Measuring a chain force on chain conveyors
A method for pre-tensioning a chain conveyor, the method relating to a chain strand which is deflected by at least one chain wheel, wherein at least one measurement module is integrated in the chain strand and transmits data wirelessly to a communication device arranged outside the chain strand. The pre-tensioning force is adjusted according to the data collected and transmitted wirelessly by the measurement module.
1. A method of pre-tensioning a chain conveyor, the method comprising:
deflecting a chain strand on the chain conveyor, wherein the deflecting is performed using a chain wheel on the chain conveyor;
collecting data using a measurement model integrated into the chain strand;
transmitting the collected data wirelessly to a communication device outside the chain strand;
adjusting a pre-tensioning force according to the transmitted data using the measurement module;
wirelessly transmitting values of a strain gauge of the measurement module to the communication device;
activating a deep sleep mode of the measurement module using an activation signal into a recording mode or measurement mode; and
deactivating the recording mode after the activation signal has terminated, and the measurement module returns to the deep sleep mode.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the collecting of the data is performed periodically.
3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising activating the measurement module via radio.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring of the activation signal is performed immediately after the chain strand has left the chain wheel.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring is performed after each circuit of the chain strand around the measurement module.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising using the collected data to adjust the pre-tensioning force.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising sending the collected data from the measurement module to other receivers.
8. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving the data from the measurement module using a repeater; and
forwarding the data wirelessly to the communication device.
9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising measuring an amount of raw data using the measurement module, the measurement model comprising a conditioning device or filtering capability such that the amount of raw data is significantly reduced to a reduced amount of raw data, and forwarding the reduced amount of raw data from the measurement module to the communication module.
10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising deactivating the recording mode after a time window, and the measurement module returns to the deep sleep mode.
11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising deactivating the recording mode using a deactivation signal, and the measurement module returns to the deep sleep mode.
12. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising using the collected data as a control variable to regulate the pre-tensioning force.
13. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the transmitting of the collected data from the communication device to other receivers.
14. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the collecting of the data is performed continuously.
15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the collecting of the data is performed on a demand-oriented basis.