Patent ID: 9746306
Date: 2017-08-29
CPC Classifications: F16C,G01B,G01M,G01P

Claim:
1. A method for determining a contact angle (a) of a rolling element within a roller bearing, the method comprising the steps of; providing an inner ring, an outer ring and a plurality, P, of rolling elements disposed between the inner ring and the outer ring, the outer ring comprising an outer raceway thereon, rotating at least one of the inner ring and the outer ring, using pulse generating means to generate pulses when at least one of the plurality, P, of rolling elements passes a first measuring station, the pulse generating means generating pulses at a rate of between two-thousand (2000) and three-thousand (3000) pulses per revolution of the at least one of the plurality of rolling elements, counting pulses generated to determine the time taken for the at least one of the plurality, P, of rolling elements to move between the first measuring station and a second measuring station, wherein the first measuring station and the second measuring station are located around a circumference of the roller bearing, and wherein the first measuring station is located at an angular distance of 10-70° (ten to seventy degrees) from the second measuring station, and determining the relative speed of the at least one of the plurality, P, of rolling elements with respect to the one of the inner ring and the outer ring that is rotating and determining the contact angle (a) of the rolling element therefrom, the contact angle being the angle between a first line extending perpendicular to and through an axis of rotation of the roller bearing and extending through a center of the at least one of the plurality, P, of rolling elements and a second line extending through a point on the outer raceway that the at least one of the plurality, P, of rolling elements applies pressure on and the center of the at least one of the plurality, P, of rolling elements.