Roller Body Sensor Integration for Vibration Damping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Roller bearings face premature breakdown due to external influences such as vibrations, imbalances, and temperature changes, leading to increased material and labor costs and reduced service life, especially in highly loaded applications.

Innovation Solution

Integration of sensor units within the roller body, protected by elastic materials, to monitor operating conditions like temperature, load, and vibrations, with wireless data transmission to enable preemptive maintenance and vibration damping using elastic materials within cavities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If roller bearings are designed for significantly higher peak load than expected in normal operation, then reliability under external influences is improved, but material and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability under external influencesVSAvoidmaterial and manufacturing costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by integrating sensor units into the roller bodies before the bearing enters service. These sensors continuously monitor operating conditions (temperature, load, vibration, lubricant quality) and transmit data externally, enabling early detection of degradation trends. This allows maintenance to be scheduled based on actual condition rather than conservative over-design, reducing material costs while maintaining reliability through real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If roller bearings are frequently inspected to detect premature breakdown, then reliability is improved, but labor costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection of premature breakdownVSAvoidlabor costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by equipping roller bodies with integrated sensor units that autonomously monitor their own operating conditions and transmit data externally without requiring manual inspection. The sensors continuously measure temperature, load, vibration, and lubricant quality, enabling the bearing to self-diagnose its condition and alert operators to potential failures before they occur, eliminating the need for frequent manual inspections and associated labor costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of time

If sensor units are integrated into roller bodies for real-time monitoring, then maintenance timing is optimized, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemaintenance timing optimizationVSAvoidsensor unit integration

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a multi-functional sensor unit that integrates multiple sensing capabilities (temperature, load, vibration, lubricant quality) into a single compact device embedded in the roller body. This consolidated approach monitors various operating parameters simultaneously through one integrated system rather than requiring separate sensors for each parameter, reducing overall device complexity while enabling comprehensive real-time monitoring and optimized maintenance timing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If elastic material surrounds sensor units for protection, then sensor reliability is improved, but roller body volume increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor unit protectionVSAvoidroller body volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing protective elastic material only in the specific regions where sensor units are embedded within the roller bodies, rather than uniformly throughout the entire roller body. This localized protection strategy shields the sensitive sensor components from mechanical stresses and environmental influences while minimizing the additional volume occupied by the elastic material, thus protecting sensor reliability without significantly increasing the overall roller body dimensions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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

Prevents premature breakdown by allowing real-time monitoring and maintenance, reducing idle time and service costs, while maintaining load capacity through effective vibration damping.

Implementation Method 1

the elastic material is configured to dampen vibrations and/or oscillations of the roller body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentUS8961021B2Roller body for roller bearing

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 AB SKF SKF PATENT DEPARTMENT

AI summary

A roller body for a roller bearing includes at least one cavity extending from an end face of the roller body, at least one retaining element is disposed in the cavity, and at least one sensor is disposed in the cavity, such as in or on the retaining element. The sensor is at least partially surrounded by an elastic material in a protective manner.