Service life sensor device

• US 20050241402A1
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thiele GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Thiele GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Nienhaus, Karl
• Granted Patent: US 7,281,434 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/760
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/30 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. mechanical strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/047 Specific indicating or recording arrangements, e.g. for remote indication, for indicating overload or underload
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/102 using sensors located at a non-interrupted part of the flexible member

Abstract

A device for monitoring the service life of a machine-technical installation includes a sensor module and at least a measuring sensor for detecting stresses and expansions from a structural component of the machine-technical installation, a microcontroller, an antenna arrangement and a current source; the sensor module being in bi-directional connection with a data processing unit and having an antenna arrangement integrated therein, the antenna arrangement including a low-frequency antenna by means of which the sensor module is turned on and off and a high-frequency antenna for sending and receiving high frequency signals and wherein the sensor module can transition from an operating mode into a stand-by mode for energy efficiency and is reactivated through a signal from a detector element.

Claims

1. A device for determining the serviceable life of a machine-technical installation comprising:

a sensor module for disposition at a structural component of the machine-technical installation and including a measuring sensor for detecting and measuring tensions and expansions from the structural component, a micro controller, a data processing unit, an antenna arrangement integrated into the sensor module including high-frequency and low-frequency antennas, a detector element and a current source, wherein the sensor module is bi-directionally connected to the data processing unit and can transition from an operating mode to a stand-by mode, and wherein the detector element is provided for reactivation of the sensor module when the sensor module is in standby mode.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor module is connected with the data processing unit via a low-frequency transmitter and a high-frequency transmitter/receiver.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the detector element is a piezosensor.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the measuring sensor is an expansion measuring strip.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising a carrier as part of the sensor module, wherein the carrier is from a material capable of transmitting tensions from the structural component.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein tensions detected from the structural component are evaluated by means of a matrix-computing method.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the matrix-computing method includes a division into 16 classes for nominal tension loads associated with the structural component being monitored.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the current source is a battery.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein a low-frequency signal of 125 Hz can be received by a low-frequency communication channel for turning the sensor module on or off without use of the current source.

10. A method for monitoring the serviceable life of a machine-technical installation utilizing a sensor module comprising the steps of:

applying a measuring element to a structural component of the machine-technical installation for uptake of stresses and tensions from the structural component in the form of expansions,

calibrating the sensor module to establish a rated stress range for the particular type of structural component to be monitored,

registering the expansions by means of an expansion measuring strip in the form of data and storing the data in the micro controller,

conducting a data reduction in the micro controller by applying a two-dimensional matrix-computation method and classifying the tensions into 16 classes,

transmitting the stored data via a high-frequency antenna integrated within the sensor module to a data processing unit for interpretation on the service life.