MONITORING THE CONDITION OF DRIVE BELTS IN BELT DRIVEN MACHINES

• US 20170276551A1
• Filed: 04/10/2017
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Razorback Technology LLC
• Original Assignee: Razorback Technology LLC
• Inventors: Campbell, Jorden
• Application Number:
  US15/483,177
• Publication Number:
  US 20170276551A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0022 for sensing the radiation of moving bodies
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/02 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/0205 Mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/025 Interfacing a pyrometer to an external device or network; User interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/041 Mountings in enclosures or in a particular environment
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/046 Materials; Selection of thermal materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 5/06 Arrangements for eliminating effects of disturbing radiation; Arrangements for compensating changes in sensitivity for adjusting of solid angle of collected radiation G01J5/07; means for wavelength selection G01J5/0801

Abstract

The disclosure extends to systems, methods, and apparatuses for monitoring the condition and temperature of belts in belt driven machines, and for determining maintenance plans for the belt driven machines.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring belt condition in a belt driven machine, the system comprising:

an electromagnetic sensor configured to produce a digital output disposed in a sensor housing;

wherein the sensor housing is configured to position the sensor adjacent to the belt;

a readout unit in communication with the sensor configured to display sensor data received from the sensor to a user through a display.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a heat sink in thermal communication with the sensor for dissipating heat away from the sensor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured for sensing infrared electromagnetic energy.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the heat sink comprises thermally conductive epoxy.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein electronic communication is wired.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein electronic communication is wireless.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing is configured to position the sensor perpendicular to a surface of the belt.

8. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensor, heat sink, and housing form a self-contained sensor package.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor package further comprises a wireless transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the display.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless transceiver communicates via Bluetooth standards.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the wireless transceiver communicates via Wi-Fi standards.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor housing comprises a threaded portion and is configured to pass through a belt cover.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a database of sensed data from the sensor.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the database of sensed data comprises maximum belt temperatures.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the display is configured to flash when an operating temperature threshold has been exceeded.

16. A belt driven machine comprising:

a drive belt;

a sensor package comprising;

an electromagnetic sensor disposed in a sensor housing, wherein the sensor housing is configured to position the sensor adjacent to the drive belt; and

a heat sink;

a display in communication with the sensor configured to display sensor data received from the sensor to a user.

17. The belt driven machine of claim 16, wherein the sensor package further comprises a wireless transceiver configured to communicate wirelessly with the display.

20. The belt driven machine of claim 16, wherein the sensor housing comprises a threaded portion and is configured to pass through a belt cover.

21. The belt driven machine of claim 16, further comprising a database of sensed data from the sensor.

22. The belt driven machine of claim 21, wherein the database of sensed data comprises maximum belt temperatures.

18-19. -19. (canceled)