Antifriction bearing capable of generating electrial energy
AssigneeThe Timken Comapany
InventorsRam P. Samy, Orestes J. Varonis, Michael L. French
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A bearing fits over the journal of a rail car axle and within an adaptor that is received within a pedestal opening of the side frame of a rail car truck. The bearing includes an outer race in the form of a double cup, an inner race in the form of two cones, and rolling elements in the form of tapered rollers. The cup and cones have raceways, and the tapered rollers are arranged in two rows between the raceways. Seals close the ends of the bearing, establishing dynamic fluid barriers around wear rings that encircle the journal beyond both ends of the bearing. The bearing between its two rows of tapered rollers contains a generator for producing electrical energy.
Claims20
A bearing for facilitating rotation about an axis and for further producing electrical energy, said bearing comprising:
- an outer race having two raceways presented inwardly toward the axis;
- an inner race having two raceways presented outwardly toward and circumscribed by the raceways of the outer race;
- rolling elements arranged in two rows between the opposed raceways of the inner and outer races, with the rolling elements of the one row being spaced from the rolling elements of the other row, whereby an annular space exists within the bearing between the two rows;
- an electrical generator in the annular space and including a stator which is fixed in position with respect to one of the races and a rotor which is fixed in position with respect to the other race, all such that when the bearing is in operation with the rotor rotating relative to the stator, the generator will produce electrical energy.
In combination with an axle that rotates about an axis and has a journal, the improvement comprising an adaptor that fits around the journal;
- an outer bearing race located in the adaptor and having a raceway presented inwardly toward the axis of the axle;
- an inner bearing race fitted over the journal and located within the outer race, the inner race having a raceway presented outwardly away from the axis, yet being within and circumscribed by the raceway of the outer race;
- rolling elements located between and contacting the raceways of the inner and outer races;
- sealing surfaces located around the journal axially beyond the rolling elements;
- seals fitted to the outer race at its ends and forming static fluid barriers there and dynamic fluid barriers around the sealing surfaces;
- and an electrical generator located within the outer race between the seals so that it is protected by the seals, the generator including a stator carried by the outer race and a rotor that rotates with the inner race.
A bearing for the journal of a rail car axle, said bearing having an axis and comprising:
- a unitary double cup having tapered raceways presented inwardly toward the axis;
- a pair of cones, each having a tapered raceway presented outwardly away from the axis, the raceway of the one cone being opposite the one raceway of the cup and the raceway of the other cone being opposite the other raceway of the cup;
- tapered rollers arranged in two rows between the opposed raceways of the cup and the cones, with the rollers of the one row being spaced axially from the rollers of the other row, whereby an annular space exists within the bearing between the two rows of rollers;
- a spacer ring located between the cones at the annular space;
- and an electrical generator located in the annular space for producing electrical energy, the generator including a stator that is carried by the cup in a fixed position with respect thereto and a rotor of which the spacer ring forms a part.
A bearing assembly for facilitating rotation about an axis, said bearing assembly comprising:
- an outer bearing race having a raceway presented inwardly toward the axis;
- an inner bearing race located within the outer race, the inner race having a raceway presented outwardly away from the axis, yet being within and circumscribed by the raceway of the outer race;
- rolling elements located between and contacting the raceways of the inner and outer races;
- sealing surfaces located around the axis axially beyond the rolling elements;
- seals fitted to the outer race at its ends and forming static fluid barriers there and dynamic fluid barriers around the sealing surfaces;
- and an electrical generator located within the outer race between the seals so that it is protected by the seals, the generator including a stator that is fixed in position with respect to one of the races and a rotor that is fixed in position with respect to the other race.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.