# US 11,306,775 B2 · Load sensing bearing with integrated sensor module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,306,775 B2 - Document ID: US11306775B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/986,050 - Filed: 2020-08-05 - Published: 2021-02-11 - Granted: 2022-04-19 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-06 - Assignees: Regal Beloit America, Inc. - Applicants: Regal Beloit America, Inc. - Inventors: Carl Riedel; Scott Phillips; Kim Hoffmann; Matthew Campbell; Michael Peschke - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11306775B2 ## 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 43/04: Assembling rolling-contact bearings - F16C 35/047: {with a base plate substantially parallel to the axis of rotation, e.g. horizontally mounted pillow blocks} - F16C 41/008: {Identification means, e.g. markings, RFID-tags; Data transfer means} - G01L 5/0004: {Force transducers adapted for mounting in a bore of the force receiving structure (G01L5/0009 takes precedence)} - G01L 5/0019: {by using strain gages, piezoelectric, piezo-resistive or other ohmic-resistance based sensors} - G01M 13/045: Acoustic or vibration analysis - F16C 23/086: {forming a track for rolling elements} - F16C 2233/00: Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - 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 A bearing assembly may include an integral sensor module retained within a bore in the bearing housing. The sensor module includes at least one strain gauge oriented to sense a compressive load acting on the bearing housing. The sensor module may be retained within the bore under an axial compressive load. The sensor module may include a power source and a wired or wireless communications module for transmitting information indicative of the compressive load to an external instrument or other system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A load-sensing bearing assembly, comprising: a bearing housing; a bearing element retained within the bearing housing; a sensor bore formed in the bearing housing, the bore located between the bearing element and a mounting face of the bearing housing; a sensor module disposed within the bore, the sensor module comprising: a sensor pin dimensioned to fit within the sensor bore; and a strain gauge supported by the sensor pin and oriented to provide an indication of a compressive load acting on the bearing assembly. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein a portion of the bearing housing extending between the sensor bore and the bearing element is a contiguous structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the bearing assembly comprises at least one retention mechanism configured to maintain an axial compressive load on the sensor pin when the sensor pin is disposed within the sensor bore. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The assembly of claim 3, wherein the sensor pin has a tapered outer profile. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor pin comprises at least one generally planar mounting surface, and wherein the strain gauge is mounted on the generally planar mounting surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the strain gauge comprises a plurality of elongate traces oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to a rotational axis of the bearing element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor bore extends in a direction substantially parallel to a rotational axis of the bearing element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor module further comprises: a controller configured to condition a signal from the strain gauge; a power source; and a communications module. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8, wherein the communications module comprises a wireless communications module. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor module further comprises a second strain gauge oriented to be unresponsive to a compressive load acting on the bearing assembly. ### Claim 11 A sensor module configured to be integrally installed in a sensor bore in a sensor housing, the sensor module comprising: a sensor pin extending along a longitudinal axis; a mounting surface; a strain gauge supported by the mounting surface and comprising a plurality of elongate traces oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sensor pin, the strain gauge configured to provide an output of a compressive load acting on the sensor pin in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bearing; a power source; and a communications module configured to transmit information indicative of the compressive load acting on the sensor pin. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The sensor module of claim 11, wherein the mounting surface comprises a generally planar mounting surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The sensor module of claim 11, wherein the sensor pin has a tapered outer profile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The sensor module of claim 11, wherein the communications module comprises a wireless communications module. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The sensor module of claim 11, wherein the sensor module further comprises a second strain gauge oriented to be unresponsive to a compressive load acting on the sensor pin in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bearing, the second strain gauge comprising a plurality of elongated traces oriented in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sensor pin. ### Claim 16 A method of integrally installing a sensor module into a bearing assembly, the bearing assembly comprising a bearing housing, a bearing element retained within the bearing housing, and a sensor bore formed in the bearing housing, the method comprising: inserting a sensor module into the sensor bore in the bearing housing, the sensor module comprising: a sensor pin dimensioned to fit within the sensor bore; and a strain gauge supported by the sensor pin and oriented to provide an indication of a compressive load acting on the bearing assembly; and securing the sensor module in place within the sensor bore. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein inserting the sensor module into the sensor bore in the bearing housing is performed while the bearing assembly is secured to a mounting surface. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein inserting the sensor module into the sensor bore in the bearing housing is performed while the bearing assembly is in operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, additionally comprising forming the sensor bore in the bearing housing of an installed bearing assembly prior to inserting the sensor module into the sensor bore in the bearing housing. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein securing the sensor module in place within the sensor bore comprises securing the sensor module in place using a securement mechanism such that the sensor pin is under an axial compressive load. ### Claim 21 A method of installing a bearing assembly comprising an integral sensor module, the method comprising: uninstalling an existing bearing assembly from a mounting surface, the existing bearing assembly comprising a bearing element configured to support a shaft at a first distance from the mounting surface; installing a replacement bearing assembly on the mounting surface, the replacement bearing assembly comprising: a bearing housing; a bearing element retained within the bearing housing and configured to support the shaft at the same first distance from the mounting surface as the existing bearing assembly; and a sensor aperture extending into the bearing housing, the sensor aperture located between the bearing element and the mounting surface; and inserting a sensor module into the sensor aperture in the bearing housing, the sensor module comprising: a sensor pin dimensioned to fit within the sensor aperture; and a strain gauge supported by the sensor pin and oriented to provide an indication of a compressive load acting on the replacement bearing assembly; and securing the sensor module in place within the sensor aperture such that the sensor pin is under an axial compressive load. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the sensor module is inserted into the replacement bearing assembly prior to the installation of the replacement bearing assembly on the mounting surface. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, additionally comprising inserting the shaft into the replacement bearing assembly, wherein the sensor module is inserted into the replacement bearing assembly after the shaft has been inserted into the replacement bearing assembly. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the shaft supports a rotating biological collector.