JP4895775B2 - Bearing lubricant deterioration detection device and bearing with detection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention, or lubricants deterioration detector bearings you detect the deterioration state due contaminants lubricants, and detector equipped bearing with its lubricant deterioration detecting device, for example, for railway vehicles, automotive, wind turbine equipment The present invention relates to a bearing with a lubricant deterioration detecting device for industrial use and factory equipment.

  In a bearing in which a lubricant is enclosed, if the lubricant (grease, oil, etc.) inside the bearing deteriorates, the rolling element will be poorly lubricated and the bearing life will be shortened. Judging the poor lubrication of the rolling elements from the vibration state of the bearing, etc., will be dealt with after an operational abnormality occurs due to the end of the life, so the abnormality of the lubricating state cannot be detected earlier. Therefore, it is desired to observe the state of the lubricant in the bearing periodically or in real time so that the abnormality or the maintenance period can be predicted.

As a major factor in the deterioration of the lubricant, wear powder generated with use of the bearing is mixed into the lubricant.
Sensors such as electrodes and coils are placed inside the bearing seal to detect the wear state of the bearing, and the electrical characteristics of the lubricant mixed with wear powder are measured by resistance value, capacitance, magnetic resistance, and impedance. There has been proposed a sensor-equipped bearing that is detected as such a change (for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-293776 A

  However, the sensor-equipped bearing of Patent Document 1 is for detecting the electrical characteristics of the lubricant. Therefore, unless a situation occurs such that a large amount of wear powder enters and conduction occurs, it is not detected as a characteristic change. Detection of contaminants may be difficult.

In order to solve such problems, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, one end of each of the optical fibers 46 and 47 on the light emitting side and the light receiving side is opposed to the detecting unit 48 where the lubricant 45 to be detected is present to emit light. An optical configuration is considered in which the light emitting element 43 is disposed at the other end of the optical fiber 46 on the side and the light receiving element 44 is disposed at the other end of the optical fiber 47 on the light receiving side.
In the configuration of FIG. 11, the light emitted from the light emitting element 43 passes through the lubricant 45 existing in the detection unit 48 via the light emitting side optical fiber 46, and further receives light via the light receiving side optical fiber 47. The amount of foreign matter mixed in the lubricant 45 is estimated from the amount of transmitted light detected by the element 44 and detected by the light receiving element 44.

  However, in the case of the configuration of FIG. 11, the detection unit 48 having a structure in which the lubricant 45 is maintained at a constant thickness is necessary. For example, when used for detecting deterioration of the lubricant sealed in the bearing, The degree of freedom of arrangement inside the bearing is reduced.

Therefore, the two optical fibers 46 and 47 are provided so that their tips are arranged side by side through a measurement gap 50 serving as an arrangement space for the lubricant 45 as shown in FIG. The tip of the optical fiber 47 is cut obliquely, and the oblique cut surfaces are made reflective surfaces 46a and 47a. The light passing through the light-emitting side optical fiber 46 is reflected at the tip of the light-receiving side optical fiber 47 by the reflective surface 46a. A configuration is considered in which light is reflected toward the reflecting surface 47a and light is further reflected from the reflecting surface 47a into the optical fiber 47 on the light receiving side.
When the two optical fibers 46 and 47 are provided side by side in this way, the measurement gap 50 serving as an arrangement space for the lubricant 45 between their tips can be reduced in size, and the degree of freedom of arrangement inside the bearing or the like is possible. Becomes higher.

  However, in this configuration, since the measurement gap 50 is small, for example, when mounted in a bearing, the lubricant 45 may not easily enter the measurement gap 50 depending on the mounting orientation, and stable and accurate deterioration may occur. Cannot detect.

The purpose of this invention, is possible to reduce the size of the detection unit liable lubricant enters even a small measurement gap was or, stable and accurate detection possible bearing Jun lubricant deterioration detecting device, and lubricating It is providing a bearing with a detecting device provided with an agent deterioration detecting device.

