Sensor Or Inspection Features; Liquid Metal Or Shipping Protection Features; Bearing Member Integral With Seal Patents (Class 384/448)
  • Publication number: 20090317028
    Abstract: A bearing system for bearing between two members including a polymer bearing disposed between the two members, a measurement device disposed within the bearing for measuring an aspect of at least one of the bearing and the environment between the two members, the device creating a signal related to the measured aspect and a communication device for communicating the signal away from the polymer bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Inventor: Larry Castleman
  • Publication number: 20090317027
    Abstract: A position sensing assembly includes a bearing element and a helically shaped rotational member used to drive a portion of a sensor assembly, such as a Digital Rotary Magnetic Encoder. Interaction between the bearing element and a helically shaped rotational member minimizes the presence of backlash in the position sensing assembly. Accordingly, as an actuator assembly drives both a control element, such as a flight control surface, and the position sensing assembly, the sensor assembly generates an output signal that accurately reflects the position of the control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: HR Textron, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Lee Burt, Russell Robert Bessinger
  • Patent number: 7634913
    Abstract: A method for predicting bearing failure of a differential bearing including an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner and outer race. The method includes coupling a strain gage to the differential bearing, generating a bearing performance model, receiving a signal from the strain gage, and comparing the strain gage signal to the bearing performance model to predict a differential bearing failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anant Pal Singh, Terry Eugene Viel, Malcolm John Ashby
  • Patent number: 7631498
    Abstract: A turbocharger monitor including a sensor adapted and positioned with respect to a turbocharger housing to sense passing compressor blades, generating both rotor rotation information and rotor displacement information. A controller is configured to receive the generated information from the blade sensor, and to establish rotor rotation speed and an indicator of bearing condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Greentree
  • Patent number: 7632020
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement (2) that seals at least one radial intermediate space (21) between at least one inner bearing ring (3) and at least one outer bearing ring (5). Said sealing arrangement (2) comprises at least one first support (17) that supports at least one elastic seal (18) and a second support (19) which supports at least one encoder (10) located outside the intermediate space (21). The encoder (10) is radially oriented towards at least one sensor (14) that is disposed above the encoder (10) in a radially outward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Peter Niebling, Jens Heim, Heinrich Hofmann, Darius Dlugai, Roland Langer
  • Patent number: 7628540
    Abstract: A bearing device for a wheel, where preload control is easy and a uniform amount of preload can be applied even if a bearing seal is installed in the bearing device. The bearing device rotatably supports a wheel and has an outer member 1, an inner member 2, and rolling elements 3 interposed between both members. The outer member 1 has on its outer periphery a vehicle body installation flange 1a, and double row rolling surfaces 6, 7 are formed on the inner peripheries of the outer member. Rolling surfaces 8, 9 facing the rolling surfaces 6, 7 of the outer member 1 are formed in the inner member 2. Between the rolling surfaces of both members 1, 2 are interposed the rolling elements 3. A sensor 4 for detecting the amount of preload of the bearing is provided on either the outer member 1 or the inner member 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Iwamoto, Takayoshi Ozaki, Takashi Koike
  • Publication number: 20090285516
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sealing arrangement that seals at least one radial intermediate space between at least one inner bearing ring and at least one outer bearing ring. Said sealing arrangement comprises at least one first support that supports at least one elastic seal and a second support which supports at least one encoder located outside the intermediate space. The encoder is radially oriented towards at least one sensor that is disposed above the encoder in a radially outward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Peter NIEBLING, Jens HEIM, Heinrich HOFMANN, Darius DLUGAI, Roland LANGER
  • Publication number: 20090285515
