Sensor and rolling bearing apparatus with sensor

• US 7,014,368 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2003
• Issued: 03/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NSK Limited
• Original Assignee: NSK Limited
• Inventors: Endo, Shigeru, Takahashi, Toshio, Takizawa, Takeshi, Sakatani, Ikunori, Morita, Kouichi, Fukuyama, Hiromasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Footland, Lenard A.
• Application Number:
  US10/643,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20040036621A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 384/448, 384/446, 384/544, 731/465, 324/173, 324/174
• US Class Current: 384/448
• CPC Class Codes: B61F 15/20 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/386 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/52 with devices affected by abnormal or undesired conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/525 related to temperature and heat, e.g. insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/10 Railway vehicles in general B61
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/723 Shaft end sealing means, e.g. cup-shaped caps or covers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/063 Fixing them on the shaft with interposition of an element F16C35/07
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/007 Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/045 Acoustic or vibration analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/026 for speed measuring devices, e.g. pulse generator
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/443 mounted in bearings bearings F16C
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/487 delivered by rotating magnets

Abstract

A rolling bearing apparatus with sensor includes a sensor unit retaining a plurality of types of sensors for detecting the status of a rolling bearing, in a single holder. The plurality of types of sensors are at least two types of sensors of a rotation speed sensor, a temperature sensor, and an acceleration sensor.

Claims

1. A bearing apparatus, comprising:

a sensor for a bearing, comprising;

a sensor being incorporated into the bearing or its surroundings, wherein

the sensor is configured to decrease an output voltage in conjunction with an increase of measured temperature,

the sensor is a temperature sensor which detects an abnormality of the bearing, and

an output voltage characteristic of the temperature sensor is linearized within a temperature range of from 0°

C. to 200°

C.; and

at least one of a rotation speed sensor and a vibration sensor.

2. The bearing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature detection circuit; and

a cable for connecting the sensor and the temperature detection circuit.

3. The bearing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein

the temperature detection circuit has a resistor for converting an output of the sensor into a voltage.

4. An abnormality determining apparatus for an axle bearing, comprising:

a bearing apparatus according to claim 1.

5. A bearing apparatus, comprising:

a sensor for a bearing comprising;

a sensor being incorporated into the bearing or its surroundings,

wherein

the sensor is configured to decrease an output voltage in conjunction with an increase of measured temperature,

the sensor is a temperature sensor which detects an abnormality of the bearing and one of more fixed resistors is connected to the sensor; and

at least one of a rotation speed sensor and a vibration sensor.

6. The bearing apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising:

a temperature detection circuit; and

a cable for connecting the sensor and the temperature detection circuit.

7. The bearing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein

the temperature detection circuit has a resistor for converting an output of the sensor into a voltage.

8. An abnormality determining apparatus for an axle bearing, comprising:

a bearing apparatus according to claim 5.

9. A bearing apparatus, comprising:

a sensor for a bearing comprising;

a sensor being incorporated into the bearing or its surroundings,

wherein

the sensor is configured to decrease an output voltage in conjunction with an increase of measured temperature,

the sensor is a temperature sensor which detects an abnormality of the bearing,

one or more fixed resistors is connected to the sensor, and

the sensor is constructed by a thermistor, and the one or more fixed resistor are connected in parallel with the thermistor; and

at least one of a rotation speed sensor and a vibration sensor.

10. The bearing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the thermistor is constructed by a NTC thermistor having a negative temperature characteristic.

11. The bearing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein

the thermistor is constructed by one of a PTC thermistor and a silicon thermistor, and

the one of the PTC thermistor and the silicon thermistor has a positive temperature characteristic.

12. The bearing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a temperature detection circuit; and

a cable for connecting the sensor and the temperature detection circuit.

13. The bearing apparatus according to claim 12, wherein

the temperature detection circuit has a resistor for converting an output of the sensor into a voltage.

14. An abnormality determining apparatus for an axle bearing, comprising:

a bearing apparatus with the sensor according to claim 9.

15. A bearing apparatus comprising:

a sensor for a bearing comprising;

a sensor being incorporated into the bearing or its surroundings,

wherein

the sensor is configured to decrease an output voltage in conjunction with an increase of measured temperature,

the sensor is a temperature sensor which detects an abnormality of the bearing, and

an output voltage characteristic of the temperature sensor is linearized within a temperature range of from 0°

C. to 200°

C.;

a temperature detection circuit; and

a cable for connecting the sensor and the temperature detection circuit, wherein

the temperature detection circuit has a resistor for converting an output of the sensor into a voltage, and

an output V_T of the temperature sensor from the temperature detection circuit satisfies the following equations;

$V_T=\frac{R_{16}}{R_{16}+R_T}\times <br><br>V_S;<br><br>\mathrm{and}<br><br><br><br>R_T=\frac{R_t\times <br><br>R_{15}}{R_t+R_{15}},$

wherein

R₁₆ is a first resistance value,

R_t is an electric resistance value of the thermistor,

R₁₅ is a second resistance value,

R_T is a combined resistance value of the thermistor and the second resistance value, and

V_S is a power voltage supplied to the temperature sensor.

16. A bearing apparatus comprising:

a sensor for a bearing comprising;

a sensor being incorporated into the bearing or its surroundings,

wherein

the sensor is configured to decrease an output voltage in conjunction with an increase of measured temperature,

the sensor is a temperature sensor which detects an abnormality of the bearing, and

one or more fixed resistors is connected to the sensor;

a temperature detection circuit; and

a cable for connecting the sensor and the temperature detection circuit,

wherein

the temperature detection circuit has a resistor for converting an output of the sensor into a voltage, and

an output V_T of the temperature sensor from the temperature detection circuit satisfies the following equations;

$V_T=\frac{R_{16}}{R_{16}+R_T}\times <br><br>V_S;<br><br>\mathrm{and}<br><br><br><br>R_T=\frac{R_t\times <br><br>R_{15}}{R_t+R_{15}},$

wherein

R₁₆ is a first resistance value,

R_t is an electric resistance value of the thermistor,

R₁₅ is a second resistance value,

R_T is a combined resistance value of the thermistor and the second resistance value, and

V_S is a power voltage supplied to the temperature sensor.

17. A bearing apparatus comprising:

a sensor for a bearing comprising;

a sensor being incorporated into the bearing or its surroundings,

wherein

the sensor is configured to decrease an output voltage in conjunction with an increase of measured temperature,

the sensor is a temperature sensor which detects an abnormality of the bearing,

one or more fixed resistors is connected to the sensor,

the sensor is constructed by a thermistor, and the one or more fixed resistor are connected in parallel with the thermistor,

a temperature detection circuit; and

a cable for connecting the sensor and the temperature detection circuit,

wherein

the temperature detection circuit has a resistor for converting an output of the sensor into a voltage, and

an output V_T of the temperature sensor from the temperature detection circuit satisfies the following equations;

$V_T=\frac{R_{16}}{R_{16}+R_T}\times <br><br>V_S;<br><br>\mathrm{and}<br><br><br><br>R_T=\frac{R_t\times <br><br>R_{15}}{R_t+R_{15}},$

wherein

R₁₆ is a first resistance value,

R_t is an electric resistance value of the thermistor,

R₁₅ is a second resistance value,

R_T is a combined resistance value of the thermistor and the second resistance value, and

V_S is a power voltage supplied to the temperature sensor.