Or lubricants deterioration detector of the bearing of the present invention, the tip is disposed inside the bearing of the roller bearing, a lubricant deterioration detector of the bearing for detecting the deterioration state of the encapsulated lubricant in the bearing,
The two optical fibers-edge lined through configuration space of the lubricant provided, these two optical fibers, the diagonal cut plane and a reflective coating reflecting surface respectively cut the tip obliquely, these oblique The reflecting surface of the optical fiber is configured such that light passing through one optical fiber is reflected by the reflecting surface at the tip toward the reflecting surface of the other optical fiber and reflected from the reflecting surface into the other optical fiber. the light-emitting element at the proximal end of the fiber, the light receiving element is disposed at the proximal end of the other optical fiber, setting a determination means for detecting the amount of foreign matter mixed in the lubricant from the output of said light receiving element,
The front ends of the two optical fibers are in the vicinity of a surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the outer ring of the bearing to the end of the roller, or in the vicinity of a surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the cage to the end of the roller. The two optical fibers are arranged in the radial direction of the bearing, and the two optical fibers are formed by an integrated member that covers the two optical fibers except for the tips. you characterized that to keep a gap measuring gap between the tips of two optical fibers to be constant as a fixed state. When the bearing is a tapered roller bearing, the end of the roller is the large end of the roller .
As in this, the light projecting side optical fiber and the light-receiving side optical fiber, with their tips provided so as to be aligned through a configuration space of the lubricant, reflects the oblique cut surface by cutting the respective front end obliquely When the coated reflective surface is used, the arrangement space of the lubricant that is the measurement gap portion can be reduced in size and the number of components can be reduced without using a complicated structure in which a reflective member is added separately. Further, by reducing the number of components, the optical system of the lubricant deterioration detecting device can be made compact and difficult to break down. This ensures that, at the installation of the inner portion of the bearing lubricant object is enclosed detect, it is possible to increase the freedom of arrangement. Also, the arrangement direction of the tips of the two optical fibers is the radial direction of the bearing, and the two optical fibers are arranged so that the arrangement direction of the tips is perpendicular to the direction in which the lubricant flows. Therefore, although the measurement gap portion is small, the lubricant easily enters the measurement gap portion, and stable and accurate deterioration detection is possible.
In the rolling bearing, the lubricant is dragged by the rolling elements and moves in the circumferential direction, and is gradually pushed out in the axial direction toward the seal side of the bearing by the lubricant discharged from between the rolling surfaces of the inner and outer rings. If the alignment direction of the tips of the two optical fibers is the radial direction of the bearing, the alignment direction is perpendicular to the direction in which the lubricant flows. Is easier to enter and exit.

The bearing with a detecting device of the present invention is a device in which the lubricant deterioration detecting device having the above-described configuration according to the present invention is mounted on a bearing.
According to this configuration, the deterioration of the lubricant enclosed in the bearing can be detected accurately and stably in real time. As a result, it is possible to determine the necessity of replacement of the lubricant before the operation abnormality occurs in the bearing, and it is possible to prevent the bearing from being damaged due to poor lubrication. In addition, since the necessity of replacing the lubricant can be determined by the lubricant of the lubricant deterioration detecting device, the amount of lubricant discarded before the expiration date is reduced.

In the present invention, the bearing may be a rolling bearing, and the arrangement direction of the tips of the two optical fibers may be the radial direction of the bearing.
In the rolling bearing, the lubricant is dragged by the rolling elements and moves in the circumferential direction, and is gradually pushed out in the axial direction toward the seal side of the bearing by the lubricant discharged from between the rolling surfaces of the inner and outer rings. If the alignment direction of the tips of the two optical fibers is the radial direction of the bearing, the alignment direction is perpendicular to the direction in which the lubricant flows. Is easier to enter and exit.

At this inventions of the lubricant deterioration detecting device equipped bearing assembly, the bearing be a tapered roller bearing, the tip of the pre-Symbol optical fiber, the straddle surface area in the large end of the roller from the inner diameter surface of the outer ring You may arrange | position in the vicinity.
As described above, the rolling bearing is dragged by the rolling element and moves in the circumferential direction. Further, the lubricant is gradually pushed out in the axial direction toward the seal side of the bearing by discharging the lubricant from between the rolling surfaces of the inner and outer rings and the rolling elements. Thereby, the fluidity | liquidity of a lubricant becomes large in the vicinity of the surface area ranging from the internal diameter surface of an outer ring | wheel to the big end part of a rolling element. Therefore, when the tip of the optical fiber is disposed in the vicinity of the surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the outer ring to the large end of the rolling element, the lubricant easily enters and exits the lubricant arrangement space that is the measurement gap. .

At this inventions of the lubricant deterioration detector equipped bearing, straddle surface when the bearing is a tapered roller bearing, the tip of the pre-Symbol optical fiber, the inner diameter surface of the cage to the large end of the rolling elements It may be arranged near the area.
In the rolling bearing, since the lubricant flows as described above, the fluidity of the lubricant is increased even in the vicinity of the surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the cage to the large end of the rolling element. Therefore, if the tip of the optical fiber is disposed in the vicinity of the surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the cage to the large end of the rolling element, the lubricant can easily enter and leave the lubricant arrangement space as the measurement gap. Become.

Or lubricants deterioration detector of the bearing of the present invention, the tip is disposed inside the bearing of the roller bearing, a lubricant deterioration detector of the bearing for detecting the deterioration state of the encapsulated lubricant in the bearing,
The two optical fibers-edge lined through configuration space of the lubricant provided, these two optical fibers, the diagonal cut plane and a reflective coating reflecting surface respectively cut the tip obliquely, these oblique The reflecting surface of the optical fiber is configured such that light passing through one optical fiber is reflected by the reflecting surface at the tip toward the reflecting surface of the other optical fiber and reflected from the reflecting surface into the other optical fiber. the light-emitting element at the proximal end of the fiber, the light receiving element is disposed at the proximal end of the other optical fiber, only setting a determination means for detecting the amount of foreign matter mixed in the lubricant from the output of said light receiving element, wherein The tips of the two optical fibers are arranged in the vicinity of the area extending from the inner diameter surface of the outer ring of the bearing to the end of the roller, or in the vicinity of the area extending from the inner diameter surface of the cage to the end of the roller. and, and the arrangement of the distal end of the two optical fibers The two optical fibers are used for measurement between the ends of these two optical fibers, with the two optical fibers fixed in a state other than the ends by an integrated member that covers the two optical fibers. for that to keep the gap of the gap section constant, is possible to reduce the size of the configuration space of the lubricant is a measurement gap, high degree of freedom in placement in unit bearings, also small measurement gap However, it is easy for the lubricant to enter, and stable and accurate detection is possible.
Since the bearing with the detection device of the present invention is a device in which the lubricant deterioration detection device of the present invention is mounted on the bearing, the deterioration of the lubricant sealed in the bearing can be detected stably and accurately in real time. . As a result, it is possible to determine the necessity of replacement of the lubricant before the operation abnormality occurs in the bearing, and it is possible to prevent the bearing from being damaged due to poor lubrication. In addition, since the necessity of replacing the lubricant can be determined by the lubricant of the lubricant deterioration detecting device, the amount of lubricant discarded before the expiration date is reduced.

A proposal example as a basis of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1A shows a schematic configuration diagram of the lubricant deterioration detection device of this proposed example . The lubricant deterioration detecting device 1 includes two optical fibers 4 and 5 arranged at the front end via a measurement gap portion 10 in which the lubricant 6 is disposed, and light emission disposed at the base end of one optical fiber 4. The element 2, a light receiving element 3 disposed at the proximal end of the other optical fiber 5, and a determination means 7 for detecting the amount of foreign matter mixed in the lubricant 6 from the output of the light receiving element 3 are provided. The measurement gap 10 serves as a detection unit for the lubricant 6 in the lubricant deterioration detection device 1.
The two optical fibers 4 and 5 are arranged in parallel to each other, and their tips are inclined cut surfaces that are cut obliquely. These oblique cut surfaces are reflective surfaces 4a and 5a that are reflectively coated by vapor deposition, plating, or resin sealing, as shown in side and front views in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B). . The oblique reflecting surfaces 4a and 5a reflect light passing through one optical fiber 4 at the leading reflecting surface 4a toward the reflecting surface 5a of the other optical fiber 5, and from the reflecting surface 5a to the other optical fiber. 5 is directed in the direction of reflection. Specifically, one of the optical fibers 4 causes the light emitted from the light emitting element 2 to be incident on the end face of the base end facing the light emitting surface of the light emitting element 2 and reflected by the reflecting surface 4a at the tip, thereby changing the optical path. This is a light-projecting side optical fiber that is bent by 90 ° and is projected onto the measurement gap 10. The other optical fiber 5 allows light that has passed through the lubricant 6 in the measurement gap 10 to enter from the front surface facing the measurement gap 10 and is reflected in the optical fiber 5 by the reflection surface 5a at the front. As a result, the optical path is further bent by 90 °, and the light receiving side optical fiber is made incident on the light receiving element 3 from the end face of the base end facing the light receiving surface of the light receiving element 3.
By arranging the light projecting side optical fiber 4 and the light receiving side optical fiber 5 in this way, the light emitted from the light emitting element 2 is transmitted through the lubricant 6 through the light projecting side optical fiber 4, and the transmitted light is transmitted. The light enters the light receiving element 3 through the light receiving side optical fiber 5.

