Instrumented antifriction bearing and electrical motor equipped therewith

• US 20060104558A1
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Published: 05/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Lauferon, Franck, Gallion, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 7,429,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 384/448
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/06 with a single row or balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2380/26 Dynamo-electric machines or combinations therewith, e.g. electro-motors and generators in general H02K
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/007 Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/443 mounted in bearings bearings F16C
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/488 delivered by variable reluctance detectors

Abstract

An instrumented ball-bearing may include a rotating part, a non-rotating part, and an assembly for detecting rotation parameters. The assembly for detecting rotation parameters may include an encoder and a sensor. The sensor may be integrated with the non-rotating part. The sensor may include a sensor unit and at least a microcoil. The microcoil may have a substantially planar winding. The microcoil may be positioned in the sensor unit of the non-rotating part such that the microcoil may be positioned axially opposite the encoder.

Claims

1. An instrumented antifriction bearing device comprising:

a rotating portion;

a nonrotating portion; and

an assembly configured to detect rotation parameters, wherein the assembly comprises;

an encoder;

a sensor, wherein the sensor is integrated with the nonrotating portion, and wherein the sensor comprises;

a sensor unit; and

at least one microcoil, wherein a microcoil is a substantially flat winding, and wherein the microcoil is positioned on a support of a circuit that is led to the sensor unit of the nonrotating portion, and wherein the microcoil is configured to be positioned axially opposite the encoder.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of substantially radial coplanar reception microcoils.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of reception microcoils positioned on a plurality of substantially parallel radial planes.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a transmission coil positioned in the sensor unit.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one transmission coil;

at least one reception coil; and

a data processing circuit;

wherein a transmission coil, a reception coil, and a data processing circuit are positioned on the support.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of microcoils linked in pairs, and wherein the linking microcoils are configured to generate a differential signal.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the encoder comprises an encoder wheel, and wherein the encoder wheel comprises an active zone, and wherein the active zone comprises an electrically conducting metal.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the encoder comprises an encoder wheel, and wherein the encoder wheel comprises windows.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the encoder comprises a printed circuit, and wherein the printed circuit comprises an annular substrate with metallized sectors and nonmetallized sectors.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the printed circuit is coupled to a rotating track of the antifriction bearing.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one portion of the encoder is positioned in the space between the antifriction bearing tracks.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the encoder is positioned outside the space between the antifriction bearing tracks.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit is substantially annular.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit occupies an angular sector of less than approximately 360°

.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the encoder comprises an encoder wheel, and wherein the encoder wheel comprises teeth coupled to a rotating groove of the antifriction bearing.

15. An electric motor comprising:

a rotor;

a stator;

at least one antifriction bearing wherein an antifriction bearing is configured to support the rotor; and

a sensor assembly comprising;

an encoder; and

a sensor, wherein the sensor comprises;

at least one microcoil, wherein a microcoil comprises an essentially flat winding, and wherein a microcoil is positioned on a support of a circuit coupled to the sensor unit integrated with the stator such that the microcoil is positionable axially opposite the encoder.