Apparatus and method for monitoring conveyor systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11440745-B2
Application number	US-202017099411-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 16, 2020
Priority date	Dec 22, 2017
Publication date	Sep 13, 2022
Grant date	Sep 13, 2022

Abstract

In one aspect, an apparatus is provided for a conveyor belt system. The apparatus includes a conveyor belt cleaner having an elongate support and a pair of mounts configured to position the elongate support to extend across a conveyor belt. The apparatus includes a cleaner blade configured to be operatively mounted to the elongate support and engage a conveyor belt. The apparatus further includes a sensor configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation. A processor of the apparatus is configured to use the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to predict at least one property of the cleaner blade.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for monitoring a conveyor belt cleaner, the apparatus comprising:
a c-shaped member having ends separated by a gap, the ends of the c-shaped member facing one another across the gap;
the c-shaped member extending about an opening sized to receive an elongate support of the conveyor belt cleaner and permit the c-shaped member to be mounted on the elongate support;
a sensor operatively mounted to the c-shaped member and configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation;
communication circuitry operatively mounted to the c-shaped member, the communication circuitry configured to communicate data associated with the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to a communication hub.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the c-shaped member includes an inner annular surface extending about the opening to contact an outer surface of the elongate support.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the c-shaped member includes an inner surface extending about the opening, the apparatus further comprising:
a clamp operable to engage the inner surface of the c-shaped member with an outer surface of the elongate support and secure the c-shaped member to the elongate support.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one characteristic includes a position of the elongate support.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured to detect a change in position of the elongate support.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sensor is configured to detect a rotary distance the elongate support travels.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 in combination with the communication hub, the communication hub configured to communicate with a remote computer via a wireless network.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a battery operatively connected to the sensor and the communication circuitry.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one indicator.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor; and
wherein the communication circuitry is operable to communicate data associated with a temperature detected by the temperature sensor to the communication hub.

11. An apparatus for monitoring a conveyor belt cleaner, the apparatus comprising:
a housing;
an opening of the housing sized to receive an elongate support of the conveyor belt cleaner and permit the housing to be mounted on the elongate support;
a sensor in the housing configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation;
communication circuitry in the housing, the communication circuitry configured to communicate data associated with the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to a communication hub;
wherein the housing includes a sleeve portion extending about the opening, the sleeve portion having a pair of ends separated by a gap; and
a clamping member operable to narrow the gap and clamp the sleeve portion on the elongate support.

12. An apparatus for monitoring a conveyor belt cleaner, the apparatus comprising:
a housing;
an opening of the housing sized to receive an elongate support of the conveyor belt cleaner and permit the housing to be mounted on the elongate support;
a sensor in the housing configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation;
communication circuitry in the housing, the communication circuitry configured to communicate data associated with the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to a communication hub;
wherein the housing comprises a compartment having at least one wall, a door for being connected to the at least one wall and closing the compartment, and a plurality of fasteners for securing the door to the at least one wall.

13. An apparatus for monitoring a conveyor belt cleaner, the apparatus comprising:
a housing;
an opening of the housing sized to receive an elongate support of the conveyor belt cleaner and permit the housing to be mounted on the elongate support;
a sensor in the housing configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support as the elongate support vibrates during conveyor belt operation;
communication circuitry in the housing, the communication circuitry configured to communicate data associated with the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to a communication hub; and
wherein the data associated with the at least one characteristic of the elongate support is received by a remote computer configured to estimate a remaining lifespan of a cleaner blade of the conveyor belt cleaner.

14. An apparatus for monitoring a conveyor belt cleaner, the apparatus comprising:
a sensor module configured to be mounted on an elongate support of the conveyor belt cleaner;
a clamp portion of the sensor module having an inner surface to engage an outer surface of the elongate support, the clamp portion of the sensor module including a threaded member and a nut, the clamp portion configured to clamp the inner surface of the sensor module against the outer surface of the elongate support and secure the sensor module to the elongate support upon tightening of the nut and the threaded member together so that the sensor module moves with the elongate support during conveyor belt operation;
a sensor of the sensor module configured to detect at least one characteristic of the elongate support; and
communication circuitry of the sensor module, the communication circuitry configured to communicate data associated with the at least one characteristic of the elongate support to a communication hub.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the clamp portion of the sensor module includes a sleeve portion having an opening to receive the elongate support.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the at least one characteristic includes a position of the elongate support.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sensor is configured to detect a change in a position of the elongate support.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sensor is configured to detect a rotary distance the elongate support travels.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the clamp portion of the sensor module includes a band for securing the sensor module to the elongate support.

20. The apparatus of claim 14 in combination with the communication hub, the communication hub configured to communicate with a remote computer via a wireless network.

21. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sensor module includes a battery to provide power to the sensor and the communication circuitry.

22. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the sensor module includes a temperature sensor; and
wherein the communication circuitry is operable to communicate data associated with a temperature detected by the temperature sensor to the communication hub.

23. An apparatus for monitoring a conveyor belt cleaner, the apparatus comprising:
a sensor module configured to be mounted on an elongate support of the conveyor belt cleaner;
a clamp portion of the sensor module configured to engage an outer surface of the elongate support and secure the sensor module to the elongate support so that the sensor module moves with the elongate support during conveyor belt operation;
a sensor of the sensor module configured to detect

Assignees

• Flexible Steel Lacing Co

Inventors

• Devries Brett E
• Zeilinger Todd A
• Dykema Kurt Alan
• Moelker David Adrian

Classifications

• B65G43/02 Primary

  detecting dangerous physical condition of load carriers, e.g. for interrupting the drive in the event of overheating · CPC title

• B65G45/16

  with scraper biasing means · CPC title

• G01M13/00

  Testing of machine parts · CPC title

• G01M13/028

  Acoustic or vibration analysis · CPC title

• B65G45/12 Primary

  comprising scrapers · CPC title