The Timken Company

The Timken Comapany

Michael L French

Ram P Samy

Orestes J Varonis

David R Leeper

Wen-Ruey Hwang

Khan M Iftekharuddin

Joseph A Talafous

Jason W Melvin

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

Bearing with sensor module

A bearing fits over the journal of a rail car axle and within an adaptor that is received within a pedestal opening of the side frame of a rail car truck. The bearing includes an outer race in the form of a double cup, an inner race in the form of two cones, and rolling elements in the form of tapered rollers. The cup and cones have raceways, and the tapered rollers are arranged in two rows between the raceways. Seals close the ends of the bearing, establishing dynamic fluid barriers around wear rings that encircle the journal beyond both ends of the bearing. The bearing between its two rows of tapered rollers contains a generator for producing electrical energy.

Antifriction bearing capable of generating electrial energy

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Uniontown, OH, United States of America

Michael L French