Elastomer-metal bearing with at least one sensor

Abstract

Elastomer-metal bearing (1) for connecting and transmitting force between two components, with two deformation-resistant, spaced-apart metal bearing parts (2, 3), each for connection to one of the two components, with an elastomer layer (4) adhered between the metal bearing parts (2, 3) and with at least one sensor (7) attached to the elastomer-metal bearing (1) for detecting and measuring a physical quantity, wherein the at least one sensor (7) is connected to a first of the metal bearing parts (2) by an adhesive bond and covered by the elastomer layer (4), and a sensor cable (8) extending from the at least one sensor (7) is covered by the elastomer layer (4) and protrudes therefrom for connection with cable ends (11), characterized by that the one sensor (7) and the sensor cable (8) are covered and covered by an intermediate plate (10) which is arranged between the sensor (7) and the elastomer layer (4), that the intermediate plate (10) is connected in the overlap area by adhesive to the first metal bearing part (2) and to the sensor (7), and that the intermediate plate (10) is covered by the adhered elastomer layer (4) and embedded in it.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an elastomer-metal bearing with at least one sensor for connection and force transmission between two components and a method for its production.

[0002] The terms “elastomer-metal bearing” and “rubber-metal bearing” are, as is common practice in specialist circles, to be understood generally and interpreted broadly, with “metal” standing for a deformation-resistant bearing component, which can in particular also be made of plastic, and “rubber” being a synonym for elastomer material.

[0003] The components connected to the elastomer-metal bearing in a force-transmitting manner are part of devices or systems that are exposed to external forces due to their operation and / or themselves generate forces that lead to deformations in the elastomer-metal bearing.

[0004] An elastomer-metal bearing as a component of a device with a sensor and a downstream measuring and evaluation unit is known from EP 3 144 658 B1. Here, the sensor detects deformation of the elastomer material in the elastomer-metal bearing, and deformation measurements are stored in the evaluation unit as a parameter for the current component stiffness over a relatively long service life. If, over the course of a long service life, the deformation measurements increase under relatively constant loads or the component stiffness decreases, wear is detected with a limited remaining service life of the elastomer-metal bearing.

[0005] In this prior art, the elastomer-metal bearing with a sensor is also provided for a force-transmitting connection between two components and generally consists of two deformation-resistant, spaced-apart bearing parts, in particular metal bearing parts, each for connection to one of the two components. An elastomer layer and / or elastomer elements are adhered between the bearing parts. The sensor attached to the elastomer-metal bearing for detecting the component deformation or a physical quantity derived therefrom is neither specified nor indicated, especially for functional, cost-effective assembly and production of the elastomer-metal bearing.However, in conjunction with a vulcanization process for introducing elastomer material between the bearing parts, the correct position of a sensor without functional impairment of the sensor and / or the entire elastomer-metal bearing is a complex task due to the high pressures and high temperatures.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 10 2016 219 194 A1 discloses a device for measuring the force of an elastic bearing, in particular a laminated spring, comprising a spring element and a stop element against which the spring element can exert a force. The device has a sensor integrated into the stop element in such a way that the sensor can directly or indirectly detect the force that can be exerted by the spring element on the stop element.

[0007] The object of the invention is therefore to propose an elastomer-metal bearing with at least one sensor for the force-transmitting connection between two components, in which the integration and attachment of the sensor can be carried out simply, cost-efficiently and without impairing the functionality with a predetermined positional accuracy of the sensor.

[0008] This problem is solved by the features of claim 1 and those of claim 13.

[0009] According to claim 1, the at least one sensor is bonded to a metal bearing part and covered by the elastomer layer. Furthermore, a sensor cable extending from the sensor element is covered by the elastomer layer and protrudes from the elastomer layer for connection with cable ends.

[0010] The adhesive bond between the sensor and the bearing part allows the sensor to withstand high injection pressures of the elastomer material during the manufacturing process and also ensures that the sensor is firmly, securely, and precisely attached to the bearing part. This makes assembly and manufacturing simple, cost-effective, and without compromising functionality.

[0011] In a particularly preferred, advantageous embodiment and further development, the sensor is a thin-walled, flat, particularly rectangular sensor element compared to the metal bearing part. Such a sensor element and the sensor cable protruding from it are located in an associated, particularly milled, recess in the metal bearing part, preferably flush with the surrounding bearing surface. Thus, a positive fit between the recess and the sensor element further increases the predetermined positioning accuracy of the sensor element on the bearing part, since slippage of the sensor element during the manufacturing process is thus virtually eliminated.

[0012] It is also essential that high-temperature-resistant adhesive material is used for bonding, which can particularly withstand the high temperatures during vulcanization processes.

[0013] According to the invention, the sensor and the sensor cable are covered and overlapped by an intermediate plate arranged between the sensor and the elastomer layer. The intermediate plate is bonded to the metal bearing part and the sensor in the overlapping area. In the finished elastomer-metal bearing, the intermediate plate is covered by and embedded in the adhered elastomer layer.

[0014] This relatively thin intermediate plate advantageously protects the sensor and sensor cable during the production of the elastomer-metal bearing, especially during a vulcanization process, from excessive pressure and temperature loads, as it can dissipate these loads into the surrounding metal bearing areas. Furthermore, by completely enclosing the sensor and sensor cable, it supports the specified positional accuracy of the sensor. Attaching the intermediate plate by adhesive is relatively simple and cost-effective, so that the installation of the intermediate plate only slightly increases the manufacturing costs for the entire elastomer-metal bearing.

[0015] The elastomer layer can be applied and adhered between the metal bearing parts and, if applicable, to the intermediate plate in a conventional and conventional manner as a rubber layer through vulcanization. For optimal rubber adhesion, the bonding surfaces on the metal bearing parts, and when using the intermediate plate, their bonding surface, are coated with a primer and adhesive prior to vulcanization in a conventional manner. For further optimization, the bonding surface on the intermediate plate can be roughened, particularly by grinding.

[0016] Before the vulcanization process, the sensor cable ends intended for connection are placed in a pocket in the vulcanization tool and only removed from the pocket after the vulcanization process. This prevents rubber from escaping from the tool during the vulcanization process. The exposed cable ends can then be connected to an onward cable or a connector.

[0017] Such a connector can advantageously be attached to the edge of the metal bearing part with the bonded intermediate plate and the sensor, and connected to this metal bearing part by screwing. This completes the elastomer-metal bearing with at least one sensor as a functional unit, which can simply be connected with a plug connection for further use.

[0018] Depending on the current installation conditions, the loads encountered, and the objective of evaluating the recorded measurement results, the elastomer bearings according to the invention can have different geometric shapes with different strengths, stiffnesses, and elasticities of the metal bearing parts and elastomer materials. In a geometrically simple embodiment, the metal bearing parts can be flat plate parts, in particular flat, equally spaced plate parts. However, plate parts curved at equal spacing or ring-shaped bushings are also intended to be included.

[0019] In principle, all known sensors for detecting physical variables can be used in the arrangement according to the invention, provided they can withstand manufacturing-related and / or operational environmental influences. Particularly preferably, a flat pressure sensor, in particular a film sensor (FSR sensor), or a strain sensor, in particular a strain gauge sensor (DMS sensor), can be used with the adhesive bond according to the invention. Depending on the circumstances and / or the physical variables to be detected, other sensors, for example temperature sensors, in particular thermocouples or resistance temperature sensors, may also be used.

[0020] When selecting sensors, particular consideration must be given to the mechanical loads that occur during operation and which the sensors must withstand, including all commonly occurring loads such as static pressure loads, cardanic loads with flexion loads in the elastomer material, as well as cyclic and periodic loads, etc.

[0021] To clarify the arrangement according to the invention, only one sensor on a bearing part of the elastomer-metal bearing is specified and described in detail above. One or more sensors, even with different sensor properties, can be adhesively attached to one bearing part and, if necessary, also to the second, opposite bearing part, so that detailed status statements can be made based on a plurality of measurement results. Such an arrangement of multiple sensors is also intended to be covered by the scope of protection.

