Wireless collection of fastener data

• US 8,810,370 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2010
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Tillotson, Brian J, Mitchell, Bradley J, Ung, Kevin Y, Farricker, James T, Herley, Peter E, Carlson, Brenda K, Ross, Tamaira E, Venema, Steven C, Chinn, Kristina A, Hendricks, Daniel A, Rocks, Richard R, Spinelli, Charles B, Blackwell, David B
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Omer S
• Application Number:
  US12/691,796
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 736/27, 736/71, 735/97, 738/02, 737/66, 737/61
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• 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 37/14 Cap nuts; Nut caps or bolt caps
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/886 using energy harvesting, e.g. solar, wind or mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses

Abstract

Data is remotely collected from a plurality of fasteners in response to a query signal wirelessly transmitted by a reader. Each of the fasteners includes a sensor for measuring a parameter related to the stress on the fastener. A device adapted to be attached to each of the fasteners receives the query signal, activates the sensor to measure the parameter and wirelessly transmits the data including the parameter to the reader.

Claims

1. A method of collecting data related to stress on a fastener having a fastener head with a recess containing a sensor, comprising:

removably attaching a cap to the fastener, the cap having a cap head and sides configured to surround the fastener head;

bringing a set of electrical contacts in the cap into engagement with the sensor and the fastener, whereby sensor data is transmissible from the sensor to the cap;

sensing at least one temperature varying parameter on the fastener related to the stress on the fastener when the fastener mechanically joins at least two separate structural members together;

sensing the temperature of the fastener;

generating a data packet in the cap containing the sensed temperature varying parameter and the sensed temperature;

wirelessly transmitting the data packet from the cap to a reader;

receiving the data packet at the reader; and

adjusting the temperature varying parameter at the reader using the sensed temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the temperature is performed using the sensor in the recess area of the fastener.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting the sensed temperature varying parameter is performed at the fastener in response the adjusting of the parameter at the reader.