SYSTEM FOR MONITORING THE OPERATING CONDITIONS OF BEARINGS

摘要

A tapered roller bearing (A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, A7) has at least one groove (34, 84) in its fixed race (2, 4), with that groove being located behind and presented away from the raceway (12, 20) for the race. The groove, which creates an unsupported beam (36, 86) within the race, contains a strain sensor (38, 84) which is oriented to detect strains in the circumferential direction. The presence of a loaded roller (6) over the beam deflects the beam and causes the sensor to produce a signal, with the magnitude of the signal reflecting the magnitude of the load transmitted by the roller. By locating one sensor where the greatest radial load is transmitted and two sensors 30 DEG to 70 DEG symmetrically on each side of that one sensor, one can measure both radial and axial loads in the bearing (A1, A2). By locating two sensors in a single groove, axially aligned, but also axially offset, one can detect misalignment of the raceways along which the rollers roll and also skewing of the rollers in the bearing (A3). By locating one sensor 90 DEG from the location of the greatest radial load, one can measure the axial load in the bearing (A4). An arrangement similar to the foregoing may also be used to ascertain the torque transmitted by a shaft (60) supported on the bearing (A5).