Thread forming fasteners for ultrasonic load measurement and control
First Claim
1. An apparatus for precisely and reliably assembling a critical joint, in combination with a load measurement apparatus for making ultrasonic load measurements in a fastener, comprising:
- a thread-forming fastener including a head for engagement by a tool for appying a torque to the fastener, and a body portion extending from the head and including thread-forming portions; and
an ultrasonic transducer coupled with the thread-forming fastener, for making precise and reliable ultrasonic load measurements in the thread-forming fastener;
wherein the load measurement apparatus is electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer to supply signals to the ultrasonic transducer and to receive signals from the ultrasonic transducer, and includes a monitor receiving signals from the ultrasonic transducer to provide an accurate measurement indicative of the load in the thread-forming fastener, and a compensator adjusting the measurement indicative of the load to compensate for effects of heating of the thread-forming fastener resulting from forming a thread in a mating component during installation.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic load measurement transducer (14) is mated with a thread-forming fastener (12) to provide a load indicating thread-forming fastener (10) that can be used for precise and reliable assembly of critical bolted joints, such as those in the automobile and aerospace industries, among others. Steps can then be taken to accurately measure and control the load in the thread-forming fastener (10) during tightening, and to inspect the load in the thread-forming fastener (10) after assembly. A similar result can be achieved for a thread-locking fastener by mating an ultrasonic transducer with the thread-locking fastener assembly.
86 Citations
33 Claims
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1. An apparatus for precisely and reliably assembling a critical joint, in combination with a load measurement apparatus for making ultrasonic load measurements in a fastener, comprising:
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a thread-forming fastener including a head for engagement by a tool for appying a torque to the fastener, and a body portion extending from the head and including thread-forming portions; and an ultrasonic transducer coupled with the thread-forming fastener, for making precise and reliable ultrasonic load measurements in the thread-forming fastener; wherein the load measurement apparatus is electrically connected to the ultrasonic transducer to supply signals to the ultrasonic transducer and to receive signals from the ultrasonic transducer, and includes a monitor receiving signals from the ultrasonic transducer to provide an accurate measurement indicative of the load in the thread-forming fastener, and a compensator adjusting the measurement indicative of the load to compensate for effects of heating of the thread-forming fastener resulting from forming a thread in a mating component during installation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of measuring a load in a fastener, comprising the steps of:
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providing a thread-forming fastener including a head for engagement by a tool for applying a torque to the fastener, and a body portion extending from the head and including thread-forming portions; coupling an ultrasonic transducer with the thread-forming fastener, for making ultrasonic load measurements in the thread-forming fastener; electrically connecting an apparatus to the ultrasonic transducer for supplying signals to the ultrasonic transducer and for receiving signals from the ultrasonic transducer; monitoring the signals received from the ultrasonic transducer, providing an accurate measurement indicative of the load in the thread-forming fastener; and adjusting the measurement indicative of the load to compensate for effects of heating of the thread-forming fastener resulting from forming a thread in a mating component during installation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of measuring a load in a fastener, comprising the steps of:
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providing a thread-locking fastener assembly for engagement by a tool for applying a torque to the thread-locking fastener assembly, including a bolt having a head and a body portion extending from the head, and a nut for cooperating with the body portion of the bolt, wherein portions of the thread-locking fastener assembly include resistance-inducing threads; coupling an ultrasonic transducer with the bolt, for making ultrasonic load measurements in the thread-locking fastener assembly; electrically connecting an apparatus to the ultrasonic transducer for supplying signals to the ultrasonic transducer and for receiving signals from the ultrasonic transducer; monitoring the signals received from the ultrasonic transducer, providing an accurate measurement indicative of the load in the thread-locking fastener assembly; and adjusting the measurement indicative of the load to compensate for effects of heating of the thread-locking fastener assembly resulting from prevailing torque associated with the thread-locking fastener assembly. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification