Load indicating member with identifying mark

• US 20040065154A1
• Filed: 07/25/2003
• Published: 04/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovation Plus, LLC
• Original Assignee: Innovation Plus, LLC
• Inventors: Kibblewhite, Ian E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,990,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/761
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/3095 Auxiliary rear seats accessible from outside the vehicle when in an in-use position
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/905 the head-rest or seat used as an anchorage point, for an object not covered by groups in B60N, e.g. for a canvas
• 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: G01N 2291/011 Velocity or travel time
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/02854 Length, thickness
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2291/2691 Bolts, screws, heads
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/048 Marking the faulty objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 29/227 related to high pressure, tension or stress conditions

Abstract

A load indicating member is provided with a permanent identifying mark which can be read and used to determine ultrasonic measurement parameters specific to the load indicating member to provide more precise and more reliable load measurements by compensating for differences resulting from manufacturing variations in individual load indicating members. The parameters specific to the load indicating member can be stored in coding applied to the load indicating member or in a database that can be accessed remotely, for example, using the Internet.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an ultrasonic transducer coupled with an object, for making ultrasonic measurements in the object; and

information storage means applied to the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the information storage means includes markings corresponding to data associated with the object.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is a fastener, and wherein the ultrasonic transducer is attached to the fastener for making measurements indicative of load in the fastener.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic transducer is permanently attached to the object.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ultrasonic transducer is temporarily attached to the object.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information storage means is an optical storage media.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the optical storage media is a color-contrasting mark provided on an exposed surface of the ultrasonic transducer.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the optical storage media is a reflectivity-contrasting mark provided on an exposed surface of the ultrasonic transducer.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the optical storage media is a bar code.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional bar code.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the ultrasonic transducer has an electrically-conductive layer, and wherein the optical storage media is applied to the electrically-conductive layer.

11. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the optical storage media is a laser-etched marking.

12. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the optical storage media is a contrast-enhancing coating.

13. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the optical storage media is a black-oxide coated surface of a metallic foil including portions of the black-oxide coating which are selectively removed by laser ablation.

14. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the optical storage media is a foil including holes drilled through the foil.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information storage means is a magnetic storage media, and wherein the magnetic storage media includes a layer of magnetic material capable of storing data.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information storage means contains the data associated with the object.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information storage means contains a marking for identifying the object.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the marking for identifying the object is coupled with an index in a database which contains data relating to the object.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the database is accessible over the Internet.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the information storage means contains the data associated with the object and a marking for identifying the object.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is a fastener, and wherein the data includes a zero-load acoustic length of the fastener.

22. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is a fastener, and wherein the,data includes parameters for deriving a zero-load acoustic length of the fastener.

23. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is a fastener, wherein the data includes an acoustic signature of the fastener, and wherein the acoustic signature contains parameters for deriving an ultrasonic echo waveform measurement cycle for the fastener.

24. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is a fastener, and wherein the data includes parameters relating to the fastener for calculating load in the fastener from the ultrasonic measurements.

25. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is a fastener, and wherein the data includes parameters relating to a joint into which the fastener is tightened, for calculating load in the fastener from the ultrasonic measurements.

26. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is a fastener, and wherein the data includes a parameter relating to the fastener which is measured during tightening of the fastener.

27. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is a fastener, and wherein the data includes a parameter relating to the fastener which is measured during subsequent loading of the fastener.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the object is a fastener, and wherein the data includes a parameter relating to the fastener which is measured to determine changes in loading of the fastener.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein acoustic length is measured to determine permanent elongation of the fastener.

30. A load indicating member adapted for ultrasonic load measurement responsive to a bar code marked on the load indicating member, wherein the bar code contains encoded data relating to the load indicating member which comprises data for indicating a zero-load acoustic length of the load indicating member and data for indicating an acoustic signature of the load indicating member.

31. The load indicating member of claim 30 wherein the data for indicating the zero-load acoustic length of the load indicating member is data for deriving the zero-load acoustic length.

32. The load indicating member of claim 30 wherein the data for indicating the acoustic signature of the load indicating member includes parameters for deriving an ultrasonic echo waveform measurement cycle for the load indicating member.

