Method and system for wear monitoring using RF reflections

{
  "publication_number": "US11674911B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Method and system for wear monitoring using RF reflections",
  "abstract": "In an embodiment, a system for wear monitoring, includes a wear surface, a metallic reflector embedded in the wear surface, a radio-wave transmitter, and a radio-wave receiver. The metallic reflector reflects radio waves transmitted by the radio-wave transmitter for detection by the radio wave receiver. Attenuation of the radio waves between transmission by the radio-wave transmitter and detection by the radio-wave receiver indicates a degree of wear of the wear surface.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A system for wear monitoring, comprising: a non-metallic surface; integrated metallic shapes embedded at pre-determined depths in the non-metallic surface; focused radio-wave transmitters positioned at a first angle relative to the non-metallic surface and transmitting focused radio frequencies; focused radio-wave receivers positioned at a second angle relative to the non-metallic surface; wherein the non-metallic surface and the integrated metallic shapes produce a signature of radio waves transmitted by the focused radio-wave transmitters, the signature of the radio waves diminishing in signal strength as the non-metallic surface wears; and wherein detection of the signature of the radio waves from the focused radio-wave transmitters by the focused radio-wave receivers is averaged over time to establish a condition of the non-metallic surface to infer wear.",
    "2. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic surface is a tire.",
    "3. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic surface is a liner for transport of abrasive materials.",
    "4. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated metallic shapes are parabolic.",
    "5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first angle and the second angle are different.",
    "6. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic surface, the focused radio-wave transmitters, and the focused radio-wave receivers are stationary relative to each other.",
    "7. The system of claim 1, wherein the focused radio-wave transmitters and the focused radio-wave receivers are positioned relative to a wearing side of the non-metallic surface.",
    "8. The system of claim 1, wherein the focused radio-wave receivers detect the radio wave signatures of the integrated metallic shapes where the non-metallic surface is prone to wear to identify the degree of change in the size or the presence of the integrated metallic shapes over time and therefore the degree of wear of the non-metallic surface.",
    "9. The system of claim 1, wherein: the focused radio-wave receivers detect attenuation of the radio waves through the non-metallic surface; and a degree of change in the attenuation of the radio waves through the non-metallic surface over time is averaged to map the condition of the non-metallic surface to infer wear.",
    "10. The system of claim 1, wherein the focused radio-wave receivers do not detect any radio wave signatures from artifacts, the integrated metallic shapes, or the non-metallic surface, indicating that the non-metallic surface is at least one of separated, torn, or damaged.",
    "11. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated metallic shapes are at least one of parabolic, round, and rectilinear.",
    "12. The system of claim 1, wherein the integrated metallic shapes are at least one of installed during a manufacturing process of the non-metallic surface and installed at any time following the manufacturing process.",
    "13. The system of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic surface is a solid load bearing pulley or wheel.",
    "14. The system for wear-monitoring of claim 1, wherein the non-metallic surface is a solid cable guide.",
    "15. The system of claim 1, wherein the focused radio-wave receivers detect radio wave signatures of artifacts for identification of reference position and for tracking of at least one of changes in lateral position, excessive vibration, linear speed, damage, and stretch of the non-metallic surface."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The present disclosure relates generally to surface wear monitoring and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to sensors and antennas embedded in equipment having wear surfaces for wear monitoring. In one embodiment, the disclosure further relates to methods and systems for providing wear, tear, or rupture status of equipment and items having wear surfaces such as, for example, conveyor belts and tires. In a further embodiment, the disclosure relates to the use of RF reflectors embedded in a belt or tread of a tire and positioned in such a way as to be impacted by wear while reflecting RF radio waves from an RF radio wave transmitter to a radio wave receiver.\n\nEvery tire and belt has a means to adapt to host equipment and a life-cycle that starts when the belt or tire is installed and ends when wear-out limits are reached. If the belts or tires are worn beyond the wear-out limits or damaged, the host may be damaged or become unsafe. As belts or tires are used, it is normal for overall belt or tire performance to change. In addition, irregular belt or tire-tread wear may occur for a variety of reasons that may lead to replacing a belt or tire sooner rather than later. Regular monitoring of wear condition of belts and tires not only provides an indication of when it is time to replace the belt or tires, it can also help detect other needed maintenance and get the most value out of the equipment. Presently, monitoring of belt and tire wear is performed manually.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01N 22/02",
    "B60C 11/243",
    "B60C 11/246",
    "B60C 23/06",
    "B60C 25/007",
    "B65G 43/00"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60C 11/24",
    "B60C 23/06",
    "B60C 25/00",
    "B65G 43/00",
    "G01N 22/02"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "REI INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "BRUNNER DANIEL J",
    "RICHARDSON RANDY",
    "KOONTZ ROBERT",
    "Schumacher Alex",
    "SCHWOEBEL JEFFREY J",
    "JOHNSON RANDALL"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2021-05-28",
  "publication_date": "2023-06-13",
  "grant_date": "2023-06-13",
  "priority_date": "2016-10-12",
  "application_number": "US-202117333377-A",
  "family_id": "61905994",
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}