System and method for monitoring the structural health of coupled bearings

US9927323B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ACELLENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC. · US

Inventors

• Patrick Joseph Pollock · Oakland, US
• Howard Hungchi Chung · San Jose, US
• Roger Huang · Round Rock, US
• Fu-Kuo Chang · Stanford, US
• Irene Li · Stanford, US
• Jeffrey Dean Bergman · Santa Clara, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 25, 2013
• Grant date: Mar 27, 2018
• Expiry date: Jul 4, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01M13/045
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Placement of structural health monitoring sensors within a coupled bearing assembly. An exemplary structural health monitoring system comprises first and second bearings configured for rotatable positioning along a structure, and a spacer positioned between the first and second bearings. The first and second bearings are placed against opposing sides of the spacer, and have a preload force engaging the respective first and second bearings against the opposing sides of the spacer. A plurality of sensors are coupled to the spacer so as to be positioned between the spacer and at least one of the first and second bearings, the sensors further coupled to at least one of the first and second bearings so as to be configured to monitor a structural health of the at least one of the first and second bearings.