Take-up frame system and method with force feedback
AssigneeReliance Electric Technologies, LLC
InventorGreg F. Girardey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A take-up frame assembly is instrumented with a sensor for detecting tensile or compressive loading on the assembly during adjustment. A visual readout of the loading is provided as feedback to an operator in making system adjustments. The readout may be resident at the take-up frame, or part of a portable module coupled to the sensor during adjustment. In systems including a pair of take-up frames on either side of a machine, such as a pulley-driven belt conveyor, the sensor and feedback arrangement can be used to balance forces on both sides of the system to achieve the desired operational belt tension.
Claims20
A bearing take-up frame assembly comprising:
- a take-up frame including a force transmitting member and an adjustment member secured to the force transmitting member;
- a bearing set coupled to the force transmitting member for movement by adjustment of the adjustment member;
- a sensor assembly coupled to the force transmitting member and configured to produce feedback signals representative of force applied to the force transmitting member;
- and
- a visual readout coupled to the sensor assembly for providing a visual indication of the force applied to the force transmitting member.
A take-up frame system comprising:
- a machine system including a rotating component supported on first and second bearing sets;
- first and second take-up frames supporting the first and second bearing sets, respectively, each take-up frame including a force transmitting member and an adjustment member, the adjustable member being coupled to the force transmitting member for regulating force on the respective bearing set;
- and
- a force feedback system including a sensor linked to the force transmitting member of each take-up frame for generating feedback signals representative of forces applied to the respective force transmitting member, and a visual readout configured to provide a visual indication of the force based upon the feedback signals.
A method for regulating force on a take-up frame assembly of a mechanical system, the take-up frame assembly including a support frame, a bearing set supported by the support frame, a force transmitting member for transmitting force from the bearing set to the support frame, and an adjustment member coupled to the force transmitting member for adjusting force exerted on the bearing set, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) sensing force exerted on the force transmitting member via a sensor assembly mechanically coupled to the force transmitting member, and generating a feedback signal representative thereof, and
- (b) providing a visual indication of the force exerted on the force transmitting member based upon the feedback signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.