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus has an outer member and an inner member with a wheel hub and at least one inner ring. Double row rolling elements are contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner and outer members. A sensor holder, with a wheel speed sensor to detect the wheel speed, is mounted on the end of the outer member. An encoder is mounted on the inner ring and arranged opposite to the wheel speed sensor, via a predetermined air gap. The sensor holder has an annular ring shaped cover and a holding portion of synthetic resin. The wheel speed sensor is embedded in the holding portion. The cover is press-formed of an anti-corrosion steel sheet. The cover has a cylindrical fitting portion fit onto the end of the outer member. A flange portion extends from the fitting portion and is in close contact with the end face of the outer member. A bottom portion further extends radially inward from the flange portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawamura, Kazunari Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7618191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wheel bearing arrangement, comprising at least one encoder, at least one sensor, a seal arranged concentrically to the rotational axis and a hub mounted to rotate in the wheel bearing arrangement, whereby a radial flange on the hub, faces radially away from the rotation axis and the seal seals at least one radial annular gap around the hub on the side of the radial flange. The seal comprises at least one cover ring, made from a non-ferromagnetic material and at least one elastic first sealing lip, the first sealing lip is fixed to the cover ring and makes sealing contact with the encoder and at least one signal-active part of the encoder is arranged on the inside of the seal and rotates about the rotational axis with the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Alexander Haepp, Wilhelm Walter
  • Publication number: 20090279823
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus includes an outer ring (11), an inner ring (12), rolling elements (13) disposed between the two rings, and a seal (15) attached to one of the outer ring and the inner ring and extending toward the other ring. A temperature sensor is fitted to the seal, and hence a temperature of the seal contacting with a rotary wheel can be directly measured. Accordingly, if the temperature measured by the temperature sensor rapidly rises, this implies that some inconvenience might occur, and necessary countermeasures such as immediately stopping an apparatus using the bearing apparatus can be taken before the explicit inconvenience occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: Toshiaki Oguchi, Keisuke Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20090274404
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating a wheel speed detecting apparatus has an outer member and an inner member. Double row rolling elements freely rollably contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in annular openings formed between the outer member and the inner member. A sensor holder is injection molded from synthetic resin with an embedded wheel speed detecting sensor. The holder is mounted on an inner side end of the outer member. The inner side seal of the seals includes a slinger mounted onto the outer circumference of the inner ring. A pulser ring has an encoder with circumferential characteristics that alternately and equidistantly change. A metal core is press formed from a steel plate and insert-molded into the sensor holder. A sealing member is integrally bonded to the metal core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Publication date: November 5, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Torii, Takayuki Norimatsu
  • Patent number: 7612556
    Abstract: The rolling bearing apparatus of the present invention comprises a rolling element, a non-rolling element disposed concentrically with the rolling element, and a rotation detector for outputting an input exciting voltage by converting it to an induced voltage according to the relative rotation state of the rolling element and the non-rolling element. The rotation detector comprises a rotor provided in the rolling element, a stator provided in the non-rolling element, and an exciting winding and output windings being wound to the stator. The output windings induce a voltage according to the gap permeance between the rotor and the stator in response to the exciting voltage inputted to the exciting winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Koyo Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 7604413
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly comprises a stationary outer member and a rotatable inner member. The to-be-detected parts of angle detection sensors are fixed to the inner member and an outer race of a constant velocity joint connected to the inner member, respectively. Detecting parts of the angle detection sensors are fixed to the outer member in face-to-face relation with the to-be-detected parts. The bearing assembly also includes a load conversion unit detecting a relative angular difference between the inner member and the constant velocity universal joint by comparing the detection signals from the detecting parts to detect the load acting on the bearing assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Koike, Tomomi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090256550
    Abstract: A wheel speed detecting apparatus incorporated with a wheel bearing apparatus. The wheel speed detecting apparatus has an encoder, and an annular sensor holder arranged opposite to the encoder. The sensor holder has an annular fitting member formed from a steel plate. A holding portion is integrally molded with the annular fitting member. A wheel speed sensor is arranged opposite to the encoder. Several substantially circular arc notches are formed on the outer circumference of the holding portion so that portions of the periphery of the annular fitting member are exposed from the holding portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Yujiro Ono, Hiroshi Kawamura, Kikuo Fukada
