The present invention relates to a sensing system that, in a preferred embodiment, can be readily integrated into load-lifting structures (such as wings and landing gears) to provide real-time DPHM and obviate/mitigate catastrophic problems. Broadly, the present sensing system combines at least one shim portion with at least one nanogenerator such as a TENG or a PENG. A major advantage of the present sensing system is that it combines in a single structure the following functions: (a) gap management in the component in which the sensing system is installed, (b) collection/storage of measured data for the component in which the sensing system is installed, (c) harvesting/storing energy from operation environment of the component in which the sensing system is installed (e.g., DPHM data when the present sensing system is used for assessment of an aircraft's structural conditions), and (d) wireless transmission of measured data for the component in which the sensing system is installed to a user interface.

This Application seeks to protect Applicant's HYTORC® Z® System which involves: tools having multi-speed/multi-torque modes with torque multiplication and vibration mechanisms without use of external reaction abutments; a force transfer means to yield in-line co-axial action and reaction for use with such tools; driving means and shifting means capable of attaching to washers under the nut for use with such tools and force transfer means; associated washers and fasteners for use with such tools, force transfer means and driving means; and related accessories for use with such tools, force transfer means, driving means, washers and fasteners.

The HYTORC® Z® System includes the following: Z® Washers located under nuts or bolt heads of various types having engageable perimeters of multiple shapes, sizes, geometries and serrations, such as washer/fastener radius engagement differentials, and frictionally biased faces with relatively higher friction against the flange surface and relatively lower friction against the nut, such as friction coefficient increasing treatment means of various types, sizes and locations; HYTORC Z® Guns incorporating a powerful impact mechanism and a precise torque multiplier in the same tool combining rapid run-down with calibrated torque; HYTORC® Z® Sockets with dual drive coaxial action and reaction having outer sleeves to react on Z® Washers and an inner sleeves to turn nuts or bolt heads; HYTORC® Z® Spline Adapters and Reaction Plates for backwards compatibility with HYTORC®'s torque/tension systems including the AVANTI® and ICE® square drive systems, the STEALTH® limited clearance system, the pneumatic jGUN® series, the FLASH® Gun and LITHIUM Series electric multipliers and more; the combination of HYTORC® Z® Washer and the HYTORC® Z® Dual Friction Washer™ including a dual friction-enhanced face washer and/or the HYTORC® Z® Nut/Bolt for counter-torque under a nut or bolt head on the other side of the joint; HYTORC® Z® Dual Drive Offset Links for tight clearances while using HYTORC®'s torque/tension systems; HYTORC® Z® Vibration Mechanisms applied thereof; Z®-Squirter® Washers; HYTORC® Z® Washer and Nut Assemblies; and any combinations thereof. Further disclosures include: Tapered Fastener Assemblies; Tapered Torsional Couplings; Two-Part Tapered Nut Assemblies; and Two-Part Tapered Thread Nut Assemblies.

A system for remotely retrieving sensed conditions at one or more building components. The building components are remote or numerous so that a wireless collection of the sensed conditions provides a significant benefit to a builder or building operator. A remote transceiver sends a wireless signal to a building component. The building component includes an onboard transceiver. At least some of the energy from the transmitted wireless signal is received by the onboard transceiver, sent to a storage device, and stored therein. The stored energy is used to operate a sensor for sensing an onboard condition. The onboard condition is then wirelessly transmitted by the onboard transceiver back to the remote transceiver to be displayed.

Flanges of half bodies provided in a compressor casing are fastened by multiple bolts and a multi-hole washer shared by two or more adjacent bolts. When F is fastening force, T is a thickness of the washer, θ is a distribution angle of the fastening force, Rb is a radius of the bolt, R is a radius of a distribution range of the fastening force on a bearing surface, A is an area of the distribution range on the surface, a is an area of a distribution range of the fastening force on a mating surface of the flange, and R=Rb+T.Math.tan θ and A=πR2 are established, F/A is lower than yield strength of each of a flange material and a multi-hole washer material, and F/a is equal to or higher than predetermined surface pressure determined based on pressure of fluid inside the casing.

