With Rotary To Linear Conversion Patents (Class 73/862.322)
  • Patent number: 11465708
    Abstract: A torque detection arrangement for a vehicle driven by muscle power has an input shaft via which a torque for driving the vehicle can be transmitted. The torque is to be detected. At least one rotary member is mounted on the input shaft and is designed to transmit the torque. The input shaft and the rotary member are resiliently connected in the rotational direction via a torsion spring arrangement. A twisting angle detection arrangement is designed to detect a rotation of the rotary member relative to the input shaft. The input shaft is designed as a hollow shaft. A torsion spring of the torsion spring arrangement is arranged inside the hollow input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Pinion GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Schmitz
  • Patent number: 11378130
    Abstract: There is disclosed a guide carriage for roller-mounted guiding on a guide rail having at least one carriage roller track on which roller members which can be arranged between guide carriages and a guide rail can be rolled, wherein the carriage roller track, in particular in order to establish a load acting on the guide carriage or wear, is associated with a pressure-sensitive sensor device which can be loaded by the roller members and which has sensors which are arranged in a manner distributed in the rolling direction and which in order to evaluate the sensor signals thereof can be connected in terms of signaling to an evaluation device. There are further disclosed a route guide having such a guide carriage and a method for establishing the load on the guide carriage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Janssen, David Krampert, Lucas Guendert, Sebastian Unsleber
  • Patent number: 11181443
    Abstract: The invention is based on an antifriction bearing, in particular an angular ball bearing, comprising two bearing rings (12a-e, 14a-e) and a plurality of rolling elements (16a-e), which are arranged between the bearing rings (12a-e, 14a-e) and held by means of a bearing cage (18a-e), and comprising at least one sensor unit (20a-e), which includes at least one sensor (22a-e) provided at least for the detection of vibrations within the antifiction bearing (10a-e). It is provided that said at least one sensor (22a-e) is arranged in the region of a contact angle (24a-e) within one of the bearing rings (12a-e, 14a-e).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: Cerobear GmbH
    Inventors: Hedi Bachmann, Jens Wemhoner, Beate Bergrath, Peer Kruse
  • Patent number: 10386253
    Abstract: A vehicle wheel supporting rolling bearing unit includes a stationary side bearing ring member, a rotation side bearing ring member, and plural rolling elements. The rotation side bearing ring member is provided with a first acceleration sensor, a second acceleration sensor, and a third acceleration sensor which are fixed on a virtual plane orthogonal to a center axis of the rotation side bearing ring member. The first acceleration sensor and the second acceleration sensor are arranged on a virtual line passing through a rotation center of the rotation side bearing ring member with a same distance from the rotation center while detection directions thereof are directed in a radial direction and are opposite to each other in the radial direction. The third acceleration sensor is arranged such that a detection direction thereof is non-parallel to the detection directions of the first acceleration sensor and the second acceleration sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NSK LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Hamada, Yasuyuki Matsuda, Masafumi Hikida, Hiroshi Kawahara, Daisuke Gunji
  • Patent number: 9612171
    Abstract: A torque-measuring shaft includes a measuring shaft disposed on a shaft axis of the torque-measuring shaft, loadable in torsion and having at least one rotationally symmetric surface region disposed coaxially with the shaft axis as well as a measuring device disposed on the measuring shaft for measuring a torsion of the measuring shaft, wherein the torque-measuring shaft has a material weakening disposed in radial direction inside the measuring shaft, eccentrically relative to the shaft axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: ATESTO GmbH
    Inventors: Herbert Meuter, Marcel Clermont, Ralf Lanfermann
  • Patent number: 8984965
    Abstract: A rotational torsion tester, comprising: a first drive shaft; a second drive shaft; a load applying unit that applies a torsional load to a workpiece; at least one bearing unit including a first bearing unit that supports the load applying unit to be rotatable about a rotation axis; a rotation drive unit having a first electric motor that drives the second drive shaft and the load applying unit to rotate in phase; and a torque sensor that detects the torsional load, wherein the load applying unit comprises: a second electric motor that drives the first drive shaft; the torque sensor is attached to a part at which the first drive shaft is inserted into the shaft part; the torque sensor is disposed between a pair of first bearings; and the torque sensor includes a strain gauge adhered to a narrowed part to detect the torsional load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kokusai Keisokuki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Sigeru Matsumoto, Hiroshi Miyashita, Kazuhiro Murauchi, Masanobu Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8806951
    Abstract: Rheometer, also usable for stress-strain-investigations, with at least one bearing (28; 35) having an adjustable stiffness in a direction normal to the bearing surfaces (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27). The instrument further includes a system (31, 32, 33, 34; 36, 37) for controlling a parameter for adjusting the stiffness of the at least one bearing (28; 35); a system (10) for determining a value of a quantity associated with a second force exerted between the rotor (8, 5, 6,7) and the stator (2) and opposing the force associated with the quantity to be determined; and a data processing system for correcting the determined value of the quantity associated with the second force by a bias value, obtained using a mapping having as a parameter a variable representative of the parameter for adjusting the stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Malvern Instruments, Ltd.
