METHOD AND DATA PROCESSING DEVICE FOR DETECTING A LOAD DISTRIBUTION IN A ROLLER BEARING

• US 20160103028A1
• Filed: 10/09/2015
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: THOMSON, Allan
• Granted Patent: US 10,788,382 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/22 with bearing rollers essentially of the same size in one or more circular rows, e.g. needle bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/522 related to load on the bearing, e.g. bearings with load sensors or means to protect the bearing against overload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/513 formed of arcuate segments for carrying one or more rollers
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0019 by using strain gages, piezoelectric, piezo-resistive or other ohmic-resistance based sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/04 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis

Abstract

A method for detecting a load distribution in a roller bearing having at least one row of rollers and a strain sensor attached to a first ring, wherein the first ring is configured to rotate relative to a second ring. The method comprises steps of: (a) detecting peak heights and peak positions in roller load induced strain signals obtained from the strain sensor, and (b) calculating a load acting on at least one angle range of the second ring using peak heights of a plurality of peak positions falling in the angle range.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a load distribution in a roller bearing having at least one row of rollers and a strain sensor attached to a first ring, wherein the first ring is configured to rotate relative to a second ring, the method comprises steps of:

a. detecting peak heights and peak positions in roller load induced strain signals obtained from the strain sensor; and

b. calculating a load acting on at least one angle range of the second ring using peak heights of a plurality of peak positions falling in the angle range.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of calculating a load acting on at least one angle range includes calculating a median value of the peak heights in the angle range.

3. The method according to claim 2, further including a step of outputting an array containing the median values calculated for each sector of the second ring.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the load values are calculated for a plurality of sectors of equal size covering the entire circumference of the second ring.

5. The method according to claim 1, further including steps of:

a. high-pass or band pass filtering the strain signal;

b. determining zero crossings of the high-pass filtered strain signal;

c. determining a peak position as a midpoint between adjacent zero crossings of the signals; and

d. determining a peak height using the roller load induced strain signal at the peak position.

6. The method according to claim 5, further including steps of:

a. determining peak heights and peak positions of peaks of the strain signal;

b. determining trough depths and trough positions of troughs in the strain signal;

c. comparing the peak heights and trough depths with predetermined threshold values respectively; and

d. making use of the peak heights in the step of determining the load distribution only when the pertinent peak height and the trough depth between a peak and its neighboring peak are below the respective threshold values.

7. The method according to claim 4, further comprising a step of:

determining the slope of a linear function connecting the zero crossing point and the peak height of the peak following the zero crossing point and discarding the peak for the purpose of determining load distribution if the slope falls short of a predetermined minimum slope.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprises a step of:

mapping the roller load induced strain signals onto angle dependent signals relating to angular positions on the second ring.

9. A data processing device, the device including:

at least one interface for receiving roller load induced strain signals,

wherein the data processing device implements steps of;

a. detecting peak heights and peak positions in roller load induced strain signals obtained from the strain sensor; and

b. calculating a load acting on at least one angle range of the second ring using peak heights of a plurality of peak positions falling in the angle range.

10. The data processing device according to claim 9, further including a wireless transmitter configured to be attached to a roller bearing.

11. The data processing device according to claim 9, further comprising a roller bearing equipped with at least one strain sensor for capturing roller load induced strain signals,

wherein the roller bearing is equipped with the data processing device.