Clamping Ring Sensor Embedding for Bearing Strain Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing assemblies in heavy load applications, such as wind turbines and ship propeller bearings, face challenges in efficiently monitoring strain deformations and preventing sensor damage due to indirect measurements and susceptibility to collisions, respectively.
Innovation Solution
A sensor unit is embedded within a recess of the clamping ring, providing direct contact with the bearing and protection from external influences, and includes a wireless transmitter for remote monitoring, with a reinforcing structure to compensate for potential clamping ring weakening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are mounted on the outer surface of the housing or clamping ring, then the sensor unit is protected from damage, but the measurement precision is degraded due to indirect contact
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor unit is embedded within a recess in the clamping ring, with the sensor nestled inside the recess and the contact plate positioned to directly contact the bearing ring. This nesting approach allows the sensor to be both protected within the recess structure and maintain direct contact with the bearing ring for accurate strain deformation measurements.
2Ease of manufacture
If sensors are externally mounted on the housing, then installation is simple, but the sensors are susceptible to damage from collisions and external influences
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is pre-formed in the clamping ring structure before the sensor unit is installed. This preliminary preparation of the mounting structure allows for easy sensor installation while simultaneously providing built-in protection against collisions and external influences, as the recess physically shields the sensor unit.
3Measurement precision
If the sensor unit is embedded in the clamping ring, then direct contact with the bearing is achieved improving measurement accuracy, but the clamping ring structure is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The recess is designed with specific dimensional characteristics (depth, width, and shape) that are optimized to accommodate the sensor unit while minimizing the removal of material from the clamping ring. This localized modification approach maintains the overall structural integrity and clamping capability of the ring while providing the necessary space for direct contact measurements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a bearing device including a clamping ring (10, 12) for retaining and preloading a bearing (18, 20) in a housing (14), and a sensor unit (24) for detecting at least one state variable of the bearing (18, 20). It is proposed that the sensor unit (24) is embedded in a recess (22) of the clamping ring (10, 12).