Device to measure the deformation of a structural component

• US 5,353,645 A
• Filed: 12/17/1992
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wabco Standard GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wabco Standard GmbH (Wabco Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Feldman, Joachim, Stender, Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olsen, James M.
• Application Number:
  US07/991,985
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 73/760, 73/768, 73/767, 73/772, 73/782, 73/784, 73/862.041, 73/862.392, 73/862.393, 73/784
• US Class Current: 73/768
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/02 Bolt or shackle-type couplings
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/62 involving supply lines, electric circuits, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/30 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. mechanical strain gauge
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/16 for measuring the deformation in a solid, e.g. by resistance strain gauge

Abstract

A device for measuring the deformation of a structural component comprises a sensor installed at a first end of a hollow bore in the structural component, the sensor having a measuring surface and producing an electrical signal indicative of a deformation in the measuring surface, and a transmission element which passes through the hollow bore. The transmission element has a first end which is supported by the structural component, and a second end which bears upon the measuring surface of the sensor, so that a deformation which occurs in the structural component will be transmitted to the measuring surface by the transmission element.

Claims

1. A device for measuring deformation of a structural component, comprising a sensor installed at an open first end of a hollow bore in said structural component, said sensor closing off said hollow bore and having a measuring surface which is arranged substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said hollow bore, said sensor producing an electrical signal as a function of deformation of said measuring surface, and

a transmission element passing through said hollow bore, said transmission element having a first end which bears upon said structural component and a second end which bears upon said measuring surface.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the position of said transmission element is adjustable relative to said sensor.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said transmission element bears upon said measuring surface with a prestress.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said sensor and transmission element are installed in said structural component in a plane that is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of the structural component and form an angle with respect to a transverse axis of said structural component.

5. The device of claim 1 comprising first and second arrangements of sensors, transmission elements, and hollow bores in accordance with claim 1 installed in said structural components.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said first and second arrangements are installed in said structural component at equal and opposite inclinations to a longitudinal axis of said structural component.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said first and second arrangements are installed in said structural component in a plane that is inclined with respect to a longitudinal axis of said structural component, and said first and second arrangements form equal and opposite angles with respect to a transverse axis of said structural components.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein said first and second arrangements are installed in said structural component adjacent to each other and off-centered by 90°

, said transmission elements being parallel to a longitudinal axis of said structural component.

9. A device for measuring the deformation of a structural component, comprising

first and second sensors installed at first and second ends respectively of a hollow bore in said structural component, each of said first and second sensors having a measuring surface and producing an electrical signal as a function of deformation of said measuring surface,

and a transmission element passing through said hollow bore, said transmission element having a first end which bears upon said measuring surface of said first sensor and a second end which bears upon said measuring surface of said second sensor.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the position of said transmission element is adjustable relative to said first and second sensors.

11. The device of claim 9 comprising first and second arrangements of sensors, transmission elements, and hollow bores according to claim 9 installed in said structural component.