Structural bolt security apparatus

• US 7,278,341 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2006
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Selective SITE Accessories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Selective Site Consultants, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Thomas, Novin, Hossein A., Owens, Michael L., Super, Terrance, Louk, J. Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas; David B.
• Application Number:
  US11/390,024
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 811/211, 411/427, 411/428, 411/371.2, 411/910, 737/61
• US Class Current: 81/121.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/065 characterised by the cross-section of the socket
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/485 for theft-proof screws, bolts or nuts
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 37/14 Cap nuts; Nut caps or bolt caps
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 41/005 Measures against unauthorised operation of bolts, nuts or pins F16B23/0007, F16B23/0061, F16B23/0069, F16B23/0076 and F16B31/02 take precedence; locks, keys E05B; for valves, taps or cocks F16K35/00; for pipe-joints with swivel-nuts F16L19/005
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 411/91 Antitamper means

Abstract

A structural bolt security apparatus includes a security nut forming a threaded central hole for a bolt; the security nut has a groove in an upper surface and/or a side surface. At least one groove is at least partially separated from the threaded central hole by the upper surface. In one embodiment, a security nut has a plurality of electrical contacts, logic electronics configured for monitoring electrical resistance across the electrical contacts, and a transmitter for broadcasting security data generated by the logic electronics. In one embodiment, a structural bolt security apparatus includes a security nut and an outer sleeve. Structural bolt security systems described herein include a security nut, a security socket, and a security wrench. The systems may be equipped with RFID chips for recognition of matched security nuts and security sockets, and/or with GPS transceivers for broadcasting security wrench position information.

Claims

1. A structural bolt security system, comprising:

a security nut forming a threaded central hole for a bolt, the nut defining a groove that intersects at least one of an upper surface and a side surface of the nut, the nut having an RFID chip;

a security socket having an RFID chip and a protrusion for engaging the security nut groove; and

a security wrench for turning the security socket, the security wrench comprising an RFID transceiver and logic electronics configured to disable the security wrench except in the presence of at least one of the RFID chips.

2. The system of claim 1, the security wrench being disabled except in the presence of both the security nut RFID chip and the security socket RFID chip.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a protective cap for the security nut to keep contamination out of the groove.

4. The system of claim 3, the protective cap forming threads to engage at least one of the bolt and the security nut.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a protective material applied conformally to the security nut.

6. The system of claim 1, the security wrench comprising a GPS transceiver for broadcasting security wrench position information.

7. A structural bolt security apparatus, comprising a security nut having a plurality of electrical contacts and forming a threaded central hole for a bolt, the security nut having logic electronics configured for monitoring electrical resistance across the electrical contacts, the security nut having a transmitter for broadcasting security data generated by the logic electronics.

8. The structural bolt security apparatus of claim 7, wherein at least one of the electrical contacts is at an upper surface of a thread of the nut.

9. The structural bolt security apparatus of claim 7, further comprising relay electronics separate from the security nut for receiving the security data and for transmitting the security data to other relay electronics.

10. A structural bolt security system, comprising:

a security nut forming a threaded central hole for engaging a bolt, the security nut forming a groove that intersects at least one of an upper surface and a side surface of the nut; and

a security wrench, comprising;

a security socket having a protrusion for engaging the security nut groove, and

a GPS transceiver for broadcasting security wrench position information.

11. The structural bolt security system of claim 10, wherein the security nut includes:

a plurality of electrical contacts;

logic electronics configured for monitoring electrical resistance across the electrical contacts of the nut and generating security data; and

a transmitter for broadcasting the security data generated by the logic electronics.

12. The structural bolt security system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the electrical contacts is formed in an upper surface of a thread of the nut.

13. The structural bolt security system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the electrical contacts is formed in a lower surface of a thread of the nut.

14. The structural bolt security system of claim 10 further comprising relay electronics for receiving the security data and for transmitting the security data to other relay electronics.

