Bearing with sensor module

• US 6,161,962 A
• Filed: 07/20/1999
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Timken Company
• Original Assignee: The Timken Company
• Inventors: Talafous, Joseph A., Melvin, Jason W., French, Michael L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US09/341,895
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 384/448, 384/459, 384/584, 384/585, 384/589, 384/624
• US Class Current: 384/459
• CPC Class Codes: B61F 15/20 Details
• CPC Class Codes: B61K 9/04 Detectors for indicating the overheating of axle bearings and the like, e.g. associated with the brake system for applying the brakes in case of a fault
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/386 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/525 related to temperature and heat, e.g. insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/10 Railway vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2361/31 Axle
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/583 Details of specific parts of races
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/004 Electro-dynamic machines, e.g. motors, generators, actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/007 Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0023 by using magnetic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/443 mounted in bearings bearings F16C
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/48 by measuring frequency of generated current or voltage in general G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/487 delivered by rotating magnets

Abstract

An antifriction bearing (A) that enables a shaft (4) to rotate with minimum friction in a housing (2) includes a generally cylindrical outer race (46) located in an opening (12) in the housing, an inner race (48) located around the shaft, and rolling elements (50) arranged in rows between raceways on the outer and inner races. The outer race has a cylindrical exterior surface (56), whereas the opening in which the bearing is located has a flat wall (14, 16). A stabilizing block (C) may be attached to the outer race against its cylindrical surface, and this block lies along the flat surface of the housing opening to prevent the outer race from turning in the housing opening. A sensor module (B) is located within the environs of the bearing, and it contains a plurality of sensors (110, 112, 114) which produce signals that reflect conditions under which the bearing operates. Among the conditions monitored are speed, temperature and vibrations.

Claims

1. A bearing for facilitating rotation about an axis, said bearing comprising:

a fixed outer race having a pair of raceways presented inwardly toward the axis;

a rotatable inner race having raceways presented outwardly toward the raceways of the outer race, rolling elements arranged in two rows between the raceways of the inner and outer races;

a target wheel fixed in position with respect to the inner race between the raceways of the inner race so that it rotates with the inner race;

a sensor module mounted on the outer race and projecting into the interior of that race between its raceways and the two rows of rolling elements, the module containing a plurality of sensors which detect different operating conditions of the bearing.

2. A bearing according to claim 1 wherein the sensor module contains a speed sensor which is presented toward the target wheel and produces a signal that reflects the angular velocity of the target wheel. the module also containing a temperature sensor that produces a signal that reflects the temperature of the bearing and an acceleration sensor that produces a signal which reflects accelerations experienced by the bearing.

3. A bearing according to claim 1 in combination with a housing having generally flat side walls, and further comprising at least one block attached to the outer race and being presented against the flat side wall, whereby the outer race will not rotate in the housing.

4. A bearing according to claim 3 wherein the sensor module extends through the block and is secured in the block.

5. In combination with a housing having an opening that is generally open at its bottom and is defined by at least one generally flat wall that is oriented generally vertically, and a shaft extending through the opening, a bearing located around the shaft and in the opening of the housing for enabling the shaft to rotate relative to the housing about an axis of rotation, said bearing comprising:

an outer race located in the opening along the flat wall and having and having a generally cylindrical exterior surface and at least one raceway presented inwardly toward the axis;

an inner race fitted over the shaft and having at least one raceway presented outwardly toward the raceway of the outer race;

rolling elements arranged in a row between the raceways of the inner and outer races; and

a block attached to the outer race against the cylindrical surface of that race at side of the cylindrical surface such that the block is offset vertically from the axis and does not significantly increase the width of the bearing and such that the top of the cylindrical surface is not obscured by the block so that vertically oriented loads are transferred to the outer race without passing through the block, the block having a laterally presented surface located along the flat wall of the housing opening, whereby the block prevents the outer race from rotating in the housing.

6. The combination according to claim 5 wherein that surface of the block which is presented toward the flat wall of the bearing opening is generally planar and generally parallel to the flat wall.

7. A bearing for facilitating rotation about an axis, said bearing comprising:

an outer race having a raceway presented inwardly toward the axis;

an inner race having a raceway presented outwardly toward the raceway of the outer race;

rolling elements arranged in a row between the raceways of the inner and outer races; and

a sensor module fixed in position with respect to one of the races such that it exists within the environment of the bearing, the sensor module containing a plurality of sensors capable of sensing different physical parameters so as to detect different operating conditions of the bearing.

8. A bearing according to claim 7 and further comprising a radio transmitter connected to the sensors for transmitting signals produced by the sensors to a remote processing unit.

9. A bearing according to claim 8 wherein the radio transmitter is in the sensor module.

10. A bearing according to claim 8 and further comprising a battery connected to the radio transmitter;

and wherein the sensor module contains a microgenerator connected across the battery for charging the battery.

11. A bearing according to claim 10 wherein the microgenerator also detects the angular velocity of the other race of the bearing.

12. A bearing according to claim 7 wherein the sensor module contains a microprocessor for conditioning the signal produced by at least one of the sensors.

13. In combination with a side frame for a rail car truck, with the side frame having an opening that opens downwardly and is defined by flat side faces which are parallel and oriented generally vertically and an upper surface that extends between the side faces, and with an adapter that fits into the opening of the side frame and against the upper surface and has an arcuate seat which is presented downwardly, an antifriction bearing for enabling an axle to rotate relative to the side frame while transferring vertically oriented loads from the side frame to the axle, said bearing comprising:

an outer race having a cylindrical exterior surface that is located in the opening of the side frame between the two side walls and is against the arcuate bearing seat on the adapter, the outer race also having a raceway that is presented inwardly toward the axis;

an inner race located within the outer race and having a raceway that is presented toward the raceway of the outer race;

rolling elements located in a row between the raceways of the inner and outer races; and

a block secured to the outer race against the cylindrical exterior surface of that race below the adapter, the block having a laterally presented surface that is located along one of the flat walls of the side frame to prevent the outer race from rotating in the opening of the side frame.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the outer surface of the block is generally flat.

15. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the block supports a sensor which monitors the operation of the bearing.

16. The combination according to claim 15 wherein the sensor projects through the outer race and into the interior of the bearing.

17. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the bearing has its raceways located oblique to the axis and is capable of transmitting thrust as well as radial loads, and the adapter at the end of its seat has lips which project over the end of the outer race and prevent the outer race from moving axially in the adapter.

18. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the block is one of a pair of blocks;

and wherein the other block has its surface located along the other flat wall at the opening of the side frame.

19. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the laterally presented surface of the block is planar and parallel to the flat surface of the side frame along which the block is located.

20. The combination according to claim 19 wherein the block has an arcuate surface that is against the cylindrical exterior surface of the outer race.

21. The combination according to claim 20 wherein the block has another laterally directed surface, and the two laterally directed surfaces are presented at about 120°

with respect to each other.

22. The combination according to claim 19 wherein the block is one of a pair of blocks, and wherein the other block has a laterally presented surface located along the other flat wall at the opening in the side frame.

23. The combination according to claim 13 wherein the block is offset vertically from the axis of the bearing and does not significantly increase the width of the bearing.

24. The combination according to claim 23 wherein the block is located below the axis of the bearing.