Bearing monitoring method

• US 7,839,294 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Issued: 11/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC (Waukesha Bearings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Inpro/Seal LLC (Waukesha Bearings Corporation)
• Inventors: Hoehle, Neil F., Orlowski, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie
• Application Number:
  US12/335,218
• Publication Number:
  US 20090096627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/682
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 39/09 Arrangements of bearing or sealing means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/02 detecting dangerous physical condition of load carriers, e.g. for interrupting the drive in the event of overheating
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 13/022 supporting a hollow roll mantle rotating with respect to a yoke or axle
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/06 with a single row or balls
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/52 with devices affected by abnormal or undesired conditions
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2233/00 Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2326/58 Conveyor systems, e.g. rollers or bearings therefor in general B65G
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/80 Labyrinth sealings F16C33/761 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for monitoring a bearing is disclosed. The method involves positioning a non-contacting bearing isolator adjacent a bearing on a piece of rotating equipment so that at least one operating parameter of said bearing is communicated to said bearing isolator; and, positioning an energy detector within range of said bearing isolator so that said energy detector is able to monitor said at least one operating parameter of said bearing by detecting at least one operating parameter of said bearing isolator.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a bearing of a conveyor roller comprising:

a. positioning a non-contacting bearing isolator adjacent said bearing wherein said non-contacting bearing isolator comprises;

i. a stator secured to a shaft; and

,

ii. a rotor secured to said conveyor roller, wherein the stator has a stator exterior end face axially distal from said bearing secured to said shaft, wherein said stator and said rotor cooperate to form a non-contacting labyrinth seal between said bearing and an atmosphere axially distal said stator exterior end face, said labyrinth seal comprising;

1. an exterior interface passage;

2. an intermediate annular chamber;

3. an interior interface passage; and

4. an immediate interface passage between said stator and said rotor;

b. allowing at least one operational parameter of said bearing to be communicated to said non-contacting bearing isolator; and

c. positioning a monitor a predetermined distance from said non-contacting bearing isolator so that said monitor is capable of monitoring said at least one operating parameter of said bearing by detecting at least one operating parameter of said bearing isolator.

2. A method for monitoring a bearing of a conveyor roller comprising:

a. positioning at least one non-contacting bearing isolator adjacent said bearing wherein said non-contacting bearing isolator comprises;

i. a stator secured to a shaft, wherein said stator includes a stator exterior end face;

ii. a sensor port fashioned in said stator exterior end face; and

iii. a rotor secured to said conveyor roller, wherein the stator has a stator exterior end face axially distal from a bearing secured to said shaft, wherein said stator and said rotor cooperate to form a non-contacting labyrinth seal between said bearing and an atmosphere axially distal said stator exterior end face, said labyrinth seal comprising;

1. an exterior interface passage;

2. an intermediate annular chamber;

3. an interior interface passage; and

4. an immediate interface passage between said stator and said rotor;

b. allowing at least one operational parameter of said bearing to be communicated to said non-contacting bearing isolator; and

c. positioning a sensor in said sensor port so that said sensor is capable of sensing said at least one operating parameter of said bearing.

3. The method for monitoring a bearing according to claim 2 wherein said sensor is further defined as a thermal energy sensor.

4. The method for monitoring a bearing according to claim 2 wherein said sensor is further defined as a device operable to detect and measure vibrational information.

5. The method for monitoring a bearing according to claim 2 wherein said sensor communicates the value of said at least one operating parameter to a user interface.

6. The method for monitoring a bearing according to claim 2 further comprising a plurality of bearings and a plurality of sensors.

7. The method for monitoring a bearing according to claim 6 wherein said plurality of sensors are in communication with each other.

8. The method for monitoring a bearing according to claim 2 wherein said at least one operational parameter is chosen from a group comprised of thermal energy, vibration frequency, vibration amplitude, rotational speed, rotational resistance, axial or radial displacement of said shaft, axial or radial displacement of said conveyor roller, and wear on said bearing.

9. A method for monitoring a bearing comprising:

a. positioning at least one non-contacting bearing isolator adjacent a bearing on a piece of rotating equipment so that at least one operating parameter of said bearing is communicated to said bearing isolator; and

,

b. positioning an energy detector within range of said bearing isolator so that said energy detector is able to monitor said at least one operating parameter of said bearing by detecting at least one operating parameter of said bearing isolator, wherein said energy detector is further defined as an IR camera.

10. A method for monitoring a plurality of bearings comprising:

a. positioning at least one non-contacting bearing isolator adjacent at least one of a plurality of bearings on a piece of rotating equipment so that at least one operating parameter of said bearings is communicated to said bearing isolator;

b. positioning a plurality of energy detectors within range of said bearing isolator so that at least one of said plurality energy detectors is able to monitor said at least one operating parameter of said at least one of a plurality of bearings by detecting at least one operating parameter of said bearing isolator, wherein said plurality of energy detectors are in communication with each other.