Abstract: A hub assembly includes an inner rotatable hub having inboard and outboard axial ends, a radial flange extending outwardly from the outboard axial end and connectable with the wheel, an inner circumferential surface, and an opposing outer circumferential surface providing inboard and outboard inner races. An outer hub is disposed about the inner hub, connectable with the chassis and has inboard and outboard axial ends, an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface. The inner surface provides inboard and outboard outer races and a central surface section extending between the two outer races. First and second sets of rolling elements are disposed between the inner and outer races. One or more sensors are each disposed on the central surface section of the outer hub and are each configured to sense strain within the outer hub generated by the rolling elements.

Abstract: A sensorized roller for a bearing includes a bore that extends through the roller, a sensor for measuring at least one physical state of the roller bore and producing a first signal indicative of the measured physical state, a wireless transmitter for receiving the first signal from the sensor and wirelessly transmitting a second signal based on the first signal, and a generator configured to be rotated by a movement of the roller, the generator being electrically connected to the sensor. The measuring unit, the wireless transmitter and the generator are located inside the bore.

Abstract: A hub assembly includes an inner rotatable hub having inboard and outboard axial ends, a radial flange extending outwardly from the outboard axial end and connectable with the wheel, an inner circumferential surface, and an opposing outer circumferential surface providing inboard and outboard inner races. An outer hub is disposed about the inner hub, connectable with the chassis and has inboard and outboard axial ends, an outer circumferential surface and an inner circumferential surface. The inner surface provides inboard and outboard outer races and a central surface section extending between the two outer races. First and second sets of rolling elements are disposed between the inner and outer races. One or more sensors are each disposed on the central surface section of the outer hub and are each configured to sense strain within the outer hub generated by the rolling elements.

Abstract: A generator assembly for harvesting energy in a bearing arrangement having a first ring and a second ring is provided. The generator assembly includes a plurality of coils attached to the first ring and configured to interact with a magnet ring with alternating magnetization directions attached to the second ring, and a plug connector for supplying power generated by the generator assembly to external devices. The coils are encapsulated and mounted in an outer carrier ring such that the winding axis is oriented in a radial direction of the bearing and the magnet ring is composed of plural permanent magnets attached to an inner carrier ring attached to the inner ring of the bearing.

Abstract: A sensorized roller for a bearing includes a bore that extends through the roller, a sensor for measuring at least one physical state of the roller bore and producing a first signal indicative of the measured physical state, a wireless transmitter for receiving the first signal from the sensor and wirelessly transmitting a second signal based on the first signal, and a generator configured to be rotated by a movement of the roller, the generator being electrically connected to the sensor. The measuring unit, the wireless transmitter and the generator are located inside the bore.

Abstract: A spherical roller bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring, first and second roller sets disposed therebetween, and a guide element for guiding the rollers of at least one roller set. The guide element is rotational about a bearing axis of rotation during bearing operation. The bearing further includes a generator, arranged between the first and second roller sets, which includes a magnetic rotor with alternating polarities in circumferential direction and a stator having at least one stator coil. The magnetic rotor is mounted to the guide element, while the stator is mounted to a common outer raceway of the outer ring, radially opposite from the magnetic rotor. In accordance with the invention, the stator has the form of an annular band. The at least one stator coil is formed by a flat conductor provided on a flexible printed circuit board.

Abstract: A generator assembly for harvesting energy in a bearing arrangement having a first ring and a second ring is provided. The generator assembly includes a plurality of coils attached to the first ring and configured to interact with a magnet ring with alternating magnetization directions attached to the second ring, and a plug connector for supplying power generated by the generator assembly to external devices. The coils are encapsulated and mounted in an outer carrier ring such that the winding axis is oriented in a radial direction of the bearing and the magnet ring is composed of plural permanent magnets attached to an inner carrier ring attached to the inner ring of the bearing.

Abstract: A gear-driven bearing unit comprising a housing, a drive gear and a rolling element bearing The rolling element bearing comprising: an outer member with teeth for meshing with drive gear teeth, an inner member and rolling elements between the inner and outer members. At one axial side, the housing is connected to the inner member enclosing the outer member. A first radial gap extends between an outer member radially inner surface and an inner member radially outer surface. A second radial gap exists between an outer member radially outer surface and a housing radially inner surface. The radial gaps are sealed by seals, each comprising radial sealing lips. The unit is lubricated with a grease comprising a calcium-based thickener or calcium salt additives and the teeth on the outer member are made of a hardening treated bearing-grade steel which diffuses nitrogen into the surface of the teeth.

Abstract: A sensorized roller of a bearing, the sensorized roller having a sensor module located within an axially extending hollow cylindrical bore. The sensor module is equipped with one or more deformation sensors for detecting deformation of the roller bore due to a radial load acting on the roller. The sensor module comprises a rigid housing that is shaped to fit inside the roller bore and is mounted to the roller bore with a small radial clearance between an outer cylindrical surface of the housing an inner cylindrical surface of the bore. Each of the one or more deformation sensors is formed by a proximity sensor that is accommodated at the outer cylindrical surface of the housing. A sensing element of the proximity sensor faces the inner cylindrical surface of the roller bore and measures a radial gap therebetween; the radial gap being indicative of bore deformation.

