Track Pin Sensor Wireless Protocol for Wear Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Track chains in heavy equipment often experience connection failures due to wear and tear, particularly at the interface between track pins and bushings, which can lead to imminent failure despite enhanced robustness measures like sealed and lubricated connections.
Innovation Solution
A track pin sensor system that includes a temperature sensing element and a wireless transmitter, powered by a thermoelectric generator, to monitor the operational status of track pins and communicate potential failure conditions to a remote device, enabling proactive maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wireless communication protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee) are used for communication between track pins and control systems, then communication flexibility is improved, but system complexity and susceptibility to interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional wireless communication protocols (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee) with a dedicated short-range wireless communication protocol specifically designed for model railroading. This substitution eliminates the need for complex standard protocol stacks while providing reliable communication in the controlled environment of a model railway system, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining communication flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies communication parameters by operating in the 2.4 GHz ISM band with custom-defined protocol parameters optimized for model railroading. By changing the communication parameters from generic wireless protocols to domain-specific optimized parameters, the system achieves simpler implementation while maintaining adaptability for various track pin configurations and control requirements.
2Reliability
If conventional wireless protocols are used, then communication capability is improved, but reliability and susceptibility to interference worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional wireless protocols with a dedicated protocol that operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band with custom optimization for model railroading. This substitution provides immunity from interference by avoiding the need to coexist with other wireless devices, thereby improving communication reliability while reducing susceptibility to external interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dedicated wireless communication protocol as an intermediary layer between the track pins and control systems. This intermediary protocol is specifically designed to handle the communication requirements of model railroading, providing robust error handling and interference resistance that generic protocols cannot provide, thereby improving reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication protocols are supported for versatility, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal dedicated wireless communication protocol that can handle all communication requirements for model railroading through a single protocol design. This single protocol provides multi-functionality by supporting various track pin types, control commands, and data exchanges without requiring multiple protocol stacks, thereby achieving versatility while reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple communication functions (track control, signal management, sensor data transmission) into a single dedicated wireless communication protocol. By combining these functions that would otherwise require separate protocol implementations, the system achieves full adaptability for model railroading applications while significantly reducing the complexity of the communication stack.
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
The system effectively identifies potential failure conditions and allows for proactive maintenance by detecting temperature changes indicative of wear or friction, extending the lifespan of track chain components and preventing sudden failures.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric generator configured to supply power to the wireless transmitter and the controller to facilitate communication of information indicative of an operational state or status of the track pin, and where a voltage output of the thermoelectric generator is indicative of a temperature characteristic of the track pin
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensing element configured to provide an output indicative of a temperature characteristic of the track pin
Data Source
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AI summary
A track pin sensor for monitoring an operational status of a track pin of a track chain for heavy equipment. The track pin sensor may be incorporated into a communication system for monitoring a plurality of track pins of the track chain. A method of monitoring operational status of a track pin is also disclosed.