New ultrasound technology to protect mechanical components
April 27th 2006

A young researcher from the University of Sheffield has won a prestigious award from the Royal Academy of Engineering and the ERA Foundation to commercialise a unique new ultrasound technology. The technology, which has been developed jointly with the University of Bristol, measures the thickness of vital lubricating oil films in mechanical components.

Award winner Mr Phil Harper, from the University of Sheffield’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, will use the £30,000 prize, in addition to a personal prize of £10,000, to set up a company to ‘spin out’ the new technology.

The new company, called Tribosonics Ltd, will specialise in using ‘non-destructive’ ultrasound technology to look inside machines to measure the thickness of lubricating oil films on key components like bearings, pumps and seals. This brand new technology, which can measure oil films as thin as a hundredth of the width of a human hair, will allow Mr Harper and his colleagues to detect and prevent mechanical failure resulting from too little or too much lubrication.

Phil Harper said: “Receiving this award will enable us to develop a commercial application for this groundbreaking technology. Using ultrasound technology means we can look inside machines for faults and damage linked to lubrication, without damaging the machines themselves. This really is an important breakthrough in engineering precision components and I’m looking forward to taking it out into industry.”

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