US 12,352,649 B2
Sensing tension in a rope
Peter Farthing, Devon (GB); and Richard Day, Martock (GB)
Assigned to ADVANTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, Devon (GB)
Appl. No. 18/834,906
Filed by ADVANTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, Devon (GB)
PCT Filed Feb. 3, 2023, PCT No. PCT/EP2023/052678
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 31, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2024/022621, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 1, 2024.
Claims priority of application No. 2210805 (GB), filed on Jul. 24, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0418588 A1, Dec. 19, 2024
Int. Cl. G01L 5/101 (2020.01); G01L 5/00 (2006.01); G01L 5/04 (2006.01)
CPC G01L 5/101 (2013.01) [G01L 5/0004 (2013.01); G01L 5/0033 (2013.01); G01L 5/04 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sensor assembly for sensing tension in a rope, the sensor assembly comprising: a housing, the housing defining an interior comprising inner walling, and in which at least a portion of the housing is resiliently deflectable, a force sensor for sensing a mechanical force applied to a resiliently deflectable portion of the housing, the force sensor located within the interior of the housing and non-fixedly held in contact with the inner walling in the region of the resiliently deflectable portion of the housing, and a controller for controlling the force sensor; wherein the force sensor is resiliently biased into contact with the inner walling by an adjustable chassis, the adjustable chassis located within the interior of the housing within the rope and the adjustable chassis configurable between extended and retracted conditions, and a span of the adjustable chassis, in a radial direction of the housing, being greater when in the extended condition than when in the retracted position, the retracted position allowing for insertion into the interior of the housing and the extended condition allowing for retention of the supported force sensor against the inner walling of the interior of the housing.