Wireless Collection of Fastener Data

• US 20170105058A1
• Filed: 12/19/2016
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Venema, Steven C., Tillotson, Brian J., Mitchell, Bradley J., Herley, Peter E., Carlson, Brenda K., Ung, Kevin Y., Ross, Tamaira E., Farricker, James T., Hendricks, Daniel A., Rocks, Richard R., Spinelli, Charles B., Blackwell, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,165,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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: F16B 37/14 Cap nuts; Nut caps or bolt caps
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/886 using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses

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.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a cap;

a fastener that includes a sensor, wherein the cap is configured to couple to the fastener;

a signal receiver within the cap, the signal receiver configured to receive a signal from a reader;

an electronic converter configured to convert the signal from the reader into electrical energy;

an energy storage device configured to store electrical energy from the electronic converter;

a pulse generator configured to use electrical energy stored by the energy storage device to trigger the sensor to produce an ultrasonic pulse when the cap is coupled to the fastener;

a pulse detector circuit configured to sense a reflected pulse due to the ultrasonic pulse;

a pulse measurement circuit configured to generate measurement data based on the reflected pulse; and

a signal transmitter configured to transmit the measurement data to the reader.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an energy harvesting device coupled to the energy storage device, wherein the energy harvesting device harvests thermal energy produced by temperature fluctuations, wherein the harvested thermal energy may be stored in the energy storage device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver is selected from the group consisting of a light signal receiver, a radio frequency signal receiver, and an acoustic signal receiver.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the cap further includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the fastener and wherein the signal transmitter is further configured to transmit an indication of the temperature to the reader.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a directional antenna within the signal receiver tuned to receive the signal via a narrow path from the reader.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the directional antenna is one of a directional dipole antenna and a dish antenna.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

electrical contacts configured to connect circuitry located within the cap to the sensor when the cap is coupled to the fastener.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data packet circuit configured to receive the measurement data and convert the measurement data into a data packet for transmission via the signal transmitter.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data storage device configured to store an identifier received from the reader.

10. A method comprising:

receiving a signal at a cap from a reader, the cap being coupled to a fastener;

converting the signal into electrical energy and storing the electrical energy at an energy storage device;

triggering a sensor to produce an ultrasonic pulse using the stored electrical energy;

sensing a reflected pulse from the ultrasonic pulse; and

generating measurement data based on the reflected pulse and transmitting the measurement data to the reader.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

harvesting thermal energy produced by temperature fluctuations as additional electrical energy; and

storing the additional electrical energy at the energy storage device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the signal comprises receiving a light signal, a radio frequency signal, or an acoustic signal receiver.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

sensing a temperature of the fastener; and

transmitting an indication of the temperature to the reader.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein receiving the signal comprises tuning a directional antenna to receive the signal via a narrow path from the reader.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

connecting circuitry located within the cap to the sensor within the fastener when the cap is coupled to the fastener.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

converting the measurement data into a data packet for transmission to the reader.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving an identifier from the reader along with the signal; and

matching the identifier to a stored identifier before triggering a sensor to produce an ultrasonic pulse.

18. A method comprising:

joining at least two separate structural members together using a fastener;

installing a cap to the fastener;

transmitting an activation signal from a reader to a signal receiver within the cap, the activation signal including an identifier to be stored within the cap;

transmitting a query signal from the reader to the signal receiver within the cap, wherein the query signal includes the identifier, and wherein energy from the query signal powers a pulse generator in the cap to trigger a sensor to produce an ultrasonic pulse for measuring a time-of-flight; and

receiving measurement data from the cap, the measurement data including the time-of-flight.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the cap matches the identifier to a stored identifier before transmitting the measurement data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the pulse generator is further powered by thermal energy fluctuations.