AU2018408980A1

AU2018408980A1 - Multifunction sensor contained in a seal of a conveyor belt roller

Info

Publication number: AU2018408980A1
Application number: AU2018408980A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jaime CELEDON FERNANDEZ; Enrique CELEDON VALENZUELA
Original assignee: Ind Metalmecanica Rivet S A
Current assignee: Industria Metalmecanica Rivet SA
Priority date: 2018-02-16
Filing date: 2018-02-16
Publication date: 2020-05-21
Also published as: ECSP19091478A; CN111094153A; BR112020004849B1; ZA202000018B; MX2020000273A; BR112020004849A2; DE112018007085T5; PE20200357A1; WO2019157606A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a multifunction sensor contained in a seal of a conveyor belt roller, which comprises a multifunction sensor disposed next to a seal of a roller and contiguous to a bearing, which are assembled with a shaft of the roller which has a casing, the sensor being contained inside a cavity. The multifunction sensor is positioned at at least one end of the roller, selected to be the sensing roller in a monitoring system, and is formed by a plate, a portion of said plate being equipped with an electronic circuit containing a transceiver, a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, a magnetic sensor, a central processor, a sound sensor, a triaxial accelerometer and a temperature sensor. In addition, an RFID tag and a geolocation module are disposed close to said electronic circuit. A battery or group of batteries or another energy storage device is disposed on the rest of the plate.

Description

A MULTISENSOR CONTAINED IN A SEAL OF A CONVEYOR BELT ROLLER [0001] This invention refers to a multifunctional sensor contained a roller that is used in a conveyor belt monitoring system.

State of the Art [0002] This invention describes a multifunctional sensor contained in the seal of a conveyor belt roller wherein a multifunctional sensor is located beside a roller seal contiguous to a bearing that are assembled with a roller axle that has a cover and is contained in a recess, preferably for use in mining operations.

Prior State of the Art [0003] At this time, industrial processes require a greater monitoring, especially in processes that use conveyor belts, which must be watched constantly as a breakdown may be considerably expensive.

Invention patent application W02016019431 of Arif, dated February 11, 2016, entitled Conveyor Roller Monitoring Apparatus, System and Method, describes a conveyor roller for a conveyor system that has a cylindrical roller body supported for rotation around a central axle having an axle of rotation. A recess extends into the end of the axle. A conveyor condition monitoring device is mounted within this recess. The device has a battery, a transmitter and at least one sensor, such as a vibration sensor, and accelerometer and/or a temperature sensor. The transmitter can optionally transmit a unique code identifying the particular roller from other rollers. The device can have an RFID chip to transmit data relating to the sensed condition of the roller. There can be a module that is inserted into the recess for use, and may be removed when the module fails or the battery needs replacing. The device can form part of a system including remote monitoring equipment which receives roller condition signals from the device. Maintenance of the roller can be conducted based on the data received from the roller condition monitoring apparatus.

Invention patent application US2009194390 of Freeman, dated August 6, 2009, entitled Apparatus and Method for In-Belt Conveyor Idler Condition Monitoring, describes a method and system for in-belt conveyor idler condition monitoring. A sensor is mechanically coupled to a conveyor belt and senses a characteristic of a support structure associated with the conveyor belt. The sensor wirelessly transmits a corresponding signal to a monitor system. The monitor system determines a condition of the support structure based upon the transmitted signal. The support structure may be one of a plurality of support structures and the characteristics of each of the support structures may be sensed, associated with identifiers for the support structures, and transmitted to the monitor system. The support structure may include a plurality of elements and a characteristic of each element may be sensed and transmitted by one of a corresponding plurality of sensors.

Invention patent application W02007026135 of May Anthony, dated March 8, 2007, entitled Conveyor Belt Monitoring, describes a system of monitoring operation for a conveyor belt installation which comprises a conveyor belt having steel or other relatively magnetically permeable reinforcing material, said system comprising, in proximity to the conveyor belt, a field generator to generate a magnetic field, and a sensor unit a position downstream from the field generator, said sensor unit sensing the magnetic field emanating from the passing conveyor belt, and monitoring means to receive data related to the magnetic field properties sensed by the sensor unit during a plurality of passages of each part of the length of the conveyor belt past the sensor unit, said monitoring means incorporating comparison means to compare a received set of data with an earlier received set of data, and output means to provide an output signal representative of reinforcement damage or deterioration when subsequently received data has departed from earlier received data by more than a prescribed extent.

None of the documents cited describes or explains a multifunctional sensor coupled to a roller seal in a conveyor belt.

