Device for measuring wear in large roller bearings

• US 6,119,504 A
• Filed: 10/13/1998
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thyssenkrupp AG
• Original Assignee: Thyssenkrupp AG
• Inventors: Claus, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US09/170,926
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 73/7, 384/448, 116/208
• US Class Current: 73/7
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/16 with a single row of balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/52 with devices affected by abnormal or undesired conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2300/14 Large applications, e.g. bearings having an inner diameter exceeding 500 mm
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/144 Measuring play on bearings
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/04 Bearings

Abstract

A device for measuring wear in large roller bearings that have two bearing rings (1 & 2) with space accommodating the rollers (3) between them. The device has an indicator that indicates a prescribed deflection between the rings and a probe (9) that is accommodated in an opening (10) in the outer bearing ring (2) with the end (11) of the probe able to come into contact with one of the surfaces of the inner bearing ring (1). The object is a device that will provide accurate and reliable indications of bearing wear even after years of use, that will be simple in design, and that cannot be damaged or destroyed by outside forces. The inner bearing ring accordingly has a groove (12) facing the probe, and the end of the probe extends into the groove. The surfaces of the groove are as far from the end of the probe as the maximal permissible depth of the wear on the bearing.

Claims

1. An arrangement for measuring wear in large roller bearings, comprising:

two bearing rings having an inner ring and an outer ring with a space for receiving rollers between said bearing rings;

indicator means for indicating a specific deflection between said rings;

probe means secured in an opening in said outer ring;

said probe having an end for contacting a surface of said inner ring, said inner ring having a groove with walls facing said probe, said end of said probe extending into said groove without contacting said walls of said groove;

said groove having surfaces located as far from said end of said probe as the maximum permissible depth of wear on said bearing;

said end of said probe being spaced from said walls of said groove for as long as wear on said bearing is less than said maximum permissible depth of wear;

said end of said probe contacting said walls of said groove when said permissible depth of wear is exceeded and becoming connected thereby to said indicator means;

said wear on said bearing being measurable in both radial and axial directions;

said probe means being adjustably secured in radial and axial direction in said opening in said outer ring.

2. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said probe means is electrically insulated from said outer ring, said probe means being mounted on said bearing rings and between said bearing rings by an electrical connection.

3. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, including means for detecting deflections of said probe means, said probe means being fastened to said outer ring by said means for detecting said deflections.

4. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said opening in said outer ring extends radially relative to an axis of rotation of said bearings.

5. An arrangement as defined in claim 1, wherein said groove and said end of said probe means are located adjacent a gap between said bearing rings and outside said space accommodating said rollers.

6. An arrangement as defined in claim 5, including sealing means outside said space accommodating said rollers and beyond said end of said probe means for sealing off said gap between said bearing rings from the environment.

7. An arrangement as defined in claim 5, including sealing means between said space accommodating said rollers and said end of said probe means and in said gap between said bearing rings.