As shown in FIG. 1B, which shows a perspective view of the vicinity of the distal ends of the two optical fibers 4 and 5, the two optical fibers 4 and 5 are measured such that the arrangement direction P of the distal ends is a detection portion. It arrange | positions so that it may become a perpendicular | vertical direction with respect to the direction Q where the lubricant 6 flows in the gap part 10 for use. In this case, the arrangement direction P of the tips of the two optical fibers 4 and 5 is such that the light path of the light reflected from the reflecting surface 4 a at the tip of the light projecting side optical fiber 4 and incident on the reflecting surface 5 a of the light receiving side optical fiber 5. Match the direction.
By arranging the two optical fibers 4 and 5 in this way, the flow of the lubricant 6 in the measurement gap 10 can be prevented from being obstructed by the tips of the two optical fibers 4 and 5. The lubricant 6 easily enters and exits the gap portion 10.

  As the light emitting element 2, LD, LED, EL, organic EL, or the like can be used, and it is driven by the light emitting circuit 8. As the light receiving element 3, a photodiode, a phototransistor, or the like can be used, and the amount of light received by the light receiving element 3 is detected by the light receiving circuit 9 that receives the output.

  When the lubricant 6 is new, it is almost transparent, and the intensity of transmitted light that is projected from the light-projecting side optical fiber 4 and transmitted through the lubricant 6 is high. However, as the amount of foreign matter mixed in the lubricant 6 increases, the intensity of transmitted light gradually decreases. Therefore, the determination unit 7 detects the amount of foreign matter mixed in the lubricant 6 from the output of the light receiving element 3 corresponding to the intensity of transmitted light. Since the increase in the amount of foreign matter mixed in the lubricant 6 means the progress of deterioration of the lubricant 6, the deterioration degree of the lubricant 6 can be estimated from the detected amount of foreign matter.