    Inventors: John Wilkinson, Tim Jackson
  • Patent number: 8671535
    Abstract: Shaft loading device for a test stand, having a shaft receptacle for receiving a shaft to be loaded for testing and a rotational bearing device which is constructed as a combination of sliding bearing support of the shaft receptacle and plurality of actuators acting directly on the sliding bearing support for selective application of bearing force to the shaft receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Renk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Jens Schneider, Burkhard Pinnekamp
  • Patent number: 8578791
    Abstract: A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which the load imposed on the wheel support bearing assembly or a tire tread of a wheel tire can be accurately detected without being affected by the rolling elements, includes rolling elements interposed between plural opposed rolling surfaces defined in outer and inner members. One of the outer and inner members that serves as a stationary member is provided with one or more sensor unit. The sensor unit includes a strain generating member, having two or more contact fixing segments fixed to the stationary member, and a sensor for detecting such strain. The strain generating member in the sensor unit is arranged at a position departing from a line passing through a center of the rolling elements and extending in a direction defined by the rolling element contact angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kentaro Ikki, Takayuki Norimatsu, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8567260
    Abstract: A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes rolling elements interposed between double row rolling surfaces defined respectively in outer and inner members in face-to-face relation with each other. One of the inner and outer members, which serves as a stationary member, has an outer diametric surface provided with three or more sensor units. Each of the sensor units includes a strain generating member having two or more contact fixing segments, fixed to the outer diametric surface of the stationary member in contact with therewith, and one or more strain sensors fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain occurring in the strain generating member. A load estimating section is provided for estimating a radial load and an axial load in the wheel support bearing assembly, from respective output signals of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kentarou Nishikawa, Toru Takahashi, Takayuki Norimatsu, Yujiro Ono, Kentaro Ikki
  • Patent number: 8540431
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly includes a sensor unit provided in an outer member, which serves as a stationary member. The sensor unit has a strain generator and a sensor for detecting a strain occurring in the generator. A principal load estimator estimates the load acting on the wheel, with the use of an average value of a signal from the sensor, and an amplitude processed load estimator estimates the load, using amplitude of a signal wave outputted from the sensor, resulting from passage of rolling elements. A drift amount estimator estimates a drift amount of an estimated load output utilizing the average value and the amplitude, which is used to correct the estimated load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Kentarou Nishikawa, Toru Takahashi, Takayuki Norimatsu, Kentaro Ikki
  • Patent number: 8539810
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, a method for calibrating a torque measurement for a rotatable object is disclosed, wherein the method includes coupling the rotatable object to a structure, the structure including a member extending along a length of a surface of the rotatable object, coupling the rotatable object to an adapter and applying a known torque to the rotatable object via the adapter. The method also includes measuring a first rotational displacement via a first sensor coupled to the member at a first axial location of the rotatable object, measuring a second rotational displacement via a second sensor coupled to the member at a second axial location of the rotatable object and determining first and second angular displacements of the rotatable object based on the first and second rotational displacements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Peter Ping-Liang Sue, Lawrence Brown Farr, II, Derek Ray Wilson
  • Patent number: 8523446
    Abstract: This wheel support bearing assembly includes an outer member, an inner member, and a plurality of rows of rolling elements between opposed rolling surfaces in both members. At least one sensor unit is provided on the outer diametric surface of the outer member, which is stationary. The sensor unit is made up of a strain generating member having two or more contact fixing segments adapted to be fixed to an outer diametric surface of the outer member in contact therewith and a sensor fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain induced in this strain generating member. A groove is provided in the outer diametric surface of the outer member at a location adjacent to the neighboring two contact fixing segments of the sensor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Toru Takahashi, Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8434947
