Patent classifications
F16B31/025
Intelligent bolts and methods of their use
An intelligent bolt includes a head region and a threaded region. The head region includes a bolt cavity. A distance between the head region and a bottom end of the cavity changes in operation as a function of longitudinal stress applied between the threaded region and the head region, and the bolt includes a sensor arrangement for measuring changes in the distance. A distal end of the sensor arrangement is disposed adjacent to the bottom end, wherein changes in spatial position of the bottom end relative to the distal end occur as a function of changes in the stress applied to the bolt to define a gap “G” whose size varies depending upon the stress. Interrogating radiation transmission in operation via the gap “G” from a source to a corresponding radiation sensor of the arrangement generates a stress measurement signal that is processed for wireless communication.
Power supply and signal transmitting device for sensing bolt and sensing bolt device
A power supply and signal transmitting device for a sensing bolt and sensing bolt device is provided. The power supply and signal transmitting device, which is applied to the sensing bolt including a first contact set, includes a cap module and a supply module. The cap module caps one end of the sensing bolt and includes a cap circuit board module. A second contact set of the cap circuit board module contacts the first contact set for electrically connecting the sensing bolt. The supply module is interposed into the cap module for supplying an external power to the sensing bolt or accessing the data stored in the sensing bolt by electrically connecting a third contact set of the cap circuit board module with a fourth contact set of the supply module. Thereby, the power duration of the sensing bolt may be improved.
Sensor mount
According to at least one aspect, a monolithic sensor mount can include a first cylindrical portion and a second cylindrical portion. The first cylindrical portion can have a first diameter and the second cylindrical portion can have a second diameter larger than the first diameter. The second cylindrical portion defining a recess region to host an ultrasonic transducer. The second cylindrical portion can have an outer surface that defines a male thread to mechanically engage a female thread of a cavity within a fluid flow tube configured to host the sensor mount.
Trunnion bolt monitoring system
A trunnion bolt monitoring system for an air preheater trunnion has a plurality of trunnion bolts through which extends a respective blind bore each in gas tight connection at its open end to a pressurized manifold comprising piping and T-fittings. Depressurisation of the manifold indicative of fatigue cracking of any one bolt is detected by electrical monitoring of three pressure sensors.
METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMPONENT WEAR MONITORING
A monitoring system includes a fastener. A sensor is coupled to the fastener. A circuit board is electrically coupled to the sensor. An antenna electrically coupled to the circuit board.
Load indicating fastener
A bolt load measuring arrangement 31 has a bolt 4 with a reference pin 10 extending from the root 12 of a hole 11 in the bolt. Shoulder 23 of a bore 22 defines a strainable portion datum shoulder located within the strainable portion 7 of the bolt 4. Strain datum sleeve 32 can have a strain datum surface 16 at its outer end. The strain datum sleeve 32 has a hole 33 to allow it to pass around the reference pin 10 which extends to the end of the strain datum sleeve. The reference datum 15 is on the outer end of the reference pin 10 and the strain datum 16 is on the outer end of the strain datum sleeve 32. The outer end of the strain datum sleeve includes an alignment protrusion 34 over which the measuring tool 40 engages. Fit between the alignment protrusion and the tool 40 is essential to achieving the alignment accuracy for accurate datum relative position measurements and therefore accurate load measurement. For the alignment of the measuring tool 40 to be sufficiently accurate, the engagement length 37 is at least 0.9 times the engagement width 38, being 0.9 times the width or diameter of the alignment protrusion.
Method and system for component wear monitoring
A monitoring system includes a fastener. A sensor is coupled to the fastener. A circuit board is electrically coupled to the sensor. An antenna electrically coupled to the circuit board.
External Tie-Rod Load Indicator
A load indicator apparatus which is compact, portable and detachably mounted on the tie-rod. The load indicator apparatus includes a first reference fixture configured for attachment at a first position on the tie-rod, a second fixture configured for attachment at a second position on the tie-rod and an elongation gauge extending between the first reference fixture and the second fixture and configured to measure displacement of the second fixture relative to the first reference fixture during elongation of the tie-rod. A displacement transducer is connected to the second fixture to measure a capacitance value proportional to the loading acting on the tie-rod and transfers it to a load monitoring unit which translates the measured capacitance into a visual load reading and an electronic load output value.
Apparatus and Method to Establish Two Reference Positions Within a Fastener In Order to Allow the Measurement and Monitoring of Fastener Load
The present apparatus provides an assembly that can be inserted into an open ended bore along the central axis of a fastener. The assembly can be used to continuously monitoring clamp load (tensile force) status throughout the life of a fastener and is attached at positions that help to reduce or eliminate problems that occur in existing load indicating fasteners that are associated with yielding, unknown force distribution, or stress versus elongation relationships occurring in non-uniform sections of a fastener. The apparatus has a design which makes it simple and inexpensive to manufacture and install.
IOT DEVICE
An Internet of Thing (IoT) device includes a body network; and one or more devices, each device having a head portion, a sensor, a vibrator in the elongated body, a processor coupled to the sensor and the vibrator, and a wireless transceiver in the elongated body coupled to the body network.