  • Publication number: 20090252444
    Abstract: A roller bearing includes a fixed element and a rotating element. The roller bodies act as a support on the raceway of the fixed element by the intermediary of a contact surface (SC). The fixed element includes a free surface which is deformable elastically by the forces induced by the passage of the roller bodies during the rotation of the rotating element. The surface has at least one instrumented area whereon is associated at least one pattern of a sensitive material. The said area is delimited axially between the surface (S1) defined by revolution around the axis of the bearing of the straight line (D1) passing through the center (Cr) of a roller body deforming the surface and by the center (CS) of the contact surface (SC) of the roller body and the surface (S2) defined by revolution around the axis of the bearing from the normal line (D2) to the deformable surface that passes through the center (CS) of the contact surface (SC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: SNR ROULEMENTS
    Inventors: Christophe Duret, Sebastien Guillaume
  • Patent number: 7594758
    Abstract: A rolling bearing unit includes a resin-made cover attached at the opening of the vehicle inward side edge section of an outer ring. The cover includes a cylindrical portion which is fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the opening of the vehicle inward side edge section of the outer ring. A metal ring body is provided at the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshifumi Shige
  • Patent number: 7592798
    Abstract: A magnet portion 27 of a magnetic encoder 26 includes a magnetic member and a resin, and a highly reliable magnetic encoder 26 having a high magnetic property and enabling to detect a rotational number with high accuracy, and a hub unit bearing 2a are provided. Further, the resin is preferably a thermoplastic resin and further preferably includes a thermoplastic resin including a soft segment in a molecule. Further, the magnetic encoder 26 further includes a fixed member 25 attached with the magnet portion 27 and comprising a magnetic material, and the magnet portion 27 and the fixed member 25 are bonded by an adhering agent including at least one of a phenolic resin based and an epoxy resin based.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Yabe, Takeshi Murakami, Nariaki Aihara, Toshimi Takajo
  • Patent number: 7592799
    Abstract: A magnetic encoder includes a multipolar magnet, having magnetic poles formed therein so as to alternate with each other in a direction circumferentially thereof, and a core metal supporting the multipolar magnet. The multipolar magnet is prepared from a sintered element formed by sintering a powdery mixture of a magnetic powder and a non-magnetic metallic powder. This multipolar magnet is fixed to the core metal to form a unitary component made up of the sintered element and the core metal. The unitary component is subjected to a surface treatment for anticorrosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakajima, Kouya Oohira, Arito Matsui, Kazutoyo Murakami
  • Publication number: 20090232638
    Abstract: A system is provided for monitoring radial motion of a rotating shaft of a turbocharger. The turbocharger includes a compressor and a turbine coupled to opposing ends of the shaft. The system includes a thrust collar including a cylindrical portion and a flange configured to radially extend from one end of the cylindrical portion. The thrust collar is configured to rotate with the shaft. A sensor is positioned within a separation of an outer surface of the thrust collar flange, and the sensor is configured to monitor the separation as indicative of the radial motion of the shaft. Additionally, a method is provided for monitoring radial motion of a rotating shaft of a turbocharger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventors: Kendall Roger Swenson, Daniel Edward Loringer, Larry Gene Anderson
  • Publication number: 20090214146
    Abstract: A system for measuring deformations of an area of a structural element, includes at least one gauge including a rigid substrate on the upper surface of which is arranged at least one pattern of a material capable of being deformed and delivering a signal representative of the deformations the substrate is arranged to transmit, to the pattern, the deformations of the area when the lower surface of the substrate is attached to the area. The system includes a deformable element and a device for compression of the element on the upper surface of the substrate so that the substrate can be moved by the deformations of the area. The system also includes an arrangement for attachment of the compression device on the structural element, in which the attachment arrangement is intended to ensure that the substrate is held on the area by the deformable element, which is compressed on the upper surface of the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: SNR ROULEMENTS
    Inventors: Pierre Ehinger, Julien Grangier, Denis Maucout
  • Publication number: 20090208158
