# US 10,371,206 B2 · Sensorized roller > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,371,206 B2 - Document ID: US10371206B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/628,809 - Filed: 2017-06-21 - Published: 2018-01-04 - Granted: 2019-08-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-06-29 - Assignees: Aktiebolaget Skf - Applicants: Aktiebolaget SKF - Inventors: Andreas Clemens van der Ham; Nicolaas Simon Willem Den Haak; Gerrit-Jan Dop; Feng Qiu; Jeroen van Diermen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371206B2 ## CPC - F16C 33/34: Rollers; Needles - F16C 19/361: {with cylindrical rollers} - F16C 19/386: {in O-arrangement} - F16C 19/522: {related to load on the bearing, e.g. bearings with load sensors or means to protect the bearing against overload} - F16C 33/366: {Tapered rollers, i.e. rollers generally shaped as truncated cones} - F16C 41/00: Other accessories, {e.g. devices integrated in the bearing not relating to the bearing function as such} - F16C 41/002: {Conductive elements, e.g. to prevent static electricity} - F16C 41/008: {Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means} - G01B 21/32: for measuring the deformation in a solid - G01L 5/0019: {by using strain gages, piezoelectric, piezo-resistive or other ohmic-resistance based sensors} - G01L 5/0028: {Force sensors associated with force applying means (G01L5/0052, G01L5/0057, G01L5/0061 take precedence)} - G01M 5/0041: {by determining deflection or stress} - F16C 19/184: {in O-arrangement} - F16C 2233/00: Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration - F16C 2240/12: Force, load, stress, pressure - F16C 2240/18: Stress - F16C 2300/14: Large applications, e.g. bearings having an inner diameter exceeding 500 mm - F16C 2360/31: Wind motors - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The present invention resides in a sensorized roller of a roller bearing. The sensorized roller includes a roller bore that accommodates a measuring device for measuring deformation of the roller bore and electronics for processing a deformation signal from the measuring device and wirelessly transmitting the processed deformation signal to an external receiver. According to the invention, the measuring device and electronics are mounted in a rigid housing that is shaped to fit within the roller bore. A radially outer surface of the housing includes at least one aperture associated with the measuring device. Furthermore, the rigid housing is resiliently mounted to the roller bore via first and second sealing elements that enclose a radial gap between a radially inner surface of the roller bore and a radially outer surface of the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensorized roller for a bearing comprising: a roller bore that extends through the roller about an axis thereof and accommodates; a measuring device for measuring deformation of the roller bore; a processor for receiving a deformation signal from the measuring device; and an antenna for wireless transmission of the processed deformation signal to an external receiver, wherein the measuring device, the processor and the antenna are mounted in a rigid housing that is shaped to fit within the roller bore, wherein the rigid housing is resiliently mounted to the roller bore via first and second sealing elements that enclose a radial gap between a radially inner surface of the roller bore and a radially outer surface of the housing, and wherein the antenna is enclosed within a hollow chamber of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the housing is fully contained within exterior dimensions of the roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises two semi-cylindrical housing portions that are joined by first and second end caps that fit over first and second axial ends of the two housing portions. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sensorized roller according to claim 3, wherein the first and second axial ends of the housing portions are provided with an external thread and the first and second end caps are provided with a cooperating internal thread. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sensorized roller according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second endcaps is provided with one of a retaining lip and a retaining recess that engages with the other of a retaining recess and a retaining lip provided in the housing portions, for preventing unscrewing of the endcap. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises one or more cantilever beams that extend in an axial direction (z) of the roller, wherein a contact element is provided on each cantilever beam that extends through an aperture in the radially outer surface of the housing and bears against the radially inner surface of the roller bore, and wherein at least one sensor is provided on each cantilever beam for measuring bending thereof, due to deflection of the beam in a radial direction (r) perpendicular to the axial direction (z). ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sensorized roller according to claim 6, wherein each cantilever beam comprises a first section that extends in axial direction (z) away from a fixed end of the beam and further comprises a second section that extends in axial direction back towards the fixed end. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises adjustment means that engages with a mounting portion associated with the measuring device and enables adjustment of the position of the measuring device in radial direction (r). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, further comprising two or more axially spaced measuring devices for measuring deformation of the roller bore at axially spaced locations. ### Claim 10 A bearing comprising: a roller having; a roller bore that extends through the roller about an axis thereof and accommodates; a measuring device for measuring deformation of the roller bore; a processor for receiving a deformation signal from the measuring device; and an antenna for wireless transmission of the processed deformation signal to an external receiver, wherein the measuring device, the processor and the antenna are mounted in a rigid housing that is shaped to fit within the roller bore, wherein the rigid housing is resiliently mounted to the roller bore via first and second sealing elements that enclose a radial gap between a radially inner surface of the roller bore and a radially outer surface of the housing, and wherein each sealing element is mounted between a stepped portion of the roller bore and a recess in the radially outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 11 A sensorized roller for a bearing comprising: a roller bore that extends through the roller about an axis thereof and accommodates; a measuring device for measuring deformation of the roller bore; a processor for receiving a deformation signal from the measuring device; and an antenna for wireless transmission of the processed deformation signal to an external receiver, wherein the measuring device, the processor and the antenna are mounted in a rigid housing that is shaped to fit within the roller bore, wherein the rigid housing is resiliently mounted to the roller bore via first and second sealing elements that enclose a radial gap between a radially inner surface of the roller bore and a radially outer surface of the housing, and wherein the measuring device comprises a non-contact proximity sensor that measures a radial distance to the radially inner surface of the roller bore and wherein the radially outer surface of the housing comprises a corresponding aperture.