A method for monitoring a condition of a sliding bearing operated with lubricating oil for a rotating component includes calculating, by a control unit as an output variable of a sliding bearing model, a calculated value of a minimum gap thickness of the sliding bearing. The calculated value is calculated by orbit analysis from at least one physical sliding bearing model to which at least a rotational speed of the rotating component, a bearing load, and a temperature of the sliding bearing are supplied as input variables. The method further includes measuring, with at least one sensor, a minimum gap thickness to provide a measured value of the minimum gap thickness, and comparing the measured value of the minimum gap thickness with the calculated value of the minimum gap thickness for the purpose of adjustment.

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 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 method for sensing damage of bearing of engine using a vibration signal may include separating a vibration signal of an engine sensed by a vibration sensor installed at one side of the engine of a vehicle into a vibration signal by combustion knocking and a vibration signal of a bearing installed between a crank pin and a connecting rod; extracting, by a signal processing filter, a signal of a predetermined natural frequency band from the vibration signal of the bearing; determining whether the vibration signal of the bearing is higher than a predetermined bearing damage threshold, in a predetermined engine state condition in order to sense breakage of the bearing during operation of the engine; and confirming that the bearing has been damaged.

A vibration measurement and analysis system identifies faulty bearings in a machine based on spectral vibration data. The system includes vibration sensors attached to the machine that generate vibration signals. A vibration data collector generates vibration spectral data based on the vibration signals. The vibration spectral data comprises vibration amplitude versus frequency data that includes peak amplitudes at corresponding peak frequencies. At least some of the peak amplitudes are associated with vibration generated by the faulty bearings. A vibration analysis computer processes the vibration spectral data to (1) locate the largest peak amplitudes, (2) search a bearing fault frequency library to generate a list of identified bearings having bearing fault frequencies matching the peak frequencies of the largest peak amplitudes, (3) determine a normalized accuracy error for each of the identified bearings, and (4) select from the list one of the identified bearings having a smallest normalized accuracy error.

The invention relates to a rolling bearing with two bearing rings and rolling elements running between same, and a sensor for detecting movements and/or positions of the bearing rings relative to one another, wherein the sensor is fastened to one of the bearing rings and is directed towards a measurement surface on the other bearing ring, wherein said measurement surface comprises a contour projection projecting towards the sensor and/or a contour recess open towards the sensor in the form of a groove or blind hole, which projection or groove influences the measurement signal of the sensor and the movement of which relative to the sensor transverse to the main signal direction of the sensor modifies the measurement signal of the sensor.

A sensor bearing unit includes a bearing having a first ring and a second ring centered on an axis, an impulse ring secured to the first ring and a sensor device secured to the second ring for detecting rotational parameters of the impulse ring. The impulse ring is secured into a groove formed on a cylindrical surface of the first ring which is located radially on a side of the first ring opposite the second ring.

A sensor bearing assembly includes a bearing having an inner ring and an outer ring centered on an axis, an impulse ring secured to the outer ring of the bearing, and a sensor device for detecting rotational parameters of the impulse ring. The sensor device includes a sensor housing and at least one sensor element supported by the sensor housing and cooperating with the impulse ring. Also an annular spacer adapted to axially abut against a lateral face of the inner ring of the bearing. The sensor housing is fixedly secured to the spacer, the inner diameter of the spacer is equal to the inner diameter of the inner ring of the bearing, and the outer diameter of the impulse ring is less than or equal to the outer diameter of the outer ring of the bearing.

A sensor bearing unit includes a bearing having a first ring and a second ring centered on an axis, an impulse ring secured to the first ring of the bearing, and a sensor device for detecting rotational characteristics of the impulse ring. The sensor device includes a sensor housing secured to the second ring and at least one sensor element supported by the sensor housing and configured to cooperate with the impulse ring. The sensor housing is secured to a groove, having side walls, on a cylindrical surface of the second ring of the bearing, and the groove is located on a side of the second ring radially opposite the first ring.