As described above, in the lubricant deterioration detection device 1, the light projecting side optical fiber 4 and the light receiving side optical fiber 5 are arranged in such a manner that their tips are aligned via the measurement gap portion 10, which is a space where the lubricant 6 is disposed. In addition to the provision of the reflective surfaces 4a and 5a that are obliquely cut at the front ends and reflectively coated on the oblique cut surfaces, a measurement gap that serves as a detection unit without a complicated structure in which a reflective member is separately added. The part can be miniaturized and the number of components can be reduced. Also, by reducing the number of components, the optical system can be made compact and less likely to fail. Thereby, the freedom degree of arrangement | positioning can be raised in the installation etc. in the inside of the bearing etc. which enclosed the lubricant 6 to be detected, for example.
In particular, in this lubricant deterioration detection device 1, the alignment direction P of the tips of the two optical fibers 4 and 5 is perpendicular to the direction Q of the lubricant 6 flowing in the measurement gap 10. Therefore, the flow of the lubricant 6 in the measurement gap 10 can be prevented from being obstructed by the tips of the two optical fibers 4 and 5, and the lubricant 6 can easily enter and exit the measurement gap 10. Become. As a result, stable and accurate deterioration detection is possible.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of the optical system in the lubricant deterioration detecting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the parts other than the optical system is the same as that of the proposed example of FIG. 1, and the description thereof is omitted here. In this embodiment, in the lubricant deterioration detecting device 1 of the proposed example of FIG. 1, portions of the light projecting side optical fiber 4 and the light receiving side optical fiber 5 other than the tip portion disposed to face the measurement gap 10 are arranged. The resin 11 is molded and fixed.
When the gap of the measurement gap 10 changes, the thickness of the lubricant 6 to be detected changes. Since the intensity of the transmitted light that passes through the lubricant 6 depends on the thickness of the lubricant 6, fluctuations in the thickness of the lubricant 6 prevent stable detection. When the light projecting side optical fiber 4 and the light receiving side optical fiber 5 are molded and fixed with the resin 11 as in this embodiment, since there is no gap fluctuation of the measurement gap portion 10, more stable deterioration detection is possible. Become.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of an optical system in a lubricant deterioration detection device of another proposed example . The configuration of the parts other than the optical system is the same as that of the proposed example of FIG. 1, and the description thereof is omitted here. In this embodiment, in the lubricant deterioration detecting device 1 of the embodiment of FIG. 1, the surfaces opposite to the reflecting surfaces 4a and 5a at the tips of the light projecting side optical fiber 4 and the light receiving side optical fiber 5, that is, the measurement gap. 5A to 5C are provided with notch-shaped opening windows 14 and 15 on the surface facing the portion 10 as shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, and these opening windows 14 and 15 are provided with a lubricant. 6 observation units.
In this way, by providing the opening windows 14 and 15 serving as the observation portions on the surfaces of the ends of the optical fibers 4 and 5 facing the measurement gap 10, the gap between the ends of the optical fibers 4 and 5, that is, the measurement gap. The lubricant 6 can easily enter the portion 10, and further stable deterioration detection can be performed.

6A and 6B are a plan view and a front view showing a schematic configuration of an optical system in a lubricant deterioration device according to another embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of the parts other than the optical system is the same as that of the proposed example of FIG. In this embodiment, in the proposed examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the light projecting side optical fiber 4 and the light receiving side optical fiber 5 is made of metal except for a portion other than the tip portion disposed to face the measurement gap portion 10. It is inserted into the pipes 16 and 17 and fixed. Both metal pipes 16 and 17 may be joined and integrated.
As described above, when the light projecting side optical fiber 4 and the light receiving side optical fiber 5 are inserted into the metal pipes 16 and 17, the optical fibers 4 and 5 can be fixed more firmly. Therefore, it is possible to detect deterioration more stably.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an example in which a bearing with a detection device on which the above-described lubricant deterioration detection device 1 is mounted is used in a railway vehicle bearing unit. The railcar bearing unit in this case includes a bearing 21 with a detection device and an oil drain 22 and a rear lid 23 which are accessory parts provided on both sides of the inner ring 24 respectively. The bearing 21 is a roller bearing, more specifically, a double row tapered roller bearing. The split type inner rings 24 and 24 provided for the rollers 26 and 26 in each row, the integral type outer ring 25, the rollers 26 and 26, respectively. 26 and a retainer 27.
The rear lid 23 is attached to the axle 20 on the center side of the bearing 21 and has an oil seal 28 slidably contacted on the outer periphery. The oil drain 22 is attached to the axle 20 and has an oil seal 29 slidably contacted on the outer periphery. The two oil seals 28 and 29 disposed at both ends of the bearing 21 seal the lubricant inside the bearing 21 and ensure dustproof and water resistance.

