Kit for attaching parts to a rotating belt assembly

Abstract

A kit is provided for attachment to a rotating belt assembly. [Solution] The kit for attachment to a rotating belt assembly comprises a drive roller, a driven roller spaced apart from the drive roller, and an endless belt supported and rotated in the direction of movement around the drive roller and the driven roller. The kit includes a fixture configured to be positioned on the endless belt and to move with the endless belt, the fixture configured to hold one or more parts. The kit includes one or more straps configured to engage with the fixture. Each of the one or more straps is configured to form at least a partial loop around the endless belt, and each of the one or more straps is under tension.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] [Cross - Reference to Related Applications] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 754,342, filed on February 5, 2025, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The following discussion is provided only for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a kit for attaching components to a rotating belt assembly. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a kit for holding components on a belt while the belt is moving in at least a partially arcuate path.

Background Art

[0004] Without limitation, a rotating belt assembly such as a road (pavement) tester typically includes a belt that moves in a path around two or more rollers at a relatively high speed. There are many cases where a user wants to position sensors and / or related equipment on the belt and monitor and / or determine process conditions or variables, including, without limitation, the forces applied to the belt by an object such as a tire.

[0005] However, the high speed of the belt, especially when moving along an arc-shaped path around one or more rollers, can cause forces to be applied to the sensor or associated equipment, which can cause the sensor and / or associated equipment to detach from the moving belt. In some cases, adhesives such as epoxy can be used to bond the sensor and / or associated equipment to the rotating belt. However, to provide the required bonding strength, the adhesive must be substantially rigid. The rigidity of the adhesive as the belt rotates along an arc-shaped path around the rollers can cause the bond between the adhesive and the sensor and / or associated equipment to detach from the belt. Once detached, the sensor and / or associated equipment may be thrown off the rotating belt. [Overview of the project]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a kit for attachment to a rotary belt assembly. The rotary belt assembly comprises a drive roller, a driven roller spaced apart from the drive roller, and an endless belt supported and rotated in the direction of movement around the drive roller and the driven roller. The kit comprises a fixture positioned on the endless belt and configured to move with the endless belt, the fixture configured to hold one or more components. The kit comprises one or more straps configured to engage with the fixture. Each of the one or more straps is configured to form at least a partial loop around the endless belt, and each of the one or more straps is under tension.

[0007] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a kit for mounting to a rotary belt assembly. The rotary belt assembly comprises a drive roller, a driven roller spaced apart from the drive roller, and an endless belt supported and rotated in the direction of movement around the drive roller and the driven roller. The kit comprises a fixture configured to be positioned and held on the endless belt. The fixture comprises an intermediate (center) portion configured to hold one or more components, the intermediate portion comprising a front end and a rear end in the direction of movement. The fixture comprises a front mounting bracket movably coupled to the front end of the intermediate portion, and a rear mounting bracket movably coupled to the rear end of the intermediate portion.

[0008] Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a kit for mounting to a rotary belt assembly. The rotary belt assembly comprises a drive roller, a driven roller spaced apart from the drive roller, and an endless belt supported and rotated in the direction of movement around the drive roller and the driven roller. The kit comprises a fixture configured to be held on the endless belt by an adhesive bond, the fixture configured to hold one or more components. The adhesive bond includes a first adhesive layer attached to the fixture, a second adhesive layer attached to the endless belt, and a compliant intermediate layer fixed between the first and second adhesive layers. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a road surface testing machine in which the fixing device of this disclosure is attached to a continuous belt.

[0010] [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of a three-belt testing machine with the fasteners of this disclosure attached to each belt.

[0011] [Figure 3] This is a close-up view of a fastener attached to a belt with a continuous loop strap.

[0012] [Figure 4] It is an enlarged view of a fixture attached to a belt with the end of the strap attached to the fixture.

[0013] [Figure 5] It is a schematic view of a fixture in which a mounting bracket is double-pivot-mounted at the middle part.

[0014] [Figure 6] It is a schematic view of a fixture in which a mounting bracket is single-pivot-mounted at the middle part.

