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Load indicating member with identifying element

  • US 7,650,792 B2
  • Filed: 10/14/2008
  • Issued: 01/26/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2001
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A method of measuring change in acoustic length of a load indicating member, comprising the steps of:

  • accessing an identifying element on the load indicating member with a reader, wherein the load indicating member is a fastener, and determining data relating to the fastener for deriving a zero-load acoustic length of the fastener and data for deriving an ultrasonic echo waveform measurement cycle used for acoustic length measurement of the fastener;

    measuring the acoustic length of the fastener using an ultrasonic transducer and the derived measurement cycle; and

    calculating a difference between the measured acoustic length and the zero-load acoustic length and calculating the change in the acoustic length of the load indicating member from the calculated difference between the measured acoustic length and the zero-load acoustic length.

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