An imaging system is for recording images of a bearing raceway and includes a platform having a surface sized to receive the bearing ring and an optical imager having a lens. A positioner secures the optical imager or a reflector oriented to reflect light to the optical imager lens and locates the optical imager lens or the reflector axially between first and second axial ends of the raceway and facing generally toward the raceway. A motor rotates the platform or the positioner relative to the other one of the platform and the positioner. A processor operates the optical imager and the motor such that the optical imager takes a series of images about the entire perimeter of the bearing raceway. The processor also indexes each image to a separate one of a plurality of arcuate segments of the raceway and constructs a panoramic image of the raceway.

Methods and systems for data collection in an environment including pumps and fans are disclosed. A monitoring system may include a data collector communicatively coupled to a plurality of input channels, wherein the input channels are communicatively coupled to sensors measuring operational parameters of a pump or fan. A data storage may store one or more frequencies related to an operation of the pump or fan, and a data acquisition circuit may interpret a plurality of detection values from the collected data. A frequency evaluation circuit may detect a signal on one of the input channels at a frequency higher than the one or more frequencies at which the pump or fan operates.

A test stand for testing a bearing with a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring includes a rotatable drive flange for driving the first bearing ring, a holding bearing for supporting the bearing and for introducing a testing force into the bearing, and a drive motor. The holding bearing includes a first support ring arranged to be secured to the second bearing ring, a second support ring secured in a rotationally fixed manner, and an intermediate ring mounted between the first support ring and the second support ring in a relatively rotatable manner. The drive motor is coupled to the intermediate ring for rotating the intermediate ring relative to the first support ring and the second support ring. The bearing may be a wheel bearing of a motor vehicle. The first bearing ring may be an inner ring and the second bearing ring may be an outer ring.

A test stand for testing a bearing with a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring includes a rotatable drive flange for driving the first bearing ring, a holding bearing for supporting the bearing and for introducing a testing force into the bearing, and a drive motor. The holding bearing includes a first support ring arranged to be secured to the second bearing ring, a second support ring secured in a rotationally fixed manner, and an intermediate ring mounted between the first support ring and the second support ring in a relatively rotatable manner. The drive motor is coupled to the intermediate ring for rotating the intermediate ring relative to the first support ring and the second support ring. The bearing may be a wheel bearing of a motor vehicle. The first bearing ring may be an inner ring and the second bearing ring may be an outer ring.

A process for determining the reliability of a sensorized bearing configured to measure load and speed is provided. The process includes the following steps. Bearing load and rotational speed are determined from data acquired from the sensorized bearing. Next, an array linking the determined load to the determined n.dm value is filled until that all available loads are parsed. Then a L10 life is determined for each load within a distribution based on the array. Finally, an overall L10 life is determined based on the Palmgren-Minor rule. The load distribution and the L10 lives a bearing reliability R for a given date is determined based on a Weibull curve and the overall L10 life.

A process for determining the reliability of a sensorized bearing configured to measure load and speed is provided. The process includes the following steps. Bearing load and rotational speed are determined from data acquired from the sensorized bearing. Next, an array linking the determined load to the determined n.dm value is filled until that all available loads are parsed. Then a L10 life is determined for each load within a distribution based on the array. Finally, an overall L10 life is determined based on the Palmgren-Minor rule. The load distribution and the L10 lives a bearing reliability R for a given date is determined based on a Weibull curve and the overall L10 life.

Systems and methods of monitoring lubrication of a gear assembly during operation of a machine provide for receiving at a control system, a signal from a sensor indicative of a value obtained by the sensor for an electrical property of a circuit crossing the gear assembly operably coupled to the machine, ascertaining whether the value for the electrical property corresponds to a warning level for a condition of the lubricant film, and outputting a control command when the value for the electrical property corresponds to the warning level for the condition of the lubricant film.

Systems and methods of monitoring lubrication of a gear assembly during operation of a machine provide for receiving at a control system, a signal from a sensor indicative of a value obtained by the sensor for an electrical property of a circuit crossing the gear assembly operably coupled to the machine, ascertaining whether the value for the electrical property corresponds to a warning level for a condition of the lubricant film, and outputting a control command when the value for the electrical property corresponds to the warning level for the condition of the lubricant film.

A method for predicting and updating gearbox lifetime expectancies is provided. The method includes: determining, by a computing system, a lifetime expectancy of a gearbox located at a first location; obtaining, by the computing system and from a computing device at the first location, sensor measurements associated with the gearbox; updating, by the computing system, the lifetime expectancy of the gearbox based on the sensor measurements; and causing, by the computing system, display of the updated lifetime expectancy of the gearbox.

A method for predicting and updating gearbox lifetime expectancies is provided. The method includes: determining, by a computing system, a lifetime expectancy of a gearbox located at a first location; obtaining, by the computing system and from a computing device at the first location, sensor measurements associated with the gearbox; updating, by the computing system, the lifetime expectancy of the gearbox based on the sensor measurements; and causing, by the computing system, display of the updated lifetime expectancy of the gearbox.