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which a load imposed on the wheel can be accurately detected without influences from hysteresis is provided. This wheel support bearing assembly includes an outer member having a plurality of rolling surfaces, an inner member having rolling surfaces opposed respectively to the rolling surfaces of the outer member, and rolling elements between the rolling surfaces. A sensor unit is provided in a stationary member of one of the outer and inner members, which unit includes a strain generating member having two contact fixing segments to be fixed to the stationary member and a sensor fitted to the strain generating member for detecting a strain induced in this strain generating member. The two contact fixing segments are arranged at respective positions held at the same phase in a direction circumferentially of the stationary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Isobe, Toru Takahashi, Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8397590
    Abstract: A bearing assembly for a vehicle wheel with a sensor in which load acting on the bearing assembly and/or a tread surface is accurately detected is provided. The bearing assembly includes rolling elements between outer and inner members, a load detecting device in one of the outer and inner members provided as a stationary member, for detecting load acting on the bearing assembly, a rotation detecting device for detecting the rotation of the other member provided as a rotating member, an averaging circuit for calculating rotational speed of the rotating member from output of the rotation detecting device, determining from the calculated rotational speed a time period required for the rolling elements to revolve a pitch of arrangement thereof and calculating average value of output of the load detecting device during the period, and an estimating circuit for estimating the load from the average value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Hiroshi Isobe
  • Patent number: 8316723
    Abstract: A combination of a bearing component and a sensor, wherein: (a) at least a portion of the bearing component is formed from a bearing steel; (b) the sensor comprises a sensor element and a support therefor; (c) at least a portion of the support is formed from a low carbon steel comprising no more than 0.2 wt. % carbon or from nickel or an alloy thereof or from titanium or an alloy thereof; and (d) the bearing component and the support are welded or brazed to one another via said respective portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Aktiebolaget SKF
    Inventors: Hendrik Anne Mol, Johannes Franciscus Van Den Sanden
  • Patent number: 8313242
    Abstract: A sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly for supporting a vehicle wheel rotatably relative to a vehicle body, including an outer member; an inner member; a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between the outer and inner member; a strain sensor unit, made up of a strain generating member and a sensor element fitted to the strain generating member for detecting strains induced in the strain generating member, is fitted to one of the outer and inner members, that serves as a stationary member; and a covering member that covers at least the sensor element sealingly, provided on a mounting surface of the strain generating member of the strain sensor unit, on which the sensor element is mounted, the covering member being made of a resin which is over-molded or an elastomer bonded by vulcanization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Norimatsu, Toru Takahashi, Kazuo Komori, Kazuhiro Baba, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8308369
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: SNR Roulements
    Inventors: Sebastien Guillaume, Cyril Pourreuix
  • Patent number: 8251589
    Abstract: A guide carriage for a linear roller bearing is supportable in a longitudinally displaceable manner via a large number of rolling elements on a guide rail which extends in a longitudinal direction, and has at least one rolling surface part including at least one carriage rolling surface for the rolling elements and is attached to a main body of the guide carriage via at least one adhesive layer, and a thin sheet-metal panel which has at least one opening is located between the rolling surface part and the main body, with the adhesive layer located inside the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Albert
  • Patent number: 8176799
    Abstract: The sensor holder has an annular portion that holds the sensors. A holding ring that is securely fitted in an inner peripheral surface of a cylinder portion constituting a cover made of metal in terms of a large tight fit is embedded in an intermediate portion of this annular portion in the axial direction. A portion of a folded portion of the holding ring in the axial direction is set in a just center position between axial positions of sensing portions of both sensors. According to this configuration, the above problem is solved by preventing such a situation that the thermal expansion or the thermal contraction yields a phase difference between the output signals of both sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Kubokawa, Masayuki Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8123411
    Abstract: To provide a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly, in which a load sensor can be installed compactly in an automotive vehicle, maintaining a high sensitivity while damage and/or malfunction caused by the external environments and/or the electromagnetic noises are avoided, with low manufacturing cost. This bearing assembly includes outer and inner members having respective rolling surfaces and a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between those rolling surfaces. A strain sensor unit including a sensor element is fitted to one of the outer and inner members, which is a stationary member, for example, the outer member. A sensor mounting surface of the strain sensor unit fitted with the sensor element has a covering member made of a resin, which is over-molded, or an elastomer bonded by vulcanization, so as to cover the sensor element sealingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Norimatsu, Toru Takahashi, Kazuo Komori, Kazuhiro Baba, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8028589
