Rolling bearing with sensing unit which can be remotely interrogated

US6484582B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• Fag Oem und Handel AG · DE
• Institut für Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Wolfgang Ehrfeld · Karlsruhe, DE
• Volker Graeff · Mainz, DE
• Frank Michel · Rosbach, DE
• Sven Gempper · Volkach, DE
• Jens Heim
• Joachim Hering · Gammertingen, DE
• Horst Masuch · Schweinfurt, DE
• Edgar Streit · Poppenlauer, DE
• Vasilis Hassiotis · Niederwerrn, DE
• Henri Knokke · Niederwerrn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 10, 2001
• Grant date: Nov 26, 2002
• Expiry date: Apr 10, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16C2300/02
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A rolling bearing which has as rolling bearing components one bearing race with a first running surface, a second bearing race with a second running surface opposed to the first surface, and rolling elements arranged between the running surfaces. At least one sensing unit is integrated into the rolling bearing components. The sensing unit can be interrogated by radio via antennas or can be connected to an interrogator by a cable. The sensing unit uses at least one component operating on the SAW or BAW principle to sense changes in length and/or changes in temperature in the material of the rolling bearing component and sends the result of the measurement after the arrival of a radio signal via the antenna or via a cable.