DE102021112953A1 - Ring-shaped sensor arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an annular sensor arrangement (1) comprising a shaft (3) rotatably mounted in a roller bearing (2), the roller bearing (2) having an inner ring (4) and an outer ring (5) with rolling elements (6) held between them to roll , wherein the shaft (3) is non-rotatably connected to the inner ring (4), and the sensor arrangement (1) also has a sensor (7) non-rotatably connected to the outer ring (5) and an annular rotatable relative to the sensor (7) and coaxial to the Shaft arranged signal transmitter (8), wherein the signal transmitter (8) is positively connected to the shaft (3) and / or the inner ring (4) in the circumferential direction.

Description

The present invention relates to a ring-shaped sensor arrangement comprising a shaft rotatably mounted in a roller bearing, the roller bearing having an inner ring and an outer ring with rolling elements received in between, the shaft being non-rotatably connected to the inner ring, and the sensor arrangement also being non-rotatably connected to the outer ring connected sensor and has a ring-shaped signal transmitter which can be rotated relative to the sensor and is arranged coaxially to the shaft.

Rolling bearing assemblies with integrated sensor units are also known as sensor bearings and are used to record different bearing condition variables, such as speed, temperature and angle of rotation.

DE 10 2015 203 861 A1 discloses a sensor device for a roller bearing with an outer ring and an inner ring which is rotatable relative to this. The sensor device comprises at least one sensor that can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to one of the two bearing rings, at least one signal transmitter that can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the other of the two bearing rings, an outer ring that can be fastened to an end face of the outer ring of the roller bearing, and an inner ring that can be fastened to an end face of the inner ring of the roller bearing. The sensor and the signal transmitter are arranged on opposing lateral surfaces of the outer and inner ring.

The sensor device can be further improved to enable a secure connection between the sensor device and the roller bearing under vibration.

This object is achieved by an annular sensor arrangement comprising a shaft which is rotatably mounted in a roller bearing, the roller bearing having an inner ring and an outer ring with rolling elements received in between, the shaft being non-rotatably connected to the inner ring, and the sensor arrangement also being non-rotatably connected to the Sensor connected to the outer ring and a ring-shaped signal transmitter which can be rotated relative to the sensor and is arranged coaxially to the shaft, the signal transmitter being positively connected to the shaft and/or the inner ring in the circumferential direction.

The advantage of the sensor arrangement according to the invention is that a torsion-proof connection between the signal transmitter and the shaft or the inner ring can be provided in a simple manner. Thus, in particular, an undesired offset of the signal generator, for example due to a so-called Micro-wandering of the inner ring on the shaft as a result of the load during operation can be avoided.

The ring-shaped sensor is intended for attachment to a roller bearing. Therefore, the sensor can also be ring-shaped. The sensor can, for example, consist of a ring-shaped printed circuit board with a cable (possibly with a plug). However, the sensor can also include a flexible printed circuit board with various sensor elements that are electrically connected via conductor tracks. The sensor can be set up to detect at least one bearing condition variable such as speed, temperature and angle of rotation. The sensor can also include a number of sensors for detecting different state variables.

The ring-shaped sensor can preferably be placed in a housing made of plastic, for example, which has a ring-shaped base with a peripheral inner wall and a peripheral outer wall. A diameter of the bottom of the housing can be adapted to a diameter of the sensor such that the sensor can just be inserted into the housing to fit. The sensor located in the housing can be encapsulated to protect sensitive electronic components such as printed circuit boards or power modules from chemical, corrosive or mechanical influences. A reduction in thermal stresses, a dissipation of heat and protection against the risk of fire are also possible when casting. A low-viscosity material made of PU, epoxy or silicone, for example, can be used as the casting material.

First, the individual elements of the claimed subject matter of the invention are explained in the order in which they are mentioned in the set of claims, and particularly preferred configurations of the subject matter of the invention are described below.

Rolling bearings can be used in particular to enable rotary movements with the lowest possible friction losses. Rolling bearings can be used in particular to fix and/or mount axles and shafts, depending on the design, absorbing radial and/or axial forces and at the same time enabling the rotation of the shaft or the components mounted on an axle in this way.

For this purpose, rolling elements are arranged between an inner ring and an outer ring of the roller bearing. Between these three main components inner ring, outer ring and the rolling elements occurs within the rolling bearing as a rule mainly rolling friction. Since the rolling elements in the inner and outer ring can preferably roll on hardened steel surfaces with optimized lubrication, the rolling friction of such bearings is relatively low. A roller bearing can have one or more rows.

