"Smart" Monitor Detects Failed Seals

"Smart" Monitor Detects Failed Seals FARM SHOP Tools 23-6-39 North Dakota farmer named Bob Heinzman is an inventor who runs a manufacturing plant, along with his brother. Years ago FARM SHOW featured his mini-tree spade for transplanting large trees without the need for a big truck (that business is currently for sale). Now Heinzman and his brother have come up with a new product which they are offering to manufacturers. It's a "failure detector" for seals. An electric circuit attaches to the seal at the point of maximum wear and tells the operator when it should be replaced. The circuit simply runs a continuous resistance test on the seal. When the electrical resistance changes due to wear, a signal is given to the operator. The circuit can actually be sprayed into seals as a polymer film that's as thin as .002 in. thick. Different formulations are available for a variety of seal materials. "We've had a lot of interest from major manufacturers. We think æsmart machines' - which can diagnose their own maintenance needs - are the wave of the future. This system not only monitors seals, it also monitors itself so that if a circuit is damaged in any way and not functioning, it will tell you," says Heinzman. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bob Heinzman, Mid Dakota Corporation, Box 728, Garrison, N.Dak. 58540 (ph 800 327-7154 or 701 337-5619; Web site: www.ndak.net/~dakseal/dakseal/).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.