General Electric Company

Ntn Corporation

Ted E Bailey

Anthony Paul Greenwood

John R Miller

Paul C Daiber

Peter M Eich

A method for determining real time load values experienced by a bearing includes providing a bearing with an inner race, an outer race, and a plurality of rolling elements disposed therebetween. Mounting a plurality of strain gages to the bearing, and collecting data of the strains measured under a plurality of known load conditions. Correlating the strains measured at each strain gage position to the load at that position for each of the plurality of load conditions to develop a first equation for each strain gage position defining the load as a function of the strain measured. Mounting the bearing to a machine, using the machine under loaded conditions, and collecting the strain gage data produced. Using the equations for each strain gage position to convert the strain measured into a load. Summing the loads experienced by the bearing to determine the total load being experienced by the bearing.

Real time bearing load sensing

A bearing assembly includes a split inner race disposed on a distal end of an output shaft disposed coaxially about an input shaft. A plurality of bearing elements are disposed around the inner race, with a stationary outer race surrounding the elements. The inner race includes a plural number A.sub.1 of radially extending splitline channels in flow communication with a circumferential splitline manifold between the inner race and the output shaft distal end. A first half of the inner race includes a plural number B.sub.1 of radially extending first channels disposed in flow communication with a circumferential first manifold defined between the inner race first half and the output shaft distal end for channeling oil to the cage. The output shaft distal end includes a number A.sub.2 of axial splitline feed groves joined in flow communication with a respective number of radial splitline feed holes therein for channeling oil to the splitline maniflod, and a number B.sub.2 of axial first-manifold feed grooves joined in flow communication with a respective number of radial first-manifold feed holes therein for channeling oil to the first manifold. The numbers A.sub.2 and B.sub.2 are less than A.sub.1 and B.sub.1, respectively.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Ted E Bailey