Wireless Collection of Fastener Data
First Claim
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1. A system, comprising:
- a fastener, adapted to mechanically join at least two separate structural members together, having a fastener head with a recess containing a sensor for measuring stress on the fastener;
a removable cap, having a cap head and sides surrounding the fastener head, wherein the removable cap is configured to be attached to the fastener and to wirelessly transmit data related to the measured stress, having a set of electrical contacts that are brought into contact with the sensor and the fastener when the cap is attached to the fastener, whereby sensor data is transmitted from the sensor to the cap; and
a reader, configured for wirelessly reading the data transmitted by the cap.
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Abstract
Data is remotely collected from a plurality of fasteners in response to a query signal wirelessly transmitted by a reader. Each of the fasteners includes a sensor for measuring a parameter related to the stress on the fastener. A device adapted to be attached to each of the fasteners receives the query signal, activates the sensor to measure the parameter and wirelessly transmits the data including the parameter to the reader.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a fastener, adapted to mechanically join at least two separate structural members together, having a fastener head with a recess containing a sensor for measuring stress on the fastener; a removable cap, having a cap head and sides surrounding the fastener head, wherein the removable cap is configured to be attached to the fastener and to wirelessly transmit data related to the measured stress, having a set of electrical contacts that are brought into contact with the sensor and the fastener when the cap is attached to the fastener, whereby sensor data is transmitted from the sensor to the cap; and a reader, configured for wirelessly reading the data transmitted by the cap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for collecting data from fasteners, comprising:
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attaching a removable cap to each of a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having a fastener head with a recess containing a sensor and mechanically joining at least two separate structural members together, each removable cap having a cap head and sides which surround each respective fastener head; bringing a set of electrical contacts in the cap into engagement with the sensor and the fastener, whereby sensor data is transmissible from the sensor to the cap; wirelessly transmitting a query signal from a reader to the cap of one of the fasteners; wirelessly receiving the query signal at a receiver within the cap; using the sensor on the one fastener to measure stress on the one fastener; and using a wireless transmitter in the cap to wirelessly transmit the measured stress to the reader. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A cap, configured to attach to a fastener having a fastener head with a recess containing a sensor for measuring stress on the fastener, the cap comprising:
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a cap head and sides configured to surround the fastener head when the cap is attached to the fastener; a cap attachment mechanism configured to removably attach the cap to the fastener; electrical contacts, configured to connect with the sensor and receive stress measurements from the sensor when the fastener mechanically joins at least two separate structural members together; and a wireless transmitter, configured to transmit stress data, based on the stress measurements, to a reader. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification