Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-03
2002-03-12
Pope, Daryl (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S572100, C340S679000, C340S988000, C342S051000, C342S042000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06356201
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a system for monitoring the cover layer of a composite structure wherein the cover layer is subjected to wear. The element can, for example, be a cover layer of a conveyor belt and the system for monitoring this cover layer can include a transponder embedded in the body of the composite structure, a spatially fixed transmitter/receiver device mounted external to the composite structure with the transmitter/receiver device continuously generating an electromagnetic field; and, the transponder is supplied with energy in a receiving region of the transmitter/receiver device by the electromagnetic field and transmits data to the transmitter/receiver device when it is supplied with the energy.
The invention also relates to a method for monitoring a layer of a composite structure wherein the layer is subjected to wear. The method can be especially for monitoring the cover layer of a conveyor belt.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The monitoring of the cover layer of a conveyor belt is especially significant because too intense a wear of the cover layer of the conveyor belt can lead to damage of the latter and, in the extreme case, even to a tearing of the conveyor belt. This can have very expensive consequences and can cause delays in production. A reliable detection of the state of wear of the cover layer of a conveyor belt can contribute to a timely repair or replacement of the conveyor belt and to avoiding subsequent damage or production delays. Systems are already known from the state of the art which are directed to the reliable detection of the state of wear of the cover layer of a conveyor belt.
German patent publication 4,444,264 discloses a system for monitoring the cover layer of a conveyor belt of the kind referred to above. Each transponder, which is embedded in the conveyor belt coacts with a conductor loop. The conductor loops are embedded in the cover layer of the conveyor belt and the ends of the loops are directed upwardly in such a manner that the tips thereof are located at different distances from the surface of the cover layer. The transponder corresponding to a particular conductor loop is supplied with energy when the transponder is in the receiving region of the external spatially fixed transmitter/receiver device. The transponder transmits an individual identifier to the transmitter/receiver device. If there is wear of the cover layer of the conveyor belt, then the tip of the conductor loop is cut through depending upon the extent of the wear so that the transponder, which is assigned to this conductor loop, can no longer be supplied by the transmitter/receiver device with energy in the receiving region. In this case, the transmitter/receiver device receives no individual identifier from the transponder and this is an indication for the device that a specific wear is present at a specific location of the layer of the conveyor belt. The transmitter/receiver device can then initiate corresponding measures.
The system disclosed in German patent publication 4,444,264 is only suitable to a limited extent for monitoring the cover layer of a conveyor belt because the conductor loops, which are embedded in the cover layer, have a high mechanical sensitivity and therefore can be destroyed not only by wear of the cover layer but also for other reasons such as material fatigue.
German patent publication 195 25 326 likewise discloses a system for monitoring the cover layer of a conveyor belt of the kind referred to above. Several transponders are embedded in the cover layer of the conveyor belt at different spacings to the surface. The transponders transmit an individual identifier to an external transmitter/receiver device at a fixed location when the transponders come into the receiving region of this transmitter/receiver device. The transponders can become inoperative as a consequence of the wear of the cover layer of the conveyor belt in dependence upon the extent of the wear so that, for a continuing wear, ever fewer transponders transmit their individual identifier to the transmitter/receiver device. The transmitter/receiver device can determine the wear of the cover layer based on the non-transmittal of the individual identifier and, if needed, initiate appropriate measures.
The system disclosed in German patent publication 195 25 326 is suitable for monitoring the cover layer of a conveyor belt only to a limited extent because the transponders, which are embedded in the cover layer, can be prematurely destroyed not only because of the wear of the cover layer but also for other reasons such as the impact of individual pieces of goods to be conveyed. This case can especially occur when coarse material is conveyed and the transponder is located directly in the area of the belt which is subjected to the load. An indication of the wear is triggered in the transmitter/receiver device by a premature destruction of the transponder even though the cover layer of the conveyor belt is still present in its complete thickness.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a system for monitoring a layer of a composite structure wherein the layer is subjected to wear. It is also an object of the invention to provide a system for monitoring the cover layer of a conveyor belt with which a reliable monitoring of wear of the layer subjected to wear is possible and wherein erroneous indications are avoided to the greatest extent possible. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method for monitoring a layer of a composite structure wherein the layer is subjected to wear. It is especially an object of the invention to provide a method for monitoring the cover layer of a conveyor belt wherein a reliable monitoring of wear is possible without erroneous indications.
The system of the invention is for monitoring a cover layer of a composite structure for wear with the cover layer having an outer surface and being subject to the wear during operation of the composite structure. The system includes: a transponder embedded in the composite structure; a transmitter/receiver device for continuously generating an electromagnetic field and the transmitter/receiver device being arranged spatially fixed outside of the composite structure; the transponder being disposed in a receiving region of the transmitter/receiver device so that the transponder can be supplied with energy by the electromagnetic field and can transmit data to the transmitter/receiver device when the transponder is supplied with energy; a ferromagnetic layer having a high permeability and being embedded in the cover layer between the transponder and the outer surface of the cover layer; and, the ferromagnetic layer being disposed to shield the transponder in the receiving region of the transmitter/receiver device so that the transmitter/receiver device receives no data from the transponder.
According to a feature of the method of the invention, a continuous check is made in the transmitter/receiver device as to whether data from a transponder are received with the transponder being embedded in the body of the composite structure. It is a feature of the method of the invention that measures are initiated by the transmitter/receiver device when data are received.
The basic idea of the invention is that the transponder is mounted in or at the body of the composite structure outside of the zone of wear of the cover layer. An announcement of the wear takes place when the ferromagnetic layer, which is assigned to the transponder, is destroyed over a large area by wear so that it loses its shielding effect.
The advantages achieved with the invention are especially that the wear of the cover layer can be reliably monitored without erroneous indications occurring because the ferromagnetic layer retains its shielding effect even when it is damaged slightly (for example, with a tear) and because the transponder is mounted below the ferromagnetic layer so that it is protected against the conventional mechanical loads of the body of the composite structure. Fo
ContiTech Transportbandsysteme GmbH
Ottesen Walter
Pope Daryl
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