Disk Gang Shaft Bend Detection Using Multi-Point Sensor Data

The shaft is divided into multiple monitoring sections with sensors placed at specific locations (e.g., near bearings, at mid-point) to detect bending at different segments. This segmentation allows precise localization of bend position and magnitude while distributing the measurement function across multiple simple sensor points rather than requiring a single complex measurement system.

The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary component that receives signals from multiple sensors and processes them to determine shaft bending conditions. This intermediary simplifies the overall system architecture by centralizing the complex signal processing and decision-making logic in a dedicated controller rather than requiring each sensor to independently analyze all parameters.

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system employs periodic sampling of shaft parameters at specific intervals or under specific conditions (e.g., when load thresholds are exceeded). This periodic action reduces energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring while maintaining sufficient reliability to detect bending events that affect tillage quality.

The monitoring system leverages existing operational parameters of the shaft (such as load variations, rotational speed fluctuations) that are already present during normal operation. By detecting bending through these naturally occurring parameter variations rather than requiring active energy-intensive sensors, the system achieves reliable monitoring with minimal additional energy consumption.