank surfaces,
providing a second member of said gearset, said second member having a plurality of tooth flank surfaces,
rolling said first member of said gearset in mesh with said second member of said gearset via respective rotating spindles,
applying a contrast agent comprising a luminescent agent mixed with a transmission oil to the tooth flank surfaces of at least one of the first and second members of said gearset during said rolling,
stopping said applying and continuing with said rolling for multiple revolutions without fresh transmission oil mixture supply,
wherein as a result of the continued rolling after stopping the applying, the contrast agent is removed from applied areas on tooth flank surfaces of at least one of the first and second members where tooth flank surfaces of the first member contact tooth flank surfaces of the second member by being pressed away from the contact area, the contact agent remaining in the area surrounding the contact area thereby resulting in a contact pattern being revealed on the tooth flank surfaces of at least one of the first and second gearset members, said contact pattern being indicative of the contact area between meshing tooth flank surfaces of the first and second members of the gearset,
wherein, after a full stop of the continued rolling and a withdrawal of the spindles to separate the first and second gear members, revealing said contact area by illuminating a single flank surface or a plurality of tooth flank surfaces of at least one of the first and second gearset members in a defined rotational position with ultra-violet light.