    Abstract: A roller bearing includes a stationary member, a rotary member and at least one row of rolling bodies arranged between the members so as to enable their relative rotation. The stationary member includes a circumferential surface that is resiliently deformable by the forces induced by the passage of the rolling bodies when the rotary member rotates. The surface has at least one instrumented area on which at least one gauge for measuring the deformations is attached. The instrumented area is circumferentially surrounded on each side by a non-instrumented area, and the rigidity of the instrumented area is strictly greater than the rigidity of the non-instrumented areas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SNR ROULEMENTS
    Inventors: Sebastien Guillaume, Cyril Pourreuix
  • Publication number: 20090208159
    Abstract: A wheel bearing device for a motor vehicle is proposed, with an inner ring arrangement, formed for rotationally fixed reception of a first rotary partner, particularly an axial stump or a shaft, an outer ring arrangement, which is connected and/or connectable and rotationally fixed with a second rotary partner, a multitude of rolling elements, which roll off between the inner ring arrangement and the outer ring arrangement, so that inner ring arrangement and outer ring arrangement and/or the rotary partners are rotatable against each other, and an electric sensor device, which, using mechanical contact, is arranged and/or formed for detecting an operating status of the wheel bearing device, in which the sensor device has a stationary sensor element and a rotating sensor element, which can work together to form the mechanical contact, one of the sensor elements is connected with the inner ring arrangement without the interposition of the first rotary partner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: SCHAEFFLER KG
    Inventors: Jens HEIM, Christian MOCK, Ralf HUND, Tilman ULRICH
  • Publication number: 20090202185
    Abstract: The bearing assembly includes a rolling bearing including a rotatable raceway member and a stationary raceway member. This bearing assembly also includes a to-be-detected member carried by the raceway member and having a magnetic characteristic which cyclically varies in a direction circumferentially of the to-be-detected element and has a cycle matching with one complete rotation of the raceway member, a magnetic sensor unit carried by the raceway member in face-to-face relation with the to-be-detected member, and a magnetic detecting circuit to supply an electric power to the unit and to process an output signal from the unit to provide an output to an external circuit. The magnetic characteristic of the to-be-detected member represents a substantially sinusoidal waveform rising and falling more steeply than a sinusoidal waveform at a zero-crossing point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takashi Koike, Tomomi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7568842
    Abstract: A meter bearing with a recess located at the periphery of at least one of the bearing rings. Expansion-measuring strips are disposed in the recess and conducting paths and electronic modules are arranged on a supporting material and evaluate and transmit the output signals of the expansion-measuring strips. The expansion-measuring strips are connected to the electrical conducting paths which extend to the electronic modules. In order to reduce the space required for such a measuring and evaluation system in a meter bearing, the expansion-measuring strips are placed below and/or above the radial plane of the supporting material and of the conductor paths and electronic modules located thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Sven Gempper, Joachim Hering, Stefan Glück, Alfred Pecher, Jens Heim, Timo Schmidt, Stefan Scharting, Edgar Streit
  • Publication number: 20090190872
    Abstract: An IC tag (9) capable of contactless communication is affixed on any one or more of element parts constructing the bearing device (1) for the wheel. For example, the IC tag is affixed on a forging forming an outer member (31) or an inner member (32). The place of installation of IC tag 9 is preferably chosen to be a surface of the forged component part which is not machined subsequent to forging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Publication date: July 30, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Sahashi, Yoshiaki Kuchiki, Shinji Morita
  • Patent number: 7563031
    Abstract: A rolling bearing includes an outer stationary ring, an inner rotating ring, and a plurality of rollers disposed between the inner and outer rings. An optical sensor is mounted on the outer ring. A computer receives the output of the optical sensor to calculate the revolving speed of the rollers from the number of rollers that pass the sensor per unit time, as detected by the optical sensor. The computer then calculates the time-integrated difference between the revolving speed of the rollers and the rotational speed of a rotary shaft on which the inner ring is mounted, as detected by a rotational sensor. Based on the thus obtained difference, it is possible to detect skidding of the rollers at an earlier stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Shohei Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20090180722