[0015] [Figure 7] It is a schematic view of a fixture in which a mounting bracket is single-flexure-mounted at the middle part.

[0016] [Figure 8] It is a schematic view of a fixture in which a mounting bracket is double-flexure-mounted at the middle part.

[0017] [Figure 9] It is a schematic view of the fixture of FIG. 5 having a multi-layer adhesive joint.

[0018] [Figure 10] It is a view of a flexible fixture attached to a rotating belt by a plurality of straps.

[0019] [Figure 11] It is a side view of a fixture attached to a rotating belt by a plurality of flexible straps whose ends are fixed to the belt by an adhesive.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] The present disclosure relates to a kit configured to couple a device associated with a sensor to a rotating belt that moves in a path around at least two rollers. In a non-limiting example, the rotating belt is a road surface structure (assembly). The kit includes a fixture configured to hold a device associated with the sensor within an internal space while held on the rotating belt. The fixture typically has a relatively low profile and is positioned in proximity to the belt, for example, to minimize the forces applied to the fixture as the fixture moves in an arcuate path around at least two rollers.

[0021] The kit includes one or more straps, such as a plurality of straps, that engage the fixture, with each of the plurality of straps being held under tension around the rotating belt. The plurality of straps assist in counteracting forces on the fixture as the fixture moves in an arcuate path around the roller and holds the fixture to the belt.

[0022] The kit can also include an adhesive joint for adhering the fixture to the rotating belt. In an exemplary embodiment, the adhesive joint includes a multi-layer joint, where the inner layer is compliant and / or flexible, while the first layer that adheres the belt to the inner layer and the second layer that adheres the fixture to the inner layer are substantially rigid. The first layer and the second layer provide the bonding strength necessary to hold the fixture to the belt as the belt rotates in an arcuate path around one or more rollers. The inner layer is formed from a compliant material such as a rubberized material, a plasticized polymer, or an elastomeric material, and allows the first layer and the second layer to move relative to each other to reduce stress, strain, and forces in the first layer and the second layer as the fixture moves in an arcuate path with the belt while the belt moves around at least two rollers.

[0023] In one embodiment, the sensor is typically mounted transversely to the direction of movement across the width of the belt and has a relatively low profile to minimize changes in engagement between the belt and an item such as a tire. However, additional equipment may be required for the sensor to be used effectively. For example, a power source such as a battery may need to be placed close to the sensor. Other additional equipment, for example, but not limited to, transmitters, receivers, or transceivers, may also be required, such as a radio frequency identification (RFID) transmitter used to transmit detected process conditions to a controller. In other embodiments, the additional equipment may include memory that can be used to store detected data for future analysis. In yet another embodiment, additional equipment held within the fixture may include equipment configured to receive signals correlated with detected process variables from the sensor. The additional equipment listed is essentially illustrative, and the fixtures of this disclosure can be used to hold any equipment that is desired to move along the path of a belt that moves around at least two rollers.

[0024] Referring to Figure 1, the road surface structure is schematically shown as 10 in Figure 1. The road surface structure comprises spaced-apart rollers 12 and 14, one of which is generally a driving roller and the other a driven roller. Further components of the road surface structure are omitted as they are not relevant to the present invention. A continuous belt 16 is positioned around the spaced-apart rollers 12 and 14 and is configured to receive tires held on hubs 17 on spindles 15.

[0025] The sensor 18 is typically attached to the continuous belt 16 transversely to the direction of movement. The fastener 20 is fixed to the continuous belt 16 in close proximity to the sensor 18 and is configured to hold additional equipment or articles associated with the sensor 18, as described above. As shown in the figure, the fastener 20 is held to the continuous belt 16 by one or more straps, such as multiple straps 22, that engage with the fastener 20 while under tension around the continuous belt 16. Although not shown in Figure 1, the fastener 20 may also be attached to the belt by multilayer adhesive joints, with or without the use of straps, depending on the operation of the continuous belt 16.

