Rolling-element bearing assembly

Abstract

A rolling-element bearing assembly is provided herein. The rolling-element bearing assembly includes a first raceway that also includes a first sensor module and a first communication module. The rolling-element bearing assembly includes a second raceway that also includes a second sensor module and a second communication module. The first sensor module senses a different condition of the rolling-element bearing assembly than the second sensor module. The first and second communication modules are of a same type. The rolling-element bearing assembly includes a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the first and second raceways to enable the first and second raceways to be rotatable relative to each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rolling-element bearing assembly comprising:
 a first raceway comprises a first sensor module and a first communication module;   a second raceway comprises a second sensor module and a second communication module,   wherein the first sensor module senses a different condition of the rolling-element bearing assembly than the second sensor module,   wherein the first and second communication modules are of a same type; and   a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the first and second raceways to enable the first and second raceways to be rotatable relative to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The rolling-element bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor module comprises a first sensor interface operably connected to a first communication interface of the first communication module. 
     
     
         3 . The rolling-element bearing assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the second sensor module comprises a second sensor interface operably connected to a second communication interface of the second communication module. 
     
     
         4 . The rolling-element bearing assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each of the first and second sensor interfaces comprise an electrical energy supply connecting point, an analog data transmission connecting point, a digital data transmission connecting point, and a ground connecting point. 
     
     
         5 . The rolling-element bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor module comprises a first sensor and the second sensor module comprises a second sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The rolling-element bearing assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the first sensor comprises a noise emission sensor, a load sensor, a rolling-element rotation sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a lubrication parameter sensor, and
 wherein the second sensor is different from the first sensor.   
     
     
         7 . The rolling-element bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements are disposed in a cage that permits communications from the first communication module to a receiver. 
     
     
         8 . The rolling-element bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements comprise a first roller, and
 wherein the first sensor module and the first communication module are disposed in a cavity that extends into an interior of the first raceway from an axial end of the first roller.   
     
     
         9 . The rolling-element bearing assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication module or the second communication module is a wireless communication module. 
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 a rolling-element bearing assembly comprising:
 a first raceway comprises a first sensor module and a first communication module; 
 a second raceway comprises a second sensor module and a second communication module, 
 wherein the first sensor module senses a different condition of the rolling-element bearing assembly than the second sensor module, 
 wherein the first and second communication modules are of a same type; and 
 a plurality of rolling elements arranged between the first and second raceways to enable the first and second raceways to be rotatable relative to each other; and 
   a control and monitoring unit monitoring and controlling an operating state of the rolling-element bearing assembly, the control and monitoring unit receiving and processing outputs from the first sensor module transmitted by the first communication module, the control and monitoring unit receiving and processing outputs from the second sensor module transmitted by the second communication module, and the control and monitoring unit determining whether the output from the first sensor module or the output from the second sensor module indicates an abnormal operating condition.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first sensor module comprises a first sensor interface operably connected to a first communication interface of the first communication module. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second sensor module comprises a second sensor interface operably connected to a second communication interface of the second communication module. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein each of the first and second sensor interfaces comprise an electrical energy supply connecting point, an analog data transmission connecting point, a digital data transmission connecting point, and a ground connecting point. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first sensor module comprises a first sensor and the second sensor module comprises a second sensor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the first sensor comprises a noise emission sensor, a load sensor, a rolling-element rotation sensor, a temperature sensor, an acceleration sensor, or a lubrication parameter sensor, and
 wherein the second sensor is different from the first sensor.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements are disposed in a cage that permits communications from the first communication module to a receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of rolling elements comprise a first roller, and
 wherein the first sensor module and the first communication module are disposed in a cavity that extends into an interior of the first raceway from an axial end of the first roller.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first communication module or the second communication module is a wireless communication module.