BEARING ASSEMBLY MONITORING SYSTEM

摘要

A bearing assembly monitoring system (10) provides continuous, real time monitoring of the operating condition of a powertrain support bearing assembly and real time alarm signals indicative of degradation and/or impending catastrophic failure thereof. One embodiment includes a vibration sensing device (12), first and second primary temperature sensing devices (14, 16, 18), an ambient temperature sensing device, vibration and temperature signal processing subcircuits (20, 22), and an alarm subsystem (24). The vibration sensing device (12) monitors complex vibration signals emanating from the bearing assembly (120, 130) and provides signals which are compared to reference voltages corresponding to higher than normal and excessive vibration levels. The temperature sensing devices (14, 16, 18) monitor the operating and ambient temperatures of the bearing asssembly and provide signals corresponding thereto. The temperature signal processing circuit (22) converts such temperature signals to differential temperature signals which are compared to a reference voltage corresponding to a temperature differential indicative of impending catastrophic failure.