Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring tension and detecting slip of industrial belts while in running condition on belt drive system by using ultrasonic transducers. The sensing part involves two ultrasonic transducers which are installed on an assembly which is placed within a constrained space between the tension side and slack side of belt. Sinusoidal waves having predefined amplitude are sent from transmitting transducer on the belt and amplitude of the signal reflected from the belt is measured and compared with a threshold value to detect reduced tension. An acoustic sleeve is mounted on driving and driven pulley locknuts to blank the reflected signal periodically to measure the speeds of the pulleys compared to detect the slip of the belt. The apparatus generates an alert to user when the belt tension is reduced and/or when slip is detected. The processing circuit involves microcontroller with Wi-Fi module to send alert messages.

Abstract: A system and a method is disclosed for monitoring tension and detecting slip of industrial belts (e.g. V, flat, and Timing belts) while in running condition on belt drives by using ultrasonic transducers. The sensing part involves two ultrasonic transducers which are installed on an assembly which is placed within a constrained space between the tension side and slack side of belt. Acoustic waves having predefined amplitude are sent from transmitting transducer on the belt and amplitude of the signal reflected from the belt is measured and compared with a threshold value to detect reduced tension. Additionally, acoustic plugs are mounted on driver and driven pulley locknuts to blank the reflected signal periodically. The time period of the blanking of signals from the pulleys is computed and it measures the rotational speed (revolutions per minute: rpm) of the pulleys. This rpm is used to calculate the rotational speeds of the pulleys.