Contact sensor for detecting loose sprocket segments of a final drive
A contact sensor for detecting and notifying a separation of a first component of a machine from a second component of the machine is provided. The contact sensor includes a probe for detecting the separation where the first component and the second component are configured to rotate about a common axis of rotation and the probe is configured to be electrically disconnected at a location of the separation. The contact sensor additionally includes a transmitter that is coupled to the probe and is configured to transmit an alert in response to the probe being electrically disconnected.
1 . A contact sensor comprising:
a probe disposed in a first component of a machine, the probe for detecting a separation of the first component from a second component of the machine, the first component securely attached to the second component and the probe electrically connected to a contact area of the second component, the probe configured to be electrically disconnected from the contact area at a location of the separation; and
a transmitter coupled to the probe, the transmitter configured to transmit an alert in response to the probe being electrically disconnected from the contact area,
wherein:
the first component and the second component form a final drive of the machine,
the first component and the second component rotate about a common axis of rotation,
the final drive is configured to engage a track of the machine, and
the track comprises an endless loop of coupled track links.
2 . The contact sensor of claim 1 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the alert to a receiver in a cab of the machine, the alert indicating that the first component and the second component have separated.
3 . The contact sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more processors coupled to the probe and the transmitter, the one or more processors configured to:
detect the separation based on the probe being electrically disconnected from the contact area, and
cause the transmitter to transmit the alert based on detecting the separation.
4 . The contact sensor of claim 3 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the transmitter to transmit a separation status of the first component and the second component at a preselected time interval, the separation status includes one of the alert or a pass signal, the pass signal indicating that the first component is securely attached to the second component based on the probe being electrically connected to the contact area.
5 . The contact sensor of claim 4 , further comprising:
a receiver coupled to the one or more processors, the receiver configured to receive a prompt signal from an external device,
wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the transmitter to, based on the receiver receiving the prompt signal, transmit the separation status to the external device.
6 . The contact sensor of claim 5 , wherein the external device includes at least one of:
an electronic control module (ECM) of the machine, or
a device separate from the machine.
7 . The contact sensor of claim 1 , wherein:
the probe is further configured to:
connect with the second component at the contact area to be electrically grounded, and
disconnect from the contact area in response to the separation to be electrically open.
8 . The contact sensor of claim 7 , wherein the contact sensor is disposed between two adjacent bolt openings of a plurality of bolt openings of the first component, the plurality of bolt openings for receiving bolts for securing the first component to the second component.
9 . The contact sensor of claim 7 , wherein:
the second component is electrically grounded, and
the probe is electrically isolated from the first component.
10 . The contact sensor of claim 1 , wherein the contact area is located at a rim of the second component.
11 . The contact sensor of claim 10 , wherein:
the first component is a sprocket segment of a plurality of sprocket segments, and
the plurality of sprocket segments is contiguously attached to the rim.
12 . The contact sensor of claim 1 , wherein:
the contact area is electrically isolated from the second component, and
the probe comprises two terminals, the two terminals configured to be:
electrically connected to each other by the contact area when the first component is securely attached to the second component, and
electrically disconnected from each other when the first component is separated from the second component.
13 . The contact sensor of claim 12 , wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the alert in response to the two terminals being electrically disconnected from each other.
14 . A sprocket segment to be secured to a drive hub of a machine, the sprocket segment comprising:
a contact sensor for detecting a separation of the sprocket segment from the drive hub, the contact sensor comprising:
a probe configured to be electrically connected to a contact area of the drive hub while the sprocket segment is secured to the drive hub and to be electrically disconnected from the contact area in response to the separation, the contact area being electrically grounded via the drive hub;
a transmitter coupled to the probe, the transmitter configured to transmit an alert in response to the probe being electrically disconnected from the contact area; and
one or more processors coupled to the probe and the transmitter, the one or more processors configured to:
detect the separation based on the probe being electrically disconnected from the contact area, and
cause the transmitter to transmit the alert based on detecting the separation,
wherein:
a final drive of the machine is formed by a plurality of sprocket segments and the drive hub,
the plurality of sprocket segments and the drive hub rotate about a common axis of rotation,
the final drive is configured to engage a track of the machine, and the track comprises an endless loop of coupled track links.
15 . The sprocket segment of claim 14 , wherein the contact sensor further comprises:
a receiver coupled to the one or more processors, the receiver configured to receive a prompt signal from an external device,
wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the transmitter to, based on the receiver receiving the prompt signal, transmit to the external device a separation status of the sprocket segment, the separation status including one of the alert indicating the sprocket segment being separated from the drive hub or a pass signal indicating the sprocket segment is attached to the drive hub based on the probe being connected to the contact area.
16 . The sprocket segment of claim 15 , wherein the external device includes at least one of:
an electronic control module (ECM) of the machine, or
a device separate from the machine.
17 . The sprocket segment of claim 16 , further comprising:
a plurality of bolt openings for receiving bolts for securing the sprocket segment to the drive hub,
wherein the contact sensor is disposed between two adjacent bolt openings of the plurality of bolt openings.
18 . The sprocket segment of claim 14 , wherein:
the sprocket segment is a first sprocket segment of a plurality of sprocket segments, and
the plurality of sprocket segments is configured to be contiguously secured to a rim of the drive hub.
19 . A drive hub of a machine comprising:
a contact sensor for detecting a separation of a sprocket segment from the drive hub, the contact sensor comprising:
a probe disposed flush with a front surface of a rim of the drive hub and electrically isolated from the drive hub, the probe configured to be electrically connected to a contact area of the sprocket segment while the sprocket segment is secured to the drive hub and to be electrically disconnected from the contact area in response to the separation;
a transmitter coupled to the probe, the transmitter configured to transmit an alert in response to the probe being electrically disconnected from the contact area; and
one or more processors coupled to the probe and the transmitter, the one or more processors configured to:
detect the separation based on the probe being electrically disconnected from the contact area, and
cause the transmitter to transmit the alert based on detecting the separation,
wherein:
a final drive of the machine is formed by a plurality of sprocket segments and the drive hub,
the plurality of sprocket segments and the drive hub rotate about a common axis of rotation,
the final drive is configured to engage a track of the machine, and
the track comprises an endless loop of coupled track links.
20 . The drive hub of claim 19 , wherein the contact sensor further comprises:
a receiver coupled to the one or more processors, the receiver configured to receive a prompt signal from an external device,
wherein the one or more processors are further configured to cause the transmitter to, based on the receiver receiving the prompt signal, transmit to the external device a separation status of the sprocket segment, the separation status including one of the alert indicating the sprocket segment being separated from the drive hub or a pass signal indicating the sprocket segment is attached to the drive hub based on the probe being connected to the contact area.