Sensor Solutions for Mobile Equipment
Benefits
Comprehensive Portfolio
Be it collision avoidance, positioning, or rotation monitoring—Pepperl+Fuchs offers a comprehensive portfolio of industrial sensors for any type of mobile application. The compact and robust sensors are easily integrated in mobile machines and withstand the most challenging outdoor environments.
Tailor-Made Solutions
Designed with industry-specific requirements in mind, the sensors from Pepperl+Fuchs feature E1 approvals, as well as CAN interfaces for simple integration into mobile machines. We are continuously developing new solutions to meet the needs of our mobile equipment customers.
An Experienced Market Leader
With more than 70 years of experience in industrial automation, Pepperl+Fuchs has successfully solved a diverse range of applications and is continuosly developing new technologies to make your processes more reliable and efficient.
Sensorik4.0®
Your success is important to us: Create safe and efficient processes and upgrade your application to Industry 4.0 with intelligent sensor technology from Pepperl+Fuchs!
Sensors Based on Controller Area Network (CAN)
Controller Area Network (CAN) is an international communication standard widely used on mobile machines for data transfer between onboard controllers and their various connected sensors. CAN significantly reduces wiring effort and provides an inexpensive, durable network. Pepperl+Fuchs offers ultrasonic, radar and inclination sensors as well as rotary encoders with CAN J1939 and CANopen interfaces for easy integration into CAN-based applications.
Positioning
Detecting piston position in cylinders is essential for precise monitoring and control in a variety of mobile applications—from hydraulic cylinders on excavators to dumping mechanisms on trucks. Ultrasonic sensors can be installed in a pipe parallel to the cylinder. In this way, they enable precise detection of the piston position without modifications to the cylinder. Depending on the cylinder length, ultrasonic sensors of the UC800-F77S, M18, or M30 series can be used.
Inclination and Acceleration Measurement
For agricultural machines distributing fertilizers and pesticides, the distance between the boom and the crop must be kept as constant as possible in order to achieve optimum distribution. This requires constant controlof the boom inclination. The F99 inertial measurement unit reliably measures the inclination of the boom—despite constant vibrations, in all weather conditions, and despite dirt and dust.
Rotation Measurement
In order to determine the allowed positions of the boom on mobile cranes, the exact position of the outriggers must be recorded. Cable-pull rotary encoders are ideal for this purpose: In combination with a cable pull, the integrated absolute rotary encoder is able to detect the exact linear movement of the outrigger. The method of measurement and the technical design ensure high robustness against external influences.
Collision Avoidance
Mobile machines such as excavators often have an extremely restricted field of view at the rear and to the sides. To avoid collisions with people, objects, or other vehicles, ultrasonic sensors from the UC*-L2M-B16 series safely monitor these areas. The integrated CAN interface allows the sensors to be directly integrated into the vehicle’s CAN bus system.
Level Measurement
Vibration Monitoring
In mobile concrete mixers, the mixer and pump motors and the drum gear are subject to mechanical wear. To trigger timely, need-based servicing of the components, the mechanical load during operation needs to be recorded as accurately as possible. VIM3 vibration sensors from Pepperl+Fuchs reliably monitor the vibrations of critical vehicle components. When a defined limit value is reached, an automatic maintenance message is issued, enabling measurement-based predictive maintenance.
The rugged and durable vibration sensors from Pepperl+Fuchs play an important role in monitoring the condition of rotating components in mobile equipment. By detecting vibration velocity, vibration acceleration, temperature, and bearing condition, the vibration sensors of the VIM series deliver advanced feedback and alert the user when maintenance is needed.
Connectivity
In order to safely operate heavy-duty mobile cranes, eight inductive sensors are used to monitor the outriggers. The individual signals from these sensors must be connected logically and transmitted to the crane’s control panel. Y-splitters with a logical AND enable sensor series connection on the vehicle without terminal boxes, reducing wiring complexity and installation time.