    Abstract: There is provided a sensor equipped wheel support bearing assembly with rolling elements interposed between outer and inner members and with a strain sensor fixed to a stationary member served by one of the outer and inner members. The strain sensor includes a strain generating member and a sensor element secured thereto. The strain generating member has first and second contact fixing segments respectively associated with a flanged face provided in the outer member and a peripheral surface of the stationary member. These contact fixing segments have a joint region therebetween having a bent portion convexed toward the outer member. A location in the strain generating member where the sensor element is secured is on the first contact fixing segment side of the bent portion and yet in the vicinity of the bent portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Takahashi, Kentarou Nishikawa, Takayuki Norimatsu, Yujiro Ono
  • Patent number: 7882752
    Abstract: The wheel support bearing assembly is for rotatably supporting a vehicle wheel relative to an automotive vehicle body, which includes an outer member having an inner periphery formed with a plurality of rows of raceway surfaces, an inner member having raceway surfaces formed therein in face-to-face relation with the raceway surfaces in the outer member, and a plurality of rows of rolling elements interposed between those raceway surfaces, respectively; a sensor unit including a sensor mounting member and a strain sensor fitted to the sensor mounting member, the sensor unit being fitted to a stationary member, which is one of the outer member and the inner member; and wherein the sensor mounting member includes at least two contact fixing portion relative to the stationary member and the strain sensor is arranged at at least one location between the contact fixing portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7832288
    Abstract: A method for determining the force at the hub of a wheel of a vehicle while traveling. The wheel includes a rim and at least one deformation sensor directly associated with the rim in at least one predetermined position and arranged according to at least one predetermined orientation. The method includes the steps of detecting at least one deformation component of the rim during travel through the at least one deformation sensor; applying to the at least one deformation component, during travel, a correlation parameter characteristic of the rim, between the force at the hub and the relative deformation of the rim to determine at least one force component at the hub correlated with the at least one deformation component of the rim.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Pirelli Tyre S.p.A.
    Inventors: Renato Caretta, Federico Mancosu, Andrea Calatroni, Giorgio Diana, Federico Cheli, Alfredo Cigada
  • Patent number: 7827871
    Abstract: An antifriction bearing provided with sensors for recording physical quantities that act upon the hearing and with strip conductors and electronic components for evaluating and/or transmitting sensor output signals or characteristic values derived therefrom to electrical or electronic devices located outside of the bearing. To this end, the sensors, strip conductors and electronic components are placed on at least one bearing part while forming a measurement data recording and/or measurement data processing system. The sensors, strip conductors and/or electronic components are made from at least one electrically conductive or semiconducting organic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ehrfeld, Frank Herbstritt, Joachim Hering
  • Patent number: 7819026
    Abstract: A sensor-equipped wheel support bearing assembly, enabling the cost during the mass production to be reduced, includes an outer member, an inner member, a plurality of rolling elements interposed between the opposed raceway surfaces. One of the outer member and the inner member, which serves as a stationary member, is fitted with a sensor mounting member provided with a strain sensor. The sensor mounting member is further provided with a status detecting sensor to detect different status other than a strain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Takayoshi Ozaki, Tomomi Ishikawa, Kentarou Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 7698960
    Abstract: An assembly for measuring force at a friction coupling, more particularly in the driveline of a motor vehicle. The assembly includes an outer plate carrier (6) at which outer plates (7) are held so as to be rotationally secured and in a way so as to be axially displaceable, wherein at least one of the outer plates (7) comprises an outer cam (12); an inner plate carrier (8) at which inner plates (9) are held in a rotationally fast way and in a way so as to be axially displaceable; wherein the outer plates (7) and the inner plates (9) are arranged so as to alternate in the axial direction, while jointly forming a plate package (10); a force measuring device arranged in such a way that, upon actuation of the friction coupling (3), it is loaded by the cam (12) in an operating direction extending at a distance from, and transversely to, the longitudinal axis (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: GKN Driveline International GmbH
    Inventors: Theodor Gassmann, Nikolaus Mayr, Mark Schmidt, Ralph Mertens, Kurt Müller
  • Patent number: 7694588
