Patent ID: 9730456
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: A21B,B65G

Claim:
1. Apparatus for detecting the deterioration of a continuous conveyor link chain extending through a tunnel oven due to wear of the links of the chain, comprising: a tunnel oven, a rotary drive sprocket for moving the chain along its length through the tunnel oven, a rotary chain tensioning sprocket for guiding the chain in a U-shaped path about the tensioning sprocket a chain tensioning device for applying force to the rotary chain tensioning sprocket and moving the rotary chain tensioning sprocket into the U-shaped path of the chain to apply tension in the chain, a chain measuring device for repeatedly measuring the distance of the movement of the rotary chain tensioning sprocket into the U-shaped path as the chain moves along its length and when tension is applied to the chain by the chain tensioning sprocket, and means for comparing the measurements of the movements of the rotary chain tensioning device and for estimating the remaining operational life of the chain based on the distance of linear movement of the chain tensioning device at different times.