A piezoelectric strain sensor unit for a rolling bearing includes a piezoelectric strain sensor, and a sensor holder provided with a main body having a front face intended to be into contact with a component of the rolling bearing and a rear face, and with at least two flexible arms mounted on the main body and supporting opposite ends of the piezoelectric strain sensor, the piezoelectric strain sensor being axially located on the side of the rear face of the main body while remaining spaced apart from the rear face. The sensor holder is provided with a central pin which protrudes axially with regard to the front face of the main body and which is axially moveable with regard the main body, the central pin axially abutting onto the piezoelectric strain sensor.

A bearing detection device comprises: a housing body (2) having a substantially annular shape, prearranged for being fixed to a stationary ring (6a) of a bearing (6); and a detection arrangement on the housing body (2), comprising at least one piezoelectric transducer (10; 20). The detection arrangement further comprises: a floating body (7) having a substantially annular shape, which is mounted within the housing body (2) and is able to amplify mechanically vibrations of the bearing (6); a sensor unit (8) having a substantially annular shape, which is set in a substantially stationary position on the housing body (2), the supporting body (81) having a detection surface (8a) that is configured for receiving thereon, directly or via interposition of at least one further element, a corresponding surface of the floating body (7). The at least one piezoelectric transducer (10; 20) defines at least part of the detection surface (8a) and is configured for generating an electrical potential difference that is substantially proportional to the magnitude of a stress or force exerted by the floating body on the at least one piezoelectric transducer (10; 20).

A sensorized supporting device for bearings (1) comprises: •a bearing housing (2), configured for being secured to a mounting structure and defining at least one seat (2c) for a bearing (3); and •a sensorized supporting base (4), having a supporting body (4′) prearranged for being at least partially positioned between the mounting structure (S) and the bearing housing (2). The supporting body (4′) has a detection surface (4c) which extends in a longitudinal direction (L) and a transverse direction (W) and is configured for resting, directly or via interposition of at least one further element, on a corresponding surface of one of the bearing housing (2) and the mounting structure, the supporting base (4) being provided with a mechanical-stress sensor. The mechanical-stress sensor comprises at least one piezoelectric transducer (10.sub.1, 10.sub.2, 20) defining at least part of the detection surface (4c), the at least one piezoelectric transducer (10; 20; 10.sub.1, 10.sub.2) being configured for generating an electrical potential difference that is substantially proportional to the magnitude of a mechanical stress (SS) applied to the bearing housing (2).

A load cell for determining a radial force acting on a crankshaft includes a receiving sleeve for receiving a ring of a bearing; a fastening ring for attaching the load cell in a transmission housing; axial support areas provided on the fastening ring for axially supporting the ring of the bearing; and measuring regions for receiving radial forces of the receiving sleeve and which connect the receiving sleeve with the fastening ring, wherein strain sensors are attached to at least two of the measuring regions; and wherein the measuring regions comprise measuring lugs formed as angle brackets.

A torque sensing assembly of a differential of an axle assembly is described in the present disclosure. The differential may include a differential housing portion, a drive pinion positioned within the differential housing portion, a ring gear, a carrier, a differential pinion, a first side gear, a second side gear, a first bearing, a first bearing support, and the torque sensing assembly. The first bearing is coupled to the differential housing portion and rotatable with the carrier. The first bearing support is coupled to the differential housing portion and used to support the first bearing. The torque sensing assembly is coupled to the first bearing support and operable to measure a characteristic resulted from a separation force created between the drive pinion and ring gear.

A piezoelectric strain sensor unit for a rolling bearing includes a piezoelectric strain sensor, and a sensor holder provided with a main body having a front face intended to be into contact with a component of the rolling bearing and a rear face, and with at least two flexible arms mounted on the main body and supporting opposite ends of the piezoelectric strain sensor, the piezoelectric strain sensor being axially located on the side of the rear face of the main body while remaining spaced apart from the rear face. The sensor holder is provided with a central pin which protrudes axially with regard to the front face of the main body and which is axially moveable with regard the main body, the central pin axially abutting onto the piezoelectric strain sensor.

A torque transmitter for a torque sensor for measuring a torque on a shaft includes a carrier plate that includes a plurality of sensor element carrier plate regions, on each of which at least one sensor element for recording magnetic field changes is arranged, and an enclosure region formed in a substantially annular shape to enclose the shaft around a circumference of the shaft. The plurality of sensor element carrier plate regions are perpendicularly connected to the enclosure region and arranged radially within the enclosure region by being spaced apart along a circumferential direction around the circumference of the shaft.

In a vehicle suspension assembly a sensorized system applied to a wheel hub unit, in which radially outer cylindrical surface of an outer ring of the wheel hub unit configured for coupling to a suspension upright or knuckle has four circumferential flats formed to be angularly spaced from each other on the radially outer lateral cylindrical surface, each flat delimiting a plane surface which extends axially over a pair of annular tracks for rolling bodies of the outer ring; each flat carries integrally a sensor module including a pair of extensometers positioned parallel to each other and each at the position of a respective annular track, orientated in a circumferential direction so as to extend along a circumferential development of the annular track; an electrical circuit picks up a signal from each sensor module and sends it to a data socket carried by the suspension upright or knuckle.

Sensorised wheel hub unit and a method for detecting, in real time, forces and moments applied to an outer ring of the wheel hub unit in which piezoresistive ceramic plates are made of one piece with welded metal plates housed within respective recesses formed in an outer surface of the outer ring over respective races for rolling elements that there is a gap between the plates and a base wall of each recess; the temperature of the outer ring and the amplitude and frequency of first electrical signals (S1) associated with the sensors relating to the same race are analysed to determine a frequency value equal to the frequency of the first signal having the maximum amplitude and as many amplitude values (D1-Dn) as there are sensors associated with that race and each equal to the maximum amplitude of the first signal from each sensor, corrected according to temperature.

In order to inexpensively measure torque on a shaft such that the measurement is as independent as possible from distance changes or material inconsistencies of the shaft around the circumference thereof, the invention provides a torque transmitter for a torque sensor for measuring a torque on a shaft, having a carrier plate that has a plurality of sensor element carrier plate regions, on each of which at least one sensor element for recording magnetic field changes, caused by the magnetoelastic effect, is arranged, and at least one enclosure region that is designed to at least partly enclose the shaft around the circumference of the shaft, wherein at least one flexible connection region is provided by way of which at least one of the sensor element carrier plate regions is able to be pivoted relative to another sensor element carrier plate region or relative to the at least one enclosure region.