The inner ring can in particular connect the shaft accommodating the roller bearing to the roller bearing or the roller bodies. In particular, the shaft can be connected to the side of the lateral surface of the inner ring that faces the shaft, with the rolling elements of the roller bearing rolling on the inner ring raceway that is opposite this lateral surface. The inner ring can be made of a metallic and/or ceramic material. In principle, it is conceivable to design the inner ring in one piece or in multiple pieces, in particular in two pieces.

The outer ring can, in particular, connect the bearing arrangement accommodating the roller bearing to the roller bearing or the roller bodies. In particular, the bearing can be connected to the side of the lateral surface of the outer ring facing the bearing, with the rolling elements of the roller bearing rolling on the outer ring raceway opposite this lateral surface. The outer ring can be made of a metallic and/or ceramic material. In principle, it is conceivable to design the outer ring in one piece or in multiple pieces, in particular in two pieces.

Depending on the type of rolling bearing, the rolling elements have the shape of a ball or a roller. They roll on the raceways of the roller bearing and have the task of transferring the force acting on a radial roller bearing from the outer ring to the inner ring and vice versa. In an axial roller bearing, the rolling elements transmit the forces acting on the axial roller bearing between the running disks. Roller-shaped rolling elements are also referred to as roller rolling elements and spherical rolling elements as bearing balls.

Roller-shaped rolling bodies can be selected, for example, from the group of symmetrical spherical rollers, asymmetrical spherical rollers, cylindrical rollers, needle rollers and/or tapered rollers.

Rolling elements can be guided and spaced apart in a cage or by rolling element spacers. In principle, it is also conceivable to design a roller bearing without a cage, which is also referred to as a full complement roller bearing. In full complement rolling bearings, adjacent rolling elements can contact each other.

The rolling bodies can roll within the rolling bearing, in particular on the inner ring raceway of the inner ring. For this purpose, the surface of the inner ring raceway can advantageously be designed to be correspondingly abrasion-resistant, for example also by means of a corresponding surface treatment process and/or by applying a corresponding additional layer of material.

The inner ring raceway can be flat or profiled. A profiled design of the inner ring raceway can be used, for example, to guide the rolling elements on the inner ring raceway. On the other hand, a planar formation of the inner ring raceway can, for example, allow a certain axial displaceability of the rolling elements on the inner ring raceway.

The rolling bodies can roll within the rolling bearing, in particular on the outer ring raceway of the outer ring. For this purpose, the surface of the outer ring raceway can advantageously be designed to be abrasion-resistant, for example by means of a corresponding surface treatment process and/or by applying a corresponding additional layer of material.

The outer ring raceway can be flat or profiled. A profiled design of the outer ring raceway can be used, for example, to guide the rolling elements on the outer ring raceway. On the other hand, a planar shape of the outer ring raceway can, for example, allow a certain axial displaceability of the rolling elements on the outer ring raceway.

A roller bearing may have a seal to prevent lubricant from escaping from the roller bearing or dirt or moisture from entering the roller bearing. For this purpose, the seals used can be provided with one or more sealing lips, which can rest against a component of the roller bearing. These are designed in such a way that on the one hand they seal the bearing for as long as possible over the entire service life, and on the other hand the friction caused by the adjacent seal is not too high. It is particularly preferred that the seal is formed from an elastic, particularly preferably rubber-elastic material. The elastic material can preferably consist entirely or partially of an elastomer, the elastomers in turn preferably being selected from the group of vulcanizates of natural rubber and silicone rubber.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the shaft has a groove which extends in the axial direction and into which a lug protruding in the radial direction from the ring-shaped signal transmitter engages. reason In addition, it would also be conceivable for the ring-shaped signal transmitter to have an internal spline that interacts with a correspondingly designed external spline on the shaft in such a way that the shaft can be pushed axially into the ring-shaped signal transmitter, but is then secured there via the spline in the circumferential direction. Basically, it is of course also possible that the groove extending in the axial direction is part of a spline of the shaft.

According to a further preferred development of the invention, it can also be provided that the signal transmitter is positioned on the inner ring by means of a press fit, as a result of which a simple and secure connection can be formed between the inner ring and the signal transmitter.

Furthermore, according to a likewise advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the signal transmitter has a contour that is L-shaped in cross section with a radially running section and an axially running section. According to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it can be provided in this connection that the axially extending section of the signal transmitter bears against a radially inner lateral surface of the inner ring. This has the advantage that a centrifugal force-caused loosening of the press assembly is avoided and rather at high speeds the press assembly is supported by centrifugal force.

Furthermore, the invention can also be further developed in such a way that the sensor has a ring-like basic shape and thus completely surrounds the shaft.

In a likewise preferred embodiment variant of the invention, it can also be provided that the sensor is positively connected to a stationary housing component and/or the outer ring in the circumferential direction. In this way it can be achieved that the sensor also has an exact position in the circumferential direction.

