# US 2021/0277945 A1 · Sensorized roller for a bearing having integrated energy harvesting device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0277945 A1 - Document ID: US20210277945A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/131,173 - Filed: 2020-12-22 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-03 - Assignees: Aktiebolaget Skf - Applicants: Aktiebolaget Skf - Inventors: Nicolaas Simon Willem Den Haak; Andreas Clemens van der Ham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210277945A1 ## CPC - F16C 41/004: {Electro-dynamic machines, e.g. motors, generators, actuators} - F16C 19/527: {related to vibration and noise} - F16C 33/34: Rollers; Needles - F16C 41/007: {Encoders, e.g. parts with a plurality of alternating magnetic poles} - H02K 7/08: Structural association with bearings - H02K 7/1807: {Rotary generators (H02K7/006 takes precedence)} - F16C 19/26: with a single row of rollers - F16C 2233/00: Monitoring condition, e.g. temperature, load, vibration - F16C 2326/10: Railway vehicles - H02K 7/1846: {structurally associated with wheels or associated parts (dynamos arranged in the wheel hub of cycles B62J6/12)} - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) ## Abstract A sensorized roller for a bearing includes a bore that extends through the roller, a sensor for measuring at least one physical state of the roller bore and producing a first signal indicative of the measured physical state, a wireless transmitter for receiving the first signal from the sensor and wirelessly transmitting a second signal based on the first signal, and a generator configured to be rotated by a movement of the roller, the generator being electrically connected to the sensor. The measuring unit, the wireless transmitter and the generator are located inside the bore. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sensorized roller for a bearing comprising: a bore that extends through the roller, a measuring unit for measuring at least one physical state of the roller bore and producing a signal indicative of the measured physical state, a processor for receiving the signal from the measuring unit and transmitting said signal to an external receiver, and energy harvesting means for generating power from movement of the roller and providing the power to the measuring unit, wherein the measuring unit, the processor and the energy harvesting means are located in an insert mounted inside the bore. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting means comprises an electrical generator having an axis of rotation along a longitudinal axis of roller bore, the generator being configured to produce energy from rotation of said sensorized roller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The sensorized roller according to claim 2, wherein the electrical generator comprises an eccentric mass rigidly fixed to a main shaft extending along the axis, a rotor fixed to said shaft and stator coils mounted in a stator rigidly fixed inside the insert and configured to be rotated by the rotation of the sensorized roller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sensorized roller according to claim 3, wherein the rotor is directly fixed to the main shaft. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The sensorized roller according to claim 3, wherein the rotor is coupled to the main shaft through at least two gear wheels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the energy harvesting means comprises energy harvesting electronics connected to the stator coils. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sensorized roller according to claim 6, wherein the energy harvesting means comprises at least one battery and/or capacitor configured to provide electrical power to the measuring unit and to be charged by the energy harvesting electronics. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the roller includes axial end walls and wherein the insert does not axially extend beyond the end walls of the roller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the insert is made of plastic. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A bearing having a rotational axis and comprising: an inner ring, an outer ring, and a row of rollers mounted radially between the inner ring and the outer ring, wherein at least one of the rollers comprises the sensorized roller according to claim 1. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein the measuring unit comprises a sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The sensorized roller according to claim 1, wherein said processor includes a wireless transmitter. ### Claim 13 A sensorized roller for a bearing comprising: a bore that extends through the roller, a sensor for measuring at least one physical state of the roller bore and producing a first signal indicative of the measured physical state, a wireless transmitter for receiving the first signal from the sensor and wirelessly transmitting a second signal based on the first signal, and a generator configured to be rotated by a movement of the roller, the generator being electrically connected to the sensor, wherein the measuring unit, the wireless transmitter and the generator are located inside the bore. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The sensorized roller according to claim 13, including a processor configured to receive the first signal from the sensor and to send the second signal to the wireless transmitter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The sensorized roller according to claim 13, wherein the measuring unit, the wireless transmitter and the generator are located in an insert housing and the insert housing is mounted in the bore. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The sensorized roller according to claim 15, wherein the generator comprises: a stator fixed relative to the roller, a shaft extending along a rotational axis of the roller and into the stator, the shaft being mounted for rotation relative to the roller, an eccentric mass mounted to the shaft, and a rotor mounted on the shaft inside the stator. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The sensorized roller according to claim 15, wherein the generator comprises: a first shaft extending along a rotational axis of the roller and being mounted for rotation relative to the roller, an eccentric mass mounted to the shaft, a first gear mounted on the shaft for rotation with the shaft, a stator fixed relative to the roller, a rotor mounted on a second shaft inside the stator, the second shaft being radially spaced from the first shaft, and a second gear on the second shaft, the second gear engaging the first gear. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) A bearing having a rotational axis and comprising: an inner ring, an outer ring, and a plurality of rollers mounted radially between the inner ring and the outer ring, wherein at least one of the rollers comprises the sensorized roller according to claim 13.