Sealing Device for Antifriction Bearing Comprising Identifying Means

• US 20090046966A1
• Filed: 05/29/2006
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SNR Roulements
• Original Assignee: SNR Roulements
• Inventors: Weber, Marc-Alain
• Granted Patent: US 7,963,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 384/477
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7876 with sealing lips
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7879 with a further sealing ring
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/326 with means for detecting or measuring relative rotation of the two elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16J 15/3296 Arrangements for monitoring the condition or operation of elastic sealings F16J15/326 takes precedence; Arrangements for control of elastic sealings, e.g. of their geometry or stiffness

Abstract

The inventions concerns a sealing device for antifriction bearing comprising a fixed support (1,2) and a rotating support (2, 1), said sealing device comprising a metal frame (4) designed to be associated with a support (1, 2) of said bearing and a sealing joint, said frame including an annular seat (4a) and, secured to said seat, electronic identifying means (5) consisting of a transponder (6) connected on a communication antenna (7), wherein the antenna (7) has an at least semi-annular or annular shape which is designed to be urged opposite the seat (4a), the identifying means (5) being secured to said seat (4a) via an insulating material layer (8, 10) which is interposed between the antenna (7) and the seat (4a) so as to provide electromagnetic insulation for said antenna.

Claims

1. Sealing device for an antifriction bearing comprising a fixed support (1, 2) and a rotating support (2, 1), said sealing device comprising a metal frame (4) designed to be associated with one of the rotating support and the fixed support (1, 2) of said bearing and a sealing joint, said frame comprising an annular seat (4a) and, solidly attached to said seat, electronic identifying means (5) formed by a transponder (6) connected to a communication antenna (7),

said sealing device being characterised in that the antenna has a geometry that is at least semi-annular or annular which is arranged to be positioned opposite the seat (4a), the identifying means (5) being solidly attached to said seat (4a) by means of a layer of insulating material (8, 10) interposed between the antenna (7) and the seat (4a) in order to provide electromagnetic insulation for said antenna.

2. Sealing device according to claim 1, characterised in that the identifying means (5) are formed by an RFID tag.

9. Sealing device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a second frame (11) which is designed to be associated with the other support of the bearing, the frames (4, 11) being arranged so as to form an annular chamber (12) between them, the sealing joint comprising an elastomer element (8) which is associated with the second frame (11) so as to be in frictional contact with the frame (4), the identifying means (5) being glued or overmoulded on the seat (4a) with the insulating material.

10. Sealing device according to one of claims 1 or 9, characterised in that it includes a multipolar magnetic coder solidly attached to a frame (4, 11).

11. Antifriction bearing, in particular a ball bearing, comprising a fixed support (1, 2), a rotating support (2, 1) and rolling bodies (3) placed between said supports to allow the relative rotation of said supports, said bearing also comprising a sealing device according to one of claims 1 or 9, the frame (4) being associated with one of the supports (1, 2) in order laterally to seal the bearing space formed between said supports.

12. Antifriction bearing according to claim 11, characterised in that the transponder (5) is arranged to record and transmit information relating to the production of the bearing, its origin, its specific characteristics, its state of wear and/or the operating conditions of said bearing.

13. Antifriction bearing according to claim 11, characterised in that the seat (4a) extends radially, the identifying means (5) being arranged substantially in the plane P of the lateral surface of at least one support (1, 2).

14. Antifriction bearing according to claim 11, characterised in that it also comprises a second sealing device integrating a multipolar magnetic coder.

15. Antifriction bearing according to claim 12, characterised in that the seat (4a) extends radially, the identifying means (5) being arranged substantially in the plane P of the lateral surface of at least one support (1,2).

3. Sealing device according to claim, characterised in that the sealing joint comprises an elastomer element (8) associated with the frame (4).

4. Sealing device according to claim 3, characterised in that the elastomer element (8) is associated with the frame (4) at a distance from the seat (4a), the identifying means (5) being glued or overmoulded on the seat (4a) with the insulating material.

5. Sealing device according to claim 3, characterised in that the elastomer element (8) is associated with the seat (4a), the layer of insulating material being formed by a layer of said element.

6. Sealing device according to claim 5, characterised in that the identifying means (5) are overmoulded from the elastomer element (8).

7. Sealing device according to claim 5, characterised in that the identifying means (5) are associated with the elastomer element (8).

8. Sealing device according to any one of the claims from 3 to 7, characterised in that the sealing joint also comprises a second frame (11) designed to be associated with the other support of the bearing, the frames (4, 11) being arranged so as to form an annular chamber (12) between them, the elastomer element (8) being in frictional contact with the second frame (11).