Abrégé

Low cost transducer bonding tooling and techniques are provided which can be used to duplicate the quality of factory manufactured load indicating members, and to allow transducers to be attached to fasteners irrespective of their orientation. The bonding tooling and techniques can also be used to bond other small objects requiring precise placement and reliable bonding such as, for example, the bonding of identification labels to manufactured components or structures.

Classes IPC  ?

• G01L 5/24 - Appareils ou procédés pour la mesure des forces, du travail, de la puissance mécanique ou du couple, spécialement adaptés à des fins spécifiques pour déterminer la valeur du couple ou du moment de torsion pour le serrage d'un écrou ou d'un autre organe soumis à une contrainte analogue
• F16B 11/00 - Assemblage d'éléments structuraux ou parties de machines par collage ou en les pressant l'un contre l'autre, p. ex. soudage sous pression à froid
• F16B 31/02 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture signalant ou limitant la charge de traction

Abrégé

Low cost transducer bonding tooling and techniques are provided which can be used to duplicate the quality of factory manufactured load indicating members, and to allow transducers to be attached to fasteners irrespective of their orientation. The bonding tooling and techniques can also be used to bond other small objects requiring precise placement and reliable bonding such as, for example, the bonding of identification labels to manufactured components or structures.

Classes IPC  ?

• F16B 31/02 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture signalant ou limitant la charge de traction
• G01L 5/24 - Appareils ou procédés pour la mesure des forces, du travail, de la puissance mécanique ou du couple, spécialement adaptés à des fins spécifiques pour déterminer la valeur du couple ou du moment de torsion pour le serrage d'un écrou ou d'un autre organe soumis à une contrainte analogue
• G01N 29/24 - Sondes

Produits et services

Metallic fasteners incorporating ultrasonic transducers for measuring load in the fasteners Ultrasonic load measurement instrumentation for measuring load in metallic fasteners, and ultrasonic transducers incorporated in metallic fasteners for measuring load in the fasteners

Abrégé

Complex assembly procedures for joining components with plural fasteners are accomplished using predefined procedures for performing a multi-step assembly of a joint using a dynamically controllable assembly tool, or to inspect an assembled joint. An assembly tool is coupled with an electronically controlled regulator for reducing the tightening rate, or the load increase per impact for an impact or impulse tool, so the tool can be stopped precisely at a specified stopping load or torque. The predefined procedures for performing the desired tightening operation are established in a controller coupled with the electronically controlled regulator, for dynamically controlling the assembly tool. The system can be used to assemble joints involving multiple fasteners and which are subject to elastic interaction between the fasteners, rocking, or joint relaxation, and in assembly or inspection operations in which an operator is to be guided through a particular sequence of instructions.

Classes IPC  ?

• B25F 5/00 - Détails ou parties constitutives d'outils portatifs à moteur sans relation spécifique avec les opérations exécutées et non prévus ailleurs
• B25B 21/00 - Outils portatifs à moteur pour serrer ou desserrer les vis ou les écrousAccessoires pour appareils à percer ayant les mêmes buts
• B25B 21/02 - Outils portatifs à moteur pour serrer ou desserrer les vis ou les écrousAccessoires pour appareils à percer ayant les mêmes buts avec des moyens pour communiquer un choc à la tige du tournevis ou à la douille de la clé à écrou
• B25B 23/00 - Parties constitutives ou accessoires des clés à écrous, clés anglaises, tournevis
• B25B 23/14 - Agencement pour limiter le couple de blocage ou pour indiquer le couple des clés ou des tournevis
• B25B 23/142 - Agencement pour limiter le couple de blocage ou pour indiquer le couple des clés ou des tournevis spécialement adapté aux clés ou tournevis à main
• B25B 23/145 - Agencement pour limiter le couple de blocage ou pour indiquer le couple des clés ou des tournevis spécialement adapté aux clés ou tournevis fonctionnant avec un fluide

Abrégé

Complex assembly procedures for joining components with plural fasteners are accomplished using predefined procedures for performing a multi-step assembly of a joint using a dynamically controllable assembly tool, or to inspect an assembled joint. An assembly tool is coupled with an electronically controlled regulator for reducing the tightening rate, or the load increase per impact for an impact or impulse tool, so the tool can be stopped precisely at a specified stopping load or torque. The predefined procedures for performing the desired tightening operation are established in a controller coupled with the electronically controlled regulator, for dynamically controlling the assembly tool. The system can be used to assemble joints involving multiple fasteners and which are subject to elastic interaction between the fasteners, rocking, or joint relaxation, and in assembly or inspection operations in which an operator is to be guided through a particular sequence of instructions.

Classes IPC  ?

• B25B 21/00 - Outils portatifs à moteur pour serrer ou desserrer les vis ou les écrousAccessoires pour appareils à percer ayant les mêmes buts
• G01L 5/24 - Appareils ou procédés pour la mesure des forces, du travail, de la puissance mécanique ou du couple, spécialement adaptés à des fins spécifiques pour déterminer la valeur du couple ou du moment de torsion pour le serrage d'un écrou ou d'un autre organe soumis à une contrainte analogue
• F16B 31/00 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture
• F16B 31/02 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture signalant ou limitant la charge de traction

Abrégé

Pneumatic tightening tools can be used for high speed assembly of critical bolts to precise loads by dynamically controlling the output power of the pneumatic tool during a tightening cycle using an electronically controlled air pressure regulator to reduce the tightening rate, or the load increase per impact for impact or impulse tools, to enable the tool to be stopped precisely at a specified stopping load or torque. For prevailing torque fasteners, the output power of the pneumatic tool is dynamically controlled to minimize the speed of rotation during rundown, to minimize the heating effects associated with such torque fasteners, and to then increase the power from the tool, as required, to provide the torque to reach the specified stopping load or torque. The maximum air pressure supplied to the pneumatic tool can be limited, depending on the expected torque required to tighten the fastener to the specified load or torque.

Classes IPC  ?

• F16B 31/02 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture signalant ou limitant la charge de traction

Abrégé

A load indicating member is provided with an identifying element which can be accessed and used to determine ultrasonic measurement parameters specific to the load indicating member to provide more precise and more reliable load measurements by compensating for differences resulting from manufacturing variations in individual load indicating members. The parameters specific to the load indicating member can be stored in coding applied to the load indicating member or in a database that can be accessed remotely, for example, using the Internet.

Classes IPC  ?

• F16B 31/02 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture signalant ou limitant la charge de traction

Abrégé

An ultrasonic load measurement transducer is mated with a thread-forming fastener to provide a load indicating thread-forming fastener that can be used for the precise and reliable assembly of critical bolted joints, such as those in the automobile and aerospace industries, among others. Steps can then be taken to accurately measure and control the load in the thread-forming fastener during tightening, and to inspect the load in the thread-forming fastener after assembly. A similar result can be achieved for a thread-locking fastener by mating an ultrasonic transducer with the thread-locking fastener assembly.

Classes IPC  ?

• F16B 31/02 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture signalant ou limitant la charge de traction

Abrégé

A system is provided for both reading an optical identification mark, such as a bar code, on a fastener and for making ultrasonic load measurements in the fastener using a single probe for use during fastener installation with assembly tools and for the inspection of load in preinstalled fasteners. The probe includes both a fiber optic imaging cable and at least one electrical conductor. The fiber optic imaging cable is optically coupled to an imaging device such as a bar code reader allowing the bar code reader to be located remote from the fastener. The electrical conductor provides an electrical connection from the ultrasonic transducer on the fastener