Wear Monitoring Device and Method of Monitoring Undercarriage and Roller Wear

• US 20130255354A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WearPro, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WearPro, Inc.
• Inventors: Hawkins, Bradley E., Dewitt, Christopher N.
• Granted Patent: US 10,046,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/7
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/08 Endless track units; Parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/15 Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings with lubrication means B62D55/092
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/00 Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 3/56 Investigating resistance to wear or abrasion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making

Abstract

An undercarriage monitoring device has a roller assembly including a fixed roller component and a bushing. An opening is formed within the fixed roller component. A first sensor is disposed within the opening of the fixed roller component over the bushing. The first sensor is configured to sense a first physical characteristic of the bushing. The fixed roller component is a shaft or a housing. The first sensor is a temperature sensor or a Hall effect sensor. A magnet is disposed on the roller assembly. A second sensor is disposed within the opening of the fixed roller component over the bushing. The second sensor is configured to sense a second physical characteristic of the bushing. A data transmitting device is coupled to the first sensor. Data is collected from the sensor. The data collected from the sensor is transmitted to a receiving device.

Claims

1. A method of making an undercarriage monitoring device, comprising:

providing a roller assembly including a fixed roller component and a bushing;

forming an opening within the fixed roller component; and

disposing a first sensor within the opening of the fixed roller component over the bushing, wherein the first sensor is configured to sense a first physical characteristic of the bushing.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fixed roller component is a shaft or a housing.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a temperature sensor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a Hall effect sensor.

5. The method of claim 1, further including disposing a magnet on the roller assembly.

6. The method of claim 1, further including disposing a second sensor within the opening of the fixed roller component over the bushing, wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a second physical characteristic of the bushing.

7. An undercarriage monitoring device, comprising:

a roller assembly including a fixed roller component and a bushing; and

a first sensor disposed on the fixed roller component over the bushing, wherein the first sensor is configured to sense a first physical characteristic of the bushing.

8. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 7, further including an opening formed through the fixed roller component, wherein the first sensor is disposed within the opening.

9. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 7, wherein the fixed roller component is a shaft or a housing.

10. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 7, wherein the first sensor is a temperature sensor or a Hall effect sensor.

11. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 7, further including a data transmitting device coupled to the first sensor.

12. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 7, further including a second sensor disposed on the fixed roller component.

13. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 12, wherein the second sensor is configured to sense a second physical characteristic of the bushing.

14. An undercarriage monitoring device, comprising:

a first roller component; and

a sensor disposed on the first roller component.

15. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 14, further including a second roller component disposed on the first roller component, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor wear on the second roller component.

16. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 14, further including an opening formed partially or completely through the first roller component.

17. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 16, wherein the sensor is disposed within the opening of the first roller component.

18. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 14, wherein the first roller component is a shaft or a housing.

19. The undercarriage monitoring device of claim 14, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor or a Hall effect sensor.

20. A method of monitoring an undercarriage, comprising:

providing a roller assembly including a bushing; and

disposing a sensor on the roller assembly to sense a physical characteristic of the bushing.

21. The method of claim 20, further including:

collecting data from the sensor; and

transmitting the data collected from the sensor to a receiving device.

22. The method of claim 20, further including:

providing a roller shaft;

forming an opening in the roller shaft; and

disposing the sensor within the roller shaft.

23. The method of claim 20, further including:

providing a roller housing;

forming an opening in the roller housing; and

disposing the sensor within the roller housing.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor or a temperature sensor.

25. The method of claim 20, further including measuring the physical characteristic of the bushing using the sensor while the roller assembly is operating.