Rolling Bearing Load Measurement With Rolling-Element Calibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Calibration of sensor devices for measuring load in mounted conditions of large-sized rolling bearings, such as those used in wind turbines, is challenging.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement comprising a first sensor device on the inner or outer ring to measure load over the complete circumference and a pre-calibrated second sensor device within a rolling element, which calibrates the first sensor device during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a sensor device is arranged at the inner or outer ring to measure load over the complete circumference, then the measurement coverage is improved, but the calibration difficulty increases in mounted conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor arrangement is divided into two independent sensor devices: a first sensor device arranged at the inner or outer ring for measuring load over the complete circumference, and a second sensor device arranged within a rolling element for measuring locally restricted load. This segmentation allows each sensor device to have specialized calibration procedures, with the second sensor device being pre-calibrated before assembly, thereby resolving the calibration difficulty while maintaining comprehensive measurement coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The second sensor device embedded in the rolling element acts as an intermediary calibration reference. Since the rolling element can be removed and the second sensor device pre-calibrated outside the bearing assembly, it serves as a portable calibration standard that can be used to calibrate the first sensor device during operation, eliminating the need for complex in-situ calibration of the circumferential sensor
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If a sensor device is arranged within a rolling element to measure locally restricted load, then the calibration process is simplified through pre-calibration, but the measurement coverage is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The second sensor device embedded in the rolling element provides feedback on the actual contact load conditions during operation. By comparing the measurements from both sensor devices, the system can validate and refine the calibration of the first sensor device, ensuring accurate comprehensive load measurement while maintaining the calibration simplicity of the second sensor device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two sensor devices with different measurement capabilities: the first sensor device provides comprehensive circumferential load measurement, while the second sensor device provides pre-calibrated local contact load measurement. By merging their functions and using the second device to calibrate the first, the system achieves both simplified calibration and complete measurement coverage
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a sensor arrangement for measuring the load of a rolling bearing (1) with an inner ring (4), an outer ring (2) and rolling elements (6) being arranged between the inner ring (4) and the outer ring (2), the sensor arrangement comprising at least a first sensor device (12) being arranged at the inner and/or outer ring (4, 2) and being configured to measure a load over the complete circumference of the rolling bearing (1), wherein the sensor arrangement further comprises at least a second sensor device (14) being arranged within a rolling element (16) and being configured to measure a locally restricted load of the rolling bearing (1), wherein the second sensor device (14) is pre-calibrated and is configured for calibrating the first sensor device (12).