Wedge Drive Temperature Profiling for Press Condition Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for monitoring the condition of a wedge drive in a press, such as measuring restoring force or temperature, are either costly or complex, and are affected by environmental influences, making them unreliable and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
Continuous recording of actual temperature values during the working and return strokes of the wedge drive to form an oscillation width, which cancels out environmental influences and allows for accurate condition assessment without expensive sensors, using temperature measurements to determine the oscillation width and categorize the condition based on standardized thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If force sensors are used to measure restoring force for condition monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical force sensors with a thermal measurement system. Temperature sensors measure temperature changes in the wedge drive components, and through the established relationship between temperature and oscillation amplitude, the condition of the wedge drive is determined without direct mechanical force measurement. This substitution eliminates complex force sensing while maintaining monitoring capability.
2Device complexity
If temperature measurement is used for condition monitoring, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to environmental influences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the temperature oscillation component from the overall temperature signal by measuring temperature at multiple points in the oscillation cycle and calculating the oscillation amplitude. This separates the useful information (mechanical oscillation reflected in temperature oscillation) from the environmental interference (ambient temperature changes), enabling accurate condition monitoring despite environmental influences.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calibration during the commissioning phase to establish the relationship between temperature oscillation amplitude and wedge drive condition for each specific press. This pre-established reference data enables accurate condition assessment during operation without requiring complex real-time environmental compensation.
3Measurement precision
If multiple temperature values are recorded throughout the stroke cycle, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent measures temperature at more points than the absolute minimum of two, recording temperature at the beginning, end, and intermediate points of the stroke cycle. This partial excessive action provides redundant data that improves measurement precision and enables verification of measurement quality, while the systematic approach keeps data acquisition time manageable.
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
This method provides a reliable, accurate, and reproducible assessment of the wedge drive's condition, enabling early intervention to prevent damage, while simplifying the process and reducing costs by eliminating the need for costly sensors and complex calibrations.
Implementation Method 1
In a method for assessing the condition of a wedge drive of a device, in particular a press, in which a working stroke and a return stroke in the opposite direction to a force, in particular a pressing force, are performed in order to deflect a force, in particular a pressing force, the actual temperature of the wedge drive is measured
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 4a~4c
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for assessing the condition of a wedge drive (1) of a device (100), in particular a press, in which the wedge drive (1) performs a working stroke (6a) and a counteracting return stroke (6b) to redirect a force (P), in particular a pressing force, and in which the actual temperature (T) of the wedge drive (1) is measured. To make this method particularly simple and reliable, it is proposed that several actual temperature values (T1, T2) are recorded continuously or at time intervals during the working and/or return stroke (6a, 6b) of the wedge drive (1), and that a time-dependent actual temperature profile (T(t)) is generated from this profile. The actual oscillation amplitude (11) for assessing the condition of the wedge drive (1) is then determined from this actual temperature profile (T(t)).