    Abstract: A load sensing antifriction bearing (16) for a vehicle that senses wheel loads applied by a road wheel R to a suspension upright (10) of the vehicle. The load sensing antifriction bearing (16) supports a shaft connected to the road wheel R and provides an axis X of rotation about which the road wheel R can rotate. The load sensing antifriction bearing (16) comprises an outer race (36), the outer race further (36) having a flange (20) configured for attachment to the suspension upright (10). The flange (20) has a face (22) that is presented away from the suspension upright (10) and having a groove (24) opening out of that face (22). The bearing (16) also comprises an inner race (42). Rolling elements (48) are located between and contact the outer race (36) and the inner race (42). A sensor substrate (54) attaches to the flange (20) on each side of the groove (24) such that the sensor substrate (54) spans the groove (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: THE TIMKEN COMPANY
    Inventors: John D. Dougherty, Graham McDearmon
  • Publication number: 20090180721
    Abstract: A rolling bearing device comprising two races 10, 11 able to rotate relative to one another and at least one seal 13 attached to one of the races and provided with an active portion 16 designed to interact with a sensor element to detect a parameter of rotation of the active portion, characterized in that it comprises, at least on one side of the rolling bearing, a groove 20 made in the outer race 10 and a groove 21 made in the inner race 11, said grooves being substantially coplanar, the seal 13 being mounted in one of the grooves of one of the races and interacting with at least a portion of the other groove of the other race in order to provide a dynamic seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Inventors: Stellario Barbera, Jean-Luc Gardelle, Armel-Louis Doyer, Francesco Gallucci
  • Publication number: 20090175568
    Abstract: To provide a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which a load sensor can be snugly and neatly installed in automotive vehicle and which detects the load or the like acting on a vehicle wheel and requires an inexpensive cost in mass production. A sensor unit is fitted to an outer member as a stationary member of the bearing assembly. The sensor unit includes a sensor mounting member having bolt insertion holes alignable with vehicle body fitting holes of the outer member, and a strain sensor fitted to the sensor mounting member. This sensor unit is sandwiched between the outer member and a knuckle and is fitted by means of bolts inserted through the vehicle body fitting holes and the bolt insertion holes. The sensor unit has a portion that is greater in a radial direction than a flange of the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7556435
    Abstract: A roller bearing apparatus provided with a roller bearing having an outer ring with a cylindrical opening that opens at one end and a cover fitted in the opening against the inner periphery thereof to close it. The cover is provided with an inscribing surface that inscribes the. inner periphery of the opening and a stepped surface that protrudes radially outward from the inscribing surface to abut the axial end face of the opening. The axial end face of the opening is provided with a beveled part on the inner rim. An annular space formed by the beveled part, inscribing surface, and stepped surface is filled with sealant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Syuji Nagata, Tomonari Nishiyama, Masaru Deguchi
  • Publication number: 20090169143
    Abstract: A drive wheel support bearing assembly includes a hub axle, a constant velocity joint and a bearing unit which are unitized together, and an inner member made up of an outer coupling member of the CVT with the hub axle mounted on an outer periphery of a hollow stem portion of the outer coupling member. Inner peripheral side raceway surfaces are formed on the hub axle and the outer coupling member. Hardened indentations are formed in an inner periphery of the hub axle, and the hub axle and the outer coupling member are plastically coupled integrally with each other by radially outwardly expanding a mounting area, at which the hub axle is mounted on the hollow stem portion, to allow it to bite into the indentations to crimp. Sensors for detecting the displacement or deformation of the outer coupling member and the hub axle are provided in the outer member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Shigeaki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 7553087
    Abstract: A rotation sensor assembly includes an encoder, mounted on one end of an inner member of a bearing, and a rotation sensor fitted to one end of an outer member of the bearing in face-to-face relation with the encoder. A cylindrical wall of a core metal of the encoder press-fitted onto the inner member has a cylindrical extension protruding axially outwardly from one end of the cylindrical wall. A displacement sensor assembly includes a pair of displacement sensors provided in face-to-face relation with the cylindrical extension and spaced equidistantly from each other in a circumferential direction. The rotation sensor is positioned between the displacement sensors in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Iwamoto, Ken Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20090154853
