MEASURING SYSTEM FOR MONITORING A SPINDLE

Abstract

A measuring system monitors a spindle. The measuring system includes a cylindrical housing which can be arranged in and mechanically firmly connected to a spindle housing. A carrier ring is arranged inside the cylindrical housing. Three sensors for measuring a radial displacement and three sensors for measuring an axial displacement of the spindle are distributed over a circumference of the carrier ring. The sensors are cast with the carrier ring.

Claims

1. A measuring system for monitoring a spindle, comprising: a cylindrical housing, which can be positioned in a spindle housing and can be mechanically connected thereto in a fixed manner, a carrier ring, which is arranged within the cylindrical housing and mechanically connected thereto in a fixed manner, three first sensors for measuring a radial displacement of the spindle, and three second sensors for measuring an axial displacement of the spindle, wherein the first and second sensors are distributed over the circumference of the carrier ring and are mechanically connected to the carrier ring in a fixed manner, wherein the sensors are encapsulated with the carrier ring.

2. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one electronic module for the exchange of data and energy with the sensors, wherein the electronic module is encapsulated with the carrier ring.

3. The measuring system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of electronic modules, wherein the electronic modules are connected to each other via flexible printed circuit boards.

4. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors are eddy-current sensors.

5. The measuring system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a first measuring ring having axial measuring surfaces, and a second measuring ring having radial measuring surfaces, wherein the measuring rings can be mechanically connected to the spindle in a fixed manner, and wherein the measuring rings are dimensioned in such a manner that they can be arranged within the carrier ring, and the measuring surfaces can be sensed by the sensors.

6. The measuring system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the measuring rings are mechanically connected to each other in a fixed manner.

7. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cylindrical housing has an opening for feedthrough of a connection cable.

8. The measuring system as claimed claim 1, wherein the cylindrical housing is composed of metal.

9. The measuring system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the connection cable is connected to the cylindrical housing in an electrically conductive manner, within the housing, via an electrically conductive seal.

10. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first sensor and a second sensor are in each case combined and arranged in pairs, wherein the sensor pairs are arranged with an offset of 120° in relation to each other.

11. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors are vibration sensors.

12. The measuring system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensors are rotational-speed recognition sensors.

13. The measuring system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the measuring rings are realized as a single piece.

14. A measuring system for monitoring a spindle, comprising: a cylindrical housing, which can be positioned in a spindle housing and can be mechanically connected thereto in a fixed manner; a carrier ring, which is arranged within the cylindrical housing and mechanically connected thereto in a fixed manner; three first sensors for measuring a radial displacement of the spindle; three second sensors for measuring an axial displacement of the spindle; a first measuring ring having axial measuring surfaces; and a second measuring ring having radial measuring surfaces, wherein the first and second sensors are distributed over a circumference of the carrier ring and are mechanically connected to the carrier ring in a fixed manner; the sensors are encapsulated with the carrier ring; the measuring rings can be mechanically connected to the spindle in a fixed manner; and the measuring rings are dimensioned in such a manner that they can be arranged within the carrier ring, and the measuring surfaces can be sensed by the sensors.

15. The measuring system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising at least one electronic module for the exchange of data and energy with the sensors, wherein the electronic module is encapsulated with the carrier ring.

16. The measuring system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a plurality of electronic modules, wherein the electronic modules are connected to each other via flexible printed circuit boards.

17. The measuring system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cylindrical housing has an opening for feedthrough of a connection cable.

18. The measuring system as claimed in claim 14, wherein a first sensor and a second sensor are in each case combined and arranged in pairs, wherein the sensor pairs are arranged with an offset of 120° in relation to each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] The measuring system is explained in greater detail in the following, on the basis of the single FIGURE. The FIGURE shows an exploded representation of the measuring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] A measuring system 01 serves to monitor a spindle of a machine tool. It comprises, firstly, a cylindrical housing 02, which may be composed of metal. The housing 02 is suitable for being arranged within a spindle housing. It can be mechanically connected to the latter in a fixed manner. There is an opening 03 made in the housing 02. A connection cable 04 can be fed radially or axially through the opening 03.

[0016] Within the housing 02, following assembly, there is a carrier ring 05, which may be composed of plastic. The carrier ring 05 is mechanically connected to the housing 02 in a fixed manner. Distributed over the circumference of the carrier ring 05 are three first sensors 07 and three second sensors 08. There is a fixed mechanical connection between the carrier ring 05 and the sensors 07, 08. The first sensors 07 serve to measure a radial displacement of the spindle, while the second sensors 08 are designed to measure an axial displacement of the spindle. The sensors 07, 08 may be realized as eddy-current sensors and/or vibration sensors and/or rotational-speed recognition sensors. A first sensor 07 and a second sensor 08 may be in each case combined in pairs. The sensor pairs are arranged with an approximately 120° offset in relation to each other.

[0017] The measuring system 01 is equipped with electronic modules 09 for exchanging data and energy with the sensors 07, 08. The electronic modules 09 are connected to each other by means of flexible printed circuit boards 10. They may be connected to an external data processing unit (not represented).

[0018] By means of an encapsulation 12, the sensors 07, 08 and the electronic modules 10 are connected to the carrier ring 05, in a permanent and mutually aligned manner.

[0019] The connection cable 04 is connected to the housing 02 in an electrically conductive manner via an electrically conductive seal 13. The electrically conductive seal 13 may be realized as a textile seal or an elastomer seal.

[0020] The measuring system 01 additionally comprises a first measuring ring 14 having axial measuring surfaces, and a second measuring ring 15 having radial measuring surfaces. The measuring rings 14, 15 can be fixedly connected to the spindle. They are dimensioned in such a manner that they can be arranged within the carrier ring, and their measuring surfaces are sensed by the sensors 07, 08, i.e. are positioned in the sensing range thereof. A first and a second measuring ring 14, 15 may be mechanically connected to each other in a fixed manner or, also, realized as a common component.

[0021] After the measuring system 01 has been attached to the spindle, relative displacements and tilting between the spindle and the spindle housing can be sensed in a contactless manner in all three spatial directions.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0022] 01 measuring system

[0023] 02 housing

[0024] 03 opening

[0025] 04 connection cable

[0026] 05 carrier ring

[0027] 06 -

[0028] 07 first sensors

[0029] 08 second sensors

[0030] 09 electronic modules

[0031] 10 flexible printed circuit boards

[0032] 11 -

[0033] 12 encapsulation

[0034] 13 conductive seal

[0035] 14 first measuring ring

[0036] 15 second measuring ring