DEVICE, METHOD & COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT

• US 20160195453A1
• Filed: 09/13/2013
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: ERSKINE, Joseph, THOMSON, Allan, CAMPBELL, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 10,222,296 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/04 Bearings

Abstract

A device for monitoring a bearing, wherein the device comprises at least one sensor configured to obtain data concerning at least one of the factors that influences the residual life of the bearing. The device is a portable device and comprises a non-permanent attachment feature configured to non-permanently attach the device to a surface of the bearing so that at least a part of the at least one sensor is pressed against the surface of the bearing.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a bearing, the device comprising:

at least one sensor configured to obtain data concerning at least one of the factors that influence the residual life of the bearing; and

a non-permanent attachment feature configured to non-permanently attach the device to a surface of the bearing so that at least a part of the at least one sensor is pressed against the surface of the bearing,

wherein the device is portable.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a transmitter configured to transmit the data wirelessly.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor is configured to measure at least one of the following parameters:

strain, stress, acoustic emissions, vibration, rotational speed, temperature, and rotation angle position.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the non-permanent attachment feature is a magnetic attachment component configured to magnetically attach the device to the bearing.

5. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a data processing unit configured to process the data.

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory device configured to record the data electronically.

7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a display.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be powered by at least one battery.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be powered by a power source of a machine comprising the bearing.

10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to be powered by electricity generated by a motion of the bearing.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one of the following:

a friction strain gauge, a piezoelectric displacement beam sensor, a piezoelectric film sensor, and a sensor capable of measuring strain signals.

12. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a pressurizing element, configured to press the part of the at least one sensor against the surface of the bearing when the device is in use.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein the pressurizing element includes at least one spring.

13. A method for monitoring a bearing, method comprising steps of:

a) non-permanently attaching a portable device comprising at least one sensor configured to obtain data concerning at least one of the factors that influence the residual life of the bearing to a surface of the bearing so that at least a part of the at least one sensor is pressed against the surface of the bearing;

b) obtaining data concerning at least one of the factors that influence the residual life of the bearing; and

c) removing the portable device from the bearing.

14. The method according to claim 13, further comprising at least one of the following steps:

processing the data,

transmitting the data, displaying the data, and

at least one of predicting and updating the residual life of the bearing.

15. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer program containing computer program code arranged to cause a computer or a processor to execute at least one of;

a step of obtaining data concerning at least one of the factors that influence the residual life of the bearing; and

processing the data,

transmitting the data, displaying the data, and

at least one of predicting and updating the residual life of the bearing,

wherein the computer program code is stored on one of a computer-readable medium or a carrier wave.