Fastener incorporating removable ultrasonic transducer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fastener, comprising:
- a shank having a head at one end and threads formed at the other end,an acoustic transducer located in a container means and affixed therein such that said transducer and said container means are an integral unit, andattaching means for removably attaching said container means to one end of said fastener with said acoustic transducer being acoustically coupled to said fastener to allow pulse-echo measurements to be obtained while said fastener is torqued in place with a wrench means,said attaching means being separate from the wrench means whereby when the wrench means is removed from said fastener, said container means remains attached to said fastener,the entire portion of said fastener between said container means and the end of said fastener opposite said container means being of solid metal throughout.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A threaded fastener incorporating a removable ultrasonic transducer for obtaining preload measurements as well as other measurements for quality control inspection or for monitoring purposes. The transducer may be removed for repair or replacement purposes.
35 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A fastener, comprising:
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a shank having a head at one end and threads formed at the other end, an acoustic transducer located in a container means and affixed therein such that said transducer and said container means are an integral unit, and attaching means for removably attaching said container means to one end of said fastener with said acoustic transducer being acoustically coupled to said fastener to allow pulse-echo measurements to be obtained while said fastener is torqued in place with a wrench means, said attaching means being separate from the wrench means whereby when the wrench means is removed from said fastener, said container means remains attached to said fastener, the entire portion of said fastener between said container means and the end of said fastener opposite said container means being of solid metal throughout. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A fastener comprising:
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a shank having a head at one end and threads formed at the other end, a shallow opening formed in one end of said fastener, said opening having a depth less than the length of said head as measured along the longitudinal axis of said fastener, an acoustic transducer located in said opening, attaching means for removably attaching said transducer in said opening with said transducer acoustically coupled to said fastener, said fastener being formed of metal with the portion of said fastener between said opening and the end of said fastener opposite said opening being of solid metal throughout. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21)
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16. A fastener comprising:
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a shank having a head at one end and threads formed at the other end, a shallow opening formed in one end of said fastener, an acoustic transducer located in said opening, attaching means for removably attaching said transducer in said opening with said transducer acoustically coupled to said fastener such that it may be used for pulse-echo measurements wherein when said transducer is pulsed, a transducer signal is generated which travels from said transducer through said fastener to the end of said fastener opposite said transducer and back to said transducer at least once, the distance between said transducer and said end of said fastener opposite said opening being equal to a major portion of the length of said fastener such that when said signal is generated it will travel through the entire gripping length of said fastener, including the portion of said shank next to said head, when traveling between said transducer and said end of said fastener opposite said opening, the entire portion of said fastener between said opening and said end of said fastener opposite said opening being of solid metal throughout. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification