Wheel carrier housing with at least one fiber optic sensor and vehicle axle as well as use of an axle condition monitoring system on the vehicle axle

Abstract

A wheel carrier housing (4) is proposed with a wheel bearing (6) arranged in a recess (5) for supporting a drive shaft (7) connected to a vehicle wheel (13), and with at least one fiber-optic sensor system for monitoring the condition of the wheel bearing (6), wherein at least one optical fiber (8) of the fiber-optic sensor system is provided in the region of the recess (5) on the wheel carrier housing side for monitoring the wheel bearing (6). Furthermore, a vehicle axle (2) with two wheel carrier housings (4) connected to one another via an axle bridge (3) is proposed. In addition, the use of an axle condition monitoring system on a vehicle axle (2) is claimed. Furthermore, a vehicle (1) with at least one vehicle axle (2) is proposed.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel carrier housing with a wheel bearing arranged in a recess for supporting a drive shaft connected to a vehicle wheel, and with at least one fiber-optic sensor system for monitoring the condition of the wheel bearing. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle axle with two wheel carrier housings connected via an axle bridge. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of an axle condition monitoring system on a vehicle axle. Furthermore, the invention relates to a vehicle with at least one vehicle axle.

[0002] For example, from the publication DE 10 2019 209 910 A1, a rolling bearing with an integrated fiber optic sensor for condition monitoring is known. The rolling bearing comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, with the rolling elements arranged between the inner and outer rings. Two fiber optic sensors are provided on the outer ring of the rolling bearing for condition monitoring.

[0003] From the document DE 101 41 252 C1 a device for determining forces and / or moments acting on the wheel suspension of a wheel of a vehicle is known, wherein the wheel is rotatably mounted with its hub on an axle journal of a vehicle axle by means of a wheel bearing and the wheel bearing is pressed against an axle shoulder by a preload ring, is designed such that between the wheel bearing and the axle shoulder and / or between the wheel bearing and the preload ring and / or between bearing inner rings a plurality of force sensors are arranged, each of which contacts directly or indirectly.

[0004] Document DE 10 2019 216 992 A1 discloses a bearing unit comprising a housing and at least one bearing mounted in the housing. The bearing unit comprises at least one load sensor and at least one vibration sensor mounted on the housing, with at least the load sensor being mounted in a groove provided on a shoulder of the housing.

[0005] It has been shown that fiber optic sensors integrated into the rolling bearing are exposed to the loads acting on the rolling bearing, resulting in high stresses on the fiber optic sensors, which can impair the quality of condition monitoring. Furthermore, fiber optic sensors integrated into the rolling bearing require modifications to the rolling bearing design, which both complicates the design and increases manufacturing costs.

[0006] The present invention is based on the object of designing a wheel carrier housing, a vehicle axle and a use of an axle condition monitoring system on a vehicle axle as well as a vehicle with a vehicle axle in such a way that the safest and most cost-effective condition monitoring is possible.

[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of patent claims 1, 4, 5, and 6, respectively. Advantageous and claimed developments emerge from the respective subclaims and the description as well as the drawings.

[0008] Accordingly, a wheel carrier housing is proposed with a wheel bearing arranged in a recess for supporting a drive shaft connected to a vehicle wheel, and with at least one fiber-optic sensor system for monitoring the condition of the wheel bearing. To enable the most reliable and cost-effective condition monitoring possible, at least one optical fiber of the fiber-optic sensor system is provided in the region of the recess on the wheel carrier housing side for monitoring the wheel bearing.

[0009] To monitor the condition of a wheel bearing, fiber optic sensors can be used, for example, which enable the measurement and monitoring of multiple parameters using a single sensor. Fiber optic sensors can detect strains, vibrations, temperatures, accelerations, torques, loads, stresses, and the like. This type of condition monitoring ensures and improves predictive diagnosis and predictive maintenance. Because the optical fiber of the fiber optic sensor is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the wheel bearing but on the wheel carrier housing side in the wheel carrier housing according to the invention, various parameters of the wheel bearing can be measured and monitored without undesirable mechanical stress occurring on the optical fiber. This ensures reliable condition monitoring of the wheel bearing.Because the optical fiber of the fiber optic sensor is not part of the wheel bearing, it can be used regardless of the wheel bearing design, as no structural adjustments to the wheel bearing are required.

[0010] One way to position the optical fiber of the fiber-optic sensor system in the immediate vicinity of the wheel bearing on the wheel carrier housing side is to arrange the optical fiber of the fiber-optic sensor system in a groove, channel, or similar structure running along the inner diameter of the recess on the wheel carrier housing side. This design is particularly cost-effective because no additional components are required; instead, only a channel or groove is introduced along the inner diameter of the recess in the wheel carrier housing.

[0011] Another possibility for arranging the optical fiber of the fiber-optic sensor system in the immediate vicinity of the wheel bearing on the wheel carrier housing side is achieved by providing a sleeve, wherein the sleeve is fastened in the recess and wherein a groove runs along an inner diameter of the sleeve, in which groove the optical fiber of the fiber-optic sensor system is arranged. Advantageously, the optical fiber can already be pre-installed in the sleeve before the sleeve is fastened in the recess. In addition, the sleeve essentially forms a housing for the wheel bearing. The wheel bearing can be accommodated radially within the sleeve, thus achieving a structurally simple fastening of the wheel bearing in the sleeve.

[0012] To securely and cost-effectively secure the sleeve in the recess of the wheel carrier housing, the sleeve is designed with an external thread that secures the sleeve to the inner diameter of the recess. A further advantage of the threaded sleeve is that the thread eliminates the effect of axial loads on the optical fiber.

[0013] Regardless of the specific arrangement of the optical fiber of the fiber optic sensor, the optical fiber can be held in the respective groove with a form-fitting fit. However, it is also conceivable for the optical fiber to be glued into the respective groove.

[0014] The object underlying the invention is also achieved by a vehicle axle with two wheel carrier housings connected to each other at the axle bridge. This results in the advantages already described and further advantages.

[0015] The object underlying the invention is also achieved by using an axle condition monitoring system on the specified vehicle axle. Due to the preferred location of the optical fiber in the area of ​​the wheel carrier housing of the aforementioned vehicle axle, the specified advantages also arise when using the axle condition monitoring system.

[0016] When using the axle condition monitoring system, the optical fiber is connected to a control unit containing a light source and a light detector. The reflected light is then evaluated by, for example, an engine control unit (ECU) through a pattern comparison between emitted, reflected, and received light parameters. Knowledge of temperature, force intensity, and vibration is used to monitor, predict, and detect problems by comparing the measured parameters with predefined patterns. This type of use of the axle condition monitoring system can be advantageously employed in autonomous vehicles that no longer have a driver to detect safety issues.

[0017] The object underlying the invention is also achieved by a vehicle with at least one vehicle axle as described above, whereby the advantages already described and further advantages arise.

[0018] The present invention is further explained below with reference to the drawings.

[0019] They show: Fig. 1 a schematic three-dimensional view of a possible embodiment variant of a vehicle axle according to the invention with two wheel carrier housings according to the invention connected to one another via an axle bridge; Fig. 2 an enlarged detailed view of a wheel carrier housing with a wheel bearing; Fig. 3 a schematic view of a first possible embodiment of the wheel carrier housing according to the invention; and Fig. 4 a schematic view of a second possible embodiment of the wheel carrier housing according to the invention.

[0020] In the Fig. 1 to 4 show various views of the present invention by way of example.

[0021] In Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a vehicle axle 2 according to the invention of a vehicle 1 that is only schematically indicated. The vehicle axle 2 comprises an axle bridge 3 that connects the two wheel carrier housings 4. Furthermore, further components of the vehicle axle 2 are shown, which are known per se to those skilled in the art and will not be described further.

[0022] Each wheel carrier housing 4 has a recess 5 in which a wheel bearing 6 is accommodated, which is provided for supporting a drive shaft 7 connected to a vehicle wheel 13. To monitor the condition of the wheel bearing 6, at least one optical fiber 8 of a fiber-optic sensor system is provided in the region of the recess 5 on the wheel carrier housing side.

[0023] An axle condition monitoring system is used to ensure and improve predictive diagnostics and predictive maintenance. This is achieved by installing fiber optic sensors (FOS) to measure and monitor multiple parameters with a single sensor. The measured parameters are intended to provide real-time information on the condition of the axle system components and enable on-board diagnostics and predictive maintenance planning.

[0024] Fiber optic sensing includes the optical fiber, which consists, for example, of a cylindrical waveguide consisting of a thin core with a refractive index covered by a cladding layer. For example, glass fibers can be used as sensors to detect various physical parameters. For this purpose, the optical fiber is connected to a control unit containing a light source and a light detector.

[0025] In Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the wheel carrier housing 4 with the optical fiber 8 of the fiber-optic sensor system. In the first embodiment, the optical fiber 8 of the fiber-optic sensor system is arranged in a groove 9 running along an inner diameter of the wheel carrier housing-side recess 5. The optical fiber 8 is either glued into the groove 9 or held in the groove 9 with a positive fit.

[0026] In Fig.Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the wheel carrier housing 4 with the optical fiber 8 of the fiber-optic sensor system. In the second embodiment, the optical fiber 8 of the fiber-optic sensor system is arranged in a sleeve 10. The sleeve 10 has an external thread 11 for fastening in the recess 5 of the wheel carrier housing 4. A groove 12 runs along an inner diameter of the sleeve 10, in which the optical fiber 8 of the fiber-optic sensor system is arranged. The optical fiber 8 is either glued into the groove 12 or held in the groove 12 with a form-fitting fit. The wheel bearing 6 for supporting the drive shaft 7 is accommodated inside the sleeve 10. Reference symbol 1 vehicle 2 vehicle axles 3 axle bridge 4 wheel carrier housings 5 Recess 6 wheel bearings 7 Drive shaft 8 optical fibers 9 grooves 10 sleeves 11 External thread of the sleeve 12 grooves 13 Vehicle wheel

Claims

[1] Wheel carrier housing (4) with a wheel bearing (6) arranged in a recess (5) for supporting a drive shaft (7) connected to a vehicle wheel (13) and with at least one fiber-optic sensor system for monitoring the condition of the wheel bearing (6), characterized by in that at least one optical fiber (8) of the fiber-optic sensor system is provided in the region of the recess (5) on the wheel carrier housing side for monitoring the wheel bearing (6), wherein a sleeve (10) is provided, wherein the sleeve (10) is fastened in the recess (5) and wherein a groove (12) runs along an inner diameter of the sleeve (10), in which groove the optical fiber (8) of the fiber-optic sensor system is arranged and the sleeve (10) has an external thread (11), wherein the sleeve (10) is fastened to the inner diameter of the recess (5) via the external thread (11). [2] Wheel carrier housing (4) according to claim 1, characterized by that the wheel bearing (6) is accommodated radially inside the sleeve (10). [3] Wheel carrier housing (4) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the optical fiber (8) is held in the groove (12) in a form-fitting manner or is glued into the groove (12). [4] Vehicle axle (2) with two wheel carrier housings (4) connected to one another via an axle bridge (3) according to one of the preceding claims. [5] Use of an axle condition monitoring system on a vehicle axle (2) according to claim 4. [6] Vehicle (1) with at least one vehicle axle (2) according to claim 4.

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