Abstract: A generator assembly for harvesting energy in a bearing arrangement having a first ring and a second ring is provided. The generator assembly includes a plurality of coils attached to the first ring and configured to interact with a magnet ring with alternating magnetization directions attached to the second ring, and a plug connector for supplying power generated by the generator assembly to external devices. The first ring is an outer ring of the bearing, the groove is formed on an outer circumference of the first ring and is helicoidally shaped, and a helix angle of the groove is 45° or more.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement including a rotating part and a non-rotating part. The rotating part is configured to rotate relative to the non-rotating part with an essentially horizontal rotation axis. The arrangement is provided with an energy generating system, comprising at least one micro generator module. The micro generator module includes a housing, an eccentric mass mounted so as to be rotatable around an eccentric shaft in the housing, and a generator unit configured to generate electrical energy using the rotation of the eccentric shaft. The energy generating system is mounted to the rotating part of the arrangement.

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 sensorized roller having a sensor module located within an axially extending hollow cylindrical bore. The sensor module is equipped with one or more deformation sensors for detecting deformation of the roller bore due to a radial load acting on the roller. The sensor module comprises a rigid housing that is shaped to fit inside the roller bore and is mounted to the roller bore with a small radial clearance between an outer cylindrical surface of the housing an inner cylindrical surface of the bore. Each of the one or more deformation sensors is formed by a proximity sensor that is accommodated at the outer cylindrical surface of the housing. A sensing element of the proximity sensor faces the inner cylindrical surface of the roller bore and measures a radial gap therebetween; the radial gap being indicative of bore deformation.

Abstract: A generator assembly for harvesting energy in a bearing arrangement having a first ring and a second ring is provided. The generator assembly includes a plurality of coils attached to the first ring and configured to interact with a magnet ring with alternating magnetization directions attached to the second ring, and a plug connector for supplying power generated by the generator assembly to external devices. The first ring is an outer ring of the bearing, the groove is formed on an outer circumference of the first ring and is helicoidally shaped, and a helix angle of the groove is 45° or more.

Abstract: The invention relates to a generator assembly for harvesting energy in a bearing arrangement having a first ring and a second ring. The generator assembly includes a plurality of coils attached to the first ring and configured to interact with a magnet ring with alternating magnetization directions attached to the second ring. In order to provide a versatile power supply for electric and electronic external devices in machine applications, it is proposed to provide the generator assembly with a plug connector for supplying power generated by the generator assembly to external devices.

Abstract: A generator assembly for harvesting energy in a bearing arrangement having a first component and a second component, wherein the first component is configured to rotate in relation to the second component. The generator assembly includes a plurality of coils attached to the first component, wherein the coils are configured to interact with a magnet ring with alternating magnetization directions attached to the second component. In order to achieve an adaptable and flexible design, the coils are placed and oriented such that a winding axis of the coils is oriented in an essentially circumferential direction in relation to a rotation axis of the bearing arrangement.

Abstract: A spherical roller bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring, first and second roller sets disposed therebetween, and a guide element for guiding the rollers of at least one roller set. The guide element is rotational about a bearing axis of rotation during bearing operation. The bearing further includes a generator, arranged between the first and second roller sets, which includes a magnetic rotor with alternating polarities in circumferential direction and a stator having at least one stator coil. The magnetic rotor is mounted to the guide element, while the stator is mounted to a common outer raceway of the outer ring, radially opposite from the magnetic rotor. In accordance with the invention, the stator has the form of an annular band. The at least one stator coil is formed by a flat conductor provided on a flexible printed circuit board.

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 bearing monitoring apparatus including at least one interface for receiving strain signals detected by at least one strain sensor mounted on a bearing and at least one data processing unit configured to monitor the bearing by detecting bearing defects based on the strain signals is provided. The data processing unit is configured to subject the strain signal to a high pass filtering. A limit frequency of the high pass filter is set higher than a typical ball pass frequency of the bearing to be monitored, to calculate a quantity representative of the amplitude of the envelope signal of the high-pass filtered strain signal, to compare the peak hold of the envelope signal with an envelope threshold value, to classify the bearing using the result of the envelope comparison and to issue at least one warning signal if the bearing is classified as defective.

Abstract: A bearing arrangement having an inner race and an outer race, between which rolling elements are disposed, the rolling elements being accommodated in a bearing cage. At least one rolling element is designed as a sensor rolling element, and the bearing cage is designed as a pin cage having multiple pin elements that at least partially accommodate the rolling elements and the at least one sensor rolling element, and a sensor rolling element for a bearing arrangement of this kind are disclosed.