Summary of the Invention [0004] One objective of the invention is a multifunctional sensor contained in a seal of a conveyor belt roller comprising a multifunctional sensor located beside a roller seal contiguous to a bearing that are assembled with a roller axle that has a cover and is contained in a recess; the multifunctional sensor is located at least at one end of the roller, selected at least as one or several sensor rollers in a monitoring system; the multifunctional sensor comprises a plate and an electronic circuit is located on part of such plate that contains a transceiver, an RFID reader, a magnetic sensor, a central processor, a sound sensor, a triaxial accelerometer and a temperature sensor; moreover, there is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) label near such electronic circuit and a geolocation module; there is one or a group of batteries or other energy storage device on the rest of the plate.

Brief Description of the Figures [0005] We will now describe the embodiments of the invention merely by way of example by reference to the accompanying drawings where:

Figure 1 describes a roller used in a conveyor belt comprising a seal with a multifunctional sensor.

Figure 2 describes the position of the multifunctional sensor beside the seal.

Figures 3A and 3B describe the multifunctional seal and its components and support.

Figure 4 describes an additional sensor inserted in the lining or cover of the roller.

Figure 5 describes the monitoring system of a conveyor belt.

Description of a Form of Embodiment of the Invention [0006] This invention refers to a wireless conveyor belt monitoring system by means of sensors. More specifically, a multifunctional sensor contained in a roller to monitor a conveyor belt.

A multifunctional sensor (7) is located beside a seal (1) in a roller (23) contiguous to a bearing (3) that are assembled with an axle (4) of roller (23) having a cover (2), as shown in Figure 1; the multifunctional sensor (7) may be placed at both ends of roller (23), selected as the sensor roller in the monitoring system. Figure 2 shows in detail the location of the multifunctional sensor (7) that is between bearing (3) and seal (1) and contained in the recess (40).

The multifunctional sensor (7) that is shown in Figure 3A comprises a plate (35) comprising an electronic circuit (50) that contains a transceiver (9), an RFID reader (10), a magnetic sensor (11), a central processor (14), a sound sensor (15), a triaxial accelerometer (16), and a temperature sensor (17); there is also an RFID label (8) near the electronic circuit (50) and a geolocation module (19). There is one or a group of batteries (18) or other energy storage device on the rest of the surface. The multifunctional sensor (7) and its components that are located in recess (40) are affixed by different alternatives (28), such as screws, fitted components, or glue, as shown in Figure 3B that provides an isometric view of the layout of the multifunctional sensor (7) and its components that are contained in a support base (26) and a cover (27) that form the recess (40).

In complement, there is an RFID label (13) inserted in a rubber lining (6) that covers the cover (2) or on the cover (2) itself of roller (23), as shown in Figure 4, which indicates the wear of said lining (6). The RFID label (13) that is near the multifunctional sensor (7) is installed near cover (2) or on cover (2) itself, usually in the center of the cover, so that when this RFID label (13) is read from time to time by the RFID reader (10) or other external reader, it senses and supposes that the wear has progressed to a distance from cover (2) when RFID label (13) does not respond or is not sensed. It is then assumed that its position is blocked or altered, so an inspection must be made.

Moreover, a power storage module that is not shown is integrated to roller (23), which helps prolong the charge of the batteries (18) or other energy storage device.

The multifunctional sensor (7) allows variations in any nearby metal element located in the rotor body closest to the magnetic sensor (11) to be sensed during the information gathering by the magnetic sensor (11) to determine the rotations per minute [RPM]. The sound sensor (15) senses the sound pressure level emitted by a vibrating source, which is a symptom of failure. The triaxial accelerometer (16) directly senses the accelerations that cause vibrations in the three coordinated axles. The temperature sensor (17) provides the temperature inside the roller (23). These data from the information gathered by the central processor (14) are sent to transceiver (9) to determine the operating condition of the roller (23) and to provide data for records and traceability. These data and the information gathered are sent to link ports (24) which in turn send such data and information to a cloud server (20) for the processing of said information.

A multisensory module (7) also has a geolocation module (19) to determine the location of the rollers (23).

The multifunctional sensor (7) uses a low-energy wireless communications protocol that facilitates a great autonomy through the batteries (18). This multifunctional sensor (7) occupies very limited space and may be integrated inside the seal of roller (23) or any device needed to monitor the operating condition, geolocation and traceability of the rollers (23).

The multisensor (7) must be located near the axle (4), the bearings (3) or the accessible structure that directly transmits the variables of interest, such as vibration, temperature, RPMs, wear of the rubber lining (6) that covers cover (2) in Figures 3A and 3B. Said multisensory module (7) is represented in the way appropriate for use in rollers, notwithstanding any other type of gasketing.

