Device for monitoring temperature and tightening of a screw

• US 10,365,122 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2016
• Issued: 07/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Lopez, Josep, Perrin, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Verbitsky, Gail Kaplan
• Application Number:
  US15/267,477
• Publication Number:
  US 20170089727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 374 4, 374 5, 374 7, 374187, 374188, 374195, 374198, 374 55
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 31/02 for indicating the attainment of a particular tensile load or limiting tensile load apparatus for, or method of, determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member similarly stressed G01L5/24
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/145 influenced by the relative movement between the Hall device and magnetic fields see G01R33/06
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 7/22 the element being a non-linear resistance, e.g. thermistor G01K7/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/302 having means for preventing loosening of screw or nut, e.g. vibration-proof connection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 4/34 Conductive members located under head of screw

Abstract

A device for monitoring the temperature and tightening of a screw includes a temperature detector positioned near the screw head for measuring the temperature of the screw, a detector of the tightening of the screw, including a sensor member including a first part, positioned on the screw head so as to be rotationally fixed to the screw, and a second part, fixed relative to the first part and arranged to generate a detection state representing a position of the first part relative to the second part, and a first detection unit connected to the sensor member and arranged to determine a degree of tightening of the screw as a function of the detection state of the sensor member.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring a temperature and tightening of a screw, said screw including at least a head and a shank that clamps one or more electrical conductors, said device comprising:

a temperature detector positioned near the head for measuring the temperature of the screw; and

a detector that detects the tightening of the screw, the detector including a sensor, and the sensor including

a first part, positioned on a cap fastened to the head so as to be rotationally fixed to and in contact with said screw,

a second part, fixed relative to the first part and configured to generate a detection state of the sensor representing a position of the first part relative to the second part, and

circuitry configured to

receive a signal, that indicates the generated detection state, from the second part, and

determine a degree of tightening of the screw according to the signal.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the first part is a permanent magnet.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor includes a Hall effect sensor configured to measure a magnetic field generated by said permanent magnet.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein the sensor includes one or more magnetically actuated microswitches.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detector includes a component of a thermistor type.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the circuitry is further configured to signal the degree of tightening the screw and/or a temperature state based on the temperature of the screw.

7. The device according to claim 6, further comprising:

an electrical power supply system arranged to supply electricity to the temperature detector, and to the circuitry.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the power supply system includes an inductive electrical energy generator which includes at least a current transformer having a core to be placed around the one or more electrical conductors forming a primary of the current transformer, and a winding provided around the core and forming a secondary of the current transformer, to recover electrical energy when an electric current flows in the one or more electrical conductors.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the core is shaped in the form of a torus designed to surround the one or more electrical conductors.

10. The device according to claim 8, further comprising:

an electronic circuit connected to a secondary of the transformer, the electronic circuit having means for storing the generated electrical energy.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the second part includes magnetically actuated microswitches which are distributed over a periphery of the head.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein each microswitch of the magnetically actuated microswitches is configured to generate a binary signal based on a closed or open state of the microswitch.

13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the signal indicates an angular position of the screw, and the circuitry is configured to determine the degree of tightening of the screw by comparing the angular position of the screw with an initially measured signal indicating an initial angular position of the screw when the screw is fully tightened, or a stored signal indicating a specified angular position.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the circuitry activates an alarm when a difference between the signal and the initially measured signal or the stored signal exceeds a stored value.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to determine whether the temperature of the screw exceeds a stored threshold.