Wear measurement device
AssigneeFrost Links, Inc.
InventorCharles C. Frost
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A chain wear measurement system and/or method for determining an amount of wear in a section of chain comprises a chain or section of chain having a plurality of chain links connected together by a plurality of pins or bolts or the like. At least one end of at least one of the pins or bolts may have an extension extending longitudinally therefrom. A sensor is provided along a conveying path of the chain for sensing the presence of the pin or bolt and/or extension as the section of chain is conveyed along the conveying path. The sensor provides a signal indicative of a detection of the pin or pins or bolts. A control may be responsive to the sensor, such as to determine the degree of wear in the section of chain in response to one or more signals from the sensor.
Claims32
A pin detecting system operable to detect a presence of at least one pin of a section of chain as the chain is conveyed along a conveying path of a conveying system, said pin detecting system comprising:
- a plurality of pins connecting side links and center links of the section of chain, at least one of said pins having an extension extending longitudinally from at least one end of said at least one of said pins;
- and
- at least one sensor positioned along the conveying path and operable to detect said extension of said at least one of said pins as said extension is conveyed along the conveying path, said at least one sensor generating a signal indicative of the detection of said extension.
A chain wear measurement system for determining an amount of wear in a section of chain of a conveyor system, the section of chain having a plurality of links connected together by a plurality of pins, the chain being conveyed along a conveying path, said chain wear measurement system comprising:
- at least one extension extending longitudinally from at least one end of at least one of said plurality of pins;
- a sensor for sensing said at least one extension as said at least one extension moves along the conveying path, said sensor providing a signal indicative of a detection of said at least one extension;
- and
- a control responsive to said sensor.
A method for determining a degree of wear in at least one of a pin and chain links of a section of chain of a conveyor system, said method comprising:
- providing a section of chain having a plurality of chain links connected together via a plurality of pins;
- providing a detector along a conveying path of the conveyor system;
- detecting an end of at least one of said pins with a detector as said pins move along said conveying path;
- and
- determining an amount of wear in at least one of said chain links and said pins in response to said detector.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.