[0022] It is generally known to introduce a preload into the elastomer material in elastomer-metal bearings, particularly to protect the elastomer material from harmful tensile stresses. In the elastomer-metal bearing with sensor technology according to the invention, a preload can also be applied to the elastomer layer during manufacture or during operational installation when connecting two components.

[0023] In a further development of a complete system, the measurement signals from one or more sensors recorded in the operational installation situation of the elastomer-metal bearing are to be fed to a connected measurement and evaluation unit. There, in conjunction with evaluation programs, monitoring of the conditions of the elastomer-metal bearing and / or connected components and / or functional analyses of devices and systems in which the components are installed can be performed, if necessary in conjunction with control interventions.

[0024] Furthermore, a method for producing an elastomer-metal bearing as described above is claimed, wherein, in a first method step, a sensor is bonded to a bearing part, and optionally several sensors are bonded to both bearing parts by adhesive bonding. In the preferred embodiment with an intermediate plate, the sensor(s) are then covered by an adhesive-bonded intermediate plate. In a further method step, the two bearing parts are placed in a vulcanizing tool at a distance from one another, with the sensor extending into the distance, optionally with an intermediate plate. Subsequently, in a further method step, elastomer material is injected between the bearing parts and adhered in a vulcanizing process.

[0025] An embodiment of an elastomer-metal bearing according to the invention is shown by way of example in a drawing.

[0026] They show: Fig. 1 a finished elastomer-metal bearing in a perspective view from above, Fig. 2 the lower part of the elastomer-metal bearing according to Fig. 1 under the elastomer layer still without intermediate plate, and Fig. 3 the lower part of the elastomer-metal bearing Fig. 2 with attached intermediate plate before vulcanization.

[0027] In Fig. 1 shows an exemplary, geometrically simple elastomer-metal bearing 1 in a perspective view from above. The elastomer-metal bearing 1 consists of two deformation-resistant, spaced-apart metal bearing parts 2, 3. The metal bearing parts 2, 3 are designed for the connection and force transmission between two components of a device or system that are relatively movable under the action of force (not shown). In the schematically largely simplified design and representation of the elastomer-metal bearing 1, the metal bearing parts 2, 3 are flat, equally spaced plate parts, here for a system connection without special connecting elements to other components, since the essential aspect of the invention is the arrangement and attachment of a sensor.

[0028] An elastomer layer 4 is introduced and adhered between the plate-shaped metal bearing part 2 and the spaced-apart plate-shaped metal bearing part 3 during a vulcanization process. Relative loading between the metal bearing parts 2 and 3, combined with deformation in the elastomer layer, is possible, for example, if the elastomer-metal bearing 1 is clamped between two components to be joined.

[0029] In Fig. 1 also shows a plug 5 which is screwed to the side of the metal bearing part 2 from below.

[0030] In the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 shows the internal structure of the elastomer-metal bearing 1 under the elastomer layer 4 with the elastomer layer 4 omitted: In the center of the lower plate-shaped metal bearing part 2, a flat rectangular recess 6 is milled into which a rectangular sensor 7, which is thinner than the metal bearing part, is placed flush with the surrounding bearing surface and is connected to the metal bearing part 2 by an adhesive bond.

[0031] A sensor cable 8 extending from the sensor 7 runs in a groove-shaped recess 9 from the sensor 7 to the connector-side edge, as shown in Fig. 2 is shown.

[0032] As in Fig. 3 shows that, before a vulcanization process, the sensor 7 and the sensor cable 8 are covered and extensively covered with a thin intermediate plate 10, wherein the intermediate plate 10 is connected to the metal bearing part 2 and to the sensor 7 by adhesive in the overlapping area.

[0033] Before the vulcanization process, the metal bearing part 2 with the sensor 7 and the glued-on intermediate plate 10, but without the connector 5, is inserted into a vulcanization tool together with the spaced metal bearing part 3. Free cable ends 11 of the sensor cable 8 are accommodated in a pocket in the vulcanization tool.

