Method and apparatus for measuring force applied to a fastening bolt
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of measuring the force applied to a fastening bolt which fastens a first member to a second member, comprising:
- transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through said fastening bolt from a first location thereon to a second location thereon;
measuring the transit time of said cyclically-repeating energy wave from said first location to said second location;
and utilizing the measured transit time to produce a measurement of said force.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring the force applied to a fastening bolt by: transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through the fastening bolt; measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from a first location to a second location; and utilizing the measured transit time to produce a measurement of the force. In a described preferred embodiment, the bolts fastens a seat of a vehicle to the vehicle frame such that the measured transit time provides a measurement of the force applied to the vehicle seat by the seat occupant.
-
Citations
13 Claims
-
1. A method of measuring the force applied to a fastening bolt which fastens a first member to a second member, comprising:
-
transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through said fastening bolt from a first location thereon to a second location thereon;
measuring the transit time of said cyclically-repeating energy wave from said first location to said second location;
and utilizing the measured transit time to produce a measurement of said force. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. Apparatus for measuring the force applied to a fastening bolt which fastens a first member coupled to a second member, comprising:
-
a transmitter at a first location on said fastening bolt for transmitting a cyclically-repeating energy wave through said fastening bolt to a second location thereon;
a receiver at said second location on said fastening bolt for receiving said cyclically-repeating energy wave;
and an electrical system for measuring the transit time of the cyclically-repeating energy wave from said first location to said second location to thereby produce a measurement of the force applied to said fastening bolt. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
-
Specification