Method and system for monitoring bearings

A system for monitoring die condition of a bearing mounted at one end on a rotating shaft, the system comprising:

• (a) a vibration sensor mounted at the other end of the rotating shaft but proximate thereto, the vibration sensor being capable of obtaining a broadband signal having frequencies that include a bearing defect peak of the monitored bearing;
• and
• (b) a vibration monitor that is capable of:
• (1) collecting the broadband signal from the vibration sensor;
• (2) analyzing the broadband signal to identify the presence of the bearing defect peak;
• and
• (3) if the bearing defect peak is present, quantifying the amplitude of the bearing defect peak to determine whether degradation of the monitored bearing has at least reached a threshold criteria previously established.

Software for use in a computerized system for monitoring the condition of a bearing mounted at one end on a rotating shaft, the system including a vibration sensor mounted at the other end of the rotating shaft but proximate thereto, the vibration sensor being capable of obtaining a broadband signal having frequencies that include a bearing defect peak of the monitored bearing and a vibration monitor capable of installing and utilizing the software:

• the software being capable, when installed on the vibration monitor, of:
• (a) collecting the broadband signal from the vibration sensor;
• (b) analyzing the broadband signal to identify the presence of the bearing defect peak;
• and
• (c) if the bearing defect peak is present, quantifying the amplitude of the bearing defect peak to determine whether degradation of the monitored bearing has at least reached a threshold criteria previously established.