US 11,940,343 B2
Bearing having a single optical sensing fiber for load sensing and bearing unit comprising combined bearings
Håkan Båstedt, Hålta (SE); Alexander Mocnik, Steyr (AT); and Stijn van Eesbeek, Doorn (BE)
Assigned to Aktiebolaget SKF, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed by Aktiebolaget SKF, Gothenburg (SE)
Filed on Sep. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/010,201.
Claims priority of application No. 102019214488.8 (DE), filed on Sep. 23, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0088393 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. F16C 19/52 (2006.01); F16C 19/54 (2006.01); F16C 33/58 (2006.01); G01L 1/24 (2006.01); G01L 5/00 (2006.01)
CPC G01L 5/0009 (2013.01) [F16C 19/522 (2013.01); F16C 19/542 (2013.01); F16C 33/586 (2013.01); G01L 1/242 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A bearing comprising:
a first ring,
a second ring, and
at least one row of rolling elements radially located between raceways provided on the first and second ring,
a single optical sensing fiber mounted in a groove provided on a surface of the first ring radially opposite to the raceway of the first ring, the optical fiber comprising at least one sensing part; and the groove is provided with:
a first branch extending from a first frontal surface of the first ring and being at least partially incurved along at least one radius of curvature to extend towards a circumferential groove parallel to the first frontal surface; at least the sensing part of the optical fiber coming out into the circumferential groove, and
a second branch extending from a second frontal surface of the first ring, axially opposite to the first frontal surface, connected to the first branch, the second branch being at least partially incurved along at least one radius of curvature.