Wireless sensor system and wheel support bearing assembly utilizing the same

• US 7,688,216 B2
• Filed: 03/10/2004
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Original Assignee: NTN Corporation
• Inventors: Mizutani, Masatoshi, Okada, Koichi, Sahashi, Koji, Ito, Hiroyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Blount; Eric M
• Application Number:
  US10/569,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20070018837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,211 Days
• Field of Search: 340/635, 340/442, 340/447, 340/660, 340/663
• US Class Current: 340/635
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/06 with a single row or balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/186 with three raceways provided integrally on parts other than race rings, e.g. third generation hubs
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/187 with all four raceways integrated on parts other than race rings, e.g. fourth generation hubs
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/386 in O-arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/004 Electro-dynamic machines, e.g. motors, generators, actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 41/008 Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/443 mounted in bearings bearings F16C
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Abstract

To provide a wireless sensor system, in which an abnormal power supply in the power supply section can be ascertained, for avoiding a malfunction of the system and accomplishing a stable power supply with reduction of the consumption of a power being transmitted, the wireless sensor system includes wireless sensor units and a sensor signal receiving unit. The wireless sensor units include a sensor section for detecting a detection object, a sensor signal transmitting section for transmitting by wireless a sensor signal from the sensor section, and a power supply section having a power receiving section for receiving a driving power transmitted by wireless. In this system, a power supply monitoring section is provided for monitoring the voltage of the power supply section. The sensor signal receiving unit includes a monitor dependent power control section for regulating the power to be transmitted, depending on a monitored result of the power monitoring section.

Claims

1. A wireless sensor system, comprising:

one or a plurality of wireless sensor units including a sensor section to detect a detection object, a sensor signal transmitting section to transmit wirelessly a sensor signal outputted from the sensor section, and an electric power supply section to supply an electric driving power to the sensor section and the sensor signal transmitting section;

a sensor signal receiving unit to receive the sensor signal transmitted from the sensor signal transmitting section;

an electric power supply monitoring section to monitor a voltage of the electric power supply section;

an electric power receiving section provided in the electric power supply section to receive an electric driving power transmitted wirelessly from a feed power transmitting section; and

a monitor dependent control section to regulate an electric power to be transmitted from the feed power transmitting section, in dependence on a monitored result information.

2. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the feed power transmitting section is provided in the sensor signal receiving unit.

3. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric power supply monitoring section monitors the voltage after the electric power received by the electric power receiving section has been converted into a direct current.

4. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor signal transmitting section transmits a predetermined normal indication signal when the voltage monitored by the electric power supply monitoring section is equal to or higher than, or exceeds, a predetermined threshold value, and interrupts the transmission of the normal indication signal when such voltage is lower than, or equal to or lower than, the predetermined threshold value.

5. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor section includes a revolution sensor having an electric power generating function, and

wherein the electric power supply section utilizes an electric power generated by the revolution sensor.

6. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor section includes at least one of a vibration sensor, a temperature sensor, a load sensor, a torque sensor, and a preload sensor to detect a preload of a bearing assembly.

7. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor section is provided in a plural number.

8. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided a plurality of wireless sensor units, each of the wireless sensor units including the sensor section, the sensor signal transmitting section and the electric power receiving section.

9. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided one wireless sensor unit including a plurality of the sensor sections, the sensor signal transmitting section and the electric power receiving section, and

wherein the sensor signal transmitting section transmits respective sensor signals from the plural sensor sections.

10. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor section is arranged in a bearing assembly.

11. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of wireless sensor units are arranged in different bearing assemblies in a machine setup.

12. A wireless sensor equipped bearing assembly comprising:

a bearing assembly; and

the wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, including the sensor section, the sensor signal transmitting section, and the electric power receiving section to receive wirelessly an electric operating power for the sensor section and the sensor signal transmitting section, all provided in the bearing assembly,

wherein the sensor section includes at least one of a vibration sensor to detect a vibration of the bearing assembly, a temperature sensor to detect a temperature of the bearing assembly, a load sensor to detect a load acting on the bearing assembly, a torque sensor to detect a torque acting on the bearing assembly, and a preload sensor to detect a preload of the bearing assembly.

13. A wireless sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly to rotatably support a vehicle wheel relative to a vehicle body, comprising:

an outer member having a plurality of raceways;

an inner member having raceways defined in face-to-face relation to the raceways; and

a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between the mutually confronting raceways,

wherein the wheel support bearing assembly comprises the bearing assembly as defined in claim 12.

14. A wireless sensor equipped bearing assembly, wherein the wireless sensor unit in the wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1 is employed in the bearing assembly.

15. A wireless sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly to rotatably support a vehicle wheel relative to a vehicle body, comprising:

an outer member having a plurality of raceways;

an inner member having raceways defined in face-to-face relation to the raceways; and

a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between the mutually confronting raceways,

wherein the wheel support bearing assembly comprises the wireless sensor unit in the wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1.

16. The wireless sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sensor section in the wireless sensor unit includes a revolution sensor for detecting a relative revolution of the outer member to the inner member.

17. The wireless sensor system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric power supply monitoring section transmits a monitored result information from the sensor signal transmitting section in the wireless sensor unit to the sensor signal receiving unit.