Load measuring apparatus
AssigneeUtah Development Company
InventorsWilliam R. B. Morrison, Richard F. Beale
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is provided load measuring apparatus for determining loads applied to a rolling element bearing. A rolling element of such a bearing is provided with a substantially centrally disposed cavity within which is supported sensing means adapted to monitor a dimension of said cavity. When a bearing is loaded, the rolling elements will distort and the applied load is a function of the amount of distortion of the rolling elements. The load measuring apparatus is calibrated to provide the load from the output of the sensing means.
Claims16
A method of determining the load applied to a rolling element of a bearing assembly of the type having a plurality of rolling elements located in operative spaced arrangement between oppositely arranged bearing rails by a cage assembly, said method comprising the steps of:
- arranging in the bearing assembly a rolling element having a cavity disposed substantially centrally therein;
- providing support means fixed to the cage assembly to extend into said cavity;
- operatively supporting sensing means on said support means to monitor a dimension of said cavity which varies with variations in the load applied to said bearing assembly, said sensing means being restrained by said support means for movement substantially in the direction of said monitored dimension;
- and
- providing communication means associated with said sensing means and adapted to provide said monitored dimension in a form interpretable as the load applied to said rolling element.
In a rolling element having a cavity formed substantially centrally therewithin and comprising one of a plurality of rolling elements co-operating with oppositely arranged raceways to form a rolling element bearing assembly;
- measuring apparatus for determining the load applied to said one rolling element, including sensing means adapted to be supported in said cavity to monitor a dimension of the cavity which varies with variations in the load applied to said bearing assembly and communication means operatively associated with said sensing means in such manner as to provide said monitored dimension in a form interpretable as the load applied to said one rolling element.
A roller bearing assembly comprising a plurality of rolling elements supported between oppositely arranged raceways and including one said rolling element having a substantially centrally disposed cavity;
- sensing means supported within said cavity to monitor the dimension of said cavity which varies with variations in the load applied to said bearing assembly, and communication means operatively associated with said sensing means and adapted to provide said monitored dimension in a form interpretable as the load applied to said rolling element.
A machine having an upper body and a lower body supported for relative rotation about a substantially vertical axis by means of a slew bearing assembly, the latter comprising a plurality of rolling elements supported between oppositely arranged raceways and including one said rolling element having a substantially centrally disposed cavity, and sensing means supported within said cavity to monitor the dimension of said cavity which varies with variations in the load applied to said bearing assembly, and communication means operatively associated with said sensing means and adapted to provide said monitored dimension in a form interpretable as the load applied to said rolling element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.