Smartlink sensor available for smaller pitch sizes
A
Renold Chain product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jan 12, 2009
Renold Chain has announced that its Smartlink chain sensor is now available for smaller pitch sizes down to half-inch (12.7mm) pitch chain.
The breakthrough has been possible due to advances in the miniaturisation of components.
According to Renold, there is approximately 10 times as much half-inch pitch chain in use as one-inch pitch.
Smartlink can be fitted to chain on real applications and record dynamic data such as peak and shock loads.
The units are remotely controlled by means of a hand-held device and the data collected can be downloaded onto a PC for analysis with software developed by Renold.
The results enable engineers to understand the loads applied to the chain throughout the whole system.
It can point to problem areas in the system, such as misaligned sprockets and can be used to determine more precisely the ideal size of chain that should be used.
The main stumbling block to reducing Smartlink's size was battery technology.
As Smartlink is attached to the chain's side plate the unit must carry its own power supply.
The first Smartlink devices were fitted with a PP3 9V battery.
The Smartlink for half-inch pitch chain uses batteries that take up less than half the space of what was being used before.
Further breakthroughs came with the reduction of the PCB to just a third of its former size, plus, to help the smaller batteries, the new board incorporates power efficient electronics.
The strain gauge also had to be completely redesigned as the original was bigger than the space available on the side plate of the half-inch pitch chain itself.
The new Smartlink devices are supplied already fitted to a section of chain; users simply install the new chain link and Smartlink is ready to go.
Users can choose between two remote controllers.
The first is about the size of a key fob and works with Smartlink to provide a warning if an overload has occurred.
It shows a red LED light when a chain exceeds a predetermined load, enabling engineers to check machinery and make sure that it is safe to continue operating the system.
The alarm conditions on the Smartlink device can then be reset using the remote control.
A more sophisticated hand-held controller is also available that is capable of downloading much more detailed information from Smartlink about the nature of the stresses and loading the chain was subjected to during a given period of operation.
This data can then be downloaded to a PC using software written by Renold.
The data can be analysed with the software supplied using the 'save as' command or by using software such as Excel with the 'export' command.
Smartlink can be used on a range applications including theme park rides, food processing, conveying and handling, and has even been used to solve problems in arduous environments such as agricultural machinery and wheel-tractor scrapers.
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