[0026] The kit of this disclosure can be used in a continuous belt testing apparatus in addition to the road surface simulator for tires shown in Figure 1. Referring to Figure 2, a three-belt simulator 40 for use in a wind tunnel is shown. The three-belt simulator 40 includes a left belt 42, a right belt 44, and an intermediate belt 46, each belt held under tension around spaced-apart rollers. Sensors 48, 50, and 52 are attached to the respective continuous belts 42, 44, and 46.

[0027] The fasteners 54 are attached to each of the continuous belts 42, 44, and 46, and are configured to hold equipment or articles associated with the respective sensors 48, 50, and 52. The fasteners 54 are secured to each of the continuous belts 42, 44, and 46 by one or more straps, e.g., multiple straps 56, which engage with the fasteners 54 and are held under tension as loops around the continuous belts 42, 44, and 46. Although not shown in Figure 2, the fasteners 54 may also be held to the continuous belts 42, 44, and 46 by multilayer adhesive bonds. While this disclosure shows fasteners and retainers used with one-belt and three-belt test apparatuses, this disclosure can be used with test apparatuses having any number of belts. For example, in the embodiment of Figure 2, one set of tires and wheels of a vehicle can be supported by the lateral belts. If desired, another set of belts can be separated from the illustrated set to support the tires and wheels of another axle of the vehicle. Similarly, the illustrated lateral belts can be of a length that supports all the tires and wheels on one side of the vehicle. In such a configuration with lateral belts, a central belt may not require sensors. However, in another embodiment, there are no lateral belts, and all the tires and wheels of the vehicle are supported by a single belt, such as belt 46. Aspects of the present invention may also be used in applications beyond vehicle testing equipment, or even beyond testing equipment in general.

[0028] The fastener 54 and the multiple straps 56 can be provided as a kit for the user to place on a continuous belt. In other embodiments, the kit may include the fastener 54, one or more straps, for example, multiple straps 56, and optionally, adhesive(s) necessary to form a multilayer adhesive bond between one of the continuous belts 42, 44, and 46 and the fastener 54.

[0029] Referring to Figure 3, a fastener 20 on the road surface structure 10 of Figure 1 is shown, which is secured to the continuous belt 16 by, for example, a plurality of straps 22. As shown, the plurality of straps 22 are under tension around the continuous belt 16 and engage with the fastener 20 to hold the fastener 20 to the continuous belt 16. The plurality of straps 22 can be any suitable material that is flexible enough to follow the shape of the belt 16, while being strong enough to withstand the forces generated as the fastener 20 moves with the continuous belt 16, particularly in arc-shaped paths around rollers 12 and 14. Exemplary and non-limiting constituent materials for the straps include metals, polymer materials, and combinations thereof. As shown, the kit includes three straps 22. However, the kit may include one or more straps to secure the fastener 20 to the belt 16.

[0030] The fixture 20 comprises an intermediate section 60 having an internal cavity 62 configured to hold additional equipment associated with the sensor 18, as described above. The intermediate section 60 comprises a forward section 63 in the direction of movement having spaced-out tabs, one of which is shown as 64 (similar to tab 110 described below). The spaced-out tab 64 has an aligned through bore 66. A connecting member is positioned between the spaced-out tabs 64, and the through bore of the connecting member is aligned with the through bore 66 of the spaced-out tabs 64. The pin 72 is positioned through the through bore of the connecting member and the aligned through bore 66 of the spaced-out tabs 64.

[0031] The end mounting bracket 74 has a substantially flat bottom surface 75 that contacts the continuous belt 16, for example, by an optional multilayer adhesive bond. The end mounting bracket 74 comprises spaced-out tabs 76 having aligned through bores 80. Another portion of a connecting member is positioned between the spaced-out tabs 76, and the through bores of the connecting member align with the through bores 80 of the spaced-out tabs 76. Pins 82 are then inserted through the aligned through bores 80 and the through bores of the connecting member to connect the end mounting bracket 74. The pins 72 and 82 form pivot axes 84 and 86 that allow the end mounting bracket 74 to move and rotate relative to the fixture 20.

