Apparatus for condition monitoring of the integrity of fasteners and fastened joints
First Claim
1. An apparatus for the condition monitoring of the integrity of fasteners and fastened joints in a structure including at least:
- a substantially fluid impervious pad for placement over a head of one or more fasteners adjacent a surface of the structure, said pad having a first surface for contacting said structure, a portion of said first surface configured to define a region facilitating a free flow of fluid across said first surface between said pad and said structure when said first surface is in contact with said structure covering said one or more fasteners;
a substantially constant vacuum source;
a high fluid flow impedance coupled between said constant vacuum source and said region; and
, means for measuring differential pressure across said high fluid flow impedance.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus 10 for condition monitoring the integrity of a rivet 12 joint holding together sheets 14 and 16 of a structure 18 includes a substantially fluid impervious pad 20 for covering the heads of the rivets 12 and an adjacent surface 24 of the structure 18. The pad 20 has a first surface 26 for placement over the rivets 12 and the surface 24. An inner portion of the surface 26 is formed or otherwise configured to define a fluid flow region 28 between the pad 20 and the rivets 12/surface 24 across which fluid can flow. The region 28 is coupled to a constant vacuum source 30 via a conduit 32 and a series coupled high fluid flow impedance 34. A transducer 38 and display 44 coupled in parallel across the impedance 34 provides an indication of change in differential pressure across the high impedance which in turn provides an indication of the presence or development of a flaw in the rivets joint.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. An apparatus for the condition monitoring of the integrity of fasteners and fastened joints in a structure including at least:
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a substantially fluid impervious pad for placement over a head of one or more fasteners adjacent a surface of the structure, said pad having a first surface for contacting said structure, a portion of said first surface configured to define a region facilitating a free flow of fluid across said first surface between said pad and said structure when said first surface is in contact with said structure covering said one or more fasteners;
a substantially constant vacuum source;
a high fluid flow impedance coupled between said constant vacuum source and said region; and
,means for measuring differential pressure across said high fluid flow impedance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification