Bearing condition monitor for a vehicle, such as a truck or a trailer

Abstract

A system for monitoring bearing health of a wheel of a vehicle, such as a trailer, is provided. The system is configured to monitor at least one characteristic relating to the wheel bearings, such as a temperature, vibrations, and/or proximity. The monitoring system may be configured to monitor more than one of these characteristics (i.e., temperature, vibration and proximity) or even all three. The system is incorporated into a wheel speed sensor. The system may be incorporated in an anti-lock brake system (ABS) or electro-pneumatic brake system (EBS). Regardless of which characteristic is actually monitored by the system and whether the system is employed with an ABS or EBS, the bearing monitoring system provides that one or more bearings of a vehicle can be continuously and automatically monitored in the field.

The invention claimed is:  
     
         1 . A bearing monitoring system for a vehicle comprising: 
 an axle;    a wheel mounting apparatus surrounding said axle, said wheel mounting apparatus including at least one bearing;    a wheel mounted on said wheel mounting apparatus;    a sensor member mounted on said axle, said sensor member having a first sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the temperature of said at least one bearing; and    circuitry for processing information from said sensor member regarding the temperature of said at least one bearing and for performing a function on the vehicle depending on the information sensed by said first sensing element.    
     
     
         2 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said circuitry is part of an anti-lock brake system or an electro-pneumatic brake system for the vehicle.  
     
     
         3 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said first sensing element is an application specific integrated circuit.  
     
     
         4 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said axle including at least two wheel mounting assemblies surrounding said axle, each said wheel mounting apparatus including at least one bearing; a wheel mounted on each said wheel mounting apparatus; a sensor member mounted on each said axle and associated with each said wheel, each said sensor member having a first sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the temperature of said at least one bearing associated with said respective wheel; the information from each said sensor member being transmitted to said circuitry, and wherein said circuitry compares the information from each said sensor member prior to performing said function.  
     
     
         5 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 1   , wherein two axles are provided, said axle including at least two wheel mounting assemblies surrounding said axle, each said wheel mounting apparatus including at least one bearing; a wheel mounted on each said wheel mounting apparatus; a sensor member mounted on each said axle and associated with each said wheel, each said sensor member having a first sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the temperature of said at least one bearing associated with said respective wheel; the information from each said sensor member being transmitted to said circuitry, and wherein said circuitry compares the information from each said sensor member prior to performing said function.  
     
     
         6 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said sensor member further includes a second sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the vibrations of one or more elements of the wheel mounting apparatus; and 
 wherein said circuitry is capable of processing information from said second sensing element regarding the acceleration of said wheel.    
     
     
         7 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 6   , further including a signal wire connected between said sensor member and said circuitry, wherein said information from said sensor member regarding the temperature of said at least one bearing and said information from said sensor member regarding the acceleration of said wheel are transmitted to said circuitry on said signal wire.  
     
     
         8 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 7   , wherein said sensor member further includes a third sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the direction of rotation of said wheel; and 
 wherein said circuitry is capable of processing information from said sensor member regarding the direction of rotation of said wheel, said information from said sensor member regarding the direction of rotation of said wheel is transmitted to said circuitry on said signal wire.    
     
     
         9 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 7   , further including an element mounted on said wheel mounting apparatus; 
 and wherein said sensor member further includes a fourth sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the proximity of said element relative thereto by sensing the position of said element; and    wherein said circuitry is capable of processing information from said fourth sensing element regarding the proximity of said element, said information from said sensor member regarding the proximity of said element is transmitted to said circuitry on said signal wire.    
     
     
         10 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 1   , further including an element mounted on said wheel mounting apparatus; 
 and wherein said sensor member further includes a second sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the radial and/or axial proximity of said element relative thereto by sensing the radial and/or axial position of said element;    wherein said circuitry is capable of processing information from said sensor member regarding the radial and/or axial position of said element.    
     
     
         11 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 1   , 
 further including an element mounted on said wheel mounting apparatus;    wherein said sensor member further includes a second sensing element mounted thereon for use in sensing vibrations of one or more elements of the wheel mounting apparatus and a third sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the radial and/or axial proximity of said element relative thereto by sensing the position of said element; and    wherein said circuitry is capable of processing information from said sensor member regarding the vibrations of one or more elements of the wheel mounting apparatus and said circuitry is capable of processing information from said sensor member regarding the radial and/or axial position of said element.    
     
     
         12 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 1   , wherein said sensor member further includes a second sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the speed of rotation of said wheel; and 
 wherein said circuitry is capable of processing information from said second sensing element regarding the speed of said wheel.    
     
     
         13 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 12   , further including an exciting element mounted on said wheel mounting apparatus; and wherein said second sensing element determines the speed of rotation of said wheel by sensing said exciting element.  
     
     
         14 . A bearing monitoring system for a vehicle comprising: 
 an axle;    a wheel mounting apparatus surrounding said axle, said wheel mounting apparatus including at least one bearing;    a wheel mounted on said wheel mounting apparatus;    a sensor member mounted on said axle, said sensor member having a first sensing element mounted thereon for use in sensing vibrations of one or more elements of the wheel mounting apparatus; and    circuitry for processing information from said sensor member regarding the vibrations of one or more elements of said wheel mounting apparatus and for performing a function on the vehicle depending on the information sensed by said first sensing element.    
     
     
         15 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 14   , wherein said circuitry is part of an anti-lock brake system or an electro-pneumatic brake system for the vehicle.  
     
     
         16 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 14   , wherein said first sensing element is a silicon micromachined integrated circuit.  
     
     
         17 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 14   , wherein said axle including at least two wheel mounting assemblies surrounding said axle, each said wheel mounting apparatus including at least one bearing; a wheel mounted on each said wheel mounting apparatus- a sensor member mounted on each said axle and associated with each said wheel, each said sensor member having a first sensing element mounted thereon for use in sensing vibrations of one or more elements of each said wheel mounting apparatus; the information from each said sensor member being transmitted to said circuitry, and wherein said circuitry compares the information from each said sensor member prior to performing said function.  
     
     
         18 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 14   , wherein two axles are provided, each said axle including at least two wheel mounting assemblies surrounding said axle, each said wheel mounting apparatus including at least one bearing; a wheel mounted on each said wheel mounting apparatus; a sensor member mounted on each said axle and associated with each said wheel, each said sensor member having a first sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the acceleration of said wheel by sensing vibrations of one or more elements of each said wheel mounting apparatus; the information from each said sensor member being transmitted to said circuitry, and wherein said circuitry compares the information from each said sensor member prior to performing said function.  
     
     
         19 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 14   , wherein signals accumulated by said first sensing element are processed in said sensor member.  
     
     
         20 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 14   , wherein signals accumulated by said first sensing element are processed by said circuitry.  
     
     
         21 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 14   , wherein said sensor member further includes a second sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the speed of rotation of said wheel; and 
 wherein said circuitry is capable of processing information from said sensor member regarding the speed of said wheel.    
     
     
         22 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 14   , further including an exciting element mounted on said wheel mounting apparatus; and wherein said second sensing element determines the speed of rotation of said wheel by sensing said exciting element.  
     
     
         23 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 14   , further including an element mounted on said wheel mounting apparatus; 
 and wherein said sensor member further includes a second sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the radial and/or axial proximity of said element relative thereto by sensing the position of said element; and    wherein said circuitry is capable of processing information from said second sensing element regarding the radial and/or axial position of said element.    
     
     
         24 . A bearing monitoring system for a vehicle comprising: 
 an axle;    a wheel mounting apparatus surrounding said axle, said wheel mounting apparatus including at least one bearing;    a wheel mounted on said wheel mounting apparatus;    an element mounted on said wheel mounting apparatus;    a sensor member mounted on said axle, said sensor member having a first sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the radial and/or axial proximity of said element relative thereto by sensing the radial and/or axial position of said element relative to said first sensing element; and    circuitry for processing information from said sensor member regarding the radial and/or axial proximity of said element and for performing a function on the vehicle depending on the information sensed by said first sensing element.    
     
     
         25 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 24   , wherein said circuitry is part of an anti-lock brake system or an electro-pneumatic brake system for the vehicle.  
     
     
         26 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 24   , wherein said wheel mounting apparatus includes a hub cap and wherein said element is an exciting element mounted on said hubcap which surrounds said sensor member.  
     
     
         27 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 24   , wherein said wheel mounting apparatus includes a hub cap and wherein said element is mounted on said hubcap and extends into said sensor member.  
     
     
         28 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 24   , wherein said axle includes at least two wheel mounting assemblies surrounding said axle, each said wheel mounting apparatus including at least one bearing; a wheel mounted on each said wheel mounting apparatus; a sensor member mounted on each said axle and associated with each said wheel, each said sensor member having a first sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the radial and/or axial proximity of said element relative thereto by sensing the position of said element associated with said respective wheel relative to the respective first sensing element; the information from each said sensor member being transmitted to said circuitry, and wherein said circuitry compares the information from each said sensor member prior to performing said function.  
     
     
         29 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 24   , wherein two axles are provided, each said axle including at least two wheel mounting assemblies surrounding said axle, each said wheel mounting apparatus including at least one bearing; a wheel mounted on each said wheel mounting apparatus; a sensor member mounted on each said axle and associated with each said wheel, each said sensor member having a first sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the radial and/or axial proximity of said element relative thereto by sensing the position of said element associated with said respective wheel relative to the respective first sensing element; the information from each said sensor member being transmitted to said circuitry, and wherein said circuitry compares the information from each said sensor member prior to performing said function.  
     
     
         30 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 24   , wherein said sensor member further includes a second sensing element mounted thereon for use in determining the speed of rotation of said wheel; and 
 wherein said circuitry is capable of processing information from said second sensing element regarding the speed of said wheel.    
     
     
         31 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 30   , wherein said element is an exciting element; and wherein said second sensing element determines the speed of rotation of said wheel by sensing said exciting element.  
     
     
         32 . A bearing monitoring system for monitoring a bearing of a wheel of a vehicle, said bearing monitoring system comprising: 
 brake mechanisms;    circuitry in operable communication with said brake mechanisms;    wheel speed sensors in communication with said circuitry, said circuitry configured to operate said brake mechanisms depending on what is sensed by said wheel speed sensors; and    at least one bearing sensor configured to monitor at least one characteristic at least generally relating to the bearing, said characteristic being at least one of a temperature proximate the bearing, vibrations of one or more elements of said wheel mounting apparatus and proximity of a rotating element of the wheel.    
     
     
         33 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 32   , wherein said circuitry comprises a pneumatic control module in operable communication with said brake mechanisms and an electronic control module in communication with said pneumatic control module, said at least one bearing sensor and said wheel speed sensors in communication with said electronic control module.  
     
     
         34 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 32   , further comprising an electronic circuit assembly, said electronic circuit assembly including said bearing sensor and at least one of said wheel speed sensors.  
     
     
         35 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 32   , wherein said at least one bearing sensor comprises a plurality of sensors including a first sensor configured to sense a temperature generally proximate the bearing, a second sensor configured to monitor vibrations of one or more elements of said wheel mounting apparatus, and a third sensor configured to monitor the proximity of the rotating element of the wheel.  
     
     
         36 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 35   , further comprising an electronic circuit assembly, said electronic circuit assembly including said first, second and third sensor and at least one of said wheel speed sensors.  
     
     
         37 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 32   , wherein said at least one bearing sensor is configured to monitor at least one of a radial and axial position of the rotating member of the wheel.  
     
     
         38 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 32   , wherein said at least one bearing sensor comprises at least one magnetic field sensor configured to monitor a magnetic feature relating to the bearing.  
     
     
         39 . A bearing monitoring system as defined in    claim 32   , wherein said bearing monitoring system is configured to monitor a plurality of bearings, and comprises at least one bearing sensor associated with each bearing, wherein said circuitry is configured to receive information from each of the bearing sensors and compare the information.