Force measuring unit and system for measuring chain forces

US9809389B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Simon Pauli · Hannover, DE
• Detlef Hahn · Hannover, DE
• Stefan Kratochvil · Grafenau, DE
• Christian Hauck · Burgthann, DE
• Mirko Skowron · Herne, DE
• Marco Ahler · Mühlheim, DE
• Dominik Bittner · Munster, DE
• Manfred Ziegler · Neutraubling, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 25, 2014
• Grant date: Nov 7, 2017
• Expiry date: Nov 25, 2034

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01L1/04
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A force measuring unit for measuring a force applied to an individual chain link of a chain strand is used in underground mining applications. The force measuring unit may include a housing having a first end configured to be contacted by a first chain link leg and a second end configured to be contacted by a second chain link leg, and a distance measuring device accommodated within the housing and configured to measure an actual distance between the first chain link leg and the second chain link leg. The distance measuring device may include a first unit part configured to be contacted by the first chain link leg and a second unit part configured to be contacted by the second chain link leg.