Instrumented take-up unit and related control method

• US 7,699,732 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ABet SKF
• Original Assignee: ABet SKF
• Inventors: Message, Olivier, Ponson, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): King; Bradley T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Irvin; Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/495,496
• Publication Number:
  US 20050124447A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,716 Days
• Field of Search: 474/133, 474/138, 474102-106, 474/135, 474/109, 474/112, 738/659, 735/142.6, 738/624.53, 738/624.6, 250/231.14, 324/207.25
• US Class Current: 474/135
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/081 Torsion springs
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0861 comprising means for sensing tensioner position
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0876 Control or adjustment of actuators
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0891 Linear path
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0893 Circular path
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2061/1208 with diagnostic check cycles; Monitoring of failures
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/12 Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192; Circumventing or fixing failures
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/1263 where the axis of the pulley moves along a substantially straight path
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/1281 where the axis of the pulley moves along a substantially circular path

Abstract

The invention concerns a device for tensioning belts or chains that may include a fixed support; a moving element that may move relative to the fixed support and designed to be in contact with the belt or the chain; and an actuator designed to exert a permanent tensioning force between the mobile equipment and the fixed support. The device may also include a sensor unit to monitor parameters of angular displacement of the moving element relative to the fixed support.

Claims

1. A belt- or chain-tensioning device, comprising:

a fixed bracket;

a moving element relative to the fixed bracket comprising;

a working cam comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the working cam is mounted to the fixed bracket such that the inner surface rotates on the fixed bracket; and

a pulley rotatably-mounted on the outer surface of the working cam,

wherein the pulley is configured to contact a belt or a chain;

an actuator configured to exert a permanent tension force between the moving element and the fixed bracket;

a sensor unit configured to monitor parameters of angular displacement of the moving element relative to the fixed bracket, and

a coder element positioned on the working cam, and configured to be able to rotate past a sensor positioned on the fixed bracket,

wherein the fixed bracket comprises a base adapted to be fixed on a block and a tubular axial portion extending axially from the base towards the working cam and onto which is positioned the sensor,

wherein the working cam comprises a radial wall extending radially outward from the outer surface and a tubular skirt extending axially from the radial wall, radially surrounding the free end of the axial portion of the fixed bracket, and comprising the coder element facing the sensor,

wherein the actuator is disposed axially between the base of the fixed bracket and the radial wall of the working cam; and

wherein the skirt forms with the axial portion an annular leak-tight passage to protect the coder element, the sensor, and the seat of the actuator from the intrusion of pollutant outer elements.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the coder element comprises an optical coder ring, and wherein the optical coder ring comprises an alternation of reflective and opaque zones or a multipolar magnetic coder ring.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit measures angular displacement, a frequency and an angular displacement velocity of the moving element relative to the fixed bracket.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the tensioning device further comprises a module for processing received signals configured to determine from a value of mean angular displacement.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the tensioning device determines a failure of the belt or of the tension device on the basis of thresholds of mean linear displacement or on the basis of mean angular displacement.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the tensioning device determines a record of failure of the belt or of the tension device on the basis of the frequency or amplitude of oscillation about a mean angular displacement value.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the tensioning device determines a record of failure on the basis of thresholds of amplitude of oscillation or of frequency of oscillation about a mean angular displacement value.