33. The load indicating member of claim 30 wherein the bar code is permanently attached to the load indicating member.

34. The load indicating member of claim 30 wherein the bar code is temporarily attached to the load indicating member.

35. The load indicating member of claim 30 wherein the load indicating member is a fastener.

36. The load indicating member of claim 30 wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional bar code.

37. The load indicating member of claim 30 wherein the bar code is marked on the load indicating member with a laser.

38. The load indicating member of claim 30 wherein the bar code is marked on a label applied to the load indicating member.

39. A load indicating member adapted for ultrasonic load measurement responsive to a bar code marked on the load indicating member, wherein the bar code contains encoded data which identifies the load indicating member, and a database which contains data relating to the load indicating member, wherein the encoded data of the bar code indexes the data in the database which relates to the load indicating member, and wherein the data in the database which relates to the load indicating member comprises data for indicating a zero-load acoustic length of the load indicating member and data for indicating an acoustic signature of the load indicating member.

40. The load indicating member of claim 39 wherein the data for indicating the zero-load acoustic length of the load indicating member is data for deriving the zero-load acoustic length.

41. The load indicating member of claim 39 wherein the data for indicating the acoustic signature of the load indicating member includes parameters for deriving an ultrasonic echo waveform measurement cycle for the load indicating member.

42. The load indicating member of claim 39 wherein the bar code is permanently attached to the load indicating member.

43. The load indicating member of claim 39 wherein the bar code is temporarily attached to the load indicating member.

44. The load indicating member of claim 39 wherein the load indicating member is a fastener.

45. The load indicating member of claim 39 wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional bar code.

46. The load indicating member of claim 39 wherein the bar code is marked on the load indicating member with a laser.

47. The load indicating member of claim 39 wherein the bar code is marked on a label applied to the load indicating member.

48. The load indicating member of claim 39 wherein the database is accessible over the Internet.

49. An ultrasonic transducer comprising a piezoelectric element attached to an object for making ultrasonic measurements in the object, wherein the piezoelectric element is permanently attached to the object by chemical grafting.

50. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 49 wherein the object is a load indicating member, and wherein the ultrasonic measurements determine a load in the load indicating member.

51. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 50 wherein the load indicating member is a fastener.

52. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 49 wherein the piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric polymer film.

53. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 52 wherein the piezoelectric polymer film is polyvinylidene fluoride.

54. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 49 wherein the piezoelectric element is a piezoelectric ceramic thin film.

55. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 54 wherein the piezoelectric ceramic thin film is zinc oxide grown on a metallic foil by vacuum deposition.

56. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 55 wherein the metallic foil has an exposed surface, and wherein a bar code is marked on the exposed surface of the metallic foil.

57. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 49 wherein the ultrasonic transducer further includes a backing layer formed of an electrically conductive foil.

58. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 57 wherein the piezoelectric element is attached to the electrically conductive foil by the chemical grafting.

59. The ultrasonic transducer of claim 58 wherein the electrically conductive foil has an exposed surface, and wherein a bar code is marked on the exposed surface of the electrically conductive foil.

60. A load indicating device comprising:

a load indicating member marked with a bar code;

an ultrasonic transducer for communicating with the load indicating member;

means for making ultrasonic pulse-echo time-of-flight measurements for communicating with the ultrasonic transducer;

a bar code reader for reading the bar code marked on the load indicating member; and

an Internet connection coupling the means for making ultrasonic pulse-echo time-of-flight measurements and the bar code reader with a database containing data relating to the load indicating member marked with the bar code.

61. The load indicating device of claim 60 wherein the load indicating member is a fastener adapted for load measurement.

62. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the bar code contains the data relating to the fastener.

63. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the bar code contains a marking for identifying the fastener.

64. The load indicating device of claim 63 wherein the marking for identifying the fastener is coupled with an index in the database which contains the data relating to the fastener.

65. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the bar code contains the data relating to the fastener and a marking for identifying the fastener.

66. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the data includes a zero-load acoustic length of the fastener.

67. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the data includes parameters for deriving a zero-load acoustic length of the fastener.

68. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the data includes an acoustic signature of the fastener, and wherein the acoustic signature contains parameters for deriving an ultrasonic echo waveform measurement cycle for the fastener.

69. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the data includes parameters relating to the fastener for calculating load in the fastener from the ultrasonic measurements.

70. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the data includes parameters relating to a joint into which the fastener is tightened, for calculating load in the fastener from the ultrasonic measurements.

71. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the data includes a parameter relating to the fastener which is measured during tightening of the fastener.

72. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the data includes a parameter relating to the fastener which is measured during subsequent loading of the fastener.

73. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein the data includes a parameter relating to the fastener which is measured to determine changes in loading of the fastener.

74. The load indicating device of claim 61 wherein acoustic length is measured to determine permanent elongation of the fastener.

75. A load indicating device comprising:

a load indicating member having an ultrasonic transducer permanently attached to the load indicating member;

a bar code marked on the ultrasonic transducer;

means for making ultrasonic pulse-echo time-of-flight measurements for communicating with the ultrasonic transducer; and

a bar code reader for reading the bar code marked on the ultrasonic transducer.

76. The load indicating device of claim 75 wherein the load indicating member is a fastener adapted for load measurement.

77. The load indicating device of claim 76 wherein the bar code contains a marking for identifying the fastener.

78. The load indicating device of claim 77 wherein the marking for identifying the fastener is coupled with an index in a database which contains data relating to the fastener.

79. The load indicating device of claim 76 wherein the bar code contains data relating to the fastener and a marking for identifying the fastener.

80. The load indicating device of claim 76 wherein the bar code contains data relating to the fastener.

81. The load indicating device of claim 80 wherein the data includes a zero-load acoustic length of the fastener.

82. The load indicating device of claim 80 wherein the data includes parameters for deriving a zero-load acoustic length of the fastener.

83. The load indicating device of claim 80 wherein the data includes an acoustic signature of the fastener, and wherein the acoustic signature contains parameters for deriving an ultrasonic echo waveform measurement cycle for the fastener.

84. The load indicating device of claim 80 wherein the data includes parameters relating to the fastener for calculating load in the fastener from the ultrasonic measurements.

85. The load indicating device of claim 80 wherein the data includes parameters relating to a joint into which the fastener is tightened, for calculating load in the fastener from the ultrasonic measurements.

86. The load indicating device of claim 80 wherein the data includes a parameter relating to the fastener which is measured during tightening of the fastener.

87. The load indicating device of claim 80 wherein the data includes a parameter relating to the fastener which is measured during subsequent loading of the fastener.

88. The load indicating device of claim 80 wherein the data includes a parameter relating to the fastener which is measured to determine changes in loading of the fastener.

89. The load indicating device of claim 80 wherein acoustic length is measured to determine permanent elongation of the fastener.

90. A method of making a load indicating member, comprising the steps of:

forming an ultrasonic transducer by mechanically and electrically interconnecting an acousto-electric film to a metallic foil by chemical grafting;

providing a fastener with a head and a shank extending from the head, wherein the shank is subject to elastic deformation when stressed longitudinally such that one portion of the shank moves relative to another portion of the shank; and

mechanically, electrically and acoustically interconnecting the ultrasonic transducer to the fastener by chemical grafting.

91. The method of claim 90 which further includes the step of marking a bar code on the metallic foil.

92. The method of claim 90 which further includes the step of forming the acousto-electric film of polyvinylidene fluoride.

93. A method of making a load indicating member, comprising the steps of:

growing an ultrasonic transducer including an acousto-electric film by vapor deposition on a metallic foil, mechanically and electrically interconnecting the acousto-electric film to the metallic foil;

providing a fastener with a head and a shank extending from the head, wherein the shank is subject to elastic deformation when stressed longitudinally such that one portion of the shank moves relative to another portion of the shank; and

mechanically, electrically and acoustically interconnecting the ultrasonic transducer to the fastener by chemical grafting.

94. The method of claim 93 which further includes the step of marking a bar code on the metallic foil.

95. The method of claim 93 wherein the acousto-electric film is zinc oxide, and which further includes the step of growing the acousto-electric film by vapor deposition.

