Conveyor System With Embedded Microwire Condition Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern conveyor systems, particularly elevator systems, are complex, expensive, and laborious to maintain and install due to the increasing number of control units, sensors, and cabling required for safety features and digitalization.
Innovation Solution
A conveyor system equipped with a non-contact measurement system using a magnetic microwire sensing element embedded in conveyor components, which responds to physical phenomena, and a sensing head to generate and sense magnetic domain waves for measuring physical quantities like temperature, pressure, and magnetic fields, allowing for cost-effective and easy installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional contact-based sensors and control units are used to enhance safety features and digitalization, then measurement precision and safety are improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional contact-based mechanical sensors with a contactless measurement system using magnetic microwire sensing elements. The sensing head generates magnetic fields that interact with the microwire to detect physical quantities without mechanical contact, thereby maintaining measurement precision while reducing device complexity and eliminating the need for additional cabling and control units
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a magnetic field as an intermediary between the sensing head and the micrawire sensing element. The excitation coil generates magnetic fields that propagate through the micrawire, and the sensing coil detects the magnetic response, enabling contactless measurement while maintaining high measurement precision without requiring direct physical contact or complex wiring
2Reliability
If multiple sensors and control units are installed to improve safety features, then reliability is improved, but ease of manufacture and installation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions into a single integrated micrawire sensing element that can detect multiple physical quantities (temperature, pressure, magnetic field) simultaneously. The sensing head integrates both excitation and sensing coils in one unit, eliminating the need for multiple separate sensors and control units, thereby improving reliability while simplifying manufacture and installation
Solution Approach 2:
The micrawire sensing element serves multiple functions: it acts as both the sensing element and the signal transmission medium, while the sensing head performs both excitation and detection functions. This multi-functional design maintains system reliability by eliminating multiple separate components while significantly improving ease of manufacture and installation
3Measurement precision
If traditional wired sensors are used for operational monitoring, then measurement precision is maintained, but ease of operation and maintenance deteriorate due to cabling requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces wired mechanical sensor connections with a contactless magnetic field-based measurement system. The micrawire sensing element embedded in the conveyor component communicates with the sensing head through magnetic fields, eliminating the need for cabling and making the system easier to operate and maintain while preserving measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the cabling and physical connection requirements from the measurement system by using contactless magnetic field interaction. The micrawire sensing element is embedded directly in the conveyor component without external wiring, and the sensing head reads the magnetic signal wirelessly, thereby maintaining measurement precision while dramatically improving ease of operation and maintenance
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables cost-efficient, simple, and easy installation and maintenance by providing contactless measurement of multiple points without additional wiring, enhancing operational monitoring and condition-based maintenance, reducing human intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The sensing head comprises an excitation coil configured for generating a magnetic field as an excitation signal, to cause propagation of a magnetic domain wave, i.e. a magnetic wall, throughout the microwire sensing element
Implementation Method 2
The sensing coil is configured for sensing a response caused by said magnetic domain wave
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a conveyor system comprising a measurement system. The measurement system comprises a sensing head and a microwire sensing element. Sensing element is embedded into a conveyor component and disposed in a non-contact manner within an operational range of the sensing head. Measurement system determines an operating condition of the conveyor component by means of the sensing element and the sensing head.