[0034] After the subsequent vulcanization process, the elastomer-metal bearing 1 is removed from the vulcanization tool, the connector 5 is mounted and the exposed cable ends 11 are connected to the connector 5, so that the finished elastomer-metal bearing 1 is Fig. 1 results. List of reference symbols 1 elastomer-metal bearing 2 metal bearing part 3 metal bearing part 4 Elastomer layer 5 plugs 6 recess 7 Sensor 8 sensor cables 9 Recess 10 intermediate plate 11 cable ends

Claims

[1] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) for connecting and transmitting force between two components, with two deformation-resistant, spaced-apart metal bearing parts (2, 3), each for connection to one of the two components, with an elastomer layer (4) adhered between the metal bearing parts (2, 3) and with at least one sensor (7) attached to the elastomer-metal bearing (1) for detecting and measuring a physical quantity, wherein the at least one sensor (7) is connected to a first of the metal bearing parts (2) by an adhesive bond and covered by the elastomer layer (4), and a sensor cable (8) extending from the at least one sensor (7) is covered by the elastomer layer (4) and protrudes therefrom for connection with cable ends (11), characterized by , that the one sensor (7) and the sensor cable (8) are covered and covered by an intermediate plate (10) which is arranged between the sensor (7) and the elastomer layer (4), that the intermediate plate (10) is connected in the overlap area by adhesive to the first metal bearing part (2) and to the sensor (7), and that the intermediate plate (10) is covered by the adhered elastomer layer (4) and embedded in it. [2] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to claim 1 characterized by that the elastomer layer (4) is introduced and adhered as a rubber layer by vulcanization between the metal bearing parts (2, 3) and optionally to the intermediate plate (10), and that before the vulcanization process the adhesive surfaces for rubber on the metal bearing parts (2, 3) and on the intermediate plate (10) covering the sensor (7) and the sensor cable (8) are coated with adhesive for optimized rubber adhesion. [3] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that the adhesive surface on the intermediate plate (10) is rough, in particular ground. [4] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that before the vulcanization process the cable ends (11) are accommodated in a pocket in the vulcanization tool and after the vulcanization process the exposed cable ends (11) are connected to further cables or a plug (5). [5] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to claim 4, characterized by that the plug (5) is attached to the edge of the first metal bearing part (2) with the glued intermediate plate (10) and is connected to this metal bearing part (2) by screwing. [6] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that a high-temperature-resistant adhesive material is used as the adhesive material for bonding. [7] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the sensor (7) is a thin-walled, flat, in particular rectangular sensor element compared to the first metal bearing part (2), and that the sensor (7) and the sensor cable (8) lie in an associated, in particular milled recess (6, 9) in the first metal bearing part (2), preferably flush with the surrounding bearing surface. [8] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the two metal bearing parts (2, 3) are flat plate parts, in particular flat, equally spaced plate parts or plate parts bent at the same distance or annular bushings. [9] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized bythat the at least one sensor (7) is a pressure sensor, in particular a film sensor (FSR sensor), or a strain sensor, in particular a strain gauge sensor (DMS sensor) or a temperature sensor, preferably a thermocouple or resistance temperature sensor. [10] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that one or more, possibly different, sensors (7) are each attached by adhesive to the first of the metal bearing parts (2), and / or that one or more, possibly different, sensors (7) are attached by adhesive to the second opposite bearing part (3). [11] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that a prestress is built up in the elastomer layer (4) during manufacture or in the operational installation situation when connecting two components. [12] Elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that in the operational installation situation of the elastomer-metal bearing (1), the measurement signals of the at least one sensor (7) or of the plurality of sensors are fed to a measurement and evaluation unit connected thereto, with which monitoring of states of the elastomer-metal bearing (1) and / or connected components and / or functional analyses of devices and systems in which the components are installed can be carried out in evaluation programs, if necessary in conjunction with control interventions. [13] Method for producing an elastomer-metal bearing (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by , that at least one of the sensors (7) is connected to the first of the metal bearing parts (2), optionally several sensors are connected to both metal bearing parts (2, 3) by adhesive bonding, that the sensor(s) (7) are covered by an adhesive-bonded intermediate plate (10), that the two metal bearing parts (2, 3) are introduced into a vulcanizing tool at a distance from one another with a covered sensor (7) or sensors projecting into the distance, and that in a subsequent vulcanizing process elastomer material is injected between the metal bearing parts (2, 3) and adhered.

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