Clamp, system and method for measuring tension in a conveyor belt
AssigneesThe University of Newcastle, Ts Global Pty Limited
InventorsCraig Anthony Wheeler, Jason Tom Willis, Dusan Ilic, Graham Dean Holford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an aspect there is disclosed examples of a clamp (10, 110) for measuring a tension of a conveyor belt (12). The clamp (10, 110) including a clamping portion (18, 118) arranged to engage with opposing faces of the conveyor belt (12) in a clamped condition to hold the conveyor belt (12) relative to an anchor, and a load sensing arrangement (22, 122) associated with the clamping portion (18, 118) configured to provide a signal indicative of the tension in the conveyor belt (12) in the clamped condition. A system and related method are also disclosed.
Claims22
A clamp for measuring a tension of a conveyor belt, the clamp including a clamping portion arranged to engage with opposing faces of the conveyor belt in a clamped condition to hold the conveyor belt relative to an anchor, and a load sensing arrangement including at least one sensor between the clamping portion and the anchor, the load sensing arrangement configured to provide a signal indicative of the tension in the conveyor belt in the clamped condition, wherein the clamping portion includes a first clamping section, a second clamping section and a pivotal coupling arranged such that the first clamping section is pivotally moveable relative to the second clamping section to engage with the conveyor belt in the clamped condition.
A system for detecting load in a conveyor belt, the system including:
- a. A pair of edge clamps each having respective clamping portions adapted to clampingly engage with opposing side edges of the conveyor belt in a clamped condition, the respective clamping portions each having a first clamping section, a second clamping section and a pivotal coupling arranged such that the first clamping section is pivotally moveable relative to the second clamping section to engage with the conveyor belt in the clamped condition;
- b. An anchoring arrangement arranged to couple with an anchor point of the pair of edge clamps to anchor the pair of edge clamps to a fixed structure;
- c. A load sensing arrangement including a load sensing section located between at least one of the respective clamping portions of the pair of edge clamps and the anchoring arrangement, each load sensing section including a load sensor and a communication device arranged to communicate a load signal;
- and
- d. A receiving device configured to receive the load signal so as to provide an indication of a tension in the conveyor belt in the clamped condition.
A method for detecting load in a conveyor belt, the method including the steps of:
- a. Fitting a pair of edge clamps to opposing edges of the conveyor belt and pivotally moving at least one of the respective clamping portions of the pair of edge clamps to engage with opposing side edges of the conveyor belt in a clamped condition;
- b. Coupling an anchoring arrangement to a load sensing section associated with one or both of the clamping portions of each pair of edge clamps;
- c. Transmitting, via a communication device associated with load sensors fitted to each load sensing section, a load signal;
- and
- d. Receiving, at a receiving device, the load signal so as to provide an indication of a tension in the conveyor belt in the clamped condition.
A clamp for measuring a tension of a conveyor belt, the clamp including a main body and a clamping portion arranged to engage with opposing faces of the conveyor belt in a clamped condition to hold the conveyor belt relative to an anchor, and a load sensing arrangement between the clamping portion and the anchor, the load sensing arrangement configured to provide a signal indicative of the tension in the conveyor belt in the clamped condition, wherein the clamping portion includes a first clamping section and a second clamping section, the first clamping section being pivotally supported by a pivotal coupling between the first clamping member and the main body.
A clamp for measuring a tension of a conveyor belt, the clamp including a clamping portion arranged to engage with opposing faces of the conveyor belt in a clamped condition to hold the conveyor belt relative to an anchor, and a load sensing arrangement between the clamping portion and the anchor, the load sensing arrangement configured to provide a signal indicative of the tension in the conveyor belt in the clamped condition, wherein the clamp includes a retainer arranged to maintain the clamp in the clamped condition.
A system for detecting load in a conveyor belt, the system including:
- a. A pair of edge clamps each having respective clamping portions adapted to clampingly engage with opposing side edges of the conveyor belt in a clamped condition, wherein each of the pair of edge clamps include a retainer to maintain each of the pair of edge clamps in the clamped condition;
- b. An anchoring arrangement arranged to couple with an anchor point of the pair of edge clamps to anchor the pair of edge clamps to a fixed structure;
- c. A load sensing arrangement including a load sensing section located between at least one of the respective clamping portions of the pair of edge clamps and the anchoring arrangement, each load sensing section including a load sensor and a communication device arranged to communicate a load signal;
- and
- d. A receiving device configured to receive the load signal so as to provide an indication of a tension in the conveyor belt in the clamped condition.
A method for detecting load in a conveyor belt, the method including the steps of:
- a. Fitting a pair of edge clamps to opposing edges of the conveyor belt and moving at least one of the respective clamping portions of the pair of edge clamps to engage with opposing side edges of the conveyor belt in a clamped condition, and actuating a retainer associated with each of the pair of edge clamps to maintain each of the pair of edge clamps in the clamped condition;
- b. Coupling an anchoring arrangement to a load sensing section associated with one or both of the clamping portions of each pair of edge clamps;
- c. Transmitting, via a communication device associated with load sensors fitted to each load sensing section, a load signal;
- and
- d. Receiving, at a receiving device, the load signal so as to provide an indication of a tension in the conveyor belt in the clamped condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.