Seal and Bearing Assembly with Integrated Sensor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing seal technologies weaken structural components when bores or grooves are created for temperature and pressure sensors, and they are costly to form, especially in hardened bearing rings, while also failing to maintain component integrity and simplify sensor application.

Innovation Solution

A seal device with a sensor integrated into the seal itself, made from a softer material than the components, which can be attached via a support structure or adapter component, allowing for easier installation and maintaining component stability, and optionally includes a sensor opening for connecting to a power supply or evaluation unit.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If bores or grooves are created in bearing rings for sensor attachment, then temperature and pressure can be measured, but the structural strength and integrity of the component are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature and pressure measurementVSAvoidstructural strength of bearing ring

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

A seal made of softer material serves as an intermediary carrier for the sensor. The seal is attached to the bearing ring and provides a mounting surface for the sensor without requiring bores or grooves in the hardened bearing ring itself, thus preserving the structural integrity of the bearing ring while enabling temperature and pressure measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor mounting function is segmented from the bearing ring structure and transferred to the seal component. This allows the sensor to be attached to the seal rather than the bearing ring, eliminating the need to compromise the bearing ring's structural strength while maintaining measurement capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If bores or grooves are formed in hardened bearing rings for sensor attachment, then sensors can be installed, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature and pressure measurementVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The seal acts as an intermediary that simplifies sensor attachment. Instead of performing complex boring or grooving operations in hardened bearing rings, the sensor is simply attached to the seal which can be made from softer, more easily workable material, significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal serves as a sacrificial or replaceable component that carries the sensor. Rather than permanently modifying expensive bearing rings, the sensor attachment is moved to the seal which can be more easily manufactured and replaced if needed, reducing overall manufacturing costs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Measurement precision

If sensors are attached directly to bearing components, then temperature and pressure can be detected, but the component integrity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature and pressure detectionVSAvoidcomponent integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The seal serves as a mediator between the sensor and the bearing components. The sensor is attached to the seal rather than directly to the bearing ring or other critical components, preserving component integrity while enabling reliable temperature and pressure detection through the seal's softer material structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution allows for effective temperature and pressure measurement between components without compromising structural integrity, reduces the need for modifying components, and simplifies sensor attachment, while also preventing fluid leakage and particle intrusion.

Implementation Method 1

The seal (1) is configured to seal a gap (3) between a first component (4) and a second component (5) in order to at least partially retain a fluid located between the first component (4) and the second component (5)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

A sensor (6, 29) is disposed on the seal (1) and is configured to detect a temperature and/or a pressure in a bearing interior

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 3

A sensor (6, 29) is disposed on the seal (1) and is configured to detect a temperature and/or a pressure in a bearing interior

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS9851273B2Seal and bearing assembly including the seal

Publication Date: 2017.12.26 AB SKF SKF PATENT DEPARTMENT

AI summary

A seal configured to seal a gap between a first component and a second component to at least partially retain a fluid on a first side of the seal in a space between the first component and the second component, the seal including a seal body having a radially outer periphery and a central opening configured to receive the first component or the second component, at least one sensor configured to detect a characteristic of the fluid and an adapter. The at least one sensor is disposed on the adapter, and the adapter has a first portion extending through the seal body at a location spaced from and radially between the radially outer periphery and the central opening and a second portion axially abutting the seal body on the first side of the seal.