Monitoring system for pneumatic core shafts and shaft adapters

A monitoring system for pneumatic core shafts, comprising:

• a pneumatic core shaft for gripping and holding a core of a wound material roll, comprising:
• a hollow, cylindrical bearing tube, having a plurality of longitudinal channels formed within a bearing tube exterior surface, and two, opposite ends;
• a plurality of air bladders contained within said bearing tube, each said air bladder having an exterior surface and an interior, each air bladder positioned within a bearing tube longitudinal channel.
• an air manifold near a shaft end interconnected to and distributing air to said air bladder interiors;
• a pneumatic inflation valve connected to said air manifold and positioned near a core shaft end for inserting and releasing air into said bladder interiors;
• a shaft end engaged with a drive coupling means;
• a sensor aperture formed in said bearing tube and providing an opening to said air manifold;
• a sensor assembly seated within the bearing tube sensor aperture and joined in operative engagement with an air manifold interior;
• wherein said sensor assembly is comprised of a plurality of transducers, a sensor pre-processor, a microprocessor, a wireless transmitter and antenna;
• an external receiver for receiving data sensed by said transducers and transmitted by said antenna.

A monitoring system for pneumatic shaft adapters, comprising:

• an external bladder shaft adapter for gripping a large core of a wound material roll, comprising:
• a left and right module, each module having an adapter module main body with two ends;
• a hollow bore within each adapter module main body;
• two opposite end caps defining each adapter module main body ends;
• a clamp collar attached to one end cap of each module for attachment to a shaft;
• an air bladder about each adapter main body, said air bladder having an exterior surface and an interior, said air bladder exterior surface adapted to expand radially about the adapter to make direct contact with a core;
• an inflation valve connected to said air bladder for inserting and releasing air from said air bladder interior;
• a sensor aperture formed in an end cap providing an opening to the air bladder;
• a sensor assembly seated with said end cap sensor aperture and joined in operative engagement with said air bladder interior;
• wherein said sensor assembly is comprised of a plurality of transducers, a sensor pre-processor, a microprocessor, a wireless transmitter and antenna;
• an external receiver for receiving data sensed by said transducers and transmitted by said antenna.

A monitoring system for pneumatic shaft adapters, comprising:

• a strip shaft adapter for gripping a large core of a wound material roll, comprising:
• a left and right module, each having a hollow, cylindrical bearing tube, with a plurality of longitudinal channels formed within a bearing tube exterior surface, and two, opposite ends;
• two opposite end caps defining said module bearing tube ends;
• a clamp collar attached to one end cap of each for attachment to a shaft;
• a plurality of air bladders contained within said bearing tube, each said air bladder having an exterior surface and an interior, each air bladder positioned within a bearing tube longitudinal channel.
• an air manifold near both bearing tube ends interconnected to and distributing air to said air bladder interiors;
• a pneumatic inflation valve connected to said air manifold and positioned near a bearing tube end for inserting and releasing air into said bladder interiors;
• a sensor aperture formed in an end cap and providing an opening to said air manifold;
• a sensor assembly seated within the bearing tube sensor aperture and joined in operative engagement with an air manifold interior;
• wherein said sensor assembly is comprised of a plurality of transducers, a sensor pre-processor, a microprocessor, a wireless transmitter and antenna;
• an external receiver for receiving data sensed by said transducers and transmitted by said antenna.