Monitoring system for tractive and compressive forces in an energy guiding chain and corresponding force sensor
First Claim
1. A monitoring system for at least one of traction force and compression force in an energy guide chain having a plurality of hingedly interconnected chain link members for protectedly guiding cables, hoses or other lines, including:
- at least one force sensor for measuring at least one of a traction force and a compression force transmitted between an entrainment member and a moveable end of the energy guide chain, andan evaluation unit for evaluating the measurement signals detected by the at least one force sensor,wherein the at least one force sensor is in the form of a connecting member for fixing the moveable end of the energy guide chain to the entrainment member and includes at least one web extending substantially transversely to a direction of at least one of the at least one traction force and the compression force,wherein the at least one web is stressed in flexing in an event of the at least one traction force and compression force acting in a longitudinal direction of the chain and has at least one elastically deformable flexural region with an associated sensor device for measuring a deformation produced by flexing, andwherein the at least one force sensor includes a first flange which is made in one piece with the at least one web, the first flange having fixing means to fix the at least one force sensor to the entrainment member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a monitoring system for tractive and compressive forces in a power track chain (1) for protected guidance of cables, hoses etc. The monitoring system comprises at least one force sensor (10, 90) for measuring a tractive or compressive force transmitted between a driver (4) and a moveable end (3) of the power track chain, and an evaluation unit (12) for evaluating the measurement signals detected by the force sensor. The invention is characterized by the design and arrangement of the force sensor (10, 90). This force sensor is designed as a connecting member for attaching the moveable end (3) of the power track chain (1) on the driver (4) and comprises at least one web (32, 34, 92) extended substantially transversely to the direction of the tractive/compressive force. The web has at least one elastically deformable bending region (321, 322, 341, 342) with an associated sensor (621, 622, 641, 642) for measuring deformation produced by bending.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A monitoring system for at least one of traction force and compression force in an energy guide chain having a plurality of hingedly interconnected chain link members for protectedly guiding cables, hoses or other lines, including:
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at least one force sensor for measuring at least one of a traction force and a compression force transmitted between an entrainment member and a moveable end of the energy guide chain, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the measurement signals detected by the at least one force sensor, wherein the at least one force sensor is in the form of a connecting member for fixing the moveable end of the energy guide chain to the entrainment member and includes at least one web extending substantially transversely to a direction of at least one of the at least one traction force and the compression force, wherein the at least one web is stressed in flexing in an event of the at least one traction force and compression force acting in a longitudinal direction of the chain and has at least one elastically deformable flexural region with an associated sensor device for measuring a deformation produced by flexing, and wherein the at least one force sensor includes a first flange which is made in one piece with the at least one web, the first flange having fixing means to fix the at least one force sensor to the entrainment member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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- 13. An energy guide chain comprising a plurality of hingedly interconnected chain link members for protectedly guiding cables, hoses or other lines, wherein the chain link members are respectively formed by side plates which are interlinked by the hinged connections to constitute side plate line arrays, wherein provided at at least one of the side plate line arrays of a moveable end of the energy guide chain is a connecting member, wherein the connecting member is in the form of at least one force sensor for measuring at least one of a traction force and a compression force transmitted between the entrainment member and the moveable end and includes at least one web extending substantially transversely relative to a direction of at least one of the at least one traction force and the compression force, wherein the at least one web is stressed in flexing in an event of the at least one traction force and compression force acting in a longitudinal direction of the chain and has at least one elastically deformable flexural region with an associated sensor device for measuring the deformation produced upon flexing at the flexural region, and wherein the at least one force sensor includes a first flange which is made in one piece with the at least one web, the first flange having fixing means to fix the at least one force sensor to the entrainment member.
- 23. An energy guide chain comprising a plurality of hingedly interconnected chain link members for protectedly guiding cables, hoses or other lines, wherein the chain link members are respectively formed by side plates which are interlinked by the hinged connections to constitute side plate line arrays, wherein provided at at least one of the side plate line arrays of a moveable end of the energy guide chain is a connecting member fixing the moveable end to an entrainment member, wherein the connecting member comprises at least one force sensor for measuring at least one of a traction force and a compression force transmitted between the entrainment member and the moveable end and includes at least one web extending substantially transversely relative to a direction of at least one of the at least one traction force and the compression force, wherein the at least one web is stressed in flexing in an event of the at least one traction force and compression force acting in a longitudinal direction of the chain and has at least one elastically deformable flexural region with an associated sensor device for measuring the deformation produced upon flexing at the flexural region, and wherein the at least one force sensor includes a first flange which is made in one piece with the at least one web, the first flange being fixed to the entrainment member such that the force sensor itself is fixedly connecting the moveable end to the entrainment member.
Specification