[0032] The fastener 20 includes a rear end mounting bracket 90 attached to the rear end 65 of the intermediate section 60 by a double pivot mechanism similar to that described in relation to the front end mounting bracket 74. The intermediate section 60 includes spaced-apart tabs 92 and 94 having aligned through bores 96 and 98. The connecting member 100 is positioned between the spaced-apart tabs 92 and 94 and includes a through bore 102 aligned with the through bores 96 and 98. The pivot pin 104 is positioned through the through bores 96 and 98 of the spaced-apart tabs 92 and 94 and the through bore 102 of the connecting member 100, and pivotally secures the connecting member 100 to the intermediate section 60.

[0033] The rear end mounting bracket 90 has a substantially flat bottom surface 91 that contacts the continuous belt 16, for example, by an optional multilayer adhesive bond. The rear end mounting bracket 90 has spaced-out tabs 110 and 112 having aligned through bores 114. Another portion of the connecting member 100 is positioned between the spaced-out tabs 110 and 112, and the connecting member has a through bore 116 aligned with the through bore 114. A pivot pin 118 is inserted through the aligned through bores 114 and 116 to pivotally mount the rear end mounting bracket 90 to the connecting member 100. The pins 104 and 118 define pivot axes that allow the rear end mounting bracket 90 and the intermediate portion 60 to move relative to each other as the fastener 20 moves with the belt 16.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the multiple straps 22 are spaced apart from each other and positioned above the front mounting bracket 74 and the rear mounting bracket 90. The intermediate straps of the multiple straps are positioned below the intermediate portion 60 along the intermediate surface, while the outer straps of the multiple straps 22 engage with the front mounting bracket 74 and the rear mounting bracket 90 near their edges.

[0035] As shown in the figure, the multiple straps 22 form at least a partial continuous loop under tension around the continuous belt 16, holding the fastener 20 to the continuous belt 16. However, referring to Figure 4, the ends 21 and 23 of the multiple straps 22 can be attached to the front mounting bracket 74 and the rear mounting bracket 90 by rivets 25 while the multiple straps 22 are under tension, thereby holding the fastener 20 to the continuous belt 16. While rivets 25 are disclosed and illustrated, other fastening mechanisms are within the scope of this disclosure, but are not limited to adhesives, cements, epoxys, and combinations thereof, screw engagements, and clamping devices.

[0036] Referring to Figure 5, the fixture 20 is shown such that the intermediate section 60 is connected to the front mounting bracket 74 by pins 82 and 84, forming a double pivot connection. Similarly, the rear end mounting bracket 90 is shown to be attached to the intermediate section 60 by pins 104 and 118, forming another double pivot connection.

[0037] Referring to Figure 6, another embodiment of the fixture is shown as 120. Fixture 120 comprises an intermediate section 122 having an internal cavity 124 configured to hold additional equipment for the sensor as described above. Fixture 120 comprises an end mounting bracket 126 that is swivel-connected to the intermediate section 122 by a single pin 128 having a pivot axis 130. A rear end mounting bracket 132 is swivel-connected to the intermediate section 122 by another pin 134 having a pivot axis 136. Thus, the end mounting bracket 126 and the rear end mounting bracket 132 are attached to the intermediate section 122 by a single pivot connection instead of the double pivot connection shown in Figure 5.

[0038] Referring to Figure 7, another embodiment of the fixture is shown as 150. The fixture comprises an intermediate section 152 having a cavity 154 configured to house and hold additional equipment for the sensor. Fixture 150 comprises a front mounting bracket 156 attached to the intermediate section 152 by a first flexure region 158, the first flexure region 158 being thin enough to flex while holding the front mounting bracket 156 to the intermediate section 152, allowing the front mounting bracket 156 to move relative to the intermediate section 152. Fixture 150 comprises a rear mounting bracket 160 attached to the intermediate section by a second flexure region 162, the second flexure region 162 being thin enough to flex, allowing the rear mounting bracket 160 to move relative to the intermediate section 152.

[0039] Referring to Figure 8, another embodiment of the fixture is shown as 200. Fixture 200 comprises an intermediate section 202 having a cavity 204 configured to house and hold additional equipment for the sensor. Fixture 200 comprises a front mounting bracket 206 attached to the intermediate section 202 by first spaced flexure regions 208 and 210, the first spaced flexure regions 208 and 210 being thin enough to flex while holding the front mounting bracket 206 to the intermediate section 202, allowing the front mounting bracket 206 to move relative to the intermediate section 202. Fixture 200 comprises a rear mounting bracket 212 attached to the intermediate section 202 by second spaced flexure regions 214 and 216, the second spaced flexure regions 214 and 216 also being thin enough to flex, allowing the rear mounting bracket 212 to move relative to the intermediate section 202.

[0040] Referring to Figure 9, the fastener 20 of Figure 3 is shown, and the end mounting bracket 74 and the rear mounting bracket 90 are fixed to the continuous belt 16 by a multilayer adhesive bond 250, with or without one or more straps (not shown). The multilayer adhesive bond 250 comprises an inner layer 252 made of a compliant material. Exemplary constituent materials of the inner layer 252 include, but are not limited to, rubberized materials, plasticizing polymers, or elastomer materials, and combinations thereof. The first layer 254 adheres the belt 16 to the inner layer 252, and the second layer 256 adheres the end mounting bracket 74 and the rear mounting bracket 90 to the inner layer 252. The first layer 254 and the second layer 256 are made of a suitable adhesive, such as epoxy or cement, and provide sufficient adhesion to the belt 16 and the end mounting bracket 74 and the rear mounting bracket 90 to hold the fastener 20 to the belt 16 as the belt 16 rotates around one or more rollers in an arc-shaped path. The inner layer 252, made of compliant material, allows the first layer 254 and the second layer 256 to move relative to each other in order to reduce stress, strain, and force in the first and second layers as the fastener 20 moves along an arc-shaped path while the belt 16 moves around at least two rollers 12 and 14.

[0041] Referring to Figure 10, another embodiment of the kit is shown, in which the fastener 300 is made of a compliant and / or flexible material so that the fastener can bend as needed when moving with the belt 16. The fastener 300 includes an internal cavity 302 configured to hold additional equipment as described above. The fastener 300 includes spaced slots 304, 306, and 308 that receive one or more straps, for example, a plurality of straps 310, 312, and 314, to assist in holding the fastener 300 to the continuous belt 16. The fastener 300 can be optionally held to the belt 16 by a multilayer adhesive bond, with or without one or more straps, as described in relation to Figure 9.

[0042] However, the fixture 300, which is made of a compliant or flexible material, substantially follows an arc-shaped path as the fixture 300 moves around the roller and does not require a mounting bracket that is swivel-mounted to the middle of the fixture 20, or a flexure that allows the fixture 300 to move along an arc-shaped path around the roller.

[0043] Referring to Figure 11, another embodiment of the kit is shown as 400. Kit 400 comprises a fixture 410 configured to hold sensor-related equipment within an internal space while the fixture is held to a rotating belt within an internal cavity 412. Kit 400 comprises a plurality of flexible straps, one of which is shown as 414. Each of the plurality of straps 414 has spaced-out ends 416 and 418, which are secured to the rotating belt 16 by adhesive areas 420 and 422. In some embodiments, the adhesive areas 420 and 422 consist of multilayer adhesive bonds shown in Figure 9.

[0044] Multiple flexible straps 414 are secured to the rotating belt under tension so that the fastener 410 is held to the belt 16 as the belt rotates around multiple rollers. As the fastener 410 and the multiple straps 414 move along an arc-shaped path around the rollers on the belt 16, the adhesive areas 420 and 422 and the multiple straps 414 flex, holding the fastener 410, along with the sensor-related equipment, to the belt 16.

[0045] While this disclosure is described with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that modifications may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A kit for attachment to a rotating belt assembly, the rotating belt assembly comprising a drive roller, a driven roller spaced apart from the drive roller, and an endless belt supported and rotated in the direction of movement around the drive roller and the driven roller, the kit being, A fastener configured to be positioned on and move with an endless belt, and configured to hold one or more components, One or more straps configured to engage with the fastener, each of the one or more straps configured to form at least a partial loop around the endless belt, and each of the one or more straps is under tension, A kit that includes the following:

2. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the fastener includes a flexible material configured to substantially conform to the shape of the belt as it moves around the drive roller and the driven roller.

3. The aforementioned fixing device is An intermediate portion configured to hold the aforementioned component, including a front end and a rear end in the direction of movement, A tip mounting bracket that is movably coupled to the tip of the intermediate portion, A rear end mounting bracket is movably connected to the rear end of the intermediate portion, Equipped with, In one embodiment, the kit according to claim 1, each of the front mounting bracket and the rear mounting bracket is movably coupled to the intermediate part by a pivot pin having a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement, or each of the front mounting bracket and the rear mounting bracket is movably coupled to the intermediate part by a plurality of spaced pivot pins having a plurality of rotation axes substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement, or each of the front mounting bracket and the rear mounting bracket is movably coupled to the intermediate part by a flexure that bends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement, or each of the front mounting bracket and the rear mounting bracket is movably coupled to the intermediate part by a plurality of spaced flexures that are substantially parallel to each other and bend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement.

4. Each of the aforementioned front mounting bracket and rear mounting bracket is fixed to the endless belt by an adhesive bonding portion, and in one embodiment, the adhesive bonding portion is A first adhesive layer attached to the front mounting bracket and the rear mounting bracket, A second adhesive layer attached to the endless belt, A compliant intermediate layer fixed between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer, the compliant intermediate layer enabling movement within the adhesive bond, The kit according to claim 3, including the following:

5. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a sensor configured to be attached to the endless belt, wherein the fixture is configured to be positioned in close proximity to the sensor, and the fixture is configured to hold an electronic component configured to receive a signal from the sensor.

6. A kit for attachment to a rotating belt assembly, the rotating belt assembly comprising a drive roller, a driven roller spaced apart from the drive roller, and an endless belt supported and rotated in the direction of movement around the drive roller and the driven roller, the kit being, A fastener configured to be held on an endless belt by an adhesive bonding portion, comprising a fastener configured to hold one or more components, wherein the adhesive bonding portion is A first adhesive layer attached to the aforementioned fastener, A second adhesive layer attached to the endless belt, A compliant intermediate layer fixed between the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer, A kit that includes this.

7. The kit according to claim 6, wherein the compliant intermediate layer comprises a rubberizing material, a plasticizing polymer, or an elastomer material.

8. The kit according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the fastener includes a flexible material configured to substantially conform to the shape of the belt as it moves around the drive roller and the driven roller.

9. The aforementioned fixing device is An intermediate portion configured to hold a component, comprising a front end and a rear end in the direction of movement, A tip mounting bracket that is movably coupled to the tip of the intermediate portion, A rear end mounting bracket is movably connected to the rear end of the intermediate portion, Equipped with, The adhesive bonding portion is used to attach the front mounting bracket and the rear mounting bracket to the endless belt, according to any one of claims 6 to 8.

10. The kit according to claim 9, wherein each of the front mounting bracket and the rear mounting bracket is movably coupled to the intermediate portion by a pivot pin having a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement.

11. The kit according to claim 9, wherein each of the front mounting bracket and the rear mounting bracket is movably coupled to the intermediate portion by a plurality of spaced-apart pivot pins having rotation axes substantially parallel to each other and substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement.

12. The kit according to claim 9, wherein each of the front mounting bracket and the rear mounting bracket is movably coupled to the intermediate portion by a flexure that bends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement.

13. The kit according to any one of claims 6 to 12, further comprising one or more straps configured to engage with the fastener, each of the one or more straps configured to form at least a partial loop around the endless belt.

14. The kit according to any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the fastener is configured to hold an electronic component configured to receive a signal from a sensor attached to the endless belt.

15. The kit according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the rotating belt assembly includes a road surface structure.

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