    Abstract: A rolling bearing unit having a sensor comprising: a first raceway member, on the outer circumferential surface of which a raceway surface is provided; a second raceway member, on the inner circumferential surface of which a raceway surface is provided; a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the raceway surface of the first raceway member and the raceway surface of the second raceway member; a base plate, the shape of which is formed into an annular and flat shape, having a through-hole that the first raceway member penetrates; a first coil, the shape of which is formed into a plane shape, arranged so that the first coil surrounds an overall circumference of the first raceway member; and a plurality of second coils, the shape of which is formed into a plane shape, arranged around the first coil.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventor: Nobutsuna Motohashi
  • Patent number: 7547145
    Abstract: To provide a bearing device with the sensor, in which the sensor can be assuredly fitted and which can be employed in bearing parts of varying sized and be economically manufactured, the bearing device with the sensor including a bearing part having an inner member and an outer member includes an encoder of a revolution sensor unit fitted to the inner member and a sensor fitted to one end of the outer member through a sensor mounting member. The sensor mounting member includes a mounting tube part, mounted on the outer member, and a side plate part axially positioned in contact with the outer member. The side plate includes inner and outer opposite plate portions confronting each other, and sandwiching the sensor therebetween. Alternatively, the side plate part may have a recessed plate section swelling outwardly. The sensor mounting member is of a double structure including inner and outer plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20090136167
    Abstract: A bearing apparatus including a rolling bearing having an outer race (11), an inner race (12) and a rolling member (13) disposed between two races, and a thermal sensor (TS) measuring an internal temperature of the rolling bearing. Wiring from the thermal sensor extends to outside via a through-hole (lid) formed in a component of the bearing apparatus, and hence the thermal sensor can be disposed in a desired position with excellent flexibility of wiring extension, and can measure a temperature in the desired position of the bearing. The thermal sensor, which can be constructed thin in a small size having the flexibility, can be therefore incorporated in whatever portion of the bearing and can improve a characteristic of detecting an abnormal temperature with a high response of the temperature detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Inventors: Koichi Morita, Toshiaki Oguchi, Keisuke Yokoyama
  • Publication number: 20090136168
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus for a driving wheel is formed as a unit of a wheel hub, a double row rolling bearing and a constant velocity universal joint. The double row rolling bearing has an outer member with a body mounting flange mounted on a knuckle and double row outer raceway surfaces. An inner member includes the wheel hub and an outer joint member of the constant velocity universal joint. The wheel hub has an inner raceway surface corresponding to one of the double row outer raceway surfaces. The outer joint member has another inner raceway surface corresponding to the other of the double row outer raceway surfaces. Double row rolling elements are rollably arranged between the outer and inner raceway surfaces. Seals are mounted in an annular space opening formed between the outer member and the inner member. A sensor is fit into a mounting aperture formed in the knuckle. A pulser ring is mounted on the outer circumferential surface of the outer joint member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Publication date: May 28, 2009
    Applicant: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kawamura, Shigeaki Fukushima, Kiyoshige Yamauchi, Masahiro Ozawa, Mitsuru Umekida
  • Patent number: 7538545
    Abstract: A combined sensor and bearing assembly including a rolling bearing unit and a rotation sensor unit. The rolling bearing unit is made up of a rotatable raceway member, a stationary raceway member and at least one row of rolling elements. The rotation sensor unit includes a to-be-detected member having a magnet and fitted to one of the raceway members, and a magnetic detecting member fitted to the other raceway member at a location confronting the to-be-detected member. This combined sensor and bearing assembly is used at a location close to an electromagnetic coil emanating a leakage magnetic field, in a condition in which a direction of flow of an electric current through the electromagnetic coil is fixed in one direction so that a direction of a magnetic flux, with which the magnetic detecting member is switched off, may coincide with a direction of the leakage magnetic flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Koike, Tomomi Ishikawa, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 7537388
