InTest were developing a new test bench for hydraulic motors, which needed more versatility than its existing system. The T40B is well-known for its outstanding precision, reproducibility and robustness. This device is particularly well suited for the static and dynamic torque measurements required in hydraulic applications.
For the testing of variable speed motors in land and construction machines, Hydro Leduc requested a very efficient test bench coming along with a simplified maintenance management of the testing machines.
To fulfill these requirements regarding metrological capacity and robustness, InTest implemented the T40B torque transducer from HBK into the test bench. The T40B offers many advantages like a simplified implementation, an integrated sensor optimized for magnetic fields as well as high accuracy.
After having implemented the new HBK T40B torque transducers into all testing machines, Hydro Leduc achieved to ensure the testing of variable displacement engines and a simplified maintenance management of the testing machines.
Hydro Leduc is a specialist in designing and manufacturing hydraulic motors and components and has pioneered numerous solutions for demanding applications all over the world. With over 150 patents and technical know-how, Hydro Leduc satisfies customer needs with reliable products. For more information visit: https://www.hydroleduc.com/en/
InTest engineers, integrates, and delivers turnkey industrial test benches. The company has built more than 120 industrial test systems worldwide, over the last 10 years.These test systems are used in both the R&D and Production stages by their customers, at a ratio of 40:60. For more information visit: https://intest.info/
It all started with the T40B torque transducer from HBK. InTest were developing a new test bench for hydraulic motors, which needed more versatility than its existing system. The T40B is well-known for its outstanding precision, reproducibility and robustness.
This device is particularly well suited for the static and dynamic torque measurements required in hydraulic applications. InTest were developing the test rig for Hydro Leduc, a specialist hydraulic manufacturer, who have now adopted the T40B as its standard torque transducer and decided to equip all existing testing machines in their inventory to simplify maintenance management.
InTest manufactures industrial production test rigs and facilities for technologies such as hydraulics, pneumatics, electrics that are used in industries including automotive, aerospace, electronics and telecommunications.
Alexis Sanchis, has been a project manager at InTest since 2007 and stressed that HBK has been one of InTest's preferred suppliers for more than five years.
Sanchis said "For difficult metrological applications, HBK is simply unrivalled, for example, when unsurpassed accuracy is required or when first-class transducers and modules for measuring data acquisition are need”. He continued “HBK is a hugely professional company, the sales department is highly cooperative; the employees have an excellent vision of the work we undertake in the various sectors and have detailed familiarity with their own products”.
Alexis Sanchis believes that HBK is more than just a supplier, and that they are real partners. Sanchis recounted a collaboration between HBK and InTest in the recent past to develop a QuantumX module (acquisition/processing), which is now part of HBK's inventory of products.
Alex Sanchis explained "Based upon a customer's request, HBK developed this product as part of a joint arrangement with InTest. Both companies worked well together and a long-term association was born.”
Plants, machinery and commercial vehicles are subjected to great stress every day. To ensure that they are operational, companies perform regular maintenance. The current state of the devices that require maintenance and, thus, their actual need for maintenance are often unknown. Also, potential wear points of components often remain undetected, which can cause problems between maintenance intervals.
Despite careful maintenance, problems with plants, machines and commercial vehicles occur time and again, leading to failure and costly downtime. As a rule, only in the event of a failure is its cause investigated and only then is the required spare part ordered. This often results in unnecessary waiting times and expensive production losses.
However, in the context of digitalization and Industry 4.0, this can be effectively remedied. By making key machine components, such as drive shafts, couplings or handles, smart and regularly giving users feedback on their current state – such as the Elbe Group’s smart sensory drive shaft with core sensing's smart sensors.
The test bench was designed for the customer Hydro Leduc, to test new variable displacement hydraulic adjusting motors for large agricultural and construction machinery. The test bench is 6 m long, 3.1 m wide, 3.5 m high, weighs 17 tonnes and is designed for 24 hours 6 days per week operation. But the requirements do not stop there. In contrast to classic constant-velocity hydraulic motors, variable-speed motors work with great speed and power dynamics.
This means that engines have to be tested at a higher number of operating points. Consequently, the new test bench is far more demanding than the constant-speed test bench provided by InTest for Hydro Leduc ten years ago. The test rig has to measure the horsepower developed by the engines and determine the torque and speed. The power can then be determined by multiplying the torque by the speed.
The InTest bench delivered to Hydro Leduc has a flexibility and adaptability allowing it to be used by all engines manufactured by the company.
The exacting demands of manufacturing this new equipment meant that both the knowledge and torque transducers of HBK were required again by InTest.
In order to meet the requirements of metrological performance and robustness InTest equipped its test bench with the cost-effective and highly accurate T40B torque transducer from HBK.
The T40B features 0.03% accuracy in terms of linearity including hysteresis, as well as high temperature stability. Combined with the integrated magnetic rotational speed measuring system, it allows for power measurement in the drive train. In addition, the contactless power and digital signal transmission guarantee fail-safe and maintenance-free operation. There is no contact between the transducer and the measuring electronics, which simplifies the implementation.
The measured speeds set out by Hydro Leduc were up to 2,000 rpm but the T40B is actually capable of handling speeds of up to 24,000 rpm allowing it to be used for additional high-duty applications.
Also, the torque measurement requirements for Hydro Leduc were only up to 1,300 Nm and far below the performance of the T40B, which allows measurements of up to 2,000 Nm and direct measurement (with neither a transducer nor a multiplier, which might affect accuracy).
The InNova software for the data processing and the control of the test bench were written in the .NET (by Microsoft) language and is constantly being improved by InTest. This open source software can be completely customised by the user to develop the test bench according to requirements.
As an example, the Hydro Leduc test bench, originally designed to test variable displacement engines, can now be used on all Hydro Leduc's engines, some 350 different models. Hydro Leduc can collect data for statistical evaluations to identify divergent production trends at an early stage and ensure full product traceability.
Because of the flexibility, reliability, and precision of the T40B torque transducer in the new test bench it has been adopted across the board at Hydro Leduc on all of their test rigs.
This means that not only has the T40B boosted productivity, it has also allowed the Hydro Leduc maintenance department to limit the number of items in their inventory and simplify parts management.
To summarise the T40B torque transducer has the following benefits:
We chose frequency and not voltage output because of electromagnetic interference due to some large electric motors around the transducer.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.
This will bring together HBM, Brüel & Kjær, nCode, ReliaSoft, and Discom brands, helping you innovate faster for a cleaner, healthier, and more productive world.