Patent ID: 8531672

Claim:
A detector equipped bearing assembly having a lubricant deterioration detecting device, the lubricant deterioration detecting device being fitted to a rolling bearing assembly, the lubricant deterioration detecting device comprising: an optical fiber of an arcuate shape having one end positioned in face-to-face relation with a light emitting element and also having the opposite end positioned in face-to-face relation with a light receiving element, the arcuate shape corresponding to the circumferential shape of inner and outer rings of the rolling bearing assembly; a measuring gap defined in a portion of the arcuate optical fiber for receiving a lubricating agent inserted therein; and a deformable resistance element provided in proximity to the measuring gap, of which amount of deformation changes with change of the state of lubrication with the lubricating agent, the resistance element being positioned within a bearing space delimited between the inner and outer rings of the rolling bearing assembly.