Remote strain measurement

• US 20070204699A1
• Filed: 03/02/2006
• Published: 09/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Forman, Douglas, Theurer, Charles, Young, Craig, Derose, Lynn, Cimini, Michael, Carpenter, Ronald, Lapierre, Lee, Salvo, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/367,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20070204699A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/761
• 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

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a sensor assembly may measure in a mechanical device and communicate an indication of the measured to a remote device via a wireless link.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a mechanical component; and

a sensor assembly attached to the mechanical component, wherein the sensor assembly comprises;

a measuring device; and

a wireless communication system coupled to the measuring device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the measuring device comprises a strain measuring device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mechanical component comprises one or more of the following a mechanical coupling, a structural part, a thermal part, or an electromechanical part, or combinations thereof.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the mechanical coupling comprises one or more of a nut, a bolt, a screw, or a rivet, or a combination thereof.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a RFID tag coupled to the measuring device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly is capable of receiving at least a portion of power from a wireless monitor assembly positioned remotely from the sensor assembly.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises:

a processor coupled to the measuring device and coupled to the wireless communication system, wherein the processor is capable of polling the measuring device;

a power storage coupled to the wireless communication system and coupled to the processor, wherein the power storage is capable of receiving power from the wireless communication system and capable of delivering power to the processor; and

an antenna coupled to the wireless communication system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises:

a processor coupled to the measuring device and coupled to the wireless communication system, wherein the processor is capable of polling the measuring device in response to a signal from the wireless communication system;

a power source coupled to the processor, wherein the power source is capable of delivering power to the processor; and

an antenna coupled to the wireless communication system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises:

a power extraction device coupled to the measuring device, wherein the power extraction device is capable of extracting power from strain on the mechanical component and capable of delivering power to the measuring device;

a memory coupled to the measuring device and coupled to the wireless communication system, wherein the memory is capable of storing data delivered from the measuring device;

a power storage coupled to the wireless communication system, coupled to the power extraction device, and coupled to the memory, wherein the power storage is capable of receiving power from the wireless communication system and from the power extraction device and capable of delivering power to the memory; and

an antenna coupled to the wireless communication system.

10. A method, comprising:

measuring strain from a sensor assembly attached to a mechanical component; and

communicating the measured strain via a wireless link.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising communicating the measured strain via a wireless link to a remote receiver.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said measuring strain from the sensor assembly comprises polling a measuring device for the measured strain.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said measuring strain from the sensor assembly comprises receiving the measured strain from a measuring device upon a change of condition determined by measuring device.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising receiving at least a portion of power from a wireless monitor assembly positioned remotely from the sensor assembly.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing at least a portion of the received power from the wireless monitor assembly.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising extracting at least a portion of power from strain on the mechanical component and delivering said portion of power to the sensor assembly.

17. A system, comprising:

a mechanical component;

a sensor assembly attached to the mechanical component, wherein the sensor assembly comprises;

a measuring device, and

a wireless communication system coupled to the measuring device; and

a monitor assembly capable of communication with the sensor assembly via a wireless link.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the measuring device comprises a strain measuring device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the mechanical component comprises one or more of the following a mechanical coupling, a structural part, a thermal part, or an electromechanical part, or combinations thereof.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the mechanical coupling comprises one or more of a nut, a bolt, a screw, or a rivet, or a combination thereof.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a RFID tag coupled to the measuring device.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor assembly is capable of receiving at least a portion of power from the wireless monitor assembly positioned remotely from the sensor assembly.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein the wireless monitor assembly comprises a wireless reader coupled to an antenna.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises:

a processor coupled to the measuring device and coupled to the wireless communication system, wherein the processor is capable of polling the measuring device;

a power storage coupled to the wireless communication system, coupled to the power extraction device, and coupled to the processor, wherein the power storage is capable of receiving power from the wireless communication system and from the power extraction device and capable of delivering power to the processor; and

an antenna coupled to the wireless communication system.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises:

a processor coupled to the measuring device and coupled to the wireless communication system, wherein the processor is capable of polling the measuring device in response to a signal from the wireless communication system;

a power source coupled to the processor, wherein the power source is capable of delivering power to the processor; and

an antenna coupled to the wireless communication system.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein the sensor assembly further comprises:

a power extraction device coupled to the measuring device, wherein the power extraction device is capable of extracting power from on the mechanical component and capable of delivering power to the measuring device;

a memory coupled to the measuring device and coupled to the wireless communication system, wherein the memory is capable of storing data delivered from the measuring device;

a power storage coupled to the wireless communication system and coupled to the memory, wherein the power storage is capable of receiving power from the wireless communication system and capable of delivering power to the memory; and

an antenna coupled to the wireless communication system.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

a measuring device capable of sensing one or more stimuli; and

a RFID tag coupled to the measuring device, wherein the RFID tag is capable of communicating the sensed stimuli via a wireless link.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a power extraction device coupled to the measuring device, wherein the power extraction device is capable of extracting power from external and capable of delivering power to the measuring device.