Load sensing on the basis of transverse deformation

摘要

The sensing of a mechanical load on a rolling element bearing, in operational use of the bearing, is carried out by measuring the strain on a surface (212) of the bearing that faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction of the mechanical load.

主权项

1. A method of determining a mechanical load on a rolling element bearing, the rolling element bearing comprising:
a first ring and a second ring that are configured for coaxial rotation relative to each other and around an axis, wherein the first ring includes a first left flank and a first right flank, wherein the second ring includes a second left flank and a second right flank, the first left flank and the second left flank being disposed along a first plane oriented perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the rolling element bearing, the first right flank and the second right flank being disposed along a second plane oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation; a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the first ring and the second ring; the method comprising: in operational use of the rolling element bearing, sensing a deformation of at least a specific one of the first ring and the second ring at at least a specific surface of the first ring or the second ring that faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to a further direction of a main vector component of the mechanical load on the rolling element bearing, wherein the rolling element bearing is designed for predominantly supporting the main vector component; wherein, sensing a deformation by only sensing a single specific surface of at least one of the first ring and the second ring, and determining an attribute of the mechanical load in dependence on the deformation sensed.