Load measuring device, manufacturing method for the device and control method using the device

A method of measuring a load applied to an elastically deformable roll cover in a paper, board, or web machine, comprising the steps of:

• forming the elastic roll cover which defines an outer surface, on a roll core, to form a first roll, wherein the elastic roll cover defines an outer surface, and a circumference, and during construction positioning either a sensing element or a reference element on the roll core or between the roll core and the outer surface;
• loading a second roll against the first roll to form a nip therebetween, the nip containing a web therein, so that the second roll deforms the elastic roll cover of the first roll;
• positioning the other of the sensing element or reference element, on an outer surface of the second roll or within an elastic cover on the second roll, or within the elastic roll cover of the first roll, so that the sensing element and reference element, are spaced from each other with at least a portion of the elastic roll cover between the sensing element and the reference element;
• and
• measuring deformation of the portion of the elastic roll cover by measuring a change in length in said portion of said roll cover between the sensing element and the reference element, as the first roll and the second roll rotate one against the other in loaded nipping engagement, such that a distance between the sensing element and the reference element changes in accordance with a period of rotation of one of said first and second rolls.

A method of measuring loading and temperature of an elastically deformable member comprising the steps of:

• using a distance sensor to measure a change in length of the elastically deformable member as the elastically deformable member responds to a deformation under said loading;
• wherein at the same time as said distance sensor produces a length change related signal at least a part of said distance sensor produces a temperature related signal different from the length change related signal;
• and
• simultaneously measuring temperature and distance with said distance sensor, and wherein said temperature related signal is used for measuring the temperature at the distance sensor.

A device for measuring a load applied to an elastically deformable belt cover in a paper, board, or web machine, comprising;

• a roll core, having an outer surface;
• an elastic deformable belt cover engaged with the roll core;
• a distance sensor comprising a sensing element spaced from a reference element so that at least a portion of said elastic deformable belt cover is interposed between the sensing element and the reference element, the distance sensor arranged for measuring a length change in the portion of the elastically deformable belt cover between the sensing element and the reference element in response to a deformation of said portion of said elastically deformable belt cover under said load;
• and
• wherein at least one of said sensing element and said reference element is positioned within said belt cover.