    Abstract: An adjustment and stabilization unit (1), such as for a weapon, includes a movable platform (3), a rotational mass (2) mounted on the platform and stabilized in inertial space, and an adjustment drive (6) for adjusting the rotational mass. The adjustment drive includes a driving device (7) connecting the adjustment drive with the rotational mass, a force-sensing device (16) for measuring torque, and at least one stabilization control circuit for controlling the rotary adjustment drive by means of the measured torque. The force-sensing device (16) has an annular design and is arranged between the platform (3) and the adjustment drive (6). The driving device has a shaft (10) that extends through force-sensing device (16). The force-sensing device measures the torque transmitted between the adjustment drive and the platform, and being transmitted to the adjustment drive as a result of an acceleration of the rotational mass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Moog GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Stehlin, Peter Eisele
  • Patent number: 7685890
    Abstract: A bearing and shaft assembly comprises a shaft and at least one bearing, and is provided with at least one strain sensor. An elastic component is provided between the shaft and the at least one bearing, and the elastic component comprises the at least one strain sensor. In one disclosed embodiment, the elastic component forms an integral part with one of the bearing and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventors: Henk Mol, Erik Zaaijer, Fabio Falsetti, Carl Vissers
  • Patent number: 7669941
    Abstract: A wheel end (A) has a housing (2, 70, 80, 90) and a hub (4) provided with a spindle (32) that projects into the housing, and the hub rotates relative to the housing on an antifriction bearing (6) located between the housing and hub spindle. The housing has a tubular core (12, 72, 82, 92) that encloses the bearing and ring mounts (14, 74, 84, 94) spaced outwardly from the core and also webs (16,76,86,96) that connect the ring mounts to the core. A road wheel (B) is attached to the hub and rotates with the hub relative to the housing. The housing is secured to a suspension upright (C) at its ring mounts. The core deflects relative to the ring mounts, owning to forces and moments transferred through the bearing from the suspension upright to the road wheel and vice versa, and the magnitude of those forces and moments are reflected in signals derived from strain sensor modules (SM) attached to the webs of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Timken Company
    Inventors: Xiaolan Ai, Graham F. McDearmon, Matthew Wilmer
  • Patent number: 7665372
    Abstract: In the rolling bearing device with a sensor in this invention, a band-shaped film 111 having insulation property is affixed to an outer circumferential surface of an outer ring 101 so as to extend in the circumferential direction. On the film 111 is affixed a foil 112 composed of identical four portions and having electrical conductivity which are placed at generally equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer ring 101. A resistance between a first place and a second place of the foil 112 is measured by a resistance measurement section of a microcomputer. A preload calculation section of the microcomputer, upon reception of an output from the resistance measurement section, calculates a preload of the outer ring 101 based on the measured resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ueno, Shinichi Mizuta
  • Patent number: 7661320
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bearing comprising at least one system for determining the amplitude A of the pseudo-sinusoidal deformations of an area of the fixed race that are induced during rotation, the said system comprising at least three strain gauges (7), a device for measuring three signals Vi depending respectively on the temporal variations of the signal emitted by each gauge (8), the said device being able to form two signals SIN and COS respectively of like angle and like amplitude, and a device for calculating the amplitude A of the deformations of the area (7) as a function of time, the said device being designed to calculate the expression SIN2+COS2 so as to deduce the amplitude A therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: S.N.R. Roulements
    Inventors: Christophe Duret, Olivier Blanchin, Julien Lavoye
  • Patent number: 7650802
    Abstract: A bearing which includes at least one system for determining an amplitude of pseudo-sinusoidal deformations induced during rotation of a fixed ring within a zone, wherein the system includes four strain gauges spaced equally apart from each other within the zone, a device for measuring four signals based on time variations of a signal emitted by each gauge and for forming two signals for the same angle and amplitude, and a device for computing the time-dependent amplitude A of the zone deformations for calculating an expression such that the amplitude is derived therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: S.N.R. Roulements
    Inventors: Christophe Duret, Olivier Blanchin
  • 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: 7591194
    Abstract: The invention relates to a data capture system and to a processing system (1) for a roller bearing, wherein at least one sensor element (19), conductor strips (4) and electronic components (5, 6) are arranged adjacent to a flexible carrier material (2). The sensor element (19), the conductor strips (4) and the electronic components (5, 6) are directly connected to the flexible carrier material (2) such that said type of data capture system and data processing system (1) can be produced in an economical manner and with varying applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Schaeffler KG
