Method and apparatus for bearing thrust monitoring
AssigneeFLSmidth Sioux City, Inc.
InventorWalter M. Gebhart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for bearing thrust monitoring allows measurable detection of tilt of a support bearing a roller which rotatably supports a rotating body. A tilt meter adapted to measurably detect a tilt of the support bearing is coupled to the support bearing, where the tilt is defined as an angular difference in bearing orientation between a first bearing position and a second subsequent bearing position that is cause by an axial thrust on the rotary body. Once tilt is detected, the bearing orientation of the support bearing can be adjusted to return the support bearing to substantially the first bearing position.
Claims20
A system for monitoring skew of rollers supporting a rotary body, the system comprising:
- a tilt sensor configured to be mounted to a bearing structure for a first roller of the rollers in a manner that does not modify the bearing structure, wherein the bearing structure is selected from the group consisting of a bearing for the first roller, a housing assembly of the bearing, and a support frame for the bearing;
- and
- a processor configured to communicate with the tilt sensor, and further configured to monitor angular differences in bearing orientations with the tilt sensor, wherein each of the bearing orientations is about a vertical axis between a first position of the bearing and a second subsequent position of the bearing that is caused by an axial thrust load on the rotary body.
A method for monitoring skew of rollers supporting a rotary body, the method comprising:
- mounting a tilt sensor to a bearing structure for a first roller of the rollers in a manner that does not modify the bearing structure, wherein the bearing structure is selected from the group consisting of a bearing for the first roller, a housing assembly of the bearing, and a support frame for the bearing;
- and
- measurably detecting angular difference in bearing orientation with the tilt sensor about a vertical axis between a first position of the bearing and a second subsequent position of the bearing that is caused by an axial thrust load on the rotary body.
A method for reducing skew of rollers supporting a rotary body, the method comprising:
- mounting a tilt sensor to a bearing structure for a first roller of the rollers in a manner that does not modify the bearing structure, wherein the bearing structure is selected from the group consisting of a bearing for the first roller, a housing assembly of the bearing, and a support frame for the bearing;
- measuring a first inclination of the bearing with the tilt sensor;
- generating an axial thrust load on the rotary body;
- measuring a second inclination of the bearing with the tilt sensor while generating the axial thrust load on the rotary body;
- and
- performing a skew adjustment on the first roller to reduce a difference between the first inclination and the second inclination.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.