The Timken Company

David R Leeper

Graham F McDearmon

Doug H Smith

Michael L French

Wen-Ruey Hwang

Ram P Samy

Surrendra Singh

Khan M Iftekharuddin

David H Walter

Rosendo Fuquen

A ring load cell configured to measure force, moment, and temperature components in an orthogonal three-axis coordinate system. The ring-load-cell structure consists of two annular flanges having a common central axis through which a shaft may be disposed. The annular flanges are interconnected by a plurality of filleted posts configured to enhance strain distribution and which are disposed parallel to the common central axis, equally spaced about the circumference of the annular flanges. A plurality of strain gauges is disposed either on the posts or on fillets, and a plurality of temperature sensors is disposed either on the posts or on the inner surfaces of the annular flanges. Signals from the strain gauges and temperature sensors are processed to provide thermally compensated strain measurements of the applied forces and moments on the ring-load-cell structure in the orthogonal three-axis coordinate system.

Multiaxis ring load cell

A tapered roller bearing having its rollers arranged in two rows within an outer race and around an inner race contains a sensing device that radiates signals which reflect conditions within the bearing. In one embodiment, the outer race is unitary and the sensing device is wireless and self-powered and includes a mounting ring that is fitted to the outer race between the raceways along which the rollers roll. The ring has embedded within it several sensors for monitoring bearing conditions such as temperature and vibrations. The ring also contains a radio transmitter, a microprocessor to which the sensors are connected, and a power supply for producing the electrical energy required to operate the processor and the transmitter. The electric power is generated by means of electromechanical energy conversion using permanent magnets, armature winding and a target wheel that is captured between and rotates with the two cones. The transmitter converts conditions registered by the sensors and processed by the processor into radio signals which are received externally from the bearing. In another embodiment the unitary outer race has a groove which opens inwardly between the two rows of rollers, and the sensors, radio transmitter, processor, and power supply are located within the groove. In other embodiments the inner race is unitary and the sensors, radio transmitter, processor and power supply are carried by the inner race.

Bearing with wireless self-powered sensor unit

The depth of a case on a specimen of case-carburized steel is measured by launching an acoustic wave along the surface of the specimen such that the wave passes through the case, and measuring the velocity of that wave within the specimen. From an existing correlation of velocity and case depth for the very same core steel as the specimen, one finds the case depth which corresponds to the measured velocity, and that is the case depth of the specimen.

Process for measuring the case depth of case-carburized steel

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Canton, OH, United States of America

David R Leeper