Wireless monitoring of conical crusher components

• US 20030136865A1
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Metso Minerals Industries Incorporated (Neles Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Metso Minerals Industries Incorporated (Neles Oyj)
• Inventors: Karra, Vijia K.
• Application Number:
  US10/053,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20030136865A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 241/33
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2/00 Crushing or disintegrating by gyratory or cone crushers with non-coaxial discs with intersecting axes B02C7/005
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 2/04 with vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: B02C 25/00 Control arrangements specially adapted for crushing or disintegrating

Abstract

A cone crusher includes a frame, a shaft supported by the frame, and a head coupled to the shaft. An eccentric is rotatably coupled to the shaft and an eccentric bushing is coupled to the eccentric. A temperature sensor is attached to the eccentric bushing and directly measures the temperature of the eccentric bushing. A wireless transmitter is coupled to the temperature sensor, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits the measured temperature data.

Claims

1. A cone crusher, comprising:

a frame;

a shaft supported by the frame;

a head coupled to the shaft;

an eccentric rotatably coupled to the shaft;

an eccentric bushing coupled to the eccentric;

a temperature sensor attached to the eccentric bushing, the temperature sensor measuring the temperature of the eccentric bushing; and

a wireless transmitter coupled to the temperature sensor, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits measured temperature data.

2. The cone crusher of claim 1, wherein the eccentric bushing is disposed radially inward of the eccentric.

3. The cone crusher of claim 1, wherein the eccentric bushing is disposed radially outward of the eccentric.

4. The cone crusher of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is embedded into the eccentric bushing.

5. The cone crusher of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a thin film metallic sensor.

6. The cone crusher of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is a fiberoptic sensor.

7. The cone crusher of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is attached to a flat edge of the eccentric bushing.

8. The cone crusher of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is attached to the eccentric.

9. The cone crusher of claim 1, further comprising a receiver for receiving the measured temperature data from the wireless transmitter.

10. A rock crusher, comprising:

a frame;

a crushing head;

a motive force coupled to the crushing head to effectuate motion designed to crush rock;

a bushing provided intermediate a rotating part and a stationary part of the rock crusher, wherein the bushing rotates with the rotating part, the bushing including a temperature sensor that directly measures the temperature of the bushing; and

a wireless transmitter coupled to the temperature sensor, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits temperature data.

11. The rock crusher of claim 10, wherein the rock crusher is a cone crusher.

12. The rock crusher of claim 10, wherein the rock crusher is a jaw crusher.

13. The rock crusher of claim 10, wherein the rock crusher is a gyratory crusher.

14. The rock crusher of claim 10, wherein the rotating part is an eccentric and the stationary part is a shaft.

15. The rock crusher of claim 10, wherein the rotating part is an eccentric and the stationary part is the frame.

16. The rock crusher of claim 10, wherein the rotating part is a countershaft and the stationary part is a countershaft box.

17. The rock crusher of claim 10, wherein the bushing is a head bushing.

18. The rock crusher of claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor is embedded into the bushing.

19. The rock crusher of claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor is a thin film metallic sensor.

20. The rock crusher of claim 10, wherein the temperature sensor is a fiberoptic sensor.

21. The rock crusher of claim 10, further comprising a receiver for receiving the temperature data from the wireless transmitter.

22. A method of directly measuring the temperature of a moving part within a cone crusher having a frame, a shaft, and a crushing head, comprising the steps of:

embedding a temperature sensor in the moving part;

coupling a wireless transmitter to the temperature sensor;

directly measuring the temperature of the moving part; and

transmitting the temperature from the wireless transmitter to a receiver.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the moving part is a thrust bearing.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the moving part is a head ball.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the moving part is an eccentric bushing.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the moving part is a countershaft bushing.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the moving part is a head bushing.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of reducing the temperature of the moving part when the temperature reaches a preset level.

29. An eccentric bushing for a rock crusher, comprising:

a bushing;

a temperature sensor embedded in the bushing; and

a wireless transmitter attached to the bushing and coupled to the temperature sensor.

30. The eccentric bushing of claim 29, wherein the temperature sensor is a thin film metallic sensor.

31. The eccentric bushing of claim 29, wherein the temperature sensor is a fiberoptic sensor.

32. The eccentric bushing of claim 29, wherein the wireless transmitter is attached to a flat edge of the bushing.

33. The eccentric bushing of claim 29, wherein the temperature sensor is embedded at least one-half inch into the bushing.

34. The eccentric bushing of claim 29, wherein the wireless transmitter is attached to the bushing via an adhesive.

35. The eccentric bushing of claim 29, wherein the wireless transmitter is attached to the bushing by a mechanical fastener.

36. A method of crusher temperature monitoring for the purpose of proactively enhancing crusher operational time, comprising the steps of:

measuring the temperature of a crusher component;

transmitting the measured temperature via a wireless transmitter disposed on the crusher component; and

receiving the transmitted temperature data at a satellite receiver in a remote location.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the crusher component is a bushing.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the crusher component is a gear.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the crusher component is a liner.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the crusher component is a thrust bearing.

41. A method of monitoring rock crusher operational parameters, comprising the steps of:

incorporating a monitoring device in a rock crusher part;

measuring a rock crusher operational parameter; and

transmitting the measured rock crusher operational parameter to a receiver via a wireless transmitter disposed in the rock crusher part.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the rock crusher operational parameter is rotational speed.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein the rock crusher operational parameter is displacement.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein the rock crusher operational parameter is fluid flow rate.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the rock crusher operational parameter is strain data.

46. A cone crusher, comprising:

a frame;

a crushing head;

a bushing provided intermediate a rotating part and a stationary part, wherein the bushing rotates with the rotating part;

a sensor embedded in the bushing that directly measures at least one variable; and

a wireless transmitter coupled to the sensor, wherein the wireless transmitter transmits data associated with the variable.

47. The cone crusher of claim 46, wherein the sensor is a fiberoptic sensor.

48. The cone crusher of claim 47, wherein the sensor directly measures up to four variables.

49. The cone crusher of claim 46, wherein the variable is temperature, stress, rotational speed, force, strain, displacement, flow rate, or distance.

50. A method of monitoring rock crusher operational parameters, comprising the steps of:

incorporating a monitoring device in a rock crusher part;

measuring a rock crusher operational parameter; and

transmitting the measured rock crusher operational parameter to a receiver via at least one wireless transmitter disposed in the rock crusher part.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the rock crusher operational parameter is rotational speed.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the rock crusher operational parameter is displacement.

53. The method of claim 50, wherein the rock crusher operational parameter is fluid flow rate.

54. The method of claim 50, wherein the rock crusher operational parameter is strain data.