Shear Sensor Collar

Abstract

A sensor arrangement includes a sensor collar where the sensor collar has a sensor sleeve for insertion into an anchor hole and has a sensor flange which is fixedly connected to the sensor sleeve and which radially protrudes from the sensor sleeve for abutting on a mouth of the anchor hole. A through hole extends through the sensor sleeve and through the sensor flange. The sensor arrangement further includes a sensor where a physical quantity of the sensor flange is determinable by the sensor.

Claims

1.-17. (canceled)

18. A sensor arrangement, comprising: a sensor collar (30); wherein the sensor collar (30) has a sensor sleeve (31) for insertion into an anchor hole (20); wherein the sensor collar (30) has a sensor flange (36) which is fixedly connected to the sensor sleeve (31) and which radially protrudes from the sensor sleeve (31) for abutting on a mouth (25) of the anchor hole (20); wherein a through hole (38) extends through the sensor sleeve (31) and through the sensor flange (36); and a sensor (33), wherein a physical quantity of the sensor flange (36) is determinable by the sensor (33).

19. The sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the physical quantity of the sensor flange (36) is a mechanical quantity that is correlated with a shear in the sensor sleeve (31).

20. The sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the sensor (33) is a deformation sensor and the physical quantity is a deformation of the sensor flange (36) or wherein the sensor (33) is a stress sensor and the physical quantity is a stress of the sensor flange (36).

21. The sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the sensor sleeve (31) adjoins the sensor flange (36).

22. The sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the sensor flange (36) and the sensor sleeve (31) are integral.

23. The sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the sensor (33) is mechanically connected to the sensor collar (30).

24. The sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the sensor (33) is positioned on the sensor flange (36).

25. The sensor arrangement according to claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the sensor (33) is positioned on an outer lateral surface (37) of the sensor flange (36).

26. The sensor arrangement according to claim 18, further comprising a plurality of sensors (33′, 33″, 33″), wherein the physical quantity of the sensor flange (36) is determinable by the plurality of sensors (33′, 33″, 33′″).

27. The sensor arrangement according to claim 26, wherein at least two sensors of the plurality of sensors (33′, 33″, 33′) are positioned on an outer lateral surface of the sensor flange (36).

28. The sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the sensor sleeve (31) is a right circular cylinder, wherein the sensor flange (36) is a right circular cylinder, and wherein the sensor sleeve (31) and the sensor flange (36) are disposed coaxially.

29. The sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the through hole (38) is unstepped and right circular cylindrical.

30. The sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein both the sensor sleeve (31) and the sensor flange (36) are comprised of a metal.

31. An anchor, comprising: an anchor rod (41); and the sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the sensor collar (30) surrounds the anchor rod (41).

32. The anchor according to claim 31, further comprising: an expansion sleeve (48) surrounding the anchor rod (41); and a wedge (47) attached to the anchor rod (41), wherein the expansion sleeve (48) is expandable by the wedge (47) and wherein the expansion sleeve (48) abuts on the sensor sleeve (31) of the sensor collar (30).

33. A fastener arrangement, comprising: a substrate (3); an attachment part (2); and the sensor arrangement according to claim 18, wherein the sensor sleeve (31) of the sensor collar (30) extends through the attachment part (2) into the substrate (3) and wherein the sensor flange (36) abuts on the attachment part (2).

34. The fastener arrangement according to claim 33, further comprising an anchor rod (41), wherein the sensor collar (30) surrounds the anchor rod (41).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a first embodiment of a fastener arrangement comprising an anchor and a sensor arrangement.

[0041] FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a second embodiment of a fastener arrangement comprising an anchor, a sleeve anchor in this case, and a sensor arrangement.

[0042] FIG. 3 is a longitudinally cut cross-section of the anchor of the embodiment of FIG. 2.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a first perspective view of the sensor arrangement of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0044] FIG. 5 is a second perspective view of the sensor arrangement of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3. Compared with FIG. 4, the sensor collar is rotated by 180° around the longitudinal axis.

[0045] FIG. 6 is a third perspective view of the sensor arrangement of the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 3. Compared with FIGS. 4 and 5, line of sight is now directed to the top face of the sensor collar.

[0046] FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment of a sensor arrangement, which can be preferably used in connection with the fastener arrangements and the anchors of FIGS. 1 to 3, in a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 6.

[0047] FIG. 8 is another alternative embodiment of a sensor arrangement, which can be used preferably in connection with the fastener arrangements and the anchors of FIGS. 1 to 3, in a perspective view similar to that of FIGS. 6 and 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, show two different embodiments of fastener arrangements, each comprising an anchor and a sensor arrangement. Sensor arrangements that can be used in both embodiments are shown in FIGS. 4 to 8.

[0049] The first sensor arrangement, shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, comprises a sensor collar 30, which consists of a sensor sleeve 31 and a sensor flange 36. Both the sensor sleeve 31 and the sensor flange 36 are right circular cylinders. The sensor sleeve 31 and the sensor flange 36 are arranged coaxially with a longitudinal axis 99. The sensor flange 36 has larger outer diameter, and preferably lower height, than the sensor sleeve 31, with height and diameter being measured with respect to the longitudinal axis 99. Accordingly, the sensor flange 36 projects radially from the sensor sleeve 31.

[0050] The upper face of the sensor sleeve 31 adjoins the lower face of the sensor flange 36, and the sensor sleeve 31 is fixedly connected to the sensor flange 36 at the faces. In particular, the sensor sleeve 31 and the sensor flange 36 are integral. Both the sensor sleeve 31 and the sensor flange 36 can consist of metal, which might also be coated.

[0051] A right cylindrical through hole 38 leads through both the sensor sleeve 31 and the sensor flange 36, wherein the through hole 38 is coaxial with the longitudinal axis 99.

[0052] Positioned on the outer lateral surface 37 of the sensor flange 36 are two sensors 33′, 33″ for determining a physical quantity of the sensor flange 36, wherein the two sensors 33′, 33″ could for example be strain gauges. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6, the sensors 33′, 33″ are spaced 90° around the longitudinal axis 99.

[0053] FIG. 1 shows a fastener arrangement in which the sensor collar 30 of FIGS. 4 to 6 could be used.

[0054] The fastener arrangement comprises a substrate 3 and an attachment part 2, wherein an anchor hole 20 leads through the attachment part 2 into the substrate 3. An anchor rod 41 is located in the anchor hole 20. At its forward, tip region, the anchor rod 41 is anchored at the substrate 3, for example chemically and/or mechanically. At its opposite rear region, a head 49 is placed on the anchor rod 41, which abuts on the attachment part 2. The anchor rod 41, its forward anchoring mechanism and its head 49 form an anchor that secures the attachment part 2 to the substrate 3.

[0055] The sensor collar 30 is mounted on the anchor rod 41 so that the anchor rod 41 is located in the through hole 38 of the sensor collar 30, i.e., the sensor collar 30 surrounds the anchor rod 41. The sensor flange 36 axially abuts on the mouth 25 of the anchor hole 20, which is located at the attachment part 2. The sensor sleeve 31 axially projects from the sensor flange 36 into the anchor hole 20. The sensor sleeve 31 is sufficiently high so that its forward face, i.e., its face remote from the sensor flange 36, reaches into the substrate 3. Thus, the sensor sleeve 31 penetrates through the attachment part 2 into the substrate 3. Accordingly, the sensor sleeve 31 extends both radially between the anchor rod 41 and the attachment part 2 and between the anchor rod 41 and the substrate 3.

[0056] The sensor flange 36 is located axially between the head 49 and the attachment part 2. The head 49 therefore abuts on the attachment part 2 via the sensor flange 36. Optionally, additional washers could be placed between the head 49 and the sensor flange 36 and/or between the sensor flange 36 and the attachment part 2.

[0057] When the attachment part 2 is laterally displaced with respect to the substrate 3, as indicated with an arrow in FIG. 1, the sensor sleeve 31 will become shear-stressed. Due to the fixed connection with the sensor flange 36, shear stress of the sensor sleeve 31 will impact the sensor flange 36, and can in particular lead to a deformation of the sensor flange 36. For example, shear stress can lead to a transition of the sensor flange 36 from a circular geometry into an elliptical geometry. The shear-induced transition can be measured using the sensors 33′, 33″ for determining a physical quantity of the sensor flange 36. Thus, the sensor arrangement allows to measure shear and in particular shear forces acting on the anchor rod 41 and/or the anchor, at a position that is located at a distance from where shearing primarily occurs.

[0058] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a somewhat different fastener arrangement in which the sensor collar 30 of FIGS. 4 to 6 could be used. The embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3 differs from that of FIG. 1 primarily on the anchor type. In the following, focus will be on these differences, and, in order to avoid repetition, reference is made to the above for the common features, which applies mutatis mutandis.

[0059] In particular, in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, the anchor is a sleeve-type anchor, and the sensor collar 30 is integrated into the anchoring mechanism of the anchor.

[0060] The anchor of FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises an expansion sleeve 48, which surrounds the anchor rod 41. The anchor of FIGS. 2 and 3 further comprises a wedge 47—an expansion cone by way of example—which radially expands the expansion sleeve 48 when it is drawn axially into the expansion sleeve 48. The wedge 47 is arranged on the anchor rod 41 in the forward end region of the anchor rod 41, and the wedge 47 is fixed to the anchor rod 41 to transfer tensile force from the anchor rod 41 into the wedge 47. By way of example, the wedge 47 is threadedly fixed to the anchor rod 41. At its rearward end, i.e., at its end remote from the wedge 47, the expansion sleeve 48 abuts on the forward face of the sensor sleeve 31, by way of example via a compressible sleeve 44 that can axially collapse as the anchor is installed. The sensor sleeve 31 is thus a counter bearing for the expansion sleeve 48 and therefore, the sensor sleeve 31 is a part of the expansion mechanism of the anchor.

[0061] The sensor arrangement of FIG. 7 is a modification of that shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and can replace the sensor arrangement in both the fastener arrangement of FIG. 1 and in the fastener arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0062] The sensor arrangement of FIG. 7 differs from that shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 in the quantity of sensors 33′, 33″, 33′″ for determining a physical quantity of the sensor flange 36. According to FIG. 7, there are three sensors 33′, 33″, 33′″ for determining a physical quantity of the sensor flange 36, all arranged at the outer lateral surface 37 of the sensor flange 36, wherein the sensors 33′, 33″, 33′″ are spaced 120° around the longitudinal axis 99.

[0063] The sensor arrangement of FIG. 8 is another modification of that shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and can replace the sensor arrangement in both the fastener arrangement of FIG. 1 and in the fastener arrangement of FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0064] The sensor arrangement of FIG. 8 differs from that shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 in that at least one auxiliary sensor 8 is placed on the sensor sleeve 31 of the sensor collar 30, in particular on the lateral surface of the sensor sleeve 31.