Patent ID: 6535135
Filing Date: 2003-03-18
Classification: B21B,B61K,F16C,G01P

Abstract:
An antifriction bearing for facilitating rotation about an axis; said bearing comprising:an inner race having a raceway which is presented outwardly away from the axis; an outer race having a raceway which is presented inwardly toward the axis and surrounds the raceway of the inner race; rolling elements located in a row between the raceways of the inner and outer races; and a sensor unit carried by and fixed in position with respect to one of the races and located entirely within the confines of the outer race, the sensor unit including at least one sensor for monitoring a condition of the bearing and generating a signal representative of that condition, a microprocessor for processing the signal from the sensor and producing a processed signal, a transmitter for converting the processed signal into a radio frequency signal representative of the condition monitored, and a power supply connected to the processor and the transmitter and providing electrical energy for the operation of the processor and transmitter, the transmitter having an antenna that is entirely within the confines of the outer race.