Machines and methods for evaluating prevailing torque threaded fasteners
US9557235B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 2015 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01L25/003
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Machines and methods capable of evaluating torque-tension and prevailing torque performance of prevailing-torque threaded fasteners. Such a machine may include one or more of the following features: a coordinated drive unit for achieving relative linear and rotational movement of a nut and bolt of a nut-bolt assembly; a sensor unit with multiple reaction torque sensors in series, wherein a lower-range torque sensor is protected from being overstressed while torque is transferred therethrough to a higher-range torque sensor; an optical temperature measurement unit oriented to detect a temperature at a thread interface of a nut and bolt through an opening in a device adapted to rotate the nut; and a bolt recess measurement unit that determines a bolt-through condition of a nut-bolt assembly by detecting a bolt recess of the nut-bolt assembly that has been assembled such that a prevailing torque feature thereof has been encountered.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.