Abstract: A wheel hub assembly includes inner and outer hubs rotatably coupled by first and second ballsets of rollers. A plurality of sensors for sensing strain within the outer hub generated by the ballsets are disposed on exterior mounting surface sections. These surface sections are located at radial spacing distances within empirically derived radial boundaries to prevent interference from one ballset affecting the measurements taken by sensors monitoring the other ballset. To prevent excessive distortion of strain measurements taken through the outer hub, a certain amount of hub material is required to smooth signals generated by the first and second rollers passing proximal to each sensor, thus affecting the radial location of the mounting surfaces. Further, the sensor mounting surface sections are also located within empirically derived axial boundaries determined to enable each sensor to sense strain from one ballset while avoiding the detection of strain generated by the other ballset.

Abstract: A wheel hub assembly includes inner and outer hubs rotatably coupled by first and second ballsets of rollers. A plurality of sensors for sensing strain within the outer hub generated by the ballsets are disposed on exterior mounting surface sections. These surface sections are located at radial spacing distances within empirically derived radial boundaries to prevent interference from one ballset affecting the measurements taken by sensors monitoring the other ballset. To prevent excessive distortion of strain measurements taken through the outer hub, a certain amount of hub material is required to smooth signals generated by the first and second rollers passing proximal to each sensor, thus affecting the radial location of the mounting surfaces. Further, the sensor mounting surface sections are also located within empirically derived axial boundaries determined to enable each sensor to sense strain from one ballset while avoiding the detection of strain generated by the other ballset.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic seal for enclosing a radial gap between coaxial, relatively rotatable inner and outer members. The dynamic seal includes an inner seal part, mountable to the inner member; an outer seal part, mountable to the outer member; and a counterface part radially suspended between the inner and outer seal parts and coaxial therewith. Each of the inner and outer seal parts provides a set of first and second sealing elements, which bear against oppositely oriented axial surfaces of the counterface part. The counterface part is thus axially retained in both directions by the inner seal part at a radially inner contact location, and is axially retained in both directions by the outer seal part at a radially outer contact location.

Abstract: A sensorized roller of a bearing, the roller having a central bore extending axially therethrough and a sensor module mounted within the bore in a non-fixed manner. The module includes at least four deformation sensors arranged circumferentially around a module center axis, at defined angular intervals. Each deformation sensor measures a radial distance (measured for defined angular positions lying within an angular span of 180°) between the center axis and a radially inner bore surface. The module includes a processor which receives each measured radial distance and calculates a radial load (under static or dynamic conditions) acting on the roller by estimating an offset angle of the fixed reference relative to the radial load direction and by using the estimated offset angle and each measured radial distance as inputs to a mathematical model, describing a deformation radius of the bore as a function of angular position and load dependent parameters.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic seal for enclosing a radial gap between coaxial, relatively rotatable inner and outer members. The dynamic seal includes an inner seal part, mountable to the inner member; an outer seal part, mountable to the outer member; and a counterface part radially suspended between the inner and outer seal parts and coaxial therewith. Each of the inner and outer seal parts provides a set of first and second sealing elements, which bear against oppositely oriented axial surfaces of the counterface part. The counterface part is thus axially retained in both directions by the inner seal part at a radially inner contact location, and is axially retained in both directions by the outer seal part at a radially outer contact location.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic seal for enclosing a radial gap between coaxial, relatively rotatable inner and outer members. The dynamic seal includes an inner seal part, mountable to the inner member; an outer seal part, mountable to the outer member; and a counterface part radially suspended between the inner and outer seal parts and coaxial therewith. Each of the inner and outer seal parts provides a set of first and second sealing elements, which bear against oppositely oriented axial surfaces of the counterface part. The counterface part is thus axially retained in both directions by the inner seal part at a radially inner contact location, and is axially retained in both directions by the outer seal part at a radially outer contact location.

Abstract: The present invention resides in a sensorized roller of a roller bearing. The sensorized roller includes a roller bore that accommodates a measuring device for measuring deformation of the roller bore and electronics for processing a deformation signal from the measuring device and wirelessly transmitting the processed deformation signal to an external receiver. According to the invention, the measuring device and electronics are mounted in a rigid housing that is shaped to fit within the roller bore. A radially outer surface of the housing includes at least one aperture associated with the measuring device. Furthermore, the rigid housing is resiliently mounted to the roller bore via first and second sealing elements that enclose a radial gap between a radially inner surface of the roller bore and a radially outer surface of the housing.

Abstract: A sensorized roller of a bearing, the roller having a central bore extending axially therethrough and a sensor module mounted within the bore in a non-fixed manner. The module includes at least four deformation sensors arranged circumferentially around a module center axis, at defined angular intervals. Each deformation sensor measures a radial distance (measured for defined angular positions lying within an angular span of 180° between the center axis and a radially inner bore surface. The module includes a processor which receives each measured radial distance and calculates a radial load (under static or dynamic conditions) acting on the roller by estimating an offset angle of the fixed reference relative to the radial load direction and by using the estimated offset angle and each measured radial distance as inputs to a mathematical model, describing a deformation radius of the bore as a function of angular position and load dependent parameters.

Abstract: A roller of a roller bearing providing a hollow bore in which a load cell is arranged, for measuring a radial load acting on the roller. The load cell is mounted to the roller bore in a non-fixed manner and includes one or more cantilever beams that extend in an axial direction of the roller. A contact element is provided on each cantilever beam. Each element further bears against a surface of the roller bore. At least one sensor is provided on each cantilever beam for measuring bending thereof, due to deflection of the beam in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

Abstract: The present invention resides in a sensorized roller of a roller bearing. The sensorized roller includes a roller bore that accommodates a measuring device for measuring deformation of the roller bore and electronics for processing a deformation signal from the measuring device and wirelessly transmitting the processed deformation signal to an external receiver. According to the invention, the measuring device and electronics are mounted in a rigid housing that is shaped to fit within the roller bore. A radially outer surface of the housing includes at least one aperture associated with the measuring device. Furthermore, the rigid housing is resiliently mounted to the roller bore via first and second sealing elements that enclose a radial gap between a radially inner surface of the roller bore and a radially outer surface of the housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a dynamic seal for enclosing a radial gap between coaxial, relatively rotatable inner and outer members. The dynamic seal includes an inner seal part, mountable to the inner member; an outer seal part, mountable to the outer member; and a counterface part radially suspended between the inner and outer seal parts and coaxial therewith. Each of the inner and outer seal parts provides a set of first and second sealing elements, which bear against oppositely oriented axial surfaces of the counterface part. The counterface part is thus axially retained in both directions by the inner seal part at a radially inner contact location, and is axially retained in both directions by the outer seal part at a radially outer contact location.