  Seal cases 30 and 31 are attached to both ends of the outer ring 25 of the bearing 21, and the oil seals 28 and 29 are provided on the seal cases 30 and 31, respectively. FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a mounting structure of one oil seal 29. In the same figure, the seal case 31 is an annular member having a cross-sectional shape in which a plurality of step portions are arranged stepwise in the axial direction, and one end thereof is press-fitted to the inner diameter surface of the bearing outer ring 25. It is attached to the outer ring 25. A ring member 32 having an L-shaped cross section is attached to the inner diameter surface of the intermediate step portion of the seal case 31 by press-fitting the cylindrical portion 32a, and the upright plate portion extending toward the inner diameter side of the ring member 32 32 b is arranged so as to form a predetermined labyrinth gap with respect to the outer diameter surface of the oil drain 22. The oil seal 29 provided in the seal case 31 includes an annular cored bar 33 having an L-shaped cross section and an elastic member 34 fixed to a standing plate part of the annular cored bar 33. Is fixed to the seal case 31 via the ring member 32 by press-fitting to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 32a of the ring member 32. The elastic member 34 is formed with a radial lip that is in sliding contact with the outer diameter surface of the oil drain 22. The other end of the seal case 31 is loosely fitted into a ring-shaped groove 35 formed on the inwardly-width surface of the flange 22 a of the oil drain 22, so that the gap between the groove 35 and the other end of the seal case 31 is The labyrinth gap is formed in the. With such a configuration, at one end portion of the annular space between the inner and outer rings 24 and 25 of the bearing 21, a labyrinth gap formed between the ring member standing piece 32 b and the outer diameter surface of the oil drain 22, and an oil Sealing is achieved by an oil seal 29 that is in sliding contact with the outer diameter surface of the cut 22 and a labyrinth gap formed between the groove 35 of the oil cut 22 and the other end of the seal case 31. The description of the other end portion of the annular space between the inner and outer rings 24 and 25 of the bearing 21 is omitted, but the seal structure is the same as the one end portion described above.

  In this bearing 21 with a detection device, the distal end sides of the two optical fibers 4 and 5 of the lubricant deterioration output device 1 are arranged inside one seal case 31, and the base end sides thereof are provided in the seal case 31. The hole 36 is drawn out of the bearing. Other components (the light emitting element 2, the light receiving element 3, the light emitting circuit 8, the light receiving circuit 9, the determination circuit 7, etc.) of the lubricant deterioration detection device 1 are arranged outside the bearing 21. In this case, the two optical fibers 4 and 5 are arranged so that the arrangement direction of the tips thereof faces the radial direction of the bearing 21. Further, the measurement gap 10 is disposed in the vicinity of a surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the outer ring 25 to the large end of the roller 26. Since the measurement gap 10 of the lubricant deterioration detection device 1 is downsized and has a high degree of freedom in arrangement as described above, it can be easily arranged in such a position.

Generally, in a rolling bearing, the lubricant is dragged by the rolling elements and moves in the circumferential direction, and is gradually pushed out in the axial direction toward the seal side of the bearing by the lubricant discharged from between the rolling surfaces of the inner and outer rings. In the case of this bearing 21 with a detecting device, the arrangement direction of the tips of the two optical fibers 4 and 5 is the radial direction of the bearing 21, so the arrangement direction is perpendicular to the direction in which the lubricant 6 flows. The lubricant 6 easily enters and exits the gap portion 10 for use.
Further, due to the flow of the lubricant 6 described above, the fluidity of the lubricant 6 increases in the vicinity of the surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the outer ring 25 to the large end of the roller 26. In this embodiment, since the tips of the two optical fibers 4 and 5 are arranged in the vicinity of the surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the outer ring to the large end of the rolling element, the measurement gap 10 Lubricant 6 becomes easier to enter, and stable and accurate deterioration detection becomes possible.

  Thereby, in this bearing 21 with a detecting device equipped with the lubricant deterioration detecting device 1, the deterioration of the lubricant enclosed in the bearing can be detected accurately and stably in real time. As a result, it is possible to determine the necessity for replacement of the lubricant before the operation abnormality occurs in the bearing 21, and to prevent damage to the bearing 21 due to poor lubrication. Further, since the necessity of replacing the lubricant can be determined by the output of the lubricant deterioration detecting device 1, the amount of lubricant discarded before the expiration date is reduced.

  FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 show another example of a bearing with a detection device in which the above-described lubricant deterioration detection device 1 is incorporated in a railway vehicle bearing. In this bearing 21A with a detection device, in the bearing 21 with a detection device shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the measurement gap 10 between the tips of the two optical fibers 4 and 5 of the lubricant deterioration detection device 1 is held. It is disposed in the vicinity of the surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the container 27 to the large end of the roller 26. Other configurations are the same as those of the configuration example shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the description thereof is omitted here.

