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Rolling element bearings (REBs) are the most frequent cause of machine breakdowns. Traditional methods for fault diagnosis in rolling bearings rely on feature extraction and signal processing techniques. However, these methods can be affected by the complexity of the underlying patterns and the need for expert knowledge during signal analysis. This paper proposes a novel signal-to-image method in which the raw signal data are transformed into 2D images using continuous wavelet transform (CWT). This transformation enhances the features extracted from the raw data, allowing for further analysis and interpretation. Transformed images of both normal and faulty rolling bearings from the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) dataset were used with deep-learning models from the ResNet family. They can automatically learn and identify patterns in raw vibration signals after continuous wavelet transform is used, eliminating the need for manual feature extraction. To further improve the training results, squeeze-and-excitation networks (SENets) were added to improve the process. By comparing results obtained from several models, we found that SE-ResNet152 has the best performance for REB fault diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The working conditions (i.e., gas content, working pressure, and working temperature) of oil in the actual hydraulic system are always in a dynamic process, which will cause the basic properties of oil (i.e., density, absolute viscosity, and effective bulk modulus) to change and further generate changes of the flow characteristics in the straight conjugate crescent gear pump (SCCGP). However, no clear explanation has been given for the variation of the flow characteristics of the SCCGP with the working conditions in previous studies. This paper first expounds the gear pair profile equations used to draw the tooth profile curves and the equation applicable to the calculation of the geometric displacement at the given geometric parameters. Subsequently, the mathematical models of the oil's basic properties are analyzed, and it is explained how the changing working conditions affect the changes in oil properties. After that, the paper designs an orthogonal test scheme and applies it to the study of the flow characteristics of the SCCGP for the first time to optimize its working conditions. Then, the paper performs simulations in commercial CFD numerical software, and the change laws of the internal flow field, flow pulsation, pressure pulsation, volumetric efficiency, and total efficiency of the SCCGP at different working conditions are analyzed in detail. The working conditions for decreasing pulse rate and improving total efficiency are summarized. Finally, for model validation purposes, the paper elucidates the construction process of a high-pressure positive displacement pump test system and carried out experimental research. The simulation and actual measurement results are compared under the same working conditions. The results validate the accuracy of the simulation model and the potential for future analytical studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a medium and low pressure gear machine without automatic compensation structure for axial and radial clearances, the friction pairs in the straight conjugate internal gear pumps (SCIGPs) depend on the fixed small clearances to seal, lubricate and transfer the force. The oil film design of the friction pairs has become an important part of gear pump design. However, there has never been a publicly published research on the oil film design of the SCIGP in past literature. This paper applies orthogonal test to the oil film design of the SCIGP for the first time to determine the best working clearances. With this goal, the paper first provides the mathematical models for analyzing the internal leakage flow and the viscous friction loss, which elucidate the relationships between the leakage and the friction loss with working conditions. After that, the orthogonal test scheme for numerical simulation was designed on the basis of determining the range of oil film thickness. The paper also propounds the viewpoints of using the range-method to estimate the primary and secondary relationship of factors and determining the optimal combination according to the test target. Based on this concept, the main factors affecting the target are procured and the optimal working clearances of the friction pairs are determined. For the purpose of verifying the model, the redesigned prototype was tested and compared with the simulation results. The results validate the applicability of the simulation model and the correctness of the simulation method. Finally, the paper summarizes the ways to improve the total efficiency and the working conditions at the highest efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synchronous control is a fundamental and significant problem for controlling a multi-joint robot. In this article, by applying two coupled Rayleigh oscillators as the referred central pattern generator models for the two joints of a two-degrees-of-freedom robot, the central pattern generator–based coupling control method is proposed for controlling the two-degrees-of-freedom robot's joints. On these bases, the co-simulation model of the two-degrees-of-freedom robot with the proposed central pattern generator–based coupling control method is established via ADAMS and MATLAB/Simulink, and the performance of the central pattern generator–based coupling control method on synchronizing two motions of two-degrees-of-freedom robot's joints is numerically simulated. Furthermore, the experimental setup of a two-degrees-of-freedom robot is established based on the real-time simulations system via the proposed central pattern generator–based coupling control method. And experiments are carried out on the established setup. Simulations and experimental results show that the phase of the controlled two-degrees-of-freedom robot's joints is mutual locked to other, and their motion pattern can be adjusted