Patent ID: 7652587
Filing Date: 2010-01-26
Classification: F16C,G01K,H02K,H02P

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring a temperature of at least one bearing of an electric machine which has a plurality of machine components, comprising the steps of: defining a temperature model for the machine, simulating thermal conditions in the electric machine based on a multiple-mass model, continuously measuring an electric current in the electric machine and supplying the measured electric current as an input variable for the temperature model, continuously measuring a rotation speed of the electric machine as an input variable for the temperature model, deriving from the temperature model at least one calculated bearing power loss, which corresponds to a temperature of a bearing or a temperature of a bearing inner ring, emitting a first warning message if the calculated bearing power loss is greater than a predetermined comparison value, or emitting a second warning message if a calculated temperature difference between a bearing inner ring and an associated bearing outer ring exceeds a predetermined temperature difference, or both.