Method for determining a bearing preload
First Claim
1. A method for determining an optimum bearing preload of a rolling-element bearing, comprising:
- providing a shaft;
providing the rolling-element bearing comprising an inner ring fixed on the shaft and an outer ring, a plurality of rolling elements located between the inner ring and the outer ring;
providing a housing disposed over the rolling-element bearing and the shaft, a radially inner surface of the housing having a recess in which the outer ring is positioned;
rotating the inner ring of the rolling-element bearing for at least five complete rotations;
attaching an exciter to an outer surface of the housing, the exciter being configured to indirectly transmit force to the outer ring of the rolling-element bearing via the housing, the exciter causing the outer ring of the rolling-element bearing to receive vibrations when the rolling-element bearing is not rotating;
providing an intermediate component concentrically positioned over the shaft and within the housing, the intermediate component being configured to slide over the shaft and having an axial end configured to axially bias the inner ring to communicate a preload to the rolling-element bearing;
after the step of rotating the inner ring, preloading the rolling-element bearing by applying a force to the intermediate component which transfers the force to the rolling-element bearing;
after the step of preloading the rolling-element bearing, and while the rolling-element bearing is not rotating, exciting the rolling-element bearing by operating the exciter, the exciting of the rolling-element bearing causing the rolling-element bearing to receive vibrations;
recording by at least one vibration sensor connected to the rolling-element bearing a mechanical reaction of the rolling-element bearing in response to the vibrations received from the exciter while the rolling-element bearing is subject to the preloading, the at least one vibration sensor providing a sensor signal which includes information concerning the mechanical reaction;
providing an evaluating circuit configured to receive the sensor signal and provide an evaluation signal based on the sensor signal, the evaluation signal including information concerning the preloading;
before functional operation of the rolling-element bearing, comparing by the evaluating circuit of the evaluation signal to a predetermined frequency range, the predetermined frequency range corresponding to the optimum bearing preload; and
if the evaluation signal is not within the predetermined frequency range, adjusting the force applied to the intermediate component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for determining a bearing preload of a rolling-element bearing includes an exciter configured to be attachable to a component of the rolling-element bearing and to excite the component of the rolling-element bearing and cause it to vibrate when the rolling-element bearing is not rotating, at least one vibration sensor configured to be attachable to the component or to a further component of the rolling-element bearing and to record (capture) a mechanical reaction, in response to the excitation, of the component or the further component of the rolling-element bearing, and an evaluating circuit configured to receive the sensor signal and provide an evaluation signal based on the sensor signal, the evaluation signal including information about the bearing preload. An associated method and computer program are also disclosed.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method for determining an optimum bearing preload of a rolling-element bearing, comprising:
-
providing a shaft; providing the rolling-element bearing comprising an inner ring fixed on the shaft and an outer ring, a plurality of rolling elements located between the inner ring and the outer ring; providing a housing disposed over the rolling-element bearing and the shaft, a radially inner surface of the housing having a recess in which the outer ring is positioned; rotating the inner ring of the rolling-element bearing for at least five complete rotations; attaching an exciter to an outer surface of the housing, the exciter being configured to indirectly transmit force to the outer ring of the rolling-element bearing via the housing, the exciter causing the outer ring of the rolling-element bearing to receive vibrations when the rolling-element bearing is not rotating; providing an intermediate component concentrically positioned over the shaft and within the housing, the intermediate component being configured to slide over the shaft and having an axial end configured to axially bias the inner ring to communicate a preload to the rolling-element bearing; after the step of rotating the inner ring, preloading the rolling-element bearing by applying a force to the intermediate component which transfers the force to the rolling-element bearing; after the step of preloading the rolling-element bearing, and while the rolling-element bearing is not rotating, exciting the rolling-element bearing by operating the exciter, the exciting of the rolling-element bearing causing the rolling-element bearing to receive vibrations; recording by at least one vibration sensor connected to the rolling-element bearing a mechanical reaction of the rolling-element bearing in response to the vibrations received from the exciter while the rolling-element bearing is subject to the preloading, the at least one vibration sensor providing a sensor signal which includes information concerning the mechanical reaction; providing an evaluating circuit configured to receive the sensor signal and provide an evaluation signal based on the sensor signal, the evaluation signal including information concerning the preloading; before functional operation of the rolling-element bearing, comparing by the evaluating circuit of the evaluation signal to a predetermined frequency range, the predetermined frequency range corresponding to the optimum bearing preload; and if the evaluation signal is not within the predetermined frequency range, adjusting the force applied to the intermediate component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for determining an optimum bearing preload of a first rolling-element bearing and a second rolling-element bearing located in a common housing, comprising:
-
providing a shaft; providing the first and second rolling-element bearings each comprising an inner ring fixed on the shaft, an outer ring, and a plurality of rolling elements located between the inner ring and the outer ring; providing the common housing disposed over the first and second rolling-element bearings and the shaft, a radially inner surface of the common housing having a recess in which the outer rings of each of the first and second rolling-element bearings are positioned such that an outer radial surface of each of the outer rings directly contacts the common housing; rotating the inner rings of each of the first and second rolling-element bearings for at least five complete rotations; attaching an exciter to an outer surface of the common housing, the exciter being configured to indirectly transmit force to the outer rings of each of the first and second rolling-element bearings via the common housing, the exciter causing the outer rings of each of the first and second rolling-element bearings to receive vibrations when the first and second rolling element bearings are not rotating; providing an intermediate component concentrically positioned over the shaft and within the common housing, the intermediate component being configured to slide over the shaft and having an axial end configured to directly contact the inner ring of the first rolling-element bearing to communicate a preload to the first rolling-element bearing which communicates the preload to the second rolling-element bearing such that each of the first and second rolling element bearings are preloaded; after the step of rotating the inner rings, preloading the first and second rolling-element bearings by applying a force to the intermediate component which transfers the force to the first rolling-element bearing which transfers the force to the second rolling-element bearing; after the step of preloading the first and second rolling-element bearings, and while the first and second rolling-element bearings are not rotating, exciting the first and second rolling element bearings by operating the exciter, the exciting of the first and second rolling-element bearings causing the first and second rolling-element bearings to receive vibrations; recording by at least one vibration sensor connected to each of the first and second rolling-element bearings a mechanical reaction of the first and second rolling-element bearings in response to the vibrations received from the exciter while the rolling-element bearings are subject to the preloading, the at least one vibration sensor providing a sensor signal which includes information concerning the mechanical reaction; providing an evaluating circuit configured to receive the sensor signals and provide at least one evaluation signal based on the sensor signals, the at least one evaluation signal including information concerning the preloading; before functional operation of the rolling-element bearings, comparing by the evaluating circuit of the evaluation signal to a predetermined frequency range, the predetermined frequency range corresponding to the optimum bearing preload; and if the at least one evaluation signal is not within the predetermined frequency range, adjusting the force applied to the intermediate component. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
Specification