Intelligent washer

• US 20170016469A1
• Filed: 07/13/2015
• Published: 01/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silicon Valley Micro E Corporation
• Original Assignee: Silicon Valley Micro E Corporation
• Inventors: Zhu, Shengbo, Huang, Su Shiong
• Granted Patent: US 10,941,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/14 Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers couplings for transmitting rotation or clutches F16D; devices for measuring torque per se G01L
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1425 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 31/028 with a load-indicating washer or washer assembly
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/00 Washers or equivalent devices; Other devices for supporting bolt-heads or nuts circlips F16B21/18; for indicating tensile load F16B31/02; forming a whole with the bolt or nut F16B33/00; locking bolts or nuts by means of a fixed plate or ring, or washer-like resilient plates F16B39/10, F16B39/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 43/004 with a radial cut in order to improve elasticity of the washer F16B43/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0716 at least one of the integrated circuit chips comprising a sensor or an interface to a sensor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0775 arrangements for connecting the integrated circuit to the antenna
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag

Abstract

An intelligent fastener unit for fastening together structural members. The fastener unit includes a fastener with an externally threaded shank, an internally threaded mating member for threaded engagement with the fastener, and an intelligent washer having an RFID tag and an antenna mounted on one surface of a centrally aperture body member, and a pressure sensor mounted on the opposite surface for generating electrical signals representative of the compressive force applied to structural members captured by the fastener, the mating member and the washer. An air gap is formed in the washer body member between the outer periphery and the central aperture to reduce eddy current formation when the RFID tag is interrogated by an RFID tag reader using r.f. signaling. The RFID tag has a memory containing information specific to the fastener unit—such as fastener unit identification, specified torque value and other information Once installed, the existing torque on a collection of fastener units is measured by using the RFID tag reader to scan the information stored in the memory of each fastener unit washer.

Claims

1. An intelligent washer comprising:

a body member having a central aperture for receiving a threaded shank of an associated threaded fastener, a first surface and a second opposite surface;

an RFID tag mounted on said first surface;

an antenna mounted on said first surface and coupled to said RFID tag;

a pressure sensor mounted on said second surface and coupled to said RFID tag; and

an abutment step extending away from said surface a sufficient distance for protecting said RFID tag and said antenna during use.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said antenna comprises a multi-turn coil.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said multi-turn coil is located on said first surface concentrically of said central aperture.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said abutment step is formed as a unitary portion of said body member.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said abutment step is a discrete member adhered to said first surface.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said body member has a periphery;

and further including an air gap formed in said body member and extending between said periphery and said central aperture.

7. The invention of claim 1 wherein said RFID tag has a memory for storing information specific to said washer.

8. The invention of claim 7 wherein least some of said information is stored in a section of said memory which is readable.

9. The invention of claim 7 wherein said information is selected from a group consisting of a unique identification for said washer, a torque value specified for said washer, an installation date for said washer, a site location at which said washer is installed, and a date of inspection for said washer.

10. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a variable resistance strain gauge.

20. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sensor comprises a variable resistance strain gauge.

11. A fastener unit comprising:

a fastener having a body member with a head portion and an externally threaded shank portion extending from said head portion;

an internally threaded mating member for receiving said externally threaded shank portion of said fastener; and

a washer comprising a body member having a central aperture for receiving said externally threaded shank portion of said fastener, a first surface and a second opposite surface;

an RFID tag mounted on said first surface;

an antenna mounted on said first surface and coupled to said RFID tag;

a pressure sensor mounted on said second surface and coupled to said RFID tag; and

an abutment step extending away from said surface a sufficient distance for protecting said RFID tag and said antenna during use.

12. The combination of claim 11 said antenna comprises a multi-turn coil.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein said multi-turn coil is located on said first surface concentrically of said aperture.

14. The invention of claim 11 wherein said abutment step is formed as a unitary portion of said body member.

15. The invention of claim 11 wherein said abutment step is a discrete member adhered to said first surface.

16. The invention of claim 11 wherein said body member has a periphery;

and further including an air gap formed in said body member and extending between said periphery and said central aperture.

17. The invention of claim 11 wherein said RFID tag has a memory for storing information specific to said washer.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein least some of said information is stored in a section of said memory which is readable.

19. The invention of claim 17 wherein said information is selected from a group consisting of a unique identification for said washer, a torque value specified for said washer, an installation date for said washer, a site location at which said washer is installed, and a date of inspection for said washer.

21. The combination of claim 11 further including an RFID tag reader for interrogating said RFID tag and receiving said information from said RFID tag.

22. The combination of claim 21 wherein said RFID tag reader includes a transmitter for storing information in said memory of said RFID tag.

23. The combination of claim 21 wherein said RFID tag reader includes a transmitter for updating said information stored in said memory of said RFID tag.

24. The combination of claim 21 further including a fastener installation tool for driving said fastener into said internally threaded mating member to a specified torque value.

25. The combination of claim 24 wherein said information includes a torque value specified for said fastener unit;

and wherein said fastener installation tool includes a torque control unit coupled to said RFID tag reader for limiting the torque applied by said fastener installation tool to said fastener unit to said torque value.