Nut having a visual indicator

• US 8,591,059 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rexnord Indistries LLC (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Rexnord Indistries LLC (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Inventors: Casey, Marlon R., Fork, David B., Nordgren, Jesse Arthur
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ashok
• Application Number:
  US12/575,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20100033965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,510 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 362/234
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 31/02 for indicating the attainment of a particular tensile load or limiting tensile load apparatus for, or method of, determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member similarly stressed G01L5/24
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/04 with a member penetrating the screw-threaded surface of at least one part, e.g. a pin, a wedge, cotter-pin, screw
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 39/122 foreseen with mating surfaces inclined, i.e. not normal, to the bolt axis
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 19/38 with two or more rows of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2226/16 by wedge action, e.g. by tapered or conical parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 23/086 forming a track for rolling elements
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7806 for spherical roller bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/7886 mounted outside the gap between the inner and outer races, e.g. sealing rings mounted to an end face or outer surface of a race
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 35/073 between shaft and inner race ring

Abstract

A nut is disclosed including a body having a visual indicator coupled thereto and integral therewith. The visual indicator provides a visual indication of a stress state of the body of the nut.

Claims

1. A nut comprising:

a body;

a visual indicator coupled to the body and integral with the body; and

a strain gauge that measures a strain on the body of the nut, the strain gauge being electrically coupled to the visual indicator;

wherein the visual indicator provides a visual indication of a stress state of the body of the nut.

2. The nut of claim 1, wherein the visual indicator is configured to provide a first visual indication when the stress state of the body of the nut is below a threshold level and a second visual indication when the stress state of the body of the nut is above a threshold level.

3. The nut of claim 1, wherein the body of the nut includes threads.

4. A nut comprising:

a body; and

a visual indicator coupled to the body and integral with the body;

wherein the visual indicator is a light emitting diode and the visual indicator provides a visual indication of a stress state of the body of the nut.

5. The nut of claim 4, wherein

the light emitting diode includes a plurality of light emitting diodes.

6. The nut of claim 5, wherein the nut is adapted to provide a target torque range and wherein one of the light emitting diodes produces a first color when the nut is below the target torque range, one of the light emitting diodes produces a second color when the nut is within the target torque range, and one of the light emitting diodes produces a third color when the nut is above the target torque range.

7. A nut comprising:

a body;

a visual indicator coupled to the body and integral with the body; and

a printed circuit board coupled to the nut and being electrically coupled to both a strain gauge and the visual indicator;

wherein the visual indicator provides a visual indication of a stress state of the body of the nut.

8. The nut of claim 7, wherein the printed circuit board is configured to monitor a resistance measurement provided by the strain gauge, process the resistance measurement to determine a strain level, and alter the visual indicator according to the strain level.

9. A nut comprising:

a body; and

a visual indicator coupled to the body and integral with the body;

wherein the visual indicator includes a photoelastic sensitive material which, when subjected to strain, changes color when viewed through a polarizing lens and the visual indicator provides a visual indication of a stress state of the body of the nut.

10. A nut for interconnecting a compressible adapter sleeve and an inner ring that encircles said compressible adapter sleeve, said inner ring having a radially inwardly facing tapered surface that engages a radially outwardly facing tapered surface of said compressible adapter, said radially inwardly facing tapered surface being drawable over said radially outwardly facing surface to compress said compressible adapter sleeve onto a shaft by said nut, said nut comprising:

a body;

a visual indicator coupled to the body and integral with the body; and

a strain gauge coupled to the body of the nut to measure the stress state of the nut and wherein the strain gauge is electrically coupled to the visual indicator;

wherein the visual indicator provides a visual indication of a stress state of the body the nut.

11. The nut of claim 10, further comprising threads on the body of the nut, the threads adapted to attach to at least one of the compressible adapter sleeve and the inner ring.

12. A nut for interconnecting a compressible adapter sleeve and an inner ring that encircles said compressible adapter sleeve, said inner ring having a radially inwardly facing tapered surface that engages a radially outwardly facing tapered surface of said compressible adapter, said radially inwardly facing tapered surface being drawable over said radially outwardly facing surface to compress said compressible adapter sleeve onto a shaft by said nut, said nut comprising:

a body; and

a visual indicator coupled to the body and integral with the body;

wherein the visual indicator is a light emitting diode and the visual indicator provides a visual indication of a stress state of the body the nut.

13. A nut for interconnecting a compressible adapter sleeve and an inner ring that encircles said compressible adapter sleeve, said inner ring having a radially inwardly facing tapered surface that engages a radially outwardly facing tapered surface of said compressible adapter, said radially inwardly facing tapered surface being drawable over said radially outwardly facing surface to compress said compressible adapter sleeve onto a shaft by said nut, said nut comprising:

a body; and

a visual indicator coupled to the body and integral with the body;

wherein the visual indicator includes a photoelastic sensitive material which, when subjected to strain, changes color when viewed through a polarizing lens and the visual indicator provides a visual indication of a stress state of the body the nut.