A sacrificial washer has a longitudinal central axis and comprises a cup and a cap. The cup includes a cup base wall extending transversely with respect to the axis, a cup radially outer wall extending outwardly away from the cup base wall, and a cup inner diameter. The cup includes a cap base wall extending transversely with respect to the axis and spaced axially away from the cup base wall, and a cap radially inner wall extending inwardly away from the cap base wall and having a cap inner diameter.

The invention resides in a sensor unit (100) for measuring and monitoring a plurality of parameters associated with an asset or equipment (126, 128) having a fixing connected thereto. The asset can typically be an object, such as a rail or motor casing, that is fixed, using a fixing (122) such as a bolt. The sensor unit has a housing (112) having a portion (120) for receiving a fixing therethrough; sensors (114) arranged to measure and/or monitor (i) parameters associated with a fixing that is secured to the asset via housing and/or (ii) parameters influencing the performance of the asset; a processor (142) configured to process data from the sensors; and a communicator (116) adapted to transmit said data to a remote device. At least one of the sensors can be an inductive sensor, which can measures the displacement or force applied to a fixing against the asset to which it is fixed, said fixing is biased against a resilient member located in the housing. The sensor unit can operate in at least one of a plurality of modes including: a first mode, in which the sensor unit samples one or more parameters periodically at a first sample rate, a second mode, in which the sensor unit detects the occurrence of an event, and a third mode, in which the sensor unit monitors one or more parameters periodically at a second sample rate, which second sample rate is greater than the first sample rate, and wherein the data obtained in said modes is communicable with the system and/or the reader.

An intelligent fastener unit for fastening together structural members. The fastener unit includes a fastener with an externally threaded shank, an internally threaded mating member for threaded engagement with the fastener, and an intelligent washer having an RFID tag and an antenna mounted on one surface of a centrally aperture body member, and a pressure sensor mounted on the opposite surface for generating electrical signals representative of the compressive force applied to structural members captured by the fastener, the mating member and the washer. An air gap is formed in the washer body member between the outer periphery and the central aperture to reduce eddy current formation when the RFID tag is interrogated by an RFID tag reader using r.f. signaling. The RFID tag has a memory containing information specific to the fastener unitsuch as fastener unit identification, specified torque value and other information Once installed, the existing torque on a collection of fastener units is measured by using the RFID tag reader to scan the information stored in the memory of each fastener unit washer.

Deformable spacers and spacer assemblies absorb energy when flange bolts are subjected to compressive axial loads by plastically deforming, failing in shear, rupturing or in a combination of failure modes so the flange bolts and the flanges connected thereby are not damaged. One deformable spacer may have a hollow cylindrical body with a plurality of elongated slots there through. Another deformable spacer may have an annular stiffener extending inwardly from an inner surface of a hollow cylindrical body. A spacer assembly may include an inner cylindrical body, and outer cylindrical body, and an annular shoulder extending from one of the bodies and engaged by the other body shears when a shear failure load is applied to the flange bolt. Another spacer assembly may include an annular belt around a cylindrical body so that the belt will rupture before the cylindrical body plastically deforms.

The invention relates to a fixed or sliding screw with a screw head and a screw shaft which has a threaded section. The screw head has a torque transmitting section for rotating the fixed or sliding screw about a screw axis which is concentric to the screw head and the screw shaft. The screw head has a collar section at the screw head end facing the threaded section. A buffer element made of an elastic plastic is arranged on the collar section side facing away from the torque transmitting section, and a sliding disk is arranged on the buffer element side facing away from the collar section.

A clamping force monitoring device is provided having a step washer, a contact plate, a compression washer separating the step washer and the contact plate, a threaded fastener extending through the step washer and the compression washer, a nut and an electric circuit, wherein when a sufficient axial force is exerted in the threaded fastener by engagement of the nut, the compression washer is compressed and the step washer is in contact with the contact plate, thereby closing the electric circuit. A method for monitoring a threaded fastener is provided including extending a threaded fastener through a step washer and a compression washer and engaging the threaded fastener with a nut, wherein when a sufficient axial force is applied to the threaded fastener by the nut, the compression washer is compressed and the step washer contacts a contact plate, thereby closing an electric circuit.