JP2007051892A - Chain tension measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a chain tension measuring instrument capable of restraining any noise from being generated and capable of saving a space. <P>SOLUTION: A strain gage 16 and a transmission module 15 are arranged on the same link, in this chain tension measuring instrument comprising the strain gage 16 fixed to a measured member such as the chain link, and the transmission module 15 for radio-transmitting an output from the strain gage 16, and comprising an integrated circuit fixed to the measured member, and an electric power supply means for supplying electric power to the strain gage and the transmission module. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a chain tension measuring device, and more particularly to a chain tension measuring device using a strain gauge.

  Conventionally, as a device for measuring the tension applied to a chain, a sensor consisting of a small strain gauge is attached to at least one location of the chain as a member to be measured, and the sensor output is transmitted wirelessly and received by a receiver. Some have been proposed for measuring the tension of the chain inside (see, for example, Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-255168, previously filed by the present applicant).

  However, in the conventional chain tension measuring device, the position where the sensor is attached (link) is different from the position where the radio is attached (link) due to chain size constraints. For this reason, the signal line from the sensor to the wireless device becomes long, causing noise on the measurement value. In addition, since the signal line bends in synchronization with the movement of the chain, it also causes noise due to the piezo effect. Furthermore, a problem has been pointed out that the size of the apparatus is increased because sensors and wireless devices are distributed and installed on several links.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a chain tension measuring device that suppresses the generation of noise and saves the space of the device.

  A chain tension measuring device according to claim 1 is a transmission module comprising a strain gauge fixed to a member to be measured such as a chain link and an integrated circuit fixed to the member to be measured for wirelessly transmitting the output of the strain gauge; In the chain tension measuring device including the strain gauge and a power supply unit that supplies power to the transmission module, the strain gauge and the transmission module are arranged on the same link to solve the above problem.

  In addition to the structure of the chain tension measuring device according to claim 1, the chain tension measuring device according to claim 2 is fixed to the same link with a strain gauge using a hard adhesive and a transmitting module using a soft adhesive. Thus, the above-mentioned problem is solved.

  The hard adhesive is mainly an epoxy-based, cyanoacrylate-based, polyester-based, butyral-based, or phenol-based adhesive, and the soft adhesive is mainly a rubber-based or silicon-based adhesive.

  In the chain tension measuring device according to claim 3, in addition to the configuration of the chain tension measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, the link to which the strain gauge is fixed is covered by a frame having a U-shaped cross section, The above-described problem is solved by fixing the transmission module and the battery as the power supply means on the frame.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a transmission module comprising a strain gauge fixed to a measured member such as a chain link, and an integrated circuit fixed to the measured member that wirelessly transmits an output of the strain gauge, In a chain tension measuring device comprising a strain gauge and a power supply means for supplying power to the transmission module, the strain gauge and the transmission module are connected to each other by connecting the strain gauge and the transmission module. Noise due to long signal lines and bending is suppressed, and space saving is achieved.

  According to the chain tension measuring device of the second aspect, in addition to the effect exhibited by the chain tension measuring device of the first aspect, the strain gauge is a hard adhesive and the transmission module is a soft adhesive and fixed to the same link. As a result, the deformation of the base material can be accurately transmitted to the strain gauge, and when the tension is measured in the operating state by hanging the chain endlessly on the drive side sprocket and the driven side sprocket, It can suppress that the centrifugal force which a transmission module receives in a part propagates to a strain gauge.

  According to the chain tension measuring device according to claim 3, in addition to the effect exhibited by the chain tension measuring device according to claim 1 or 2, the battery as the transmission module and the power feeding means is a link to which a strain gauge is fixed. Since it is fixed on a frame having a U-shaped cross section mounted so as to cover, the weight balance of the member to be measured is improved, the durability of the apparatus is increased, and more stable and accurate measurement is possible.

  Embodiments of a chain tension measuring device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the chain tension measuring device of the present invention. The chain 10 to be measured is loosely penetrated into the pair of left and right inner plates 11, the bush 12 press-fitted between the inner plates, the pair of left and right outer plates 13 arranged on both outer sides of the inner plate 11, and the bush 12. As a result, it is assembled and knitted at least with connecting pins 14 press-fitted between the outer plates 13.