    Inventors: Alfred Pecher, Joachim Hering, Henry Van Der Knokke, Walter Felber
  • Publication number: 20090205443
    Abstract: A method for producing a strain gauge comprises the steps of: preparing a transfer foil film that is obtained by coating an adhesive resin film with a foil made from a resistant material; applying the adhesive resin film surface of the transfer foil film to a desired section of an outer surface of an object whose strain is to be measured, such a roller bearing; and processing the transfer foil film to transfer a foil gauge pattern to the object via the adhesive resin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2007
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Isamu Takeuchi, Hideaki Minamiyama, Hiroshi Ueno, Shinichi Mizuta
  • Patent number: 7520183
    Abstract: A hub unit with a sensor comprises a hub unit 1 including a body-side raceway member 3, a wheel-side raceway member 4 and two rows of rolling elements 5, and a sensor device 2. The sensor device 2 includes a magnetostrictive sensor 8 for detecting the inverse magnetostrictive effect, and the magnetostrictive sensor 8 is mounted to the body-side raceway member 3 so as to be capable of measuring the tensile strain in the uppermost part of an inner wheel 17 of the wheel-side raceway member 4. From the output of the magnetostrictive sensor 8, the tire grounding load and the rotational velocity are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Kouduki, Katsura Koyagi, Masahiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 7497131
    Abstract: A roller bearing apparatus having a fixed bearing ring, a rotary bearing ring, and rolling elements rollably provided between the bearing rings. Piezoelectric elements are provided in the form of a film interposed between the fixed bearing ring and a fixing part to which the fixed bearing ring is fixed so as to detect loads applied between the fixed bearing ring and the fixing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Sentoku
  • Patent number: 7444888
    Abstract: Method and sensor arrangement for determining a contact force vector acting on a rolling element hearing in operation. Sensor signals are received from a plurality of sensors measuring performance characteristics of the rolling element bearing. The received sensor signals are processed to determine the contact force vector. The plurality of sensors are arranged to measure a bearing component deformation, and the step of processing comprises the step of determining the contact force vector using an inverse transformation of a finite element analysis model which describes the rolling element bearing. The finite element analysis model is simplified using at least one generalized mode shape, the at least one generalized mode shape being a mathematical description of a natural mode deformation of a component of the rolling element bearing, such as the inner or outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventors: Hendrik Anne Mol, Gerrit Cornelis Van Nijen
  • Patent number: 7421880
    Abstract: A method may be employed to assure that a switch measurement system accurately measures a torque/angular displacement profile for a rotary switch. A procedure may be employed that aligns the rotational axis of the switch with the rotational axis of the measurement unit of the switch measurement system. Also a procedure may be employed that monitors secondary forces to assure that proper alignment and calibration has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Pietro Buttolo, James Rankin, II, Yifan Chen
  • Patent number: 7389701
    Abstract: Method and sensor arrangement for determining a load vector acting on a rolling element bearing (1) in operation. A plurality of N sensors (8) are provided which measure displacement and/or strain for determining displacement and/or strain in one of the elements (5, 6, 7) of the rolling element bearing (1). Furthermore, a mode shape coefficients calculator (11) is provided, connected to the plurality of N sensors (8), for determining a deformation of the element (5, 6, 7) by calculating amplitude and phase of N/2 Fourier terms representing at least one radial mode shape of the ring shape element (5, 6, 7). Also, a bearing neural network (12) is present, connected to the mode shape coefficients calculator (11), the bearing neural network (12) being trained to provide the load vector on the rolling element bearing (1) from the N/2 Fourier terms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: AB SKF
    Inventor: Hendrik Anne Mol
  • Patent number: 7380474
    Abstract: A sensor coil serving as a sensor unit fitted and retained in a sensor retaining hole of a sensor housing and a circuit board stored in a board chamber provided inside the sensor housing are integrated by coating the outer surface of a lead and the circuit board with a resin layer formed by resin molding performed under the condition in which the sensor coil and the circuit board are connected with the lead. As a result, mounting of the sensor unit and the circuit board of a torque detecting apparatus in the housing is facilitated, the reliability of the connection part of the sensor unit and the circuit board is increased, and occurrence of connection defects due to the function of external force is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Jtekt Corporation
    Inventor: Takeshi Izumi
  • Patent number: 7373844
