Abstract: A bearing lubrication system includes a lubricant distributor configured to perform a lubrication operation by moving lubricant toward an interior of a housing of a bearing, at least one sensor configured to measure at least one condition of the bearing and to produce a signal indicative of the at least one measured condition and a controller configured to produce a transient detection signal, a signal indicative of a second derivative of the measurement signal, for example, and to determine whether an absolute value of the transient detection signal exceeds a threshold value during a given time period after the lubrication operation and to output a failure signal indicative of a lubrication failure in response to a determination that the absolute value of the transient detection signal does not exceed the threshold value during the given time period. Also a method of operating a bearing lubrication system.

Abstract: A bearing lubrication system includes a lubricant distributor configured to perform a lubrication operation by moving lubricant toward an interior of a housing of a bearing, at least one sensor configured to measure at least one condition of the bearing and to produce a signal indicative of the at least one measured condition and a controller configured to produce a transient detection signal, a signal indicative of a second derivative of the measurement signal, for example, and to determine whether an absolute value of the transient detection signal exceeds a threshold value during a given time period after the lubrication operation and to output a failure signal indicative of a lubrication failure in response to a determination that the absolute value of the transient detection signal does not exceed the threshold value during the given time period. Also a method of operating a bearing lubrication system.

Abstract: A bearing assembly comprises a rolling element bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring and a set of rolling elements arranged in a bearing cavity between the inner and outer rings. A first grease is provided in the bearing cavity, which has a first thermal bleed rate at a specific reference temperature. The bearing assembly further comprises a grease cartridge, arranged at an axial side of the bearing cavity, whereby the cartridge has axially extending passageways that open into the bearing cavity, and whereby at least some of the passageways are filled with a second grease. The second grease has a second thermal bleed rate at the specific reference temperature which is lower than that of the first grease.

Abstract: A bearing assembly comprises a rolling element bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring and a set of rolling elements arranged in a bearing cavity between the inner and outer rings. A first grease is provided in the bearing cavity, which has a first thermal bleed rate at a specific reference temperature. The bearing assembly further comprises a grease cartridge, arranged at an axial side of the bearing cavity, whereby the cartridge has axially extending passageways that open into the bearing cavity, and whereby at least some of the passageways are filled with a second grease. The second grease has a second thermal bleed rate at the specific reference temperature which is lower than that of the first grease.