BELT OR BELT SEGMENT

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a belt or a belt segment having steel cables that run substantially in the longitudinal direction of the belt or belt segment and are disposed so as to be substantially mutually parallel, wherein the belt or the belt segment has at least one open end having a fastening device which via clamping is connected to at least one part of the steel cables. The belt or the belt segment is characterized by at least one measuring installation which is configured to detect a spacing (d) in the longitudinal direction (X) between the belt or the belt segment and the fastening device.

Claims

1. A belt or belt segment comprising: a plurality of steel cables; a belt body or belt segment body defining a longitudinal direction (X); said steel cables running substantially in the longitudinal direction (X) and being disposed so as to be substantially mutually parallel; said belt body or belt segment body having an open end; a fastening device disposed at said open end and connected to at least one part of said plurality of steel cables via clamping; and, at least one measuring installation configured to detect a spacing (d) in the longitudinal direction (X) between said belt body or belt segment body and said fastening device.

2. The belt or belt segment of claim 1, wherein said measuring installation includes at least one sensor unit disposed on said fastening device and at least one sensor counter piece which is disposed on said belt body or belt segment body or vice versa.

3. The belt or belt segment of claim 2, wherein said sensor unit is an electrically measuring sensor, and said sensor counter piece is an electrically conductive body.

4. The belt or belt segment of claim 3, wherein said electrically measuring sensor is an eddy current sensor.

5. The belt or belt segment of claim 3, wherein said electrically conductive body is a metallic body.

6. The belt or belt segment of claim 2, wherein said sensor unit is a tactile sensor and the sensor counter piece is a rigid or yielding body.

7. The belt or belt segment of claim 2, wherein said sensor unit is an optical sensor and the sensor counter piece is an optically reflecting body.

8. The belt or belt segment of claim 2, wherein said sensor unit is a tear-away sensor which, in the longitudinal direction (X), is connected to said counter piece so as to be capable of being torn away from the latter.

9. The belt or belt segment of claim 1, wherein said measuring installation is configured to emit a predetermined signal if the detected spacing (d) exceeds a predetermined limit value.

10. The belt or belt segment of claim 1, wherein said belt body or belt segment body includes an elastomeric material in which said plurality of steel cables are embedded as strength members.

11. The belt or belt segment of claim 1, wherein said fastening device has a plurality of openings into which said plurality of steel cables are introduced and are clamped therein.

12. The belt or belt segment of claim 9, wherein: said measuring installation includes at least one sensor unit disposed on said fastening device and at least one sensor counter piece which is disposed on said belt body or belt segment body or vice versa; and, said measuring installation includes a computer unit connected to said sensor unit in a signal-transmitting manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic illustration of a belt or belt segment, having a clamped fastening device and a measuring installation; and,

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a lateral schematic illustration of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic illustration of a belt 2 or belt segment 2, having a clamped fastening device 1 and a measuring installation 3. FIG. 2 shows a lateral schematic illustration of FIG. 1.

[0025] The fastening device 1 and the belt 2, or the belt segment 2, respectively, extend substantially in a longitudinal direction X which can also be referred to as the length X. A transverse direction Y, which can also be referred to as the width Y, extends perpendicularly thereto. A vertical direction Z which can also be referred to as the height Z or the thickness Z extends to the two directions X, Y.

[0026] The fastening device 1 has a first part-region 10 which can also be referred to as the head piece 10 of the fastening device 1. The head piece 10 is connected to a second part-region 12 which can also be referred to as the clamping piece 12 of the fastening device 1. The head piece 10 and the clamping piece 12 are interconnected and configured in such a manner that both can reliably transmit the forces between a load and a belt 2 or belt segment 2. The head piece 10 and the clamping piece 12 in the present embodiment are provided so as to be made from steel and in an integral manner, that is, so as to be solid, made from one body.

[0027] The head piece 10 has a connection element 11 which, for example, can be a hook or the like. The connection element 11 in the embodiment illustrated is a clearance 11 which runs perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction X of the belt 2 or belt segment 2, respectively, and perpendicularly to the plane of the belt 2 or belt segment 2, respectively. By means of this clearance 11, which can also be referred to as the opening 11 or as the through bore 11, the head piece 10 of the fastening device 1 can be hooked into to a hook or a protrusion of a load, or else a mounting, or else be screw-fitted to a load or mounting.

