A controlled replenishing lubrication system provides a desired supply of oil to a rolling element bearing by monitoring the changes in the rolling element ball retainer to shaft speed ratio. This ratio is a function of elastohydrodynamic oil film thickness between elements of the bearing. Changes in the speed ratio are monitored by a sensor and fed to a control system which commands a pump to inject oil into the bearing when the speed ratio varies from a predetermined limit. The rolling elements are moveably mounted for rotation within a retainer or cage in a bearing housing. The retainer includes a light reflective indicia. A shaft is rotatably connected to rotate the retainer and the rolling elements. The shaft also includes a light reflective indicia. The sensor is mounted on or adjacent the bearing for simultaneously emitting light toward the retainer and shaft indicia for sensing variations in reflection of the light therefrom and for generating pulses to the control system responsive to the variations. The pump then responds to commands from the control system for providing a desired amount of lubricant to the bearing.

Controlled replenishing lubrication system

In a device for detecting and monitoring damage to tracks (3, 4) or adjoining regions of the bearing races (1, 2) in rolling bearings, which is capable, on the one hand, of accurately measuring cracks and chipping in the track (3, 4) or in the transitional zone (7) between the tracks (3, 4) and the bearing race (1, 2) and which, on the other hand, is capable of transmitting the results of measurement to the evaluation units without openings in the bearing race (1, 2) with connectors and cables, one or more sensors (13, 14) are arranged in the rolling-element installation space, between the rolling elements (5), and their measurement signals are fed to an antenna (23) outside the bearing by means of electromagnetism. … …

Device for monitoring rolling contact bearings

Walzkorper fur ein Walzlager mit einer Sensoreinheit (12; 12a), dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Sensoreinheit (12; 12a) wenigstens einen Beschleunigungssensor aufweist und dazu vorgesehen ist, bei wenigstens einem Betriebsvorgang mittels des wenigstens einen Beschleunigungssensors eine Position eines Mittelpunkts (22; 22a; 22b) des Walzkorpers in einem Inertialsystem zu messen.

Wälzkörper und Wälzlager

The method involves providing bearing shells (6, 10) on rolling elements (12). A rolling bearing (2) is monitored based on value of velocity of the rolling elements and velocity of the bearing shells. Wear of the bearing is recognized when predetermined condition of the rolling bearing varies over time, where the predetermined condition is a wear condition of the rolling bearing in which a probability of failure of the rolling bearing exceeds a predetermined value. Difference velocity between the moving bearing shells and the rolling elements is determined. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a control device (2) a sensor.

Method for monitoring rolling bearing i.e. wheel bearing, of vehicle e.g. motor car, involves providing bearing shells on rolling elements, and monitoring rolling bearing based on value of velocity of rolling elements and bearing shells

1,158,735. Bearings. E. E. KRENTS, E. P. SURKOV, and V. I. BONDARENKO. 16 Dec., 1966 [16 Dec., 1965], No. 56504/66. Heading F2A. [Also in Division GA] A method for controlling the operation of rolling bearings comprises calculating the amount of slip of the rolling bodies in the bearing unit under control with respect to at least one rolling surface and comparing the value thus obtained with a pre-set one, the results of such comparison being the criterion for evaluating the operation of rolling bearings. The value of slip to be pre-set is determined by measuring angular velocities # 1 of the rolling bodies centres and the angular velocity # 2 of at least one rolling surface with respect to the axis of rotation of a reference rolling bearing at the mode of operation under control; by calculating the angular velocity # 3 of the rolling bodies centres with respect to the axis of rotation of the bearing, in the absence of slipping from the geometrical dimensions of the reference bearing and from the measured angular velocity # 2 of the rolling surface with respect to the axis of rotation of said reference bearing; by obtaining the relationship between the measured angular velocity # 1 of the rolling bodies centres with respect to the axis of rotation of a reference bearing operating in the same way as the one to be controlled and the calculated angular velocity # 3 of the rolling bodies centres with respect to the axis of rotation of said reference bearing; by measuring the angular velocities # 4 of the rolling bodies centres and at least one rolling surface of the bearing under control with respect to the axis of rotation of said bearing in the mode of operation under control; and by obtaining the relationship between the measured angular velocity # 4 of the rolling bodies centres of the bearing under control in the mode of operation under control and the calculated angular velocity # 3 of the rolling bodies centres with respect to the axis of rotation of the reference bearing. To determine state of working of the bearing under control a comparison is made between the values # 1 /# 3 and # 4 /# 3 . In the device for controlling the operation of rolling bearings, pick-ups 4, 5 respond to the passage respectively of balls 1 and a mark 8 on the shaft 9 to feed pulses via shapers 10, 11, on the one hand to divider 15 and gate 12, and on the other hand to gate 12 1 , coincidence circuit 19 and circuit 33. The output of the divider 15 feeds a circuit 33 1 whereby the velocities of the balls 1, suitably divided, and of the shaft are shown at 35 1 and 35. The first pulse from 11 passes through coincidence circuit 19 to set triggers 17, 18. 17 Restores coincidence circuit 19 while 18 opens gates 12, 12 1 whereby pulses from 4, 5 are now fed to counters 14, 14 1 . When counter 14 1 has counted off a specified number of rotations of the shaft switch 95 passes a signal to restore trigger 18 so closing gates 12, 12 1 and stopping the counters 14, 14 1 . An indicator 25 which divides the count in 14 by that in 14 1 shows the number of balls 1 which have passed the pick-up 4 per revolution of the shaft. For a finer measurement switches 27-29 are reversed so that several cycles of counter 14 1 take place under the control of a predetermined counter 22 and a timing relay 24.

Bondarenko Vladimir Ivanovich

Papers

Method for Controlling the Operation of Antifriction Bearings and device for Carrying it into effect