Threaded member capable of detecting tension

• US 9,046,433 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2014
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabo Tool Company
• Original Assignee: Kabo Tool Company
• Inventors: Hsieh, Chih-Ching
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, JAMEL E
• Application Number:
  US14/161,307
• Publication Number:
  US 20140260652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 737/61
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2031/022 using an ultrasonic transducer
• 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: G01L 5/24 for determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member which is similarly stressed

Abstract

A threaded member capable of detecting tension includes a sensor component. A receiving space is formed in the threaded member. The sensor component has a flexible member and a sensor. The sensor is disposed on the flexible member. The sensor component is disposed in the receiving space of the threaded member and preset in a compressed/flexed state in an axial/longitudinal direction of the threaded member. When an article is tightened with the threaded member, the threaded member is tensioned to change the flexion of the flexible member. At this time, the sensor can detect and find the tension of the threaded member to achieve the tightening force applied to the threaded member.

Claims

1. A threaded member capable of detecting tension, comprising:

a sensor component installed in the threaded member, wherein;

the threaded member having an axial/longitudinal direction, a thread being formed on the threaded member in the axial/longitudinal direction of the threaded member; and

a receiving space being formed in the threaded member and extending below a top of the thread;

the sensor component having a flexible member and a sensor, the flexible member being a flexible body, the sensor being disposed on the flexible member for detecting the flexion thereof, the sensor component being located in the receiving space of the threaded member, positioned in a flexed state, and positioned in the axial/longitudinal direction of the threaded member.

2. The threaded member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor component has two ends, in the axial/longitudinal direction of the threaded member, the two ends of the sensor component respectively abutting against wall faces of two ends of the receiving space, whereby the flexible member is in a flexed state.

3. The threaded member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the receiving space is inward recessed from one end of the threaded member in the axial/longitudinal direction of the threaded member, the receiving space having a closed end and an open end;

a cap body being disposed in the threaded member to block the open end of the receiving space;

two ends of the sensor component respectively abutting against the closed end of the receiving space and the cap body.

4. The threaded member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sensor component further includes two contact members;

two ends of the flexible member being respectively fixedly connected with the two contact members, the two contact members of the sensor component respectively abutting against the wall faces of two ends of the receiving space.

5. The threaded member as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sensor component further includes two contact members;

two ends of the flexible member being respectively fixedly connected with the two contact members, the two contact members of the sensor component respectively abutting against the wall faces of two ends of the receiving space.

6. The threaded member as claimed in claim 2, wherein two ends of the flexible member respectively abut against the wall faces of two ends of the receiving space.

7. The threaded member as claimed in claim 3, wherein two ends of the flexible member respectively abut against the wall faces of two ends of the receiving space.

8. The threaded member as claimed in claim 3, wherein a recess is formed on one end of the threaded member and the cap body is disposed in the recess.

9. The threaded member as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cap body is formed with a wire hole for at least one wire to pass through, one end of the wire being connected with the sensor, while the other end of the wire being conducted out of the threaded member through the wire hole of the cap body.

10. The threaded member as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cap body is formed with a wire hole for at least one wire to pass through, one end of the wire being connected with the sensor, while the other end of the wire being conducted out of the threaded member through the wire hole of the cap body.

11. The threaded member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the threaded member is a bolt having a head section and a threaded rod section disposed under a bottom face of the head section, the thread being formed on a circumference of the threaded rod section, the receiving space being an elongated space, the receiving space having a longitudinal direction positioned in the axial/longitudinal direction of the threaded member.

12. The threaded member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the threaded member is a bolt having a head section and a threaded rod section disposed under a bottom face of the head section, the thread being formed on a circumference of the threaded rod section, the receiving space being an elongated space, the receiving space having a longitudinal direction positioned in the axial/longitudinal direction of the threaded member.

13. The threaded member as claimed in claim 3, wherein the threaded member is a bolt having a head section and a threaded rod section disposed under a bottom face of the head section, the thread being formed on a circumference of the threaded rod section, the receiving space being an elongated space, the receiving space having a longitudinal direction positioned in the axial/longitudinal direction of the threaded member.

14. The threaded member as claimed in claim 1, wherein the threaded member is a bolt having a head section and a threaded rod section disposed under a bottom face of the head section, the thread being formed on a circumference of the threaded rod section, the receiving space being inward recessed from a top face of the head section and extending to the threaded rod section;

a cap body being disposed in the head section of the threaded member to block the top end of the receiving space as a top wall of the receiving space;

the sensor serving to wiredly or wirelessly transmit data.

15. The threaded member as claimed in claim 2, wherein the threaded member is a bolt having a head section and a threaded rod section disposed under a bottom face of the head section, the thread being formed on a circumference of the threaded rod section, the receiving space being inward recessed from a top face of the head section and extending to the threaded rod section, a cap body being disposed in the head section of the threaded member to block the top end of the receiving space as a top wall of the receiving space, the sensor serving to wiredly or wirelessly transmit data.

16. The threaded member as claimed in claim 3, wherein the threaded member is a bolt having a head section and a threaded rod section disposed under a bottom face of the head section, the thread being formed on a circumference of the threaded rod section, the receiving space being inward recessed from a top face of the head section and extending to the threaded rod section, a cap body being disposed in the head section of the threaded member to block the top end of the receiving space as a top wall of the receiving space, the sensor serving to wiredly or wirelessly transmit data.

17. The threaded member as claimed in claim 14, wherein the sensor component further includes an upper contact member and a lower contact member;

a top end and a bottom end of the flexible member being respectively connected with the upper and lower contact members;

the upper contact member abutting against the cap body;

the lower contact member abutting against a bottom wall of the receiving space.

18. The threaded member as claimed in claim 15, wherein the sensor component further includes an upper contact member and a lower contact member;

a top end and a bottom end of the flexible member being respectively connected with the upper and lower contact members;

the upper contact member abutting against the cap body;

the lower contact member abutting against a bottom wall of the receiving space.

19. The threaded member as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sensor component further includes an upper contact member and a lower contact member;

a top end and a bottom end of the flexible member being respectively connected with the upper and lower contact members;

the upper contact member abutting against the cap body;

the lower contact member abutting against a bottom wall of the receiving space.