Patent ID: 8727102

Claim:
A single link of a conveyor chain configured to measure tension on the conveyor chain, the single link comprising: a main body portion including a central cavity extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end, the second end including an opening into the central cavity, a load cell having a first and second end housed within the central cavity and secured via its first end to the main body portion, and a connecting bore through the first end for receiving a link pin of an adjacent link of the chain, the load cell measuring a tension on the load cell; a cap portion secured to the second end of the load cell, the cap portion including a connecting bore for receiving a link pin of an adjacent link of the chain, anti-rotation surfaces mating with at least one of the second end of the load cell and the second end of the main body portion, and a groove formed in the outer perimeter of the cap portion, the groove being sized to receive a seal member for sealing engagement with the inner surface of the main body portion, when the cap portion closes off the opening in the central cavity of the main body portion; and circuitry for at least interfacing with the load cell.