  In the rolling bearing, since the lubricant flows as described above, the fluidity of the lubricant is increased even in the vicinity of the surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the cage to the large end of the rolling element. In the case of this bearing 21A with the detection device, the measurement gap 10 between the tips of the two optical fibers 4 and 5 is in the vicinity of the surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the cage 27 to the large end portion of the roller 26. The arrangement makes it easier for the lubricant 6 to enter the measurement gap 10 and enables stable and accurate detection of deterioration.

(A) is a schematic block diagram of the lubricant deterioration detection device according to the proposed example , and (B) is a perspective view of the vicinity of two optical fiber tips in the lubricant deterioration detection device. (A) is a side view of an optical fiber in the lubricant deterioration detection device, and (B) is a rear view thereof. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the optical system in the lubricant deterioration detection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows schematic structure of the optical system in the lubricant deterioration detection apparatus which concerns on another proposal example . (A) is a side view of an optical fiber in the lubricant deterioration detection device, (B) is a front view thereof, and (C) is a rear view thereof. (A) is a front view which shows schematic structure of the optical system in the lubricant deterioration detection apparatus based on other embodiment of this invention, (B) is the top view. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the bearing with a detection apparatus carrying the said lubricant deterioration detection apparatus. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the bearing with the same detection apparatus. It is sectional drawing which shows the other example of the bearing with a detection apparatus carrying the said lubricant deterioration detection apparatus. It is a partial expanded sectional view of the bearing with the same detection apparatus. It is a schematic block diagram of the proposal example of a lubricant deterioration detection apparatus. It is the elements on larger scale of the other proposal example of a lubricant deterioration detection apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lubricant deterioration detection apparatus 2 ... Light emitting element 3 ... Light receiving element 4 ... Light emission side optical fiber 4a ... Reflection surface 5 ... Light reception side optical fiber 5a ... Reflection surface 6 ... Lubricant 7 ... Determination means 10 ... Measurement gap part (Lubricant placement space)
21, 21A ... Bearing 25 with detecting device ... Outer ring 26 ... Roller 27 ... Cage

Claims (5)

A lubricant deterioration detection device for a bearing, the tip of which is disposed inside the roller bearing and detects the deterioration state of the lubricant enclosed in the bearing,
The two optical fibers-edge lined through configuration space of the lubricant provided, these two optical fibers, the diagonal cut plane and a reflective coating reflecting surface respectively cut the tip obliquely, these oblique The reflecting surface of the optical fiber is configured such that light passing through one optical fiber is reflected by the reflecting surface at the tip toward the reflecting surface of the other optical fiber and reflected from the reflecting surface into the other optical fiber. the light-emitting element at the proximal end of the fiber, the light receiving element is disposed at the proximal end of the other optical fiber, setting a determination means for detecting the amount of foreign matter mixed in the lubricant from the output of said light receiving element,
The front ends of the two optical fibers are in the vicinity of a surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the outer ring of the bearing to the end of the roller, or in the vicinity of a surface area extending from the inner diameter surface of the cage to the end of the roller. The two optical fibers are arranged in the radial direction of the bearing, and the two optical fibers are formed by an integrated member that covers the two optical fibers except for the tips. these two measurement gap bearing Jun lubricant deterioration detecting device characterized in that to keep a constant gap between the tip of the optical fiber as a fixed state. 2. The lubricant deterioration detecting device for a bearing according to claim 1, wherein the bearing is a tapered roller bearing, and an end of the roller is a large end of the roller. A bearing with a detection device, wherein the lubricant deterioration detection device according to claim 1 is mounted on the bearing. Te claim 3 smell, the bearing is a tapered roller bearing, the tip of the pre-Symbol optical fiber, detector equipped bearing disposed in the vicinity of the straddle surface area in the large end of the roller from the inner diameter surface of the outer ring. According to claim 3, wherein a bearing is a tapered roller bearing, the light the tip of the fiber, the retainer detector equipped bearing disposed in the vicinity of the straddle surface area from the inner diameter surface large end of the rollers of the.

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