Chain tension monitoring apparatus and method
US6435035B1 · kind B1 · utility
6Cited by
8References
21Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 23, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB65G23/14
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A chain tension monitoring apparatus and method includes a conveyor drive having a fixed frame and a floating frame. The floating frame supports a conveyor drive unit and is biased against the fixed frame by a compression spring to oppose forces generated by the conveyor drive operation. A force sensor is mounted to the floating frame to sense chain pull applied thereto. A pre-compression load is applied to the force sensor and chain pull is monitored as a function of the pre-compression load and actual load sensed by the force sensor.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.