[0028] The clamping piece 12 has a clamping device 13 which in the embodiment illustrated is composed of a plurality of clamping webs 13 which in the interior thereof have in each case at least one opening in the form of a longitudinal bore (not illustrated) that runs in the longitudinal direction X. The steel cables 21 of the belt 2 or belt segment 2, respectively, are held so as to be clamped in the longitudinal bores. To this end, a force has been applied externally to the clamping webs 13 such that the diameter or cross-section, respectively, of the longitudinal bores of the clamping webs 13 has been constricted in such a manner that a force-fitting clamping connection has been established between the interior of the longitudinal bores, and thus the clamping webs 13, and the steel cables 21, the force-fitting clamping connection being able to bear the load of the connection element 11. The steel cables 21 within the belt 2 or the belt segment 2, respectively, are embedded in the elastomeric belt body 20 of the latter.

[0029] A measuring installation 3 is provided in order for the durability of the force-fitting clamping connection of the steel cables 21 in the longitudinal bores of the clamping webs 13 to now be monitored. The measuring installation 3 has a sensor unit 30 in the form of an eddy current sensor 30 which is disposed on the fastening device 1 and in the longitudinal direction X is aligned toward the belt 2, or toward the belt segment 2, respectively. The measuring installation 3 furthermore has a sensor counter piece 31 in the form of a metallic body 31 which is disposed so as to be bent back at a right angle on the surface of the belt 2 or belt segment 2, respectively. The metallic body 31 by way of the face thereof that is bent upright in the longitudinal direction X is aligned toward the eddy current sensor 30 and disposed at a predetermined spacing d from the latter.

[0030] The eddy current sensor 30 is disposed on the fastening device 1 via a mounting 34 that is likewise bent upright. To this end, the mounting 34 has a clearance 35 which can be moved so as to be congruent with the clearance 11 of the head piece 10, such that the eddy current sensor 30 via the mounting 34 thereof can be disposed conjointly with the load to be handled on the fastening device 1 and can be fixedly screwed thereto, for example.

[0031] The eddy current sensor 30 via a signal transmission line 32 is connected in a signal-transmitting manner to a computer unit 33 of the measuring installation 3. The detected spacing d can be evaluated via the computer unit 33. On account thereof, it is possible for the detected spacing d to be compared with a predetermined limit value. Alternatively, a spacing differential can be determined from the currently detected spacing d and the previously detected spacing d, and the spacing differential can be compared with a predetermined limit value. In any case, automated and continuous monitoring of the durability of the clamping connection can take place in this way, such that a releasing clamping connection can be detected at an early stage. As a reaction thereto, measures can be initiated, for example in order for a user to be warned to refrain from using the application, or for an inspection or else a repair of the clamping connection by persons to be initiated, respectively.

[0032] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

Part of the Specification

[0033] d Measured spacing in the longitudinal direction X between the sensor unit 30 and the sensor counter piece 31

[0034] X Longitudinal direction, length

[0035] Y Transverse direction, width

[0036] Z Vertical direction, height, thickness

[0037] 1 Fastening device

[0038] 10 First part-region, or head piece, respectively, of the fastening device 1

[0039] 11 Connection element, or clearance, respectively, of the head piece 10

[0040] 12 Second part-region, or clamping piece, respectively, of the fastening device 1

[0041] 13 Clamping device, or clamping webs, respectively, of the clamping piece 12

[0042] 2 Belt, belt segment

[0043] 20 Belt body, belt segment body

[0044] 21 Steel cables

[0045] 3 Measuring installation

[0046] 30 Sensor unit, eddy current sensor, tactile sensor, optical sensor

[0047] 31 Sensor counter piece, metallic body, rigid body, reflecting body

[0048] 32 Signal transmission line of the sensor unit 30 to the computer unit 33

[0049] 33 Computer unit

[0050] 34 Mounting of the sensor unit 30

[0051] 35 Clearance of the mounting 34