    Abstract: The bearing assembly includes a rolling bearing including a rotatable raceway member and a stationary raceway member. This bearing assembly also includes a to-be-detected member carried by the raceway member and having a magnetic characteristic which cyclically varies in a direction circumferentially of the to-be-detected element and has a cycle matching with one complete rotation of the raceway member, a magnetic sensor unit carried by the raceway member in face-to-face relation with the to-be-detected member, and a magnetic detecting circuit to supply an electric power to the unit and to process an output signal from the unit to provide an output to an external circuit. The magnetic characteristic of the to-be-detected member represents a substantially sinusoidal waveform rising and falling more steeply than a sinusoidal waveform at a zero-crossing point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Koike, Tomomi Ishikawa
  • Publication number: 20090131235
    Abstract: A ball bearing for spindle turning device for use in the spindle turning device of a machine tool, and a spindle turning device for a machine tool using the same, which is compatible with machine tools whose recent trend is for more composite configurations while maintaining and achieving higher accuracy (higher rotational accuracy), greater stiffness and reductions in torque and heat generation is to be provided. In a ball bearing for spindle turning device for use in the spindle turning device of a machine tool, the sectional size ratio (B/H) between the axially cut sectional width B and the radially cut sectional height H is set to be (B/H)<0.63 where it is a single row ball bearing or the sectional size ratio (B2/H2) between the axially cut sectional width B2 and the radially cut sectional height H2 (B2/H2)<1.2 where it is a double row ball bearing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Katsuno, Mitsuho Aoki
  • Publication number: 20090129712
    Abstract: A sensor-incorporated wheel support bearing assembly, enabling a load sensor to be compactly installed on the vehicle and capable of detecting a load on a wheel with good sensitivity includes a ring member, affixed to a stationary member, which has at an intermediate portion thereof a first non-contact ring portion not in contact with the stationary member, at one end a first contact ring portion in contact with the stationary member, and at the other end the following (A) or (B): (A) a second non-contact ring portion having a wall thickness greater than that of the first non-contact ring portion; (B) a second contact ring portion in contact with the stationary member. A strain sensor is fitted to; in (A), the first non-contact ring portion, and in (B), the first non-contact ring portion or first contact ring portion, which has smaller wall thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7534046
    Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes outer and inner members rotatable relative to each other and circumferential rows of rolling elements interposed between raceway surfaces in the outer and inner members, respectively. The inner member has a hub axle having a wheel mounting flange and an inner race mounted on an inboard end of the hub axle, with the raceway surfaces defined in the inner race and the hub axle, respectively. A to-be-detected member is provided on a portion of an outer peripheral surface of the inner member, which is axially inwardly of the raceway surfaces defined in the inner race. A displacement sensor and a rotation sensor both confronting the to-be-detected member is provided in the outer member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7534045
    Abstract: To provide an IC-tagged bearing device, in which the IC tag can easily and assuredly fitted to the bearing device and can easily be protected from an environment of elevated temperature. A sealing member 5 for sealing a bearing space delimited between inner and outer races 1 and 2 has the IC tag 9 attached thereto. The sealing member 5 includes a core metal 6 provided with an elastic element 7, which is made of rubber or resin, and the IC tag 9 is held embedded in this elastic element 7. The IC tag 9 may be fixedly either bonded by vulcanization or engaged in a groove defined in the elastic element 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nakajima, Kazutoyo Murakami
  • Publication number: 20090123098
    Abstract: To downsize a bearing assembly with a rotation detection device, a magnetic generating element (2) having a directionality about a rotation axis O is provided on an inner race (21) side of the bearing assembly (20). A rotation sensor (3) capable of detecting a magnetism of the magnetic generating element (2) and outputting information descriptive of rotation or angle is fitted to an outer race (22) side in alignment with a bearing axis. The magnetic generating element (2) is fixed to a fixing member, for example, a rotary shaft (10) that is fixed to an inner diametric side of the inner race (21) of the bearing assembly (20).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2006
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventor: Toru Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20090116776
    Abstract: A cylindrical roller bearing 31 comprises an inner ring 32, an outer ring 33 having the same axial width as the inner ring 32 and having an insulation layer formed on an outer diameter surface and both end faces thereof, cylindrical rollers 34 as rolling bodies arranged between the inner ring 32 and the outer ring 33, a retainer 35 retaining intervals of the cylindrical rollers 34, and a seal 36 as a sealing member for sealing both ends of the bearing. The seal 36 has a channel shaped sectional configuration projecting from both end faces of the inner ring 32 and the outer ring 33 and it is formed by injection molding with a resin material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Hideji Ito, Naoaki Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20090116775
