Patent ID: 7500311

Claim:
A method of lubricating a bearing device including an inner ring member through which a shaft is passed and which is supported rotatably about an axis of the shaft and includes an inner ring raceway surface, an outer ring member arranged concentrically with the inner ring member and including an outer ring raceway surface, a plurality of rollers arranged rollably between the inner ring raceway surface and the outer ring raceway surface, and first and second lubricating paths through which lubricant is supplied to at least one of the inner ring raceway surface and the outer ring raceway surface, the method comprising: detecting a rotating speed of the inner ring member about the axis; supplying the lubricant to at least one of the first and second lubricating paths according to the detected rotating speed of the inner ring member; and controlling a supply of the lubricant to the first and second lubricating paths using a changeover valve, wherein the lubricant is supplied to the first lubricating path when the rotating speed of the inner ring member is no more than a predetermined speed, and wherein the lubricant is supplied to the first and second lubricating paths when the rotating speed of the inner ring member is higher than the predetermined speed.