Bearing apparatus

• US 9,664,593 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2015
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Gallimore, Stephen, Fletcher, Paul, Bridge, Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Charles, Marcus
• Application Number:
  US14/876,086
• Publication Number:
  US 20160123839A1
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 384448, 384490, 384507, 384516, 384513, 73788, 702 41, 702113, 340540, 340635
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 21/003 Arrangements for testing or measuring for measuring vibrations G01H
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/16 Arrangement of bearings; Supporting or mounting bearings in casings bearings per se F16C
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/285 Temporary support structures, e.g. for testing, assembling, installing, repairing; Assembly methods using such structures
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/06 Arrangements of bearings bearings F16C; Lubricating of turbo machines F01D25/18; of machines or engines in general F01M
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/83 Testing, e.g. methods, components or tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/304 Spool rotational speed
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/331 Mechanical loads
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/332 Maximum loads or fatigue criteria
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/821 Displacement measuring means, e.g. inductive
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/163 with angular contact
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/522 related to load on the bearing, e.g. bearings with load sensors or means to protect the bearing against overload
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/23 Gas turbine engines
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/58 Raceways; Race rings
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0009 Force sensors associated with a bearing testing of bearings G01M13/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 13/04 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

Bearing apparatus comprising: an inner race; an outer race; a roller element positioned between the inner race and the outer race; a first sensor to sense displacement of one of: the inner race, the outer race, and the roller element, and to provide a first signal for the sensed displacement to enable a load on the bearing apparatus to be determined.

Claims

1. Bearing apparatus comprising:

an inner race;

an outer race;

a roller element positioned between the inner race and the outer race;

a first sensor to sense displacement of one of;

the inner race and the roller element, and to provide a first signal for the sensed displacement to enable a load on the bearing apparatus to be determined; and

a controller to receive the first signal and to determine the load on the bearing apparatus, wherein the controller is to receive a signal for rotational speed of a shaft, and to determine the load on the bearing apparatus using the rotational speed and the sensed displacement of the inner race or the roller element.

2. Bearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer race or the inner race define an aperture, the first sensor being positioned at least partially within the aperture to sense displacement of the roller element.

3. Bearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises a microwave probe or an eddy current probe.

4. Bearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a second sensor to sense displacement of the inner race and to provide a second signal for the sensed displacement of the inner race to enable the load on the bearing apparatus to be determined.

5. Bearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a third sensor to sense displacement of the outer race and to provide a third signal for the sensed displacement of the outer race to enable the load on the bearing apparatus to be determined.

6. Bearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is to provide the determined load to an output device to inform a user of the determined load to enable the user to modify the design of the bearing apparatus.

7. Bearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller is to determine abnormal operation of the bearing apparatus by analyzing the sensed displacement of the roller element and/or a rotational speed of the roller element sensed by the first sensor.

8. Bearing apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein if the controller determines abnormal operation of the bearing apparatus, the controller is to provide a control signal to at least one component to reduce or prevent abnormal operation of the bearing apparatus.

9. A gas turbine engine comprising bearing apparatus as claimed in claim 1.

10. A method for determining load on bearing apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal for sensed displacement of at least one of;

an inner race and a roller element;

receiving a signal for sensed rotational speed of a shaft; and

determining a load on the bearing apparatus using the sensed rotational speed and the sensed displacement of the roller element or the inner race.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising receiving a second signal for the sensed displacement of the inner race;

and determining the load on the bearing apparatus using the second signal.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising receiving a third signal for the sensed displacement of the outer race;

and determining the load on the bearing apparatus using the third signal.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising providing the determined load to an output device to inform a user of the determined load to enable the user to modify the design of the bearing apparatus.

14. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising determining abnormal operation of the bearing apparatus by analyzing the sensed displacement of the roller element and/or a sensed rotational speed of the roller element.

15. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising providing a control signal to at least one component to reduce or prevent abnormal operation of the bearing apparatus when abnormal operation of the bearing apparatus is determined.