    Abstract: An acoustic emission measuring device in which a piezoelectric element (63) used as an AE sensor is secured to the inner ring (62) of a ball bearing (61) fixedly fitted onto a rotating shaft (60). The axial end face of a roughly tire-shaped case (65), which is capable of rotating in synchronism with the inner ring (62) and storing a first coil in which a current flows from the piezoelectric element (63), is secured to the inner ring (62). The axial end face of a roughly tire-shaped case (66) for storing a second coil is secured to an outer ring (64). The first coil and the second coil are oppositely disposed radially outside of the rotating shaft (60) so that the first coil and the second coil can face each other in the radial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventors: Noriyasu Oguma, Isao Murakami
  • Publication number: 20090116777
    Abstract: The invention provides a bearing failure indication arrangement comprising a bearing having an inner and outer race, a first part arranged to be attached in fixed relation to either the bearing inner race or bearing outer race, a failure indicator arranged in fixed relation to both the first part and either the bearing inner race or the bearing outer race, the failure indicator constructed so that if relative movement occurs between the first part and the bearing race to which it is attached, the failure indicator responds to the relative movement thereby indicating failure of the bearing. The failure indicator is particularly adapted for use in aircraft structures and indicates full of partial bearing failure by means of movement and/or deformation of the indicator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: AIRBUS UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Blades, Richard John Henry Burness
  • Patent number: 7523615
    Abstract: A method for predicting bearing failure of a differential bearing including an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements positioned between the inner and outer race, the method includes coupling a measuring apparatus comprising at least one of a strain gage and an accelerometer to the differential bearing, coupling a cable to the measuring apparatus, wherein the cable is adapted for passage through a rotating component, and coupling a transmitter to the cable, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a plurality of signals from the measuring apparatus to a remote location to facilitate predicting a failure of the differential bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Anant Pal Singh, Terry Eugene Viel, Malcolm John Ashby
  • Patent number: 7525430
    Abstract: There is provided a machine component having an IC tag attached thereto, which can be controlled consistently from manufacture to disposal without the IC tag missed on the way. The machine component is embedded with the IC tag (110) made up of an IC chip having recorded thereon information unique to the relevant machine component and an antenna connected electrically with the IC chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Shohei Nakamura, Shouichi Hioki, Hiroyoshi Ito, Tooru Mayumi, Mitsuo Sasabe
  • Patent number: 7523670
    Abstract: The invention proposes sensor elements (5) for detecting a physical measurement variable such as a pressure, a temperature, a gap width, or a capacitance between two bodies (10, 20) that move in relation to each other during operation and experience high tribological stress. In certain areas between the surfaces of the bodies (10, 20) that move in relation to each other, in a surface region of at least one of the bodies (10), a sensitive layer (13, 30), in particular a sensor segment (13), is provided, which is separated from the body (10) by an insulation layer (12) and has a covering layer (14) in a first embodiment. In an alternative embodiment, a surface region of at least one of the two bodies (10) has a recess (23) in which the sensor surface (13) is disposed on the insulation layer (12). In a third embodiment, the sensor surface (13) has a length of 10 ?m to 5 mm, a width of less than 5 ?m, and a thickness of less than 200 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Meyer, Julius Nemzov, Ulrich Mueller
  • Publication number: 20090103843
    Abstract: A number of machines such as gas turbine engines have asymmetric axial loading along a shaft (2, 3, 4). In order to accommodate for this asymmetric loading, known as an end bearing load, a load share bearing (103) is typically provided. However, specifying the fixed bearing (11, 12) becomes increasingly difficult as space and weight considerations are taken into account. In such circumstances providing a combination of a fixed bearing (11, 12) and a load share bearing (103) to achieve an acceptable bearing end load capacity is more acceptable. The proportion of the combination provided respectively by the fixed bearing and the load share bearing can be varied dependent upon operational stage in order to achieve more efficient operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventor: Alan R. Maguire