Monitoring device for motor-driven underwater grab bucket dredge gear

• US 6,134,815 A
• Filed: 02/11/1999
• Issued: 10/24/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rohr Dredge North America LLC (Ellicott Dredge Enterprises LLC)
• Original Assignee: Rohr GmbH
• Inventors: Rohr, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Batson, Victor
• Application Number:
  US09/248,344
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 37/307, 37/308, 37/309, 37/316, 37/340, 37/341, 37/342, 37/461, 37/184, 37/185, 37/186, 37/187, 37/188, 37/348, 37/382, 294/68.23, 701/50
• US Class Current: 37/308
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/10 for preventing cable slack control devices for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, e.g. for controlling tensions, B66D1/40
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 3/16 by fluid motors
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/4131 mounted on a floating substructure floating substructures per se E02F9/06

Abstract

A monitoring device for motor-driven underwater grab bucket dredges contains a bucket gear suspended on a cable. The device ensures reliable monitoring and controlling of the operating condition of the bucket gear 4. There is at least one sensor connected to the grab bucket gear for sensing a measured value. There is a computer connected to the sensor for representing the measured value detected by the sensor.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for a motor-driven underwater grab bucket dredge gear suspended on a cable, comprising:

at least one sensor adapted to be connected to the bucket gear and adapted to detect at least one measured value; and

a computer connected to said at least one sensor and adapted to represent said at least one measured value measured by said at least one sensor; and

a data transmission system connected to said at least one sensor, said system containing a PROFIBUS, wherein the data transmission system is adapted to be arranged on the bucket gear.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a memory-programmable control system connected to said data transmission system and said at least one sensor, wherein the data are transmitted via a two-wire bus line.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the bus line is integrated in a cable, said cable supplying energy to a motor of the motor-driven bucket dredge gear.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the control system is connected to a controller for the motor of the bucket gear, said controller containing a frequency converter.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the computer presets a limit value for the measured value detected by said at least one sensor.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the computer has limit value units for presetting limit values of the measured values detected by the sensor.

7. A monitoring device for a motor-driven underwater grab bucket dredge gear suspended on a cable, comprising:

at least one sensor adapted to be connected to the bucket gear and adapted to detect at least one measured value;

a computer connected to said at least one sensor and adapted to represent said at least one measured value measured by said at least one sensor; and

a data transmission system connected to said at least one sensor, said system containing a PROFIBUS, wherein the data transmission system is adapted to be arranged in a switchbox of the bucket gear.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the computer presets a limit value for the measured value detected by said at least one sensor.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the computer has limit value units for presetting limit values of the measured values detected by the sensor.

10. The device according to claim 7, further comprising a memory-programmable control system connected to said data transmission system and said at least one sensor, wherein the data are transmitted via a two-wire bus line.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the bus line is integrated in a cable, said cable supplying energy to a motor of the motor-driven bucket dredge gear.

12. The device according to claim 11 wherein the control system is connected to a controller for the motor of the bucket dredge gear, said controller containing a frequency converter.

13. A monitoring device for a motor-driven underwater grab bucket dredge gear suspended on a cable, comprising:

at least one sensor adapted to be connected to the bucket rear and adapted to detect at least one measured value;

a computer connected to said at least one sensor and adapted to represent said at least one measured value measured by said at least one sensor; and

a data transmission system connected to said at least one sensor, said system containing a PROFIBUS, wherein the data transmission system is integrated in the bucket gear.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the computer presets a limit value for the measured value detected by said at least one sensor.

15. The device according to claim 14 wherein the computer has limit value units for presetting limit values of the measured values detected by the sensor.

16. The device according to claim 13, further comprising a memory-programmable control system connected to said data transmission system and said at least one sensor, wherein the data are transmitted via a two-wire bus line.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the bus line is integrated in a cable, said cable supplying energy to a motor of the motor-driven bucket dredge gear.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the control system is connected to a controller for the motor of the bucket gear, said controller containing a frequency converter.

19. A monitoring device for a motor-driven underwater grab bucket dredge gear suspended on a cable, comprising:

at least two sensors, wherein one sensor detects inclination of the bucket gear and another sensor detects the position of the grab bucket;

a computer connected to said at least two sensors and adapted to represent said at least two measured values measured by said at least two sensors; and

a data transmission system connected to said at least two sensors, said system containing a PROFIBUS.

20. A monitoring device for a motor-driven underwater grab bucket dredge gear suspended on a cable, comprising:

at least three sensors, one sensor sensing oil temperature, another sensor monitoring a filter and another sensor monitoring oil level, said sensors being arranged in an oil sump of the bucket gear;

a computer connected to said at least three sensors and adapted to represent said at least three measured values measured by said at least three sensors; and

a data transmission system connected to said at least three sensors, said system containing a PROFIBUS.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein there is a sensor for detecting closing pressure and a sensor for detecting opening pressure of the grab bucket, and wherein the bucket gear contains the sensor for monitoring the oil level, the sensor for detecting motor temperature, the sensor for detecting the closing pressure and the sensor for detecting the opening pressure of the grab bucket.