Fixing member comprising an integrity control system

• US 7,246,980 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2003
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: European Community
• Original Assignee: European Community
• Inventors: Sironi, Marco, Azzalin, Graziano, Poucet, Andre, Korn, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether; Flemming
• Application Number:
  US10/533,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20060198713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 411/396, 411/940, 411/911, 411/2, 411/14, 292/327, 340/652
• US Class Current: 411/396
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 41/005 Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins F16B23/0007, F16B23/0061, F16B23/0069, F16B23/0076 and F16B31/02 take precedence; locks, keys E05B; for valves, taps or cocks F16K35/00; for pipe-joints with swivel-nuts F16L19/005

Abstract

The invention concerns a fastening member comprising a threaded part (150) and a head (100) with which the threaded part can be turned in order to tighten the fastening member in a corresponding element. The head (100) is formed of a plate (110) in one piece with the threaded part (150) and a cap (120) covering said plate. The cap (120) comprises a recessed portion (121) in which an offset is provided to form a housing (128). The plate (110) comprises a guide finger (111) located inside the housing (128) to form a stop against which the cap presses in order to impart a rotational movement to the plate in the tightening direction. The cap (120) further comprises a remotely interrogatable electronic component (130) comprising a data storage means (132). Said component is held in the recessed portion (121) with its end (133) protruding into the housing (128) so as to strike against the guide finger (111) and cause the fracture of the component when any attempt is made to unscrew or untighten the fastening member.

Claims

1. A fastening member comprising a threaded part and a head by which said threaded part can be turned in order to tighten said fastening member in a corresponding element,

said head being formed of a plate in one piece with said threaded part and a cap covering said plate, said cap comprising a recessed portion in which an offset is provided to form a housing,

said cap further comprising a remotely interrogatable electronic component which comprises a data storage means,

wherein said plate comprises a guide finger extending vertically from the side opposite said threaded part, said guide finger being arranged inside said housing to form a stop against which said cap presses in order to impart a rotational movement to said plate in a tightening direction, and

wherein said component is held as a protrusion in said recessed portion in said housing so as to come to a stop against said guide finger during untightening of said fastening member.

2. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein said plate comprises a first groove and said cap comprises a second groove, said first and second groves being in alignment when said cap covers said plate, wherein said fastening member comprises a ring cooperating with said first and second grooves to hold said cap axially in position on said plate.

3. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein it further comprises a holding element for holding said electronic component in said housing.

4. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein said cap further comprises a shearable pin arranged in said housing between the end of said component protruding into said housing and said guide finger.

5. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein said plate displays a slightly elliptical shape to prevent said cap from rotating when no tightening or untightening force is applied.

6. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein said cap is made of PVC.

7. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein said threaded part and said plate are made of stainless steel.

8. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein said electronic component is a transponder of passive type.

9. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein said electronic component is a transponder comprising power supply means.

10. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein said data storage means of said electronic component comprises data encryption means.

11. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein said data storage means of said electronic component is of the programmable or multi-page type.

12. The fastening member according to claim 1, wherein it further comprises a second remotely interrogatable electronic component, said second electronic component being located in said cap outside said recessed portion.