METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIAGNOSING RESIDUAL LIFE OF ROLLING ELEMENT BEARING

摘要

Condition of foreign substance mixing in lubricant and condition of degradation of the lubricant, which conditions greatly affect the life of a rolling element bearing, are economically detected using a resonance frequency band signal or high frequency signal from an acceleration sensor. The life of the rolling element bearing is accurately estimated in early stages based on the detected condition of the foreign substances and that of the lubricant. A residual life diagnosing method for a rolling element bearing comprises basic data collecting means for collecting by an experimental apparatus the relationship between the condition of foreign substance mixing in lubricant or lubricant degradation and vibration/bearing life, measuring means applied for a rolling element bearing (3) to be diagnosed provided in a rotation instruments (1, 2), for obtaining a vibration signal using an acceleration sensor (4) and measuring a resonance frequency band signal or high frequency signal that can be detected with the highest sensitivity, and judging means estimating the condition of foreign substance mixing and that of lubricant degradation in the rolling element bearing (3) and calculating residual life of the rolling element bearing (3) to be diagnosed, the estimation and calculation being made using measurement values obtained by the measuring means and data obtained by the basic data collecting means.