Apparatus and method for measuring residual torsions on an elongated element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10317298-B2
Application number	US-201515325622-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2015
Priority date	Sep 2, 2014
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus (100, 200, 300) and a method for measuring residual torsions of an elongated structure (202) such as a steel cord use a pivot head (102). The pivot head (102) comprises a wheel (104) adapted to guide an elongated structure (202). The wheel (104) is mounted in the pivot head (102) to transmit torques exercised by the elongated structure (202) on the wheel (104) to the pivot head (102). The pivot head (102) is mounted along a pivotal axis (110). This pivotal axis (110) lies in a plane of the wheel (104) and comprises the center of the wheel (104). Sensors (116, 206) measure the torque on the pivot head (102). The pivotal movement of the pivot head (102) around the pivotal axis (110) is limited to an angle range of ±5°, preferably ±3° in order to reach an improved accuracy of the torque measurement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for measuring residual torsions of an elongated structure,
said apparatus comprising a pivot head,
said pivot head comprising a wheel adapted to guide the elongated structure,
said wheel mounted in said pivot head so as to transmit torques exercised by said elongated structure on said wheel to said pivot head,

said pivot head being mounted along a pivotal axis in said apparatus,
said pivotal axis lying in a plane of said wheel and comprising the centre of said wheel,

said apparatus further comprising a sensor that measures torque on said pivot head caused by said elongated structure,
wherein pivotal movement of said pivot head around said pivotal axis is limited to an angle range of ±5° by integrating a stiff element in a mechanical chain from said wheel to a frame.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor has a torque range of ±10 N·mm with an accuracy of 0.5% over the full torque range.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor measures torque directly by measuring either a torque or a force.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said sensor comprises a strain gauge.

5. The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein said sensor comprises a torsion spring.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein said torsion spring is a double torsion spring.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor measures torque indirectly by measuring angle or position.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor has been pre-calibrated to directly show measurement results in residual torsions per unit of length.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elongated structure is a steel cord.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein pivotal movement of said pivot head around said pivotal axis is limited to an angle range of ±3°.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said sensor has a torque range of ±50 N·mm with an accuracy of 0.5% over the full torque range.

12. A method for measuring residual torsions on an elongated member, said method comprising the following steps:
a. mounting a wheel in a pivot head so that any torques exercised on said wheel are transmitted to said pivot head;
b. mounting said pivot head along a pivotal axis in a frame, said pivotal axis lying in a plane of said wheel and comprising the centre of said wheel;
c. guiding the elongated member over said wheel;
d. integrating a stiff element in a mechanical chain from said wheel to a frame;
e. measuring torque generated by said elongated member on said wheel and pivot head thereby limiting pivotal movement of said pivot head to ±5°.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the elongated structure is a steel cord.

14. The method according to claim 12 , wherein step e. comprises measuring torque generated by said elongated member on said wheel and pivot head thereby limiting pivotal movement of said pivot head to ±3°.

15. The method according to claim 12 , wherein step e. is carried out by a sensor that has a torque range of ±50 N·mm with an accuracy of 0.5% over the full torque range.

Assignees

• Bekaert Sa Nv

Inventors

• Yang Tiehong
• Yu Zhigao
• Zhou Liu
• Gu Lei
• Shen Wei
• Vanlandeghem Bart
• Gommers Tom
• Vereecken Erwin
• Doornaert Ghislain

Classifications

• G01L5/0047 Primary

  measuring forces due to residual stresses · CPC title

• G01L5/108

  for measuring a reaction force applied on a single support, e.g. a glider · CPC title

• G01L5/00

  Apparatus for, or methods of, measuring force, work, mechanical power, or torque, specially adapted for specific purposes · CPC title

• G01B5/24 Primary

  for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes · CPC title