    Abstract: A measuring system that relate to the measurement of relatively small one degree of freedom mechanisms, such as pivoting and rotary switches, is disclosed. In particular end effectors and a kit for assembling various end effector assemblies is disclosed, that allow for accurate measurement of torque versus angular displacement curves for various types of pivoting and rotary switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yifan Chen, Pietro Buttolo, Basavaraj Tonshal, James Rankin, II, Gary Strumolo
  • Patent number: 7360457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electric power steering device provided with a torque sensor for detecting a torque using coil windings arranged in the inside of an electromagnetic yoke. The electric power steering device comprises coil bobbins which are housed in the inside of the electromagnetic yoke; a terminal block which projects a portion of the coil bobbins outwardly; and connection pins which are formed on the terminal block in a projecting manner. Further, the connection pins comprise connection members for connecting the connection pins to a sensor circuit substrate and the connection pins are arranged not to be covered and concealed with the sensor circuit substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuo Chikaraishi
  • Publication number: 20080022783
    Abstract: An electrical machine including at least one sensor, a transducer wheel at which the sensor axially picks up a signal, an end face of the sensor being adjacent to an annular face on one face end of the transducer wheel, a shaft, on which the transducer wheel is axially displaceably secured, a fixed bearing, and a loose bearing, in which bearings the shaft is supported, and a housing. At least one stop on the machine having at least one stop face that points in the direction of the fixed bearing and has at least one stop face on the transducer wheel, the stop faces being oriented toward one another and axially facing one another. Viewed in the direction of the transducer wheel, the stop faces are designed relative to one another such that the two diametrically opposed active surfaces of the sensor and of the transducer wheel barely do not touch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Klaus Maldener, Andreas Wehrle
  • Patent number: 7320256
    Abstract: Revolution speeds of rolling elements in respective rows are sensed, and then the axial load or the radial load is derived based on the revolution speeds. In case the acting directions of these loads are displaced, the contact angles of the rolling elements in respective rows are differentiated in response to this displacement, or values of influence coefficients used to detect respective loads are changed based on the revolution speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Ono
  • Patent number: 7320258
    Abstract: An attaching structure of a rotation-detecting sensor comprises (a) a rotation-transferring medium, (b) a rotation-detecting sensor having (b1) a detection portion that detects a variation in magnetic field due to the rotation of the rotation-transferring medium to convert the variation into an electric signal and (b2) a main body having a plurality of side faces, (c) a flange that is provided at at least one side face of the main body of the rotation-detecting sensor, (d) an attaching member for the rotation-detecting sensor, the attaching member having an attaching hole into which the main body is inserted, concurrently with the flange being applied to the attaching member, and (e) a resin-molded body that (e1) covers by resin molding at least one part of the flange and a part of the attaching member to embed them in it and (e2) fixes the main body of the rotation-detecting sensor to the attaching member through the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Sumiden Electronics, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Tawara
  • Patent number: 7320257
    Abstract: Revolution speeds nca, nib of rolling elements 9a, 9b are sensed by a pair of revolution speed sensors 21a, 21b. Also, a rotational speed ni of a hub 2 is sensed by a rotational speed sensor 15b. A sum “nca+ncb” or a difference “nca?nib” the revolution speeds of rolling elements 9a, 9b in double rows is calculated based on sensed signals of the revolution speed sensors 21a, 21b, and then a ratio “nca+nib/ni” or “nca?ncb/ni” of this sum or difference to the rotational speed ni is calculated. Then, the radial load or the an axial load is calculated based on the ratio “nca+ncb/ni” or “ca?nib/ni”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: NSK Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Takizawa, Tomoyuki Yanagisawa, Koichiro Ono, Ikunori Sakatani
  • Patent number: 7287440
    Abstract: A magnetism generation portion 4 is provided at a first shaft 2, and a first magnetic yoke 7 and a second magnetic yoke 8 bent in L shape are provided at a second shaft 3 so that a magnetic flux generated at the magnetism generation portion 4 can be detected on the outer circumference side of the second shaft 3, and a magnetism detecting device for detecting the magnetic flux can be provided on the outer circumference side of the second shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideo Maehara
  • Patent number: 7270016
    Abstract: A sensor includes a stator having four or more magnetic pole teeth and concentric with a stationary-side raceway member, and excitation coils and detection coils wound around the respective magnetic pole teeth. Signals generated in the detection coils according to distances between the magnetic pole teeth and a rotation-side raceway member are taken out for the respective magnetic pole teeth. The load acting on a rolling bearing is obtained in processing means from these signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: JTEKT Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Sentoku, Shirou Nakano