Piezoelectric film transducer sytem for bearings
US5677488A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 14, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 14, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16C2233/00
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An in-use rolling element bearing monitoring system which uses a piezoelectric film transducer on either a bearing, bearing support structure, or on a separate washer in close proximity to a bearing for monitoring bearing performance. One embodiment provides a bearing monitoring system for detecting and predicting bearing failure. Another embodiment provides a system configured for detecting rotational speed of a rolling element bearing. Each embodiment of the invention entails maintaining a piezoelectric film transducer in contiguous pressure wave responsive communication with a bearing for detecting bearing performance, and provides the system in a compact configuration for in-use operation on a variety of machinery and vehicle components heretofore previously not compatible.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.