Active preload control for rolling element bearings
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling a preload of a preloaded duplex bearing system, comprising:
- a shaft, wherein a rotational axis is located along an axis of the shaft;
a plurality of rolling element bearings, the rolling element bearings each comprising;
an inner ring;
an outer ring; and
a plurality of rolling elements between the outer ring and inner ring;
at least one sensor;
a bearing cartridge containing the plurality of rolling element bearings;
at least one spacer, wherein the at least one spacer is axially adjacent to at least one of the outer rings and exerts an axial preload force thereon;
a heat transfer mechanism thermally coupled to the at least one spacer, the heat transfer mechanism comprising a heat conducting mount extending through the bearing cartridge and into the at least one spacer; and
a controller, having a control logic, wherein the controller receives at least one input from the at least one sensor indicative of the axial preload force, and wherein the controller sends at least one output to the heat transfer mechanism based on the at least one input from the at least one sensor to transfer heat to or to remove heat from the at least one spacer to adjust the axial width thereof and reduce changes in the axial preload force due to temperature fluctuations during operation of the preloaded duplex bearing system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the preload of duplex rolling element bearings systems under various temperatures is described. A spacer or a plurality of spacers may be located adjacent to the rings of the duplex rolling element bearings. The spacer or spacers may be heated or cooled to increase or decrease the axial dimension of the spacer or spacers. Changing the axial dimension of the spacers changes the preload of the duplex rolling element bearing system. The preload of the system may be estimated by receiving an input from a sensor or sensors located on the duplex rolling element bearings system. The sensor may be a temperature sensor or a force transducer.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling a preload of a preloaded duplex bearing system, comprising:
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a shaft, wherein a rotational axis is located along an axis of the shaft; a plurality of rolling element bearings, the rolling element bearings each comprising; an inner ring; an outer ring; and a plurality of rolling elements between the outer ring and inner ring; at least one sensor; a bearing cartridge containing the plurality of rolling element bearings; at least one spacer, wherein the at least one spacer is axially adjacent to at least one of the outer rings and exerts an axial preload force thereon; a heat transfer mechanism thermally coupled to the at least one spacer, the heat transfer mechanism comprising a heat conducting mount extending through the bearing cartridge and into the at least one spacer; and a controller, having a control logic, wherein the controller receives at least one input from the at least one sensor indicative of the axial preload force, and wherein the controller sends at least one output to the heat transfer mechanism based on the at least one input from the at least one sensor to transfer heat to or to remove heat from the at least one spacer to adjust the axial width thereof and reduce changes in the axial preload force due to temperature fluctuations during operation of the preloaded duplex bearing system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus, comprising:
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a shaft; a duplex bearing assembly including inner rings, outer rings, rolling elements disposed between the inner rings and the outer rings, and a bearing cartridge in which the outer rings and the rolling elements are disposed; a spacer disposed axially adjacent and exerting an axial preload force on the outer rings; a heat transfer mechanism thermally coupled to the spacer and configured to selectively transfer heat thereto, the heat transfer mechanism comprising; a heat conducting mount extending through a sidewall opening provided in the bearing cartridge and to the spacer; and at least one of a thermoelectric coupling and a thermocouple in thermal communication with the heat conducting mount; and a controller operably coupled to the heat transfer mechanism and configured to cause the heat transfer mechanism to transfer heat to the spacer to increase the axial width thereof when the axial preload force exerted by the spacer on at least one of the outer rings is determined to be less than a first predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a stationary shaft; a duplex bearing assembly including inner rings, outer rings, rolling elements disposed between the inner rings and the outer rings, and a bearing cartridge in which the outer rings and the rolling elements are disposed; a spacer disposed axially adjacent and exerting an axial preload force on at least one of the inner rings, the spacer fixed to the stationary shaft; a heat transfer mechanism thermally coupled to the spacer and configured to selectively transfer heat thereto, the heat transfer mechanism incorporated into the stationary shaft; and a controller operably coupled to the heat transfer mechanism and configured to cause the heat transfer mechanism to transfer heat to the spacer to increase the axial width thereof when the axial preload force exerted by the spacer on the inner rings is determined to be less than a first predetermined level; wherein the heat transfer mechanism comprises; a heat conducting mount embedded within the stationary shaft; and at least one of a thermoelectric coupling and a thermocouple in thermal communication with the heat conducting mount.
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Specification