A sensor is used in measuring the torque applied to a slew drive. The slew drive includes a worm gear and a worm wheel and the sensor is coupled with a securing device that is used to secure the worm gear to the slew drive housing. The sensor generates a signal which is indicative of the torque on the worm wheel. The worm gear is secured to the slew drive housing by a first bearing and a second bearing. Two end plates and eight bolts are also used to further secure the worm gear and the bearings to the slew drive housing. By tightening the bolts, a compressive force is applied on the worm gear through the bearings. The applied torque on the worm wheel causes an axial force on the worm gear. The axial force is transmitted through the worm gear, the bearings, the end plates, and the bolts. One or more sensors can be embedded in one or more of the end plates or the bolts to measure the strain, in the end plates or the bolts, due to the axial force. A control device receives the signal from the sensor and stores, analyses, and/or communicates the signal.

The present invention relates to a method for determining a present state of wear of a hydrostatic machine during the operation of the hydrostatic machine. The hydrostatic machine comprises a drive with variable rotational speed and a hydrostatic pump, wherein the drive is designed to drive the hydrostatic pump for generating a volume flow of a fluid, and wherein the hydrostatic machine is connected to a fluid transport channel in which the fluid is transported in a manner driven by the hydrostatic machine. The method has a step for determining a first torque of the drive at a specified drive vector. Furthermore, the method has a step for ascertaining a second torque of the drive at the specified drive vector using a first calculation method, and in addition, the method has a step for determining the present state of wear of the hydrostatic machine using a second calculation method, in order to compare the first determined torque and the second ascertained torque to one another.

The present invention relates to a method for determining a present state of wear of a hydrostatic machine during the operation of the hydrostatic machine. The hydrostatic machine comprises a drive with variable rotational speed and a hydrostatic pump, wherein the drive is designed to drive the hydrostatic pump for generating a volume flow of a fluid, and wherein the hydrostatic machine is connected to a fluid transport channel in which the fluid is transported in a manner driven by the hydrostatic machine. The method has a step for determining a first torque of the drive at a specified drive vector. Furthermore, the method has a step for ascertaining a second torque of the drive at the specified drive vector using a first calculation method, and in addition, the method has a step for determining the present state of wear of the hydrostatic machine using a second calculation method, in order to compare the first determined torque and the second ascertained torque to one another.

A wind park controller and control method for a wind park (10) are described. The wind park comprises a plurality of wind turbines (20) and an Energy Storage System (24) connected to one another by means of a low voltage power network (22, 25), which is in turn coupled to the grid. The controller determines a number of operating parameters of the wind turbine gearbox or drive train, and calculates a gearbox or drive train health metric. This can include a measure of the gearbox lifetime. The controller also determines one or more power characteristics of the wind turbine generator or the point of common coupling (26) to determine a power mismatch indication. Based on the power mismatch indication and said gearbox or drive train health metric, the controller determines a power command for the Energy Storage System and wind turbines based to improve the gearbox health and lifetime.

Methods and systems for a locking differential are provided. The locking differential system includes an electromagnetic solenoid actuator configured to induce locking and unlocking of the differential and a circuit board assembly designed to programmatically control the locking and unlocking functionality. The circuit board assembly includes a multi-sensor sub-assembly having two or more sensor configured to monitor a position of the electromagnetic solenoid actuator.

A method for determining belt wear in a belt drive, wherein the belt is loaded with a defined torque and the rotation angle of a pulley is determined.

A method for determining belt wear in a belt drive, wherein the belt is loaded with a defined torque and the rotation angle of a pulley is determined.

A method and system for diagnosing gear condition by comparing data collected from each member of a set of coupled gears, including mating gears. Data containing vibrations or other signals from the set of coupled gears are collected. Condition indicators are calculated from the vibration data. The values of these condition indicators are compared for each pair of coupled gears. A divergence of the condition indicators as indicated by the comparison may indicate the presence of a faulted or otherwise anomalous condition. Such indication may be provided to a user. In one variation, the vibration data are used to calculate a synchronous average for each gear and the condition indicators are based on the synchronous average.

A method and system for diagnosing gear condition by comparing data collected from each member of a set of coupled gears, including mating gears. Data containing vibrations or other signals from the set of coupled gears are collected. Condition indicators are calculated from the vibration data. The values of these condition indicators are compared for each pair of coupled gears. A divergence of the condition indicators as indicated by the comparison may indicate the presence of a faulted or otherwise anomalous condition. Such indication may be provided to a user. In one variation, the vibration data are used to calculate a synchronous average for each gear and the condition indicators are based on the synchronous average.

A structural health monitoring system is provided. The system includes a drive system having a first drive member a second drive member 38 operationally connected to the first drive member, and a tension member 39 operationally connecting the first drive member to the second drive member. At least one sensor 50 is configured to monitor a characteristic of at least one of the first drive member and the second drive member. A processor 54, in communication with the at least one sensor, is configured to determine if the structural health of the tension member is compromised based on the monitored characteristic. The processor is further configured to perform a safety response action when the structural health of the tension member is determined to be compromised.