# US 10,767,703 B2 · Roller with integrated load detection > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,767,703 B2 - Document ID: US10767703B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/211,845 - Filed: 2018-12-06 - Published: 2019-07-04 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-03 - Assignees: Aktiebolaget Skf - Applicants: Aktiebolaget SKF - Inventors: Nicolaas Simon Willem Den Haak; Gertjan van Amerongen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10767703B2 ## CPC - F16C 19/522: {related to load on the bearing, e.g. bearings with load sensors or means to protect the bearing against overload} - F16C 41/008: {Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means} - B65G 43/02: detecting dangerous physical condition of load carriers, e.g. for interrupting the drive in the event of overheating - F16C 19/361: {with cylindrical rollers} - F16C 33/34: Rollers; Needles - F16C 33/366: {Tapered rollers, i.e. rollers generally shaped as truncated cones} - G01B 7/14: for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B7/30 takes precedence) - G01B 7/24: using change in magnetic properties - G01L 5/0009: {Force sensors associated with a bearing (testing of bearings G01M13/04)} - F16C 19/386: {in O-arrangement} - F16C 2233/00: Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration - G01G 23/005: {Means for preventing overload} - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D) - 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) - G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16) ## Abstract A sensorized roller of a bearing, the sensorized roller having a sensor module located within an axially extending hollow cylindrical bore. The sensor module is equipped with one or more deformation sensors for detecting deformation of the roller bore due to a radial load acting on the roller. The sensor module comprises a rigid housing that is shaped to fit inside the roller bore and is mounted to the roller bore with a small radial clearance between an outer cylindrical surface of the housing an inner cylindrical surface of the bore. Each of the one or more deformation sensors is formed by a proximity sensor that is accommodated at the outer cylindrical surface of the housing. A sensing element of the proximity sensor faces the inner cylindrical surface of the roller bore and measures a radial gap therebetween; the radial gap being indicative of bore deformation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensorized roller of a bearing, the sensorized roller comprising: a hollow bore extending in an axial direction of the roller; a sensor module being arranged within the roller bore, the sensor module comprising: at least one deformation sensor for detecting deformation of the roller bore due to a radial load acting on the roller, and a rigid housing that is shaped to fit inside the roller bore and is mounted within the inside of the roller bore having a small radial clearance between an outer cylindrical surface of the housing an inner cylindrical surface of the roller bore, the rigid housing comprising first and second rigid housing axial ends with a main cylindrical body extending therebetween, the main cylindrical body has a first outer diameter which is constant therealong, the main cylindrical body having an outer cylindrical surface, the at least one deformation sensor being located on the outer cylindrical surface, wherein each of the at least one deformation sensor is formed as a proximity sensor such that a sensing element of the proximity sensor faces a radially inner surface of the roller bore and measures a radial gap therebetween. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, further comprising a processor carried within the sensor module housing, wherein the processor operates programming for calculating the radial load acting on the roller; and an antenna carried within the sensor module housing, wherein the antenna supports wireless transmission of the calculated radial load; and an energy source carried within the sensor module housing, wherein the energy source supplies electrical power to the processor, antenna and each proximity sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein each proximity sensor is formed by one of a capacitive sensor, and optical sensor and an inductive sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the sensor module is radially supported within the roller bore by an axially spaced first resilient element and an axially spaced second resilient element, each of the axially spaced first resilient element and the axially spaced second resilient element are made from a compliant material that takes up deformation of the before and wherein the axially spaced first resilient element and the axially spaced second resilient element prevents contact between the bore and the outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The sensorized roller according to claim 4, wherein the axially spaced first resilient element and the axially spaced second resilient element are annular elements which fully enclose and seal an annular gap between the roller bore and the outer surface of the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, the housing of the sensor module further comprises a first end cap and a second end cap, wherein each of the first end cap and the second end cap have a flange part that bears against a recess provided in the corresponding first end face and the corresponding second end face of the roller, so as to axially locate the sensor module relative to the roller bore. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sensorized roller according to claim 6, wherein the housing comprises two semi-cylindrical housing portions which are joined together. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sensorized roller according to claim 7, wherein the first axial end and the second axial end of the semi-cylindrical housing portions are provided with an external thread, wherein the first end cap and the second end cap are provided with a cooperating internal thread. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises two semi-cylindrical housing portions that are joined together. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the sensorized roller is integrated into a bearing. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the first and second end cap each have a second outer diameter, the second outer diameter being greater than the first outer diameter such that the at least one deformation sensor is spaced from the radially inner surface of the roller bore. ### Claim 12 A sensorized roller of a bearing, the sensorized roller comprising: a hollow bore extending in an axial direction of the roller; a sensor module being arranged within the roller bore, the sensor module comprising: at least one deformation sensor for detecting deformation of the roller bore due to a radial load acting on the roller, and a rigid housing that is shaped to fit inside the roller bore and is mounted within the inside of the roller bore having a small radial clearance between an outer cylindrical surface of the housing an inner cylindrical surface of the roller bore, wherein each of the at least one deformation sensor is formed as a proximity sensor that is accommodated at the outer cylindrical surface of the housing such that a sensing element of the proximity sensor faces a radially inner surface of the roller bore and measures a radial gap therebetween, a processor carried within the sensor module housing, wherein the processor operates programming for calculating the radial load acting on the roller; and an antenna carried within the sensor module housing, wherein the antenna supports wireless transmission of the calculated radial load; an energy source carried within the sensor module housing, wherein the energy source supplies electrical power to the processor, antenna and each proximity sensor, the sensor module further comprising at least one pair of a first proximity sensor and a second proximity sensor, wherein the first proximity sensor and the second proximity sensor are arranged diametrically opposite from each other around a center axis of the sensor module, wherein the processor operates to calculate the radial load acting on the roller based on the radial gap measured by each proximity sensor of the sensor pair. ### Claim 13 A sensorized roller of a bearing, the sensorized roller comprising: a hollow bore extending in an axial direction of the roller; a sensor module being arranged within the roller bore, the sensor module comprising: at least one deformation sensor for detecting deformation of the roller bore due to a radial load acting on the roller, and a rigid housing that is shaped to fit inside the roller bore and is mounted within the inside of the roller bore having a small radial clearance between an outer cylindrical surface of the housing an inner cylindrical surface of the roller bore, wherein each of the at least one deformation sensor is formed as a proximity sensor that is accommodated at the outer cylindrical surface of the housing such that a sensing element of the proximity sensor faces a radially inner surface of the roller bore and measures a radial gap therebetween, wherein each proximity sensor is an inductive sensor and comprises a circular coil arranged at the outer surface of the sensor module housing, each proximity sensor is formed by one of a capacitive sensor, and optical sensor and an inductive sensor.