96. A method of monitoring a load and imparting a torque to a load indicating member, comprising the steps of:

providing a load indicating member which is subject to deformation when stressed such that one portion of the load indicating member moves relative to another portion of the load indicating member, and which includes an ultrasonic transducer permanently mechanically, electrically and acoustically attached to the load indicating member by chemical grafting;

electrically connecting an electronic control unit to the ultrasonic transducer for supplying electronic signals to the ultrasonic transducer and for receiving electronic signals from the ultrasonic transducer;

monitoring the electronic signals received from the ultrasonic transducer by the electronic control unit, providing an accurate measurement of the load in the load indicating member; and

imparting a torque to the load indicating member and removing a torque from the load indicating member in response to the measurement of the load in the load indicating member.

97. The method of claim 96 wherein the load indicating member is a fastener.

98. The method of claim 96 which further includes the step of marking a bar code on an exposed surface of the load indicating member.

99. The method of claim 96 which further includes the step of marking a bar code on an exposed surface of the ultrasonic transducer.

100. An ultrasonic device for monitoring load, for imparting torque and for removing torque, comprising:

a load indicating member subject to deformation when stressed such that one portion of the load indicating member moves relative to another portion of the load indicating member, and which includes an ultrasonic transducer permanently mechanically, electrically and acoustically attached to the load indicating member by chemical grafting;

an electronic control unit electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer for supplying electronic signals to the ultrasonic transducer and for receiving electronic signals from the ultrasonic transducer, wherein the electronic control unit provides an accurate measurement of the load in the load indicating member responsive to the electronic signals received from the ultrasonic transducer; and

means for imparting torque to the load indicating member and for removing torque from the load indicating member responsive to the measurement of the load in the load indicating member.

101. The ultrasonic device of claim 100 wherein the load indicating member is a fastener.

102. The ultrasonic device of claim 100 wherein the load indicating member further includes a bar code marked on an exposed surface of the load indicating member.

103. The ultrasonic device of claim 100 wherein the load indicating member further includes a bar code marked on an exposed surface of the ultrasonic transducer.

104. A method of measuring change in acoustic length of a load indicating member, comprising the steps of:

identifying the load indicating member by reading a bar code on the load indicating member with a bar code reader;

retrieving from a database data relating to the identified load indicating member, wherein the retrieved data includes data for deriving a zero-load acoustic length of the identified load indicating member and data for deriving an ultrasonic echo waveform measurement cycle used for acoustic length measurement of the identified load indicating member;

measuring the acoustic length of the identified load indicating member using an ultrasonic transducer and the derived measurement cycle; and

calculating a difference between the measured acoustic length and the zero-load acoustic length and calculating the change in acoustic length of the identified load indicating member from the calculated difference between the measured acoustic length and the zero-load acoustic length.

105. The method of claim 104 which further includes the step of calculating the load in the identified load indicating member from the calculated change in the acoustic length.

106. The method of claim 104 wherein the load indicating member is a fastener.

107. A method of measuring change in acoustic length of a load indicating member, comprising the steps of:

reading a bar code on the load indicating member with a bar code reader, wherein the bar code contains data for deriving a zero-load acoustic length of the load indicating member and data for deriving an ultrasonic echo waveform measurement cycle used for acoustic length measurement of the load indicating member;

measuring the acoustic length of the load indicating member using an ultrasonic transducer and the derived measurement cycle; and

calculating a difference between the measured acoustic length and the zero-load acoustic length and calculating the change in acoustic length of the load indicating member from the calculated difference between the measured acoustic length and the zero-load acoustic length.

108. The method of claim 107 which further includes the step of calculating the load in the load indicating member from the calculated change in the acoustic length.

109. The method of claim 107 wherein the load indicating member is a fastener.

110. A label for identifying an object, comprising a metallic foil having an exposed surface which is permanently attached to the object by chemical grafting, and a bar code marked on the exposed surface of the metallic foil.

111. The label of claim 110 wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional bar code.

112. The label of claim 110 wherein the bar code is marked on the exposed surface of the metallic foil with a laser.

113. The label of claim 110 wherein the object is a component used in a manufactured assembly.

114. The label of claim 113 wherein the object is a fastener.