It can also be advantageous to further develop the invention in such a way that the signal transmitter is formed from a formed sheet metal, as a result of which the signal transmitter can be produced particularly inexpensively. In this context, it is particularly preferred that the metal sheet is a metal sheet.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to figures without restricting the general inventive idea.

• 1 eine Sensoranordnung in einer schematischen Axialschnittdarstellung und
• 2 einen Sensor in einer perspektivischen Ansicht.

Show it:

• 1 a sensor arrangement in a schematic axial section and
• 2 a sensor in a perspective view.

the 1 shows an annular sensor arrangement 1 comprising a shaft 3 rotatably mounted in a roller bearing 2.

The roller bearing 2 has an inner ring 4 and an outer ring 5 with rolling elements 6 held between them to roll in a cage 14, with the shaft 3 being non-rotatably connected to the inner ring 4, and the sensor arrangement 1 also having a sensor 7 and non-rotatably connected to the outer ring 5 has a ring-shaped signal transmitter 8 which can be rotated relative to the sensor 7 and is arranged coaxially with the shaft. The signal generator 8 is arranged in the axial direction immediately adjacent to the sensor 7, forming an annular spaced area. A seal 15 is arranged between the inner ring 4 and the outer ring 5 on the end face facing the signal transmitter 8 .

The signal generator 8 is positively connected to the shaft 3 in the circumferential direction. For this purpose, the shaft 3 has a groove 13 which extends in the axial direction and into which a nose 9 protruding in the radial direction from the ring-shaped signal transmitter 8 engages. This is also particularly good based on the 2 recognizable. The signal generator 8 is also positioned on the inner ring 4 by means of a press fit.

The signal generator 8 also has an L-shaped contour in cross section with a radially running section 10 and an axially running section 11 . The axially running section 11 of the signal transmitter 8 rests against a radially inner lateral surface 12 of an undercut 17 formed on the inner ring 4 , while the radially running section 10 of the signal transmitter 8 forms an axial stop on the inner ring 4 . In the example shown, the signal generator 8 is formed from a formed metal sheet.

Like the signal transmitter 8, the sensor 7 also has a ring-like basic shape, so that the sensor 7 completely encloses the shaft 3 and is arranged coaxially with it. The sensor 7 is also positively connected in the circumferential direction to a stationary housing component and/or the outer ring 5 via the cylindrical ring-shaped sensor housing 18 .

The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the figures. The foregoing description is therefore not to be considered as limiting but as illustrative. The following claims are to be so ver stand that a said feature is present in at least one embodiment of the invention. This does not exclude the presence of other features. If the patent claims and the above description define 'first' and 'second' feature, this designation serves to distinguish between two features of the same type, without establishing a ranking.

reference list

1

sensor arrangement

2

roller bearing

3

Wave

4

inner ring

5

outer ring

6

rolling elements

7

sensor

8th

signaller

9

Nose

10

radial section

11

axial section

12

lateral surface

13

groove

14

Cage

15

poetry

16

sensor housing

17

Freeway

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102015203861 A1 [0003]

Claims (8)

Ring-shaped sensor arrangement (1) comprising a shaft (3) rotatably mounted in a roller bearing (2), the roller bearing (2) having an inner ring (4) and an outer ring (5) with rolling elements (6) held between them so as to roll, the shaft (3) is non-rotatably connected to the inner ring (4), and the sensor arrangement (1) also has a sensor (7) non-rotatably connected to the outer ring (5) and an annular signal transmitter (7) which can be rotated relative to the sensor (7) and is arranged coaxially with the shaft 8), characterized in that the signal transmitter (8) is positively connected to the shaft (3) and/or the inner ring (4) in the circumferential direction. Ring-shaped sensor arrangement (1) after claim 1 , characterized in that the shaft (3) has a groove (13) extending in the axial direction, into which a nose (9) protruding in the radial direction from the ring-shaped signal transmitter (8) engages. Ring-shaped sensor arrangement (1) after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the signal transmitter (8) is positioned on the inner ring (4) by means of a press fit. Ring-shaped sensor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal transmitter (8) has an L-shaped contour in cross section with a radially running section (10) and an axially running section (11). Ring shaped sensor array (1) claim 4 , characterized in that the axially extending section (11) of the signal transmitter (8) rests against a radially inner lateral surface (12) of the inner ring (4). Ring-shaped sensor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (7) has a ring-like basic shape. Ring-shaped sensor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor (7) is positively connected in the circumferential direction to a stationary housing component and/or the outer ring (5). Ring-shaped sensor arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal transmitter (8) is formed from a formed metal sheet.

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