Patent ID: 7071834

Claim:
A device for monitoring the operating conditions of a rolling bearing, comprising: the rolling bearing including: an outer ring made of a metal having an outer raceway provided on the inner surface thereof; an inner ring made of a metal having an inner raceway provided on the outer surface thereof; and a plurality of rolling elements rollably interposed between the outer raceway and the inner raceway; a first member electrically connected to the outer ring; a second member electrically connected to the inner ring; and a lubricant presented on the area at which the outer raceway and the inner raceway come in contact with the rolling surface of the rolling elements; wherein the electrical characteristics between the outer ring or first member and the inner ring or second member are monitored in order to monitor the operating conditions of the rolling bearing operating with the lubricant and when the electrical characteristics thus monitored fall outside a predetermined range, the lubricating conditions are judged poor.