Imbedded bearing life and load monitor

US5952587A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Torrington Company · US

Inventors

• John H. Rhodes · Longmont, US
• Richard L. Lemoine · Collinsville, US
• Richard W. Browner · Waterbury, US
• Mark Fuller · Sandpoint, US
• Mark I. Jurras, III · Canton Center, US
• David D. Nguyen · Willow View Lane, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 6, 1998
• Grant date: Sep 14, 1999
• Expiry date: Aug 6, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16C2233/00
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system senses real-time rolling element loads in a rolling element bearing having a plurality of rolling elements disposed between an inner race and an outer race. A plurality of sensors are disposed about one of the inner race and the outer race of the bearing to output sensor data corresponding to detected loads. A control unit predicts bearing life from the sensor data and determines a load zone of the bearing in real time from the sensor data. Before operation of the system in real-time, the sensors are calibrated to model a relationship of roller load and measured strain. The bearing is then rotated and sensor data is output from each the sensors. The sensor data is cyclical, and peaks and valleys are extracted from the sensor data to determine rolling element loads and measured bearing speed. Load components from a plurality of bearings are then summed to obtain total applied system load in real time.