Incorporate sensors, power generation units and wireless devices into bearing for advanced condition monitoring
NTN Corporation (hereafter, NTN) has developed Sensor Integrated Bearing “Talking Bearing™” that incorporates sensors, power generation units, and wireless devices into bearing and wirelessly transmits information on temperature, vibration, and rotational speed. As the sensors are built into the bearing, the newly developed product realizes more advanced condition monitoring and early abnormality detection than sensors attached to outside of equipment.
At manufacturing sites, there is a strong demand to minimize downtime of facilities by monitoring operating status of equipment, and conducting appropriate and systematic maintenance and parts replacement based on data in order to improve production efficiency. In addition, with advancement of DX and IoT technologies in recent years, there has also been growing needs to stabilize and improve manufacturing quality through remote or automatic monitoring of equipment that is not subject to location or time constraints and use of obtained condition monitoring information.
NTN has responded to needs for condition monitoring through sensing bearings. In particular, we participated in project by NEDO regarding monitoring and analyzing bearing condition for large wind turbines in 2014. Currently, many customers have adopted our condition monitoring system (CMS) for wind turbines*1. In addition, we have developed “Sensor Integrated Bearing Unit” for Machine Tool Spindles*2, “Bearing Diagnosis Application for Industrial IoT Platforms,” and “NTN Portable Vibroscope*3” to respond to condition monitoring for bearings. Through the development of these products and services, we have been improving our technology of selecting sensors required to monitor bearing condition and developing analysis software in advance to other companies.
“Talking Bearing™” incorporate sensors, generation units, and wireless devices into standard bearing*4 without changing dimensions and load capacity. Sensors and wireless devices are operated by electricity generated with rotation of bearing, and sensor information is transmitted wirelessly and automatically. Since the sensor is built into the bearing, it is possible to detect condition of bearing more sensitively than sensor externally attached to equipment. It can also diagnose abnormality at an early stage. In addition, since its dimension and load capacity are the same as those of standard bearings, the developed product can be replaced from bearings used in existing equipment without cables for power supply and data transmission, enabling easy condition monitoring for bearings.
NTN will begin test marketing of the product to seek out specific needs and make proposals to market. We plan to commercialize deep groove ball bearings as “Talking Bearing™,” which are often used in production equipment, and then gradually expand types and part numbers of the developed product.
Under the Medium-term Management Plan “DRIVE NTN100” Phase 2, NTN has been strengthening service and solution business in order to transform its business from “products” to “services.” With the developed product, NTN will contribute to realization of sophisticated condition monitoring, and develop our service and solution business through the provision of condition monitoring services including notifications of proper replacement timing. We will also expand sales of bearings for repair in conjunction with the service and solution business.
#WHEEL BEARING
#WHEEL BEARING KIT
#WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLY
#TENSIONER BEARING
#TRUCK BEARING
