Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system for detecting the contamination condition of lubricating grease of a mechanical component. The system comprises a radio frequency signal generator, a sensor, a switch assembly and a radio frequency signal analyzer. The radio frequency signal generator generates a radio frequency signal with a frequency higher than 1.0 GHz. The sensor contacts lubricating grease to be sensed in the mechanical component. The switch assembly switches between a first mode, in which a radio frequency signal is transmitted through a first transmission path, thereby providing a first feedback signal for the radio frequency signal analyzer, and a second mode in which the radio frequency signal is transmitted through a second transmission path, thereby providing a second feedback signal for the radio frequency signal analyzer. The radio frequency signal analyzer analyzes the first and second feedback signals to detect the contamination condition of lubricating grease.

Abstract: A monitoring system is proposed. The monitoring system comprises a rolling bearing comprising a first ring and a second ring (7, 8) capable of rotating concentrically relative to one another, and at least one row of rolling elements (5) interposed between a first raceway and a second raceway respectively provided on the first and second rings, wherein: at least one of the rolling elements (5) of the rolling bearing is a sensorized rolling element comprises at least one sensor measuring at least one parameter of the sensorized rolling element and a wireless transmitter to transmit the measurements of the sensor, and wherein the system comprises: a receiving device (21) configured to receive the measurements of the sensor of the sensorized rolling element of the rolling bearing, and a processing device (23) configured to process the measurements received by the receiving device to detect damage and/or a contamination of the rolling bearing (2).

Abstract: The invention provides a sensor, which includes a sensing surface; a housing including a recess, the sensing surface is located at the bottom of the recess, and the recess includes at least one side wall and an opening circumferentially surrounding the sensing surface. A compressed fluid nozzle is provided in the at least one side wall to nozzle compressed fluid from the compressed fluid nozzle to force the substance on the sensing surface to leave from the opening. This design makes it possible to refresh in situ with good efficiency without involving additional mechanical parts, thus reducing the risk of sensing surface damage, such as scratch wear, in the presence of wear particles.

Abstract: A method of determining the center of loading of a rolling element includes providing a rolling element body and at least three load sensors. The sensors are each positioned within a bore of the rolling element body at a separate distance from a reference position. Load measurements are taken with each one of the sensors at various positions about the circumference of the bearing and the center of loading is calculated at each one of the positions to determine the variation in axial loading about the bearing circumference.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor roller for monitoring a lubrication condition of a roller bearing, the sensor roller providing a measuring unit for measuring at least a temperature, a speed change and a load of the roller, and a processing unit for generating a temperature profile, a speed change profile and a load profile of the roller based on the measured temperature and speed change.

Abstract: A process for determining the reliability of a sensorized bearing configured to measure load and speed is provided. The process includes the following steps. Bearing load and rotational speed are determined from data acquired from the sensorized bearing. Next, an array linking the determined load to the determined n.dm value is filled until that all available loads are parsed. Then a L10 life is determined for each load within a distribution based on the array. Finally, an overall L10 life is determined based on the Palmgren-Minor rule. The load distribution and the L10 lives a bearing reliability R for a given date is determined based on a Weibull curve and the overall L10 life.

Abstract: A method for estimating a bearing load in a bearing having a first ring, a second ring and a row of rolling elements arranged between the first ring and the second ring, the method including: equipping the first ring with at least one strain sensor probe, transmitting a strain signal waveform from the at least one strain sensor probe to an electronic control unit, extracting shape information of the waveform of the strain signal using a first harmonic component (u) and a second harmonic component (v) of the strain signal, and calculating a bearing load estimation as a polynomial function of the first and second harmonic components (u, v) of the strain signal.

Abstract: A rolling bearing cage includes at least one cage side ring and a plurality of cage bars extending from the cage side ring so as to form a plurality of pockets, each pocket being defined between a separate pair of adjacent bars, for receiving rolling bodies of the rolling bearing. A cage breakage detection unit includes at least one conductive track and a module for wireless cage breakage monitoring. The cage has at least one recess, in which at least a prefabricated part of the cage breakage detection unit is inserted and fixed.

Abstract: A method for fixing a fiber having a fiber Bragg grating sensor segment onto a component configured to undergo changes in strain and/or temperature. The method providing the steps of stretching at least a section of the fiber including the fiber Bragg grating sensor segment by a defined and calibrated preload into a preloaded condition, fixing the section of the fiber including the fiber Bragg grating sensor segment being in the preloaded condition on a carrier element, and fixing the carrier element onto the component, as well as a bearing device with such a fiber.

