Device and method for measuring the tension in a tensioning belt
AssigneeSpanset Inter AG
InventorsPeter Horn, Heinz Siegrist, Andre Mamie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for measuring the tension in a tensioning belt comprises a retaining device for retaining a spring element, an elastically deformable spring element that is retained by the retaining device and on which a section of the tensioning belt can apply a force and elastically deform the spring element, the ends of the spring element being moved closer to one another when the tensioning force increases, and an electronic sensor unit. The sensor unit comprises a sensor system that measures the deflection of the spring element and generates a data signal, and a transmitter for transmitting the data signal to a receiving unit. The sensor system is situated at the ends of the spring element.
Claims16
A device for measuring a tension in a tensioning belt, comprising:
- a tensioning belt;
- a retaining device;
- an elastically deformable spring element comprising a U-shaped molded part having two elastically deformable legs, each leg defining one of two opposite ends the spring element being secured by the retaining device on which a section of the tensioning belt can apply a tensioning force and elastically deform the spring element, the oppositely situated ends of the spring element being movable closer to one another when the tensioning force increases;
- an electronic sensor unit comprising:
- a sensor system that measures a tension in the spring element and generates a data signal, the sensor system comprising a first component positioned at one of the two opposite ends of the one of the two elastically deformable legs and a second component positioned at the other opposite end of the other of the two elastically deformable legs;
- a transmitter for transmitting the data signal;
- a first microprocessor that is connected to the sensor system and to the transmitter;
- and an energy source for supplying the electronic sensor unit with power;
- and an electronic receiving unit for receiving the data signal from the transmitter, comprising:
- a receiver;
- a display for displaying the data signal;
- and
- a second microprocessor connected to the receiver and to the display.
A method for measuring a tension in a tensioning belt, comprising:
- positioning a spring element on the tensioning belt in such a way that the spring element is elastically deformed when tension is applied, the spring element comprising a U-shaped molded part having two elastically deformable legs, each leg defining one of two first and second ends;
- positioning a sensor system on or adjacent to the spring element in order to determine a tension in the spring element and generate a data signal, the sensor system comprising a first component positioned at one of the two opposite ends of one of the two elastically deformable legs and a second component positioned at the other opposite end of the other of the two elastically deformable legs;
- transmitting the data signal by a transmitter of the sensor system to a receiver unit and displaying the data signals on a display, the sensor system configured to measure a distance between the first and second ends and thereby determine the tension in the tensioning belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.