FAN WITH MEANS OF DETECTING DEGRADATION OF THE BEARINGS

• US 20080298952A1
• Filed: 05/28/2008
• Published: 12/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Safran Ventilation Systems
• Original Assignee: Technofan
• Inventors: BOUCHARD, Laurent
• Granted Patent: US 8,419,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/118
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/001 Testing thereof; Determination or simulation of flow characteristics; Stall or surge detection, e.g. condition monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 27/008 Stop safety or alarm devices, e.g. stop-and-go control; Disposition of check-valves
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/059 Roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/06 with a single row or balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/525 related to temperature and heat, e.g. insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2233/00 Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/04 Bearings

Abstract

The fan has a support structure (11), an impeller (16) supported by a shaft (26) coupled to a drive motor (24), and at least one ball bearing (30, 32) interposed between the shaft (26) and the support structure (11), the fan having means (40) of monitoring the ageing of the bearings,

• • the means (40) of monitoring the ageing including:
    • a temperature sensor (42, 43) fitted on at least one bearing (30, 32);
    • a processing circuit (44) connected to the temperature sensor (42, 43) and capable of providing an indicator representing the measured temperature and of evaluating the indicator, or each indicator, with respect to at least one predetermined criterion.

The temperature sensor is fitted directly on a bearing race in contact with the support structure.

Claims

1. A fan having a support structure, an impeller supported by a shaft coupled to a drive motor, and at least one ball bearing interposed between the shaft and the support structure, the fan having means of monitoring the ageing of the bearings,

the means of monitoring the ageing including

a temperature sensor fitted on at least one bearing;

a processing circuit connected to the temperature sensor and capable of providing an indicator representing the measured temperature and of evaluating the indicator, or each indicator, with respect to at least one predetermined criterion,

wherein the temperature sensor or each temperature sensor is fitted directly on a race of a bearing in contact with the support structure.

2. A fan according to claim 1, wherein the measurement sensor is a thermocouple.

3. A fan according to claim 1, wherein has a plurality of bearings interposed between the shaft and the support structure, and in that the monitoring means include a temperature sensor placed on each bearing.

4. A fan according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuit includes means of comparing the temperature measured by the temperature sensor or each temperature sensor with a predetermined threshold value.

5. A fan according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined threshold value is in the range from 140°

C. to 200°

C.

6. A fan according to claim 1, wherein the means of monitoring the ageing include a reference ambient temperature sensor, and in that the processing circuit includes means of comparing the temperature difference between the temperature measured by the temperature sensor or by each temperature sensor and the temperature measured by the reference ambient temperature sensor with a predetermined threshold value.

7. A fan according to claim 6, wherein the predetermined threshold value is in the range from 40°

C. to 80°

C.

8. A fan according to claim 6, wherein the reference ambient temperature sensor is placed in the vicinity of the drive motor of the fan.