Example capacitive-sensing rotary encoders and methods are disclosed herein. An example apparatus includes a rotary encoder structured to be mounted to a motor, the rotary encoder including a plurality of circumferential capacitive sensor arrays, each of the plurality of capacitive sensor arrays having an output representing a binary bit of a rotary encoder output, the rotary encoder output changing as a conductor rotates responsive to a rotatable shaft of the motor relative to the rotary encoder.

A combined electrical insulator and conductor assembly for a bearing disposable between a shaft and a housing includes an annular insulator disposable about the bearing outer ring and configured to prevent electric current flow between the outer ring and the housing and including a plurality of projections extending axially along and spaced circumferentially about a centerline. A conductor includes a conductive disk with an outer radial end engageable with the housing inner surface, an inner radial end defining a central opening for receiving the shaft and openings each receiving a separate one of the plurality of projections of the insulator such that the disk is axially displaceable relative to the insulator. An annular conductive brush subassembly is coupled with the conductive disk and includes a plurality of electrically conductive fibers contactable with the shaft outer surface so as to provide a conductive path between the shaft and the disk.

Provided is a system for real-time condition diagnosis of a bearing module including a self-power generation module installed in an outer ring of a bearing to generate electricity using vibration generated from a micro whirling motion of the bearing, a behavior detection unit installed in the bearing to detect behavior information of the bearing in real time, a wireless transmission module connected to the behavior detection unit to transmit the real-time detected behavior information of the bearing to an external device, and a condition diagnosis unit that receives the behavior information of the bearing transmitted from the wireless transmission module and diagnoses condition of the bearing in real time, wherein the real-time behavior information of the behavior detection unit installed in the bearing is transmitted through the electricity obtained by the self-power generation module.

A wheelset bearing for a rail vehicle has a generator which is designed as a claw-pole generator, which includes at least one non-rotating claw ring, as well as a sensor system supplied with electrical energy by the generator The sensor system has a plurality of sensor system modules which are at least partially fastened to a sensor carrier placed on the claw ring and which are connected to a common data line.

A wheelset bearing for a rail vehicle has a generator which is designed as a claw-pole generator, which includes at least one non-rotating claw ring, as well as a sensor system supplied with electrical energy by the generator The sensor system has a plurality of sensor system modules which are at least partially fastened to a sensor carrier placed on the claw ring and which are connected to a common data line.

A bearing apparatus supports a rotating body with a bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rolling element. The bearing apparatus includes a power generator including a Peltier element variable in amount of power generation depending on a temperature difference between the inner ring and the outer ring caused in the bearing and an abnormality sensing apparatus that senses abnormality of the bearing based on the amount of power generation by the power generator. Preferably, the abnormality sensing apparatus senses abnormality of the bearing based on any of the amount of power generation by the power generator, a time derivative value of the amount of power generation, and following relation between the amount of power generation and another parameter. The bearing apparatus and a spacer in which abnormality of the bearing can accurately be sensed early are thus provided.

A bearing apparatus supports a rotating body with a bearing including an inner ring, an outer ring, and a rolling element. The bearing apparatus includes a power generator including a Peltier element variable in amount of power generation depending on a temperature difference between the inner ring and the outer ring caused in the bearing and an abnormality sensing apparatus that senses abnormality of the bearing based on the amount of power generation by the power generator. Preferably, the abnormality sensing apparatus senses abnormality of the bearing based on any of the amount of power generation by the power generator, a time derivative value of the amount of power generation, and following relation between the amount of power generation and another parameter. The bearing apparatus and a spacer in which abnormality of the bearing can accurately be sensed early are thus provided.

A sensorized rolling element for a bearing having inner and outer races and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races and includes a rolling element body having an interior surface defining a cavity, the body being disposable between the inner race and the outer race. A wireless transmitter is disposed within the cavity of the rolling element body and a piezoelectric device is disposed within the cavity so as to contact the inner surface of the rolling element body. The piezoelectric device includes a body formed of piezoelectric material and at least two electrodes electrically coupling the piezoelectric body with the wireless transmitter. The piezoelectric device is configured to generate electrical charge for powering the transmitter when the rolling element body deflects under loading applied by the inner race and/or outer race and may also be used to detect loading on the rolling element body.

A sensorized rolling element for a bearing having inner and outer races and a plurality of rolling elements disposed between the inner and outer races and includes a rolling element body having an interior surface defining a cavity, the body being disposable between the inner race and the outer race. A wireless transmitter is disposed within the cavity of the rolling element body and a piezoelectric device is disposed within the cavity so as to contact the inner surface of the rolling element body. The piezoelectric device includes a body formed of piezoelectric material and at least two electrodes electrically coupling the piezoelectric body with the wireless transmitter. The piezoelectric device is configured to generate electrical charge for powering the transmitter when the rolling element body deflects under loading applied by the inner race and/or outer race and may also be used to detect loading on the rolling element body.

Wear detection in a plain bearing is proposed, with a first component comprising at least one sliding element of plastics material, which has a sliding surface for mobile guidance of a second component relative to the first component. The first component, in particular the sliding element, has a device for detecting wear in a critical region of the sliding element, in particular at the sliding surface thereof, with a transponder and with a detector element which cooperates with the transponder and is arranged on the sliding element. The detector element changes the behavior of the transponder when a predetermined degree of wear is reached in the critical region of the plastics sliding element, such that the wear-induced change is wirelessly detectable. The system and detection method are particularly advantageous for plain bearings for a lubricant-free bearing arrangement.