Method and System for Measuring Belt Tension

• US 20140096608A1
• Filed: 10/10/2012
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bosch Automotive Service Solutions, Inc. (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Service Solutions US LLC (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Wittliff, William W. III, Selkirk, Reed, Gray, Kevin, Themm, Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 9,182,300 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/579
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 1/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 11/00 Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by detecting changes in electric or magnetic properties
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 3/00 Measuring characteristics of vibrations by using a detector in a fluid G01H7/00, G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01H 9/00 Measuring mechanical vibrations or ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves by using radiation-sensitive means, e.g. optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/00 Measuring force or stress, in general measuring force due to impact G01L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/10 by measuring variations of frequency of stressed vibrating elements, e.g. of stressed strings using resistance strain gauges G01L1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/103 optical excitation or measuring of vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/042 by measuring vibrational characteristics of the flexible member
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/105 using electro-optical means

Abstract

A measuring system including a sensor positioned to a belt to measure an oscillation or vibration of the belt based at least in part on a trigger threshold. Also, the measuring system may include a diagnostic tool coupled the sensor to receive a plurality of measurements of the oscillation or vibration of the belt, wherein the diagnostic tool may determine a tension of the belt based at least in part on an average of the plurality of measurements of the oscillation or vibration of the belt.

Claims

1. A measuring system, comprising:

a sensor positioned near a belt to measure an oscillation or vibration of the belt based at least in part on a trigger threshold; and

a diagnostic tool coupled the sensor to receive a plurality of the measurements of the oscillation or vibration of the belt, wherein the diagnostic tool determines a tension of the belt based at least in part on an average of the plurality of measurements of the oscillation or vibration of the belt.

2. The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.

3. The measuring system of claim 2, wherein the optical sensor comprises at least one of an invisible infrared beam device, a LED beam device, a light receiver, a photo detector, and a photo transistor.

4. The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an acoustic sensor and the acoustic sensor is a microphone.

5. The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is an inductive sensor and the inductive sensor is an electromagnetic device to generate a magnetic field.

6. The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the trigger threshold is automatically determined by the diagnostic tool.

7. The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the trigger threshold is a trigger threshold amplitude of frequency.

8. The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the trigger threshold is a trigger threshold amplitude of wavelength.

9. The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the trigger threshold is a trigger threshold amplitude of magnetic field.

10. The measuring system of claim 1, wherein the diagnostic tool receives an output signal comprising information associated with the measurement of the oscillation or vibration of the belt.

11. The measuring system of claim 10, wherein the output signal is an optical output signal.

12. The measuring system of claim 10, wherein the output signal is an electrical output signal.

13. A method, comprising:

measuring, via a sensor positioned near a belt, to measure an oscillation or vibration of the belt based at least in part on a trigger threshold; and

receiving, via a diagnostic tool coupled the sensor, a plurality of the measurements of the oscillation or vibration of the belt, wherein the diagnostic tool determines a tension of the belt based at least in part on an average of the plurality of measurements of the oscillation or vibration of the belt.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the sensor is at least one of an optical sensor, an acoustic sensor and an inductive sensor.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the trigger threshold is automatically determined by the diagnostic tool.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the trigger threshold is a trigger threshold amplitude of frequency.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the trigger threshold is a trigger threshold amplitude of wavelength.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the trigger threshold is a trigger threshold amplitude of magnetic field.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving a plurality of measurements comprises receiving an output signal comprising information associated with the measurement of the oscillation or vibration of the belt.

20. A measuring system, comprising:

means for measuring positioned to measure an oscillation or vibration of a belt based at least in part on a trigger threshold; and

means for processing coupled the means for measuring to receive a plurality of measurements of the oscillation or vibration of the belt, wherein the means for processing determines a tension of the belt based at least in part on an average of the plurality of measurements of the oscillation or vibration of the belt.