Sensory fitting for monitoring bearing performance
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring bearing performance in apparatus having at least one threaded aperture sized and disposed to connectably receive a grease fitting for providing lubricant to said bearing, which device comprises a sensing fitting sized, threaded and configured to be threadably received in said aperture, said sensing fitting including a connecting end which defines a grease path and which is sized and configured to be fixedly yet detachably received by said aperture so that, when installed in said aperture, said connecting end is proximate to said bearing, and temperature sensing means to enable detection of impending bearing failure, a portion of said temperature sensing means extending into and along the length of said connecting end.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Described is a device (10) for monitoring bearing performance in apparatus having an aperture sized and configured to receive a grease fitting. The device includes temperature sensing components (34) or vibration sensing components (36), or both, to enable detection of impending bearing failure, and is adapted to either replace or supplement conventional grease fittings (28). The device is configured so as to cooperate with bearings housings of widely divergent dimensions, and in each case to permit adjustment of the device, including the sensing components thereof, to place it in very close proximity to the bearing.
24 Citations
62 Claims
- 1. A device for monitoring bearing performance in apparatus having at least one threaded aperture sized and disposed to connectably receive a grease fitting for providing lubricant to said bearing, which device comprises a sensing fitting sized, threaded and configured to be threadably received in said aperture, said sensing fitting including a connecting end which defines a grease path and which is sized and configured to be fixedly yet detachably received by said aperture so that, when installed in said aperture, said connecting end is proximate to said bearing, and temperature sensing means to enable detection of impending bearing failure, a portion of said temperature sensing means extending into and along the length of said connecting end.
- 8. A device for monitoring bearing performance in apparatus having at least one threaded aperture sized and disposed to connectably receive a grease fitting for providing lubricant to said bearing, which device comprises a sensing fitting sized, threaded and configured to be threadably received in said aperture, said sensing fitting including vibration sensing means to enable detection of impending bearing failure, and said sensing fitting being threadably adjustably extendable into said apparatus to permit control of the proximity of said sensing fitting and said sensing means to said bearing, and wherein said sensing fitting is in addition a grease fitting for providing lubricant to said bearing, said sensing fitting including a grease inlet nipple, a grease path, and a closure, which closure remains closed at all times when the internal pressure applied to said closure exceeds the external pressure applied to said closure, said closure thereby preventing lubricant from leaking out from said apparatus and through said nipple.
- 33. In apparatus which comprises a housing having a rotary shaft, at least one bearing in which said shaft is rotated, and at least one threaded aperture sized and disposed to connectably receive a grease fitting for providing lubricant to said housing, the improvement wherein a sensing fitting sized, threaded and configured to be threadably received in said aperture is threadably received in said aperture, said sensing fitting including a connecting end which defines a grease path and which is sized and congifured to be fixedly yet detachably received by said aperture so that, when installed in said aperture, said connecting end is proximate to said bearing, and temperture sensing means to enable detection of impleding bearing failure, a portion of said temperture sensing meanst extending into and along the length of said connecting end.
- 38. In apparatus which comprises a housing having a rotary shaft, at least one bearing in which said shaft is rotated, and at least one threaded aperture sized and disposed to connectably receive a grease fitting for providing lubricant to said housing, the improvement wherein a sensing fitting sized, threaded and configured to be threadably received in said aperture is threadably received in said aperture, said sensing fitting including vibration sensing means to enable detection of impending bearing failure, and said sensing fitting being threadably adjustably extendable into said apparatus to permit control of the proximity of said sensing fitting and said sensing means to said bearing, and wherein said sensing fitting is in addition a grease fitting for providing lubricant to said bearing, said sensing fitting including a grease inlet nipple, a grease path and a closure, which closure remains closed at all times when the internal pressure applied to said closure exceeds the external pressure applied to said closure, said closure, thereby preventing lubricant from leaking out from said apparatus and through said nipple.
- 50. A method of monitoring bearing performance in apparatus having at least one threaded aperture sized and disposed to connectably receive a grease fitting for providing lubricant to said bearing, said method comprising placing in said aperture a sensing fitting sized, threaded and configured to be threadably received in said aperture, said sensing fitting including a connecting end which defines a grease path and which is sized and configured to be fixedly yet detachably received by said aperture so that, when installed in said aperture, said connecting end is proximate to said bearing, and detecting a change in bearing temperature by providing temperature sensing means to enable detection of impending bearing failure, a portion of said temperature sensing means extending into and along the length of said connecting end.
- 55. A method of monitoring bearing performance in apparatus having at least one threaded aperture sized and disposed to connectably receive a grease fitting for providing lubricant to said bearing, said method comprising placing in said aperture a sensing fitting sized, threaded and configured to be threadably received in said aperture, said sensing fitting including a connecting end which is sized and configured to be fixedly yet detachably received by said aperture so that, when installed in said aperture, said connecting end is proximate to said bearing, and detecting a change in the amount of bearing vibration by providing vibration sensing means to enable detection of impending bearing failure, said sensing fitting being threadably adjustably extendable into said apparatus to permit control of the proximity of said sensing fitting and said sensing means to said bearing, and wherein said sensing fitting is in addition a grease fitting for providing lubricant to said bearing, said sensing fitting including a grease inlet nipple. a grease path and a closure, which closure remains closed at all times when the internal pressure applied to said closure exceeds the external pressure applied to said closure, said closure thereby preventing lubricant from leaking out from said apparatus and through said nipple.
Specification