Speed reducer including temperature sensing device
First Claim
1. An improved speed reducer and monitoring system, said system comprising in combination:
- an open network monitoring and control circuit configured to receive and to monitor data from a plurality of separate, remote devices;
a plurality of separate devices independently coupled to said monitoring and control circuit and configured to transmit data to said monitoring and control circuit from separate locations in a machine system, said devices including at least one speed reducer comprising;
a housing rotatably supporting an input shaft and an output shaft mechanically interconnected to transfer mechanical power therebetween, said housing defining an interior area for containing a lubricant fluid to at least a minimum lubricant supply level when said speed reducer is in an upright position;
a temperature sensing device supported by said housing and extending at least partially into said interior area to a predetermined location, the predetermined location being below said minimum lubricant supply level, said temperature sensing device being responsive to temperature of the lubricant fluid and configured to generate a temperature signal representative thereof; and
an interface circuit local to said housing, the interface circuit being coupled to the temperature sensing device and to said monitoring and control circuit, the interface circuit converting the temperature signal to an output signal in accordance with a predetermined communications protocol for communication to the monitoring and control circuit in coordination with data from other of said separate devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved speed reducer having a temperature sensing device electrically connectible to an external monitoring device. The temperature sensing device is supported by the speed reducer housing and extends at least partially into the speed reducer interior area to a predetermined location. The predetermined location is below a minimum lubricant supply level within the speed reducer interior. The temperature sensing device is responsive to the temperature of the lubricant fluid within the speed reducer and is configured to communicate information indicative thereof to an external monitoring device, which may include an alarm or a downstream processing device.
38 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An improved speed reducer and monitoring system, said system comprising in combination:
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an open network monitoring and control circuit configured to receive and to monitor data from a plurality of separate, remote devices; a plurality of separate devices independently coupled to said monitoring and control circuit and configured to transmit data to said monitoring and control circuit from separate locations in a machine system, said devices including at least one speed reducer comprising; a housing rotatably supporting an input shaft and an output shaft mechanically interconnected to transfer mechanical power therebetween, said housing defining an interior area for containing a lubricant fluid to at least a minimum lubricant supply level when said speed reducer is in an upright position; a temperature sensing device supported by said housing and extending at least partially into said interior area to a predetermined location, the predetermined location being below said minimum lubricant supply level, said temperature sensing device being responsive to temperature of the lubricant fluid and configured to generate a temperature signal representative thereof; and an interface circuit local to said housing, the interface circuit being coupled to the temperature sensing device and to said monitoring and control circuit, the interface circuit converting the temperature signal to an output signal in accordance with a predetermined communications protocol for communication to the monitoring and control circuit in coordination with data from other of said separate devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An improved speed reducer system, said speed reducer system comprising:
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a control and monitoring network configured for coupling to a plurality of monitored devices at separate locations; and a networkable gear reducer unit interfaceable with said network independently of other of said plurality of monitored devices, said gear reducer unit comprising; a housing rotatably supporting an input shaft and an output shaft mechanically interconnected to transfer mechanical power therebetween, said housing defining an interior area for containing a lubricant fluid to at least a minimum lubricant supply level when said speed reducer is in an upright position; and a plurality of sensors, including temperature sensing device, electrically connectible to said network, said temperature sensing device including; casing in sealing engagement with said housing and extending through said housing into said interior area to a predetermined location, the predetermined location being below said minimum lubricant supply level, and a temperature sensing element mounted within said casing and responsive to the temperature of the lubricant fluid in said interior area, said temperature sensing element configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of the temperature of said lubricant fluid; and said speed reducer unit further comprising a data collection and transmission circuit supported by said housing to form a modular networkable unit, said data collection and transmission circuit being coupled to said temperature sensing element and configured to receive said temperature signal and to transmit said temperature signal to a monitoring and control circuit via said control and monitoring network. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An improved speed reducer system, said speed reducer system comprising:
a plurality of separate, networkable speed reducer units, each speed reducer unit including; a housing rotatably supporting an input shaft and an output shaft mechanically interconnected to transfer mechanical power therebetween, said housing defining an interior area for containing a lubricant fluid to at least a minimum lubricant supply level when said speed reducer is in an upright position; a temperature sensing device supported by said housing and extending at least partially into said interior area to a predetermined location, the predetermined location being below said minimum lubricant supply level, said temperature sensing device being responsive to temperature of the lubricant fluid; and a local transmitter supported on said housing to form a networkable unit interfaceable with a monitoring and control circuit independently of local transmitters of other of said plurality of speed reducer units, said local transmitter having an output port, said local transmitter being in electrical communication with at least said temperature sensing device to receive information at least indicative of the temperature of the lubricant fluid and subsequently providing status information at said output port in a predetermined format, wherein the status information at least in part corresponds to the temperature information; said system further comprising a monitoring and control circuit coupled to the plurality of speed reducer units via a communications network, the monitoring and control circuit configured to receive and process status information from the plurality of speed reducer units. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
Specification