  A strain gauge 16 is attached to the end face of one outer plate 13. Further, a transmission module 15 composed of an integrated circuit that wirelessly transmits the output of the strain gauge 16 is fixed to the side surface of the outer plate 13 to which the strain gauge 16 is attached. The place where the strain gauge 16 is affixed is desirably a place where linearity (direct proportion) is recognized in the tension F and the output (resistance value) of the strain gauge 16 and is fixed to the end face of the outer plate 13 with an adhesive. desirable.

  For attaching the strain gauge 16 to the end face of the outer plate, for example, a hard adhesive such as epoxy, cyanoacrylate, polyester, butyral, phenol, etc. is used in order to accurately transmit the deformation of the base material to the sensor. . On the other hand, for attaching the transmitting module 15 to the side surface of the outer plate, for example, a soft adhesive such as rubber or silicon is used in order not to transmit the influence of centrifugal force or the like to the strain gauge 16.

  The power supply means for supplying power to the strain gauge 16 and the transmission module 15 is not particularly limited. However, when the tension of the chain is pulled in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. It is preferable to supply power from the outside via the cable 17 because it is reliable and simple. On the other hand, when measuring the tension in the operating state of the chain 10 with the endless chain hung on the drive side sprocket and the driven side sprocket, the power cable 17 is not supplied by the power supply cable 17 from the outside. In order to prevent twisting or excessive force from being applied to the transmission module 15 via the power cable 17, a small battery is bonded to the outer plates before and after the outer plate 13 to which the transmission module 15 is affixed. It is desirable to supply power to the transmission module 15.

  With a strain gauge, when an external force is applied to a metal resistor to expand and contract, its resistance value also increases or decreases within a certain range. Therefore, if the measurement object to be strained is bonded via an electrical insulator, the metal resistor expands and contracts in proportion to the expansion and contraction of the measurement object and the resistance value changes. The strain gauge (electric resistance type) is a sensor that measures strain by this resistance value change. In addition, by using a semiconductor strain gauge as the strain gauge, the resistance change can take a range approximately 50 times larger than that using the metal resistor described above, so that measurement can be performed without using an amplifier or the like. It is.

  Next, another embodiment of the chain tension measuring device of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the chain tension measuring device of the present invention. The chain 20 to be measured is loosely penetrated into the pair of left and right inner plates 21, the bush 22 press-fitted between the inner plates, the pair of left and right outer plates 23 arranged on both outer sides of the inner plate 21, and the bush 22. As a result, it is assembled and knitted at least with connecting pins 24 press-fitted between the outer plates 23.

  A strain gauge 26 is attached to the end face of one outer plate 23. Further, a frame 28 having a U-shaped cross section is attached so as to cover the outer plate 23 to which the strain gauge 26 is attached, and a transmission module 25 composed of an integrated circuit that wirelessly transmits the output of the strain gauge 26 is bonded to the center of the frame 28. A battery 29 as a power feeding means is fixed with an adhesive so as to sandwich the transmission module 25 therebetween.

It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of Example 1 of the chain tension measuring apparatus of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the external appearance of Example 2 of the chain tension measuring apparatus of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

10, 20 ... Chain 11, 21 ... Inner plate 12, 22 ... Bush 13, 23 ... Outer plate 14, 24 ... Connection pins 15, 25 ... Transmission modules 16, 26 .... Strain gauge 17 ... Power cable 28 ... Frame 29 ... Battery F ... Tension

Claims (3)

A transmission module comprising a strain gauge fixed to a member to be measured such as a chain link, an integrated circuit fixed to the member to be measured for wirelessly transmitting the output of the strain gauge, and supplying power to the strain gauge and the transmission module In the chain tension measuring device consisting of the power supply means to
The chain tension measuring device, wherein the strain gauge and the transmitting module are arranged on the same link.   The chain tension measuring device according to claim 1, wherein the strain gauge is fixed to the same link with a hard adhesive and the transmission module is a soft adhesive.   The link to which the strain gauge is fixed is covered with a frame having a U-shaped cross section, and the transmitter module and a battery as the power supply means are fixed on the frame. 2. The chain tension measuring device according to 2.

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