15. A structural bolt security apparatus, comprising:

a security nut defining a threaded central through hole for engaging a bolt, the security nut forming a groove that intersects an upper surface of the nut, the groove being separated from the through hole and a side surface of the nut, the security nut having a bottom surface that defines a recess; and

an outer sleeve that has a height greater than or about equal to a height of the security nut, the outer sleeve having a flange, the flange having a height less than a height of the recess, the flange being disposed in the recess so that the outer sleeve rotates freely about the security nut.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a security socket having a protrusion to engage the security nut groove.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the security nut and the outer sleeve form opposing grooves; and

at least one ball bearing is disposed inside the opposing grooves.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the security nut and the outer sleeve includes a low friction surface finish.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least one of the security nut and the outer sleeve includes a low friction coating.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising lubricant disposed between the security nut and the outer sleeve.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a protective cap for the security nut to keep contamination out of grooves.

17. A structural bolt security apparatus, comprising:

a security nut defining a threaded central hole for engaging a bolt, the security nut forming a groove that intersects an upper surface of the nut, the security nut having a bottom surface that defines a recess; and

an outer sleeve that has a height greater than or about equal to a height of the security nut, the outer sleeve having a flange, the flange having a height less than a height of the recess, the flange being disposed in the recess so that the outer sleeve rotates freely about the security nut;

wherein the security nut forms external threads and the outer sleeve forms internal threads, such that the external and internal threads engage in a standoff position and disengage in a working position.

23. A structural bolt security apparatus, comprising:

a security nut defining a threaded central hole for engaging a bolt, the security nut forming a groove that intersects an upper surface of the nut, the security nut having a bottom surface that defines a recess;

an outer sleeve that has a height greater than or about equal to a height of the security nut, the outer sleeve having a flange, the flange having a height less than a height of the recess, the flange being disposed in the recess so that the outer sleeve rotates freely about the security nut; and

a protective cap for the security nut to keep contamination out of grooves;

wherein the protective cap defines threads for engaging at least one of the bolt, the security nut, and the outer sleeve.

24. A structural bolt security apparatus, comprising:

a security nut defining a threaded central hole for engaging a bolt, the security nut forming a groove that intersects an upper surface of the nut, the security nut having a bottom surface that defines a recess;

an outer sleeve that has a height greater than or about equal to a height of the security nut the outer sleeve having a flange, the flange having a height less than a height of the recess, the flange being disposed in the recess so that the outer sleeve rotates freely about the security nut; and

a protective material applied conformally to the security nut.

25. A structural bolt security apparatus, comprising:

a security nut defining a threaded central hole for engaging a bolt, the security nut forming a groove that intersects an upper surface of the nut, the security nut having a bottom surface that defines a recess; and

an outer sleeve that has a height greater than or about equal to a height of the security nut, the outer sleeve having a flange, the flange having a height less than a height of the recess, the flange being disposed in the recess so that the outer sleeve rotates freely about the security nut; and

a security socket having a protrusion to engage the security nut groove;

wherein the security nut has an RFID chip;

wherein the security socket has an RFID chip; and

wherein the apparatus further comprises a security wrench for turning the security socket, the security wrench comprising an RFID transceiver and logic electronics configured to disable the security wrench except in the presence of at least one of the RFID chips.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the security wrench is disabled except in the presence of both the security nut RFID chip and the security socket RFID chip.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the security wrench includes a GPS transceiver for broadcasting security wrench position information.

28. A structural bolt security apparatus, comprising:

a security nut defining a threaded central hole for engaging a bolt, the security nut forming a groove that intersects an upper surface of the nut, the security nut having a bottom surface that defines a recess; and

an outer sleeve that has a height greater than or about equal to a height of the security nut, the outer sleeve having a flange, the flange having a height less than a height of the recess, the flange being disposed in the recess so that the outer sleeve rotates freely about the security nut;

wherein the security nut has a plurality of electrical contacts;

wherein the security nut has logic electronics configured for monitoring electrical resistance across the electrical contacts; and

wherein the security nut has a transmitter for broadcasting security data generated by the logic electronics.