through the coupling parameter in the central pattern generator–based coupling control method. In conclusion, the proposed central pattern generator–based coupling control method can control the two-degrees-of-freedom robot's joints to produce the coordinated motions and adjust the rhythmic pattern of the two-degrees-of-freedom robot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the proteolytic stability of the lipase LIP2 from Yarrowia lipolytica , the peptide bonds susceptible to trypsin in LIP2 were analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry and redesigned by site-directed mutagenesis. Different variants of the enzyme were expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 and their biochemical properties were subsequently investigated. Although most of the variants were still cleaved by trypsin, some of them did show an evident increase of resistance against proteolytic degradation. The most stable mutant was LIP2-C5, in which five trypsin-cleavage sites were replaced by non-preferred amino acids. Upon incubation with human trypsin for 80 min at 37°C, the mutant LIP2-C5 was found to retain >70% of its initial activity, compared to only 10% for the wild-type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The improvement of the overall performance of hydraulic pumps is the basis of intelligent hydraulics. Taking the straight line conjugate internal meshing gear pump as the research object, the theoretical flow rate and the geometric flow pulsation rate equations are established in this study through the volume change method. The change laws of the gear pair's geometric parameters on the theoretical flow rate and the geometric flow pulsation rate are studied. The simulation model of the internal flow channel is established, and the influence factors and the influence degree of the flow pulsation and average flow rate are analyzed. The high-pressure positive displacement pump test system is also designed and built. The performance evaluations are conducted, and the experimental results are analyzed. The results show that the periodic change of the meshing point position is the root cause of the geometric flow pulsation. The theoretical flow rate and the geometric flow pulsation rate are 103.71 L/min and 1.76%, respectively. To increase the theoretical flow rate whilst decreasing the geometric flow pulsation rate, the tip circle radius of the external gear should be increased as much as possible within the allowable range of the design calculation. Amongst the three influencing factors that produce flow pulsation, the oil compressibility has no effect on the flow pulsation. The uneven internal leakage is the main factor, and the geometric flow pulsation only accounts for a small proportion. The internal leakage reduces the simulated flow rate by 3.59 L/min. The difference between the experimental and simulated flow rates is less than 2%. Within the allowable speed range, the rotation speed of the external gear should be increased as much as possible to increase the average flow rate and the volumetric efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inertial micro-switches have great potential in the applications of acceleration sensing, due to the integrated advantages of a small size, high integration level, and low or even no power consumption. This paper presents an overview of the recent advancements made in research on the sensitive direction, threshold acceleration, contact effect, and threshold accuracy of inertial micro-switches. The reviewed switches were categorized according to the performance parameters, including multi-directional switches, multi-threshold switches, persistent closed switches, flexible-electrode switches, and low-g high-threshold-accuracy switches. The current challenges and prospects are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our previous report based on a 10 g (gravity) silicon-based inertial micro-switch showed that the contact effect between the two electrodes can be improved by squeeze-film damping. As an extended study toward its potential applications, the switch with a large proof mass suspended by four flexible serpentine springs was redesigned to achieve 5 g threshold value and enhanced threshold accuracy. The impact of the squeeze-film damping on the threshold value was theoretically studied. The theoretical results show that the threshold variation from the designed value due to fabrication errors can be reduced by optimizing the device thickness (the thickness of the proof mass and springs) and then establishing a tradeoff between the damping and elastic forces, thus improving the threshold accuracy. The design strategy was verified by FEM (finite-element-method) simulation and an experimental test. The simulation results show that the maximum threshold deviation was only 0.15 g, when the device thickness variation range was 16–24 μm, which is an adequately wide latitude for the current bulk silicon micromachining technology. The measured threshold values were 4.9–5.8 g and the device thicknesses were 18.2–22.5 μm, agreeing well with the simulation results. The measured contact time was 50 μs which is also in good agreement with our previous work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To improve the proteolytic stability of the lipase LIP2 from Yarrowia lipolytica, the peptide bonds susceptible to trypsin in LIP2 were analyzed by tandem mass spectrometry and redesigned by site-directed mutagenesis. Different variants of the enzyme were expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 and their biochemical properties were subsequently investigated. Although most of the variants were still cleaved by trypsin, some of them did show an evident increase of resistance against proteolytic degradation. The most stable mutant was LIP2-C5, in which five trypsin-cleavage sites were replaced by non-preferred amino acids. Upon incubation with human trypsin for 80 min at 37°C, the mutant LIP2-C5 was found to retain >70% of its initial activity, compared to only 10% for the wild-type., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)