Systems and methods for monitoring belt tension and determining belt lifespan in a transport refrigeration unit

A method for monitoring belt tension, comprising:

• detecting, by a sensor connected to a self-tensioner, a signal and an angle of a magnet;
• converting the signal and angle of the magnet into a voltage value;
• converting, via a controller, the voltage value into a tension value;
• storing the tension value among a plurality of premeasured tension values;
• generating a data curve for a remaining belt lifespan based on the tension value, the plurality of premeasured tension values, and time data;
• corresponding the tension value to a point on the data curve;
• and
• predicting a belt lifespan of the self-tensioner based on the corresponding point on the data curve.

A self-tensioner system, comprising:

• a belt driven system that includes a self-tensioner and a belt, wherein the self-tensioner includes a tensioner arm;
• a sensor connected to the self-tensioner;
• a magnet that passes over the sensor that creates a signal from the tensioner arm that is detected by the sensor;
• and
• a controller connected to the sensor to receive the signal from the sensor and convert the signal into a tension value associated with the belt in the belt driven system,
• wherein the controller stores the tension value among a plurality of historic tension values and a corresponding belt lifespan in a memory,
• wherein the controller compares the tension value and a threshold to determine a belt tension condition of the belt driven system, and
• wherein the controller compares the tension value and the plurality of historic tension values to determine a lifespan of the belt in the belt-driven system.