Portable Bearing Sensor with Magnetic Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bearing monitoring systems require permanent sensors that are cumbersome and difficult to attach to rotating surfaces, leading to increased assembly time, costs, and space requirements, while also failing to provide accurate residual life prediction due to limited data collection methods.
Innovation Solution
A portable device with non-permanent attachment means, such as magnetic attachments, equipped with sensors to measure strain, stress, vibration, and temperature, which transmits data wirelessly for residual life prediction using a mathematical model, allowing for easy attachment and detachment from any bearing surface and enabling continuous data collection throughout the bearing's life cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual sensors are permanently attached to a bearing surface, then measurement reliability is improved, but device complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensors (vibration, temperature, humidity, pressure sensors) into a single integrated portable monitoring device that can be temporarily attached to the bearing. This merging approach maintains comprehensive measurement capability while reducing the complexity associated with multiple separate permanent sensor installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the sensing function from permanent bearing components and places it in a separate portable device that can be temporarily attached. This extraction allows the sensors to be removed without modifying the bearing structure, thereby reducing device complexity and assembly time while maintaining measurement reliability during the monitoring period.
2Reliability
If multiple permanent sensors are installed on different bearing locations, then monitoring coverage is improved, but assembly time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The portable device is designed as a universal monitoring solution that can be attached to various bearing locations and configurations. The device contains multiple sensor types (vibration, temperature, humidity, pressure) that can monitor multiple parameters simultaneously, providing comprehensive monitoring coverage without requiring multiple specialized permanent sensor installations at different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system transitions from static permanent installations to dynamic temporary attachments. The portable device can be moved between different bearing locations as needed, allowing comprehensive monitoring coverage to be achieved by relocating a single multi-functional device rather than installing multiple permanent sensors at all possible locations.
3Measurement precision
If sensors are mounted on rotating bearing surfaces, then measurement accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a portable device as an intermediary between the sensor and the rotating bearing surface. The device can be temporarily attached to the bearing (potentially on the rotating surface for optimal measurement) and then removed without requiring permanent modification to the bearing or complex mounting mechanisms, thus maintaining measurement accuracy while improving ease of operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The portable device allows for efficient and accurate monitoring of bearing health, reducing commercial losses by predicting residual life and minimizing downtime, while saving assembly time and costs by eliminating the need for multiple permanent sensors and providing a comprehensive history log for improved maintenance planning.
Implementation Method 1
non-permanent attachment means configured to non-permanently (i.e. removably) attach the device to a surface of the bearing
Data Source
AI summary
A device for monitoring a bearing, wherein the device comprises at least one sensor configured to obtain data concerning at least one of the factors that influences the residual life of the bearing. The device is a portable device and comprises a non-permanent attachment feature configured to non-permanently attach the device to a surface of the bearing so that at least a part of the at least one sensor is pressed against the surface of the bearing.