Abstract: Condition monitoring a cage to detect cage damage by detecting if a conducting material applied to a cage is unbroken or broken. The basic principle of the invention is to integrate a completely passive LC circuit, having the conductive material, on the cage. The LC circuit is magnetically activated and it is externally detectable when conducting material is unbroken or broken. The conducting material of the passive LC circuit is easily broken or worn, being weaker than the cage material. The cage material is non-metallic, such as a polymer material or other suitable synthetic materials.

Abstract: A method for estimating a bearing load in a bearing having a first ring, a second ring and a row of rolling elements arranged between the first ring and the second ring, the method including: equipping the first ring with at least one strain sensor probe, transmitting a strain signal waveform from the at least one strain sensor probe to an electronic control unit, extracting shape information of the waveform of the strain signal using a first harmonic component (u) and a second harmonic component (v) of the strain signal, and calculating a bearing load estimation as a polynomial function of the first and second harmonic components (u, v) of the strain signal.

Abstract: A rolling bearing cage includes at least one cage side ring and a plurality of cage bars extending from the cage side ring so as to form a plurality of pockets, each pocket being defined between a separate pair of adjacent bars, for receiving rolling bodies of the rolling bearing. A cage breakage detection unit includes at least one conductive track and a module for wireless cage breakage monitoring. The cage has at least one recess, in which at least a prefabricated part of the cage breakage detection unit is inserted and fixed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a load measuring device including a deformable component configured to be deformed under a load to be measured and a sensor assembly attached to a first portion of the deformable component and to a method for determining load using such a sensor assembly. It is proposed that the sensor assembly includes at least one acceleration sensor configured to detect a change in an orientation of the first portion with regard to the direction of gravity and that the deformable component is formed as a seal configured to be in sliding contact with a component configured to rotate in relation to the seal.

Abstract: A method for fixing a fiber having a fiber Bragg grating sensor segment onto a component configured to undergo changes in strain and/or temperature. The method providing the steps of stretching at least a section of the fiber including the fiber Bragg grating sensor segment by a defined and calibrated preload into a preloaded condition, fixing the section of the fiber including the fiber Bragg grating sensor segment being in the preloaded condition on a carrier element, and fixing the carrier element onto the component, as well as a bearing device with such a fiber.

Abstract: The invention provides a sealing assembly that includes an elastic seal lip having a movable part. The seal lip is configured to be attached to a first part of a machine and to be in sliding contact with a second part of the machine. It is proposed that at least one vibration sensor is fixed to the movable part of the seal lip.

Abstract: A sealing assembly including an elastic seal lip having a movable part is provided. The seal lip is configured to be attached to a first part of a machine and to be in contact with a second part of the machine. At least one acceleration sensor is fixed to the movable part of the seal lip, and that assembly further includes a data processing device for processing data obtained from the acceleration sensor. The data processing device is configured to determine the orientation of the acceleration sensor in relation to the direction of gravity.

Abstract: Condition monitoring a cage to detect cage damage by detecting if a conducting material applied to a cage is unbroken or broken. The basic principle of the invention is to integrate a completely passive LC circuit, having the conductive material, on the cage. The LC circuit is magnetically activated and it is externally detectable when conducting material is unbroken or broken. The conducting material of the passive LC circuit is easily broken or worn, being weaker than the cage material. The cage material is non-metallic, such as a polymer material or other suitable synthetic materials.

Abstract: A bearing ring having an elongated sensor element that runs along at least a part of a surface of the bearing ring. The connection between the sensor element and the bearing ring is established by a metallic metal material connected by material bonding with the bearing ring as well as with the sensor element. To improve the life of the bearing a sensor element is arranged in a groove that is machined in the bearing ring. The groove extends from the surface of the bearing ring. The metallic material includes or is connected with a flat metallic strip. The flat metallic strip is arranged at or in the surface of the bearing ring and covers the groove.

Abstract: An assembly providing a bearing, a lubricant and a contamination sensor for determining a level of contamination in the lubricant. The sensor includes an EM wave generator for generating an EM signal, and an EM sensing element arranged in contact with the lubricant. The EM sensing element receives the generated EM signal and transmits an output signal whose properties are responsive to real and imaginary parts of a complex relative permittivity of the lubricant. The output signal is received by an EM measuring device that measures first and second parameters of the output signal, which are respectively representative of the real and imaginary parts of the complex relative permittivity. The EM measuring device determines a level of water contamination in the lubricant, based on the measured first parameter alone and determines a level of metal particle contamination in the grease, based on the measured first and second parameters.

Abstract: A sealing assembly including an elastic seal lip having a movable part is provided. The seal lip is configured to be attached to a first part of a machine and to be in contact with a second part of the machine. At least one acceleration sensor is fixed to the movable part of the seal lip, and that assembly further includes a data processing device for processing data obtained from the acceleration sensor. The data processing device is configured to determine the orientation of the acceleration sensor in relation to the direction of gravity.