EP3728882A1

EP3728882A1 - Bearing arrangements, and module carrier for them

Info

Publication number: EP3728882A1
Application number: EP18819443.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Katrin Ganz; Sergej Mensch; Horst Brehm; Dianchen Zhu; Daniel Ludwig
Original assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG and Co KG
Current assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG and Co KG
Priority date: 2017-12-18
Filing date: 2018-11-12
Publication date: 2020-10-28
Also published as: US20210172480A1; CN111480015B; DE102017130335B3; US11226005B2; WO2019120365A1; CN111480015A

Abstract

The present invention describes a bearing arrangement (01) which comprises two bearing rings (02, 03) which can be rotated with respect to one another about a common axis, an annular module carrier (04), an encoder (06) and at least one sensor module (14). The module carrier (04) is arranged axially on one of the two bearing rings (02; 03). The encoder (06) is arranged on the other one of the two bearing rings (02; 03). The at least one sensor module (14) is arranged in the module carrier (04). The module carrier (04) has a cut-out (08) on at least one of its axial side surfaces (09), through which cut-out (08) a lubricant can be introduced into the bearing. The cut-out (08) is arranged circumferentially in the region spaced apart from the at least one sensor module (14) or in the region between two sensor modules (14). Furthermore, the invention relates to a bearing arrangement (01) which has at least one predetermined break point for configuring a cut-out (08). The invention likewise relates to a module carrier (04) for a bearing, which module carrier (04) allows a throughflow of lubricant through the bearing.

Description

Stock arrangements and module carriers for these

The present invention relates first to a bearing assembly, a

Module carrier having at least one sensor. Furthermore, the invention relates to a equipped with sensors module carrier for a bearing.

In DE 10 2015 202 130 A1 a kit for storage and a

Bearing arrangement described. The kit includes a plurality of modules each having a plurality of supply management modules,

Include functional modules and infrastructure modules. The function modules, in particular sensors, are used to measure bearing state variables.

In DE 10 2015 202 129 A1 and DE 10 2015 202 127 A1 A1 is a

Electronic module assembly for installation in a cylindrical space and a rolling bearing assembly described. DE 10 2015 202 129 A1 describes that an electronic module arrangement comprises a hollow-cylindrical carrier adapted to the diameter of the cylindrical installation space, an electrical conductor arranged circumferentially in the support, and electronic modules arranged in the support. The individual electronic modules are electrically connected to one another by means of electrical conductors, and preferably also mechanically. Electronic modules are, for example, sensors, actuators, signal processing equipment and

Data storage facilities.

For lifetime deep groove ball bearings, which require no relubrication, fats are known to be used. Other bearing types, such as tapered roller, cylindrical roller or spherical roller bearings require relubrication, especially by means of oil. Are these bearings sensed, d. H. With at least one sensor that detects a stored state variable, relubrication is very difficult.

To measure, for example, the speed in a bearing sensors are mounted on a bearing ring. Furthermore, the bearing comprises a sensor arranged opposite the encoder. Regularly the encoder is called Encoder ring formed, which is arranged on the other bearing ring. In order to achieve a high measuring quality, the sensors and the encoder have a small distance from one another. The smaller the distance or the air gap, the higher the measurement quality. For small bearing diameters and a small air gap or distance between the sensors and the encoder, the bearing, in particular a bearing side surface is almost completely sealed, whereby lubrication or relubrication of the sensorized bearing is prevented or at least made more difficult.

WO 2013/175257 A1 discloses a sensor bearing unit which can be used in an oil-lubricated environment. The sensor bearing unit comprises a bearing with at least one rotatable bearing ring. Furthermore, the sensor unit comprises a detection device which serves to detect the rotation of the rotatable bearing ring. At least one axially aligned side of the bearing has a portion that is open in the axial direction parallel to the central axis about which the bearing ring rotates. The open section allows oil flow through the bearing. In particular, an oil flow through the detection device takes place along a strictly axial direction between the target or encoder and the sensor.

An object of the present invention, starting from the prior art is to provide a bearing assembly for simplified lubrication and / or relubrication of a sensorized bearing with a module carrier, so that a

Volume flow of a lubricant can be done by a lubricated bearing. A further object of the present invention is that the volume flow of a lubricant should be improved by an oil-lubricated bearing.

The object is in each case by a bearing assembly according to the appended

Claim 1 and the attached independent claim 7 solved. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a module carrier for a bearing according to claim 9.

The bearing arrangement according to the invention has two bearing rings which are rotatable relative to one another about a common axis, the axis of rotation. Furthermore, the bearing arrangement comprises an annular module carrier, an encoder and at least one sensor module. The module carrier is used to hold modules, in particular of functional modules such as sensor modules or supply modules, with which, for example, the function of a mechanical bearing can be checked. The module carrier is axially fixed to one of the two bearing rings, in particular axially on the side surface of one of the two bearing rings, rotatably. The encoder is rotatably mounted on the other of the two bearing rings. The encoder, also referred to as a target, is radially spaced from the module carrier. The at least one sensor module is arranged in the module carrier, so that the sensor module is arranged opposite the encoder and these interact with each other. The module carrier has a recess on one of its axial side surfaces. By means of the recess is a

Lubricant can be introduced into the bearing, so that a lubricant flow to and through the bearing rings and thus a lubrication of these can be made possible. The recess of the module carrier is arranged circumferentially in the region spaced from the at least one sensor module or in the region between two sensor modules. The position of the recess between two sensor modules or at a position where no sensor module is positioned on the module carrier, allows a lubricant flow.

Lubricants can be oils or greases which are known to be used for the lubrication of bearings.

The sensor module and the encoder serve to measure bearing state variables and / or to trigger and / or activate predetermined events under predetermined conditions.

The module carrier is preferably formed as a hollow cylinder with peripheral wall and axial side surfaces or end side surfaces and may also be referred to as module housing. The module carrier has several receptacles for receiving modules, such as sensor modules. The receptacles are preferably arranged on the inner circumference of the module carrier. Between two shots on the

Module carrier is defined in each case a module position for the individual modules. The recordings serve to secure the modules on the module carrier. Preferably, the recess is located on the axial side surface of the module carrier outside the defined module position of the at least one sensor module. Alternatively, preferably, the recess is located on the axial side surface of the module carrier outside of the areas where the receptacles for the modules and the at least one sensor module is arranged. Particularly preferably, the recess is formed on the axial side surface of the module carrier at a module position on which no sensor module is arranged. The outer edge or the outer radial side surface of the module carrier has in a first embodiment, no recess, whereby the stability of the annular module carrier increases.

In another embodiment, the module carrier at its two axial side surfaces in each case a recess. Preferably, the two recesses are arranged opposite one another on the module carrier. Alternatively, preferably, the two recesses are circumferentially offset from one another on the axial side surfaces of the module carrier.

The module carrier has, in a further modified embodiment, more than two recesses which are arranged on its axial side surfaces. Two or more recesses, wherein in each case at least one recess is located on each of the two axial side surfaces of the module carrier, allow a

Lubricant flow to and / or from the bearing rings, so one

Lubricant flow through the bearing.

One advantage is that regularly or continuously new lubricant can be supplied to the bearing and old lubricant is removed from the warehouse. It can ensure the lubrication of the camp and dry running can be avoided. Relubrication of the bearing increases its service life. The

Bearing arrangement has a permeability to a lubricating medium.

The sensor module may be, for example, a speed sensor module, which is intended for installation in a mechanical bearing and the measurement and evaluation a speed is used. In particular, the sensor module according to the invention can be installed in the available installation space of a storage building block. The

Lagerbaukasten corresponds for example to the warehouse construction kit, which in the

DE 10 2015 202 130 A1 is described. Likewise, the sensor module on a support of an electronic module assembly according to DE 10 2015 202 129 A1 attachable. The mechanical bearing is preferably a roller bearing, a linear bearing or a plain bearing.

Preferably, a plurality of sensor modules are arranged on the module carrier.

Preferably, at least one sensor module and at least one further module of a different type of module are arranged on the module carrier. Further modules can be: function modules, supply management modules,

Infrastructure modules.

The number and type of modules arranged on the module carrier are

preferably chosen based on their function. Furthermore, the number and type of modules arranged on the module carrier depends on the diameter of the bearing or on the bearing diameter

Module carrier diameter.

Several sensor modules and optionally further modules are on the

Module carrier electrically connected to each other by means of an electrical conductor.

By means of the electrical conductor is an interface available.

Particularly preferably, the at least one sensor module is cast on the module carrier in potting compound, so that protection against external influences and before the lubricant takes place. Preferably, all are on the module carrier

located modules poured into potting compound. Particularly preferably, the potting compound forms a ring in which the modules are embedded. Between the ring of potting compound and the encoder is a gap located through which a lubricant is introduced into the bearing. To increase the quality of measurement, the gap between the encoder and the ring of potting compound with the introduced

Keep sensor modules low. In one embodiment, the module carrier with the at least one sensor module is fastened to an outer ring board and the encoder is fastened to an inner ring board. In an alternative embodiment, the module carrier is the at least one

Sensor module attached to an inner ring board and the encoder to an outer ring board.

The module carrier is preferably made of plastic. Alternatively preferably, the module carrier consists of steel.

The module carrier, the at least one sensor module and the electrical conductor together form a sensor unit.

Another embodiment of the bearing arrangement according to the invention comprises two mutually rotatable about a common axis bearing rings, an annular module carrier, an encoder and at least one sensor module. The module carrier is arranged axially on one of the two bearing rings. The module carrier

opposite the encoder is arranged on a side surface of the other of the two bearing rings. The at least one sensor module is located in the module carrier. The module carrier has on at least one of its axial side surfaces at least one predetermined breaking point, which after breaking out a

Forming recess in the module carrier, through which a lubricant is introduced into the bearing. The predetermined breaking point or the predetermined breaking points are provided or located in a region in which no sensor module is located.

The axial side surface of the module carrier is the axial side surface of the

Module carrier opposite, which bears against one of the bearing rings, in particular its side surface.

For the resulting by breaking out of the predetermined breaking point recess or

Recesses applies to the bearing arrangement described above with all embodiments. The further advantage of this embodiment consists in the fact that the bearing assembly only when installed in a higher-level unit is finally configurable. When a lubricant flow through the

Module carrier is required, the recess is made at the predetermined breaking point. If instead a lubricant flow is not needed and instead z. B. protection against penetrating contaminants in the foreground, then the module carrier remains closed.

The module carrier preferably has two predetermined breaking points. Alternatively, the module carrier preferably has four predetermined breaking points. Preferably, the module carrier has more than four predetermined breaking points.

One advantage of a plurality of predetermined breaking points for forming a respective recess at a defined position is that the position and the number of predetermined breaking points can be selected individually depending on the application.

The module carrier according to the invention for a bearing comprises a plurality of receptacles, between which module positions for receiving one module each are formed. Furthermore, the module carrier comprises at least one recess or a predetermined breaking point for forming a recess after breaking out on one of its axial side surfaces. When installed, the module carrier allows a lubricant feed through.

Preferably, the module carrier has an electrical conductor through which the modules are electrically connected to each other and with the environment.

On the module carrier arranged modules, in particular sensor modules are preferably surrounded by potting compound. The potting compound is preferably annular.

Further details, advantages and developments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bearing assembly according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a module carrier according to the invention for the bearing assembly.

1 shows a perspective view of a bearing arrangement 01 according to the invention. The bearing arrangement 01 comprises an inner bearing ring 02, an outer bearing ring 03, a module carrier 04 and an encoder ring 06. The inner bearing ring 02 and the outer bearing ring 03 are mutually about an axis of rotation (not shown). The inner bearing ring 02 is rotatable about the axis of rotation. On a side surface (not shown) of the inner bearing ring 02 of the encoder ring 06 is arranged rotatably. Opposite the encoder ring 06, the module carrier 04 is arranged non-rotatably on the outer bearing ring 03. The module carrier has a recess 08. The recess 08 is on an axial side surface 09 (see FIG.

2), wherein this axial side surface 09 of the module carrier 04 of

Side surface of the outer bearing ring 03, on which the module carrier 04 is applied, opposite. The module carrier 04 is shown in Fig. 2, where its structure is explained in more detail. The bearing assembly 01 further comprises an electrical connection 11 for connection to a measuring device or a control unit (not shown). The recess 08 in the module carrier 04 serves the lubricant flow through the bearing assembly 01, whereby the bearing rings 02, 03 do not run dry, wear out and possibly cause a failure of the bearing.

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a module carrier 04 according to the invention for the bearing arrangement 01. The module carrier 04 has receptacles 12, between which module positions 13 are formed. The module carrier 04 has six

Module positions 13 on. The receptacles 12 serve to receive and firmly hold modules 14, in particular sensor modules 14. Four sensor modules 14 are arranged on the module carrier 04. The sensor modules 14 are electrically connected to one another by means of an electrical conductor 16. The electrical conductor 16 is connected to the electrical connection 11. At one of the module positions 13 is the

Recess 08 formed in the module carrier 04. The recess 08 serves the

Lubricant flow. At the module positions 13 predetermined breaking points (not shown) to form recesses 08 by breaking out of

Predetermined breaking points, be formed. To protect the sensor modules 14, these can be encapsulated by potting compound.

Reference character list Bearing arrangement

inner bearing ring

outer bearing ring

module carrier

- encoder ring

- recess

axial side surface of the module carrier 04 electrical connection

admission

module position

Sensor / module

- electrical conductor

Claims

claims

1. Bearing arrangement (01) comprising:

- Two mutually rotatable about a common axis bearing rings (02, 03);

- An annular module carrier (04) which is arranged on a side surface of one of the two bearing rings (02, 03);

- An encoder (06), which is arranged opposite to the module carrier (04) on the other of the two bearing rings (02; 03); and

at least one sensor module (14), which is arranged on the module carrier (04),

characterized in that the module carrier (04) on at least one of its axial side surfaces (09) has a recess (08), wherein the

Recess (08) circumferentially spaced from the at least one sensor module (14) or in the region between two adjacent

Sensor modules (14) is arranged.

2. Bearing arrangement (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Module carrier (04) has a recess (08) on both axial side surfaces.

3. Bearing arrangement (01) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that on the module carrier (04) a plurality of sensor modules (14) and / or functional modules (14) are arranged circumferentially.

4. Bearing arrangement (01) according to claim 3, characterized in that the

electrical connection between a plurality of modules (14) on the module carrier (04) by means of an electrical conductor (16).

5. Bearing arrangement (01) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized

in that the at least one sensor module (14) and / or the functional modules (14) are cast into the potting compound (04) on the module carrier.

6. Bearing arrangement (01) according to claim 5, characterized in that the potting compound forms a ring in which the modules (14) are located, wherein between the ring of potting compound and the encoder (06), a gap is formed.

7. Bearing arrangement (01) comprising:

- Two mutually rotatable about a common axis bearing rings (02, 03);

at least one sensor module (14), which is arranged in the module carrier (04),

characterized in that the module carrier (04) on at least one of its axial side surfaces (09) has at least one predetermined breaking point, which after breaking a recess (08) in the module carrier (04), through which a lubricant in the bearing can be introduced, wherein the

Predetermined breaking point is located in an area where no sensor module is located.

8. Bearing arrangement (01) according to claim 7, characterized in that the

Module carrier (04) has two to six predetermined breaking points on an axial side surface (09).

9. module carrier (04) for a bearing, which allows the lubricant flow, comprising a plurality of receptacles (12), between which module positions (13) for receiving in each case a module (14) are formed, characterized

characterized in that the module carrier (04) has a recess (08) or a predetermined breaking point for forming a recess (08) after breaking out at one of its axial side surfaces (09).