The cloud server (20) corresponds to several virtual servers that may be scaled according to the number of multisensory modules (7) that are part of the monitoring. A display and analysis platform (21) is executed on the server, which corresponds to an artificial-intelligence-based system for analysis and display of data gathered by all multisensory modules (7) in real time. The entire network of multisensory modules (7), link ports (24) and cloud servers (20) are managed from the display and analysis platform (21).

The multisensor (7) senses the presence of the RFID label (13) located on the rubber lining (6) or on the cover (2) itself through the RFID reader (10). The sensed information gathered by the RFID reader (10) is processed in the central processor (14), which sends it through the transceiver (9) to the link port (24) to enter the cloud server (20) and manage alerts through the display and analysis platform (21). The RFID label (13) may also be sensed by an external reader that is not shown, which sends it through its own transceiver to the cloud server (20) to thus enter the system in Figure 5 for evaluation.

Claims

Claims [Claim 1] A multifunctional sensor contained in a seal of a conveyor belt roller WHEREIN a multifunctional sensor (7) is located beside a seal (1) of a roller (23) contiguous to bearing (3) that is assembled with an axle (4) of roller (23) that has a cover (2) and is contained in a recess (40). The multifunctional sensor (7) is located on at least one end of the roller (23), selected as the sensor roller in a monitoring system; the multifunctional sensor (7) comprises a plate (35) and an electronic circuit (50) is located on part of such plate that contains a transceiver (9), an RFID reader (10), a magnetic sensor (11), a central processor (14), a sound sensor (15), a triaxial accelerometer (16) and a temperature sensor (17); moreover, there is a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) label (8) near such electronic circuit (50) and a geolocation module (19); there is one or a group of batteries (18) or other energy storage device on the rest of the plate (35).
[Claim 2] A multifunctional sensor pursuant to claim 1 WHEREIN the multifunctional sensor (7) and its components that are located in the recess (40) are affixed by different alternatives (28), such as screws, fitted components or glue, and it is contained in a support base (26) and a cover (27) that form the recess (40).
[Claim 3] The multifunctional sensor according to Claim 1 COMPRISING an RFID label (13) inserted in a rubber lining (6) that covers the cover (2) or on the cover (2) itself of roller (23), which indicates the wear of said lining (6). The RFID label (13) that is near the multifunctional sensor (7) is installed near cover (2), usually in the center of the cover, so that this RFID label (13) can be read from time to time by the RFID reader (10) or other external reader.
[Claim 4] The multifunctional sensor according to Claim 1 also COMPRISING a power storage module integrated to roller (23), which helps prolong the charge of the batteries (18) or other energy storage device.
[Claim 5] The multifunctional sensor according to Claim 1 WHEREIN the multifunctional sensor (7) allows variations in any nearby metal element located in the rotor body closest to the magnetic sensor (11) to be sensed during the information gathering by the magnetic sensor (11) to determine the rotations per minute [RPM], The sound sensor (15) senses the sound pressure level emitted by a vibrating source, which is a symptom of failure. The triaxial accelerometer (16) directly senses the accelerations that cause vibrations in the three coordinated axles, and the temperature sensor (17) provides the temperature inside the roller (23).
[Claim 6] The multifunctional sensor according to Claim 5 WHEREIN these data from the information gathered by the central processor (14) are sent to transceiver (9) to determine the operating condition of the roller (23) and to provide data for records and traceability. These data and the information gathered are sent to link ports (24) which in turn send such data and information to a cloud server (20) for the processing of said information.
[Claim 7] The multifunctional sensor according to Claim 5 WHEREIN multisensory module (7) also has a geolocation module (19) to determine the location of the rollers (23).
[Claim 8] The multifunctional sensor according to Claim 6 WHEREIN the cloud server (20) corresponds to several virtual servers that may be scaled according to the number of multisensory modules (7) that are part of a monitoring system. A display and analysis platform (21) is executed on the server, which corresponds to an artificial-intelligence-based system for analysis and display of data gathered by all multisensory modules (7) in real time. The entire network of multisensory modules (7), link ports (24) and cloud servers (20) are managed from the display and analysis platform (21).
[Claim 9] The multifunctional sensor according to Claim 8 WHEREIN the multisensor (7) senses the presence of the RFID label (13) located on the rubber lining (6) or on the cover (2) through the RFID reader (10). The sensed information gathered by the RFID reader (10) is processed in the central processor (14), which sends it through the transceiver (9) to the link port (24) to enter the cloud server (20) and manage alerts through the display and analysis platform (21).
[Claim 10] The multifunctional sensor according to Claim 9 WHEREIN the RFID label (13) may also be sensed by an external reader, which sends it through its own transceiver to the cloud server (20) to thus enter the monitoring system.