IN-SITU TRIBOCOMPONENT TEMPERATURE-MEASUREMENT USING A RADIO TELEMETER

A microradiotelemeter was designed and developed to measure the in sit u temperature of a tribocomponent (tapered roller bearing roller). Pho tolithography was used to pattern a flexible circuit board for the tel emeter. The overall device site was minimized by the use of surface-mo unt technology (SMT) components. The completed circuit board was 5 mm by 9 mm by 1.5 mm high and weighed approximately 0.080 grams. The Boar d was packaged in a brass body with a battery case and antenna. The co mplete package was installed into a bearing roller, with the thermally sensitive elements near the rib-roller contact. The telemeter was use d with an RF spectrum analyzer to monitor the start-up temperature of a bearing roller for various applied loads and shaft speeds. Test resu lts indicate that, under starved conditions, the temperature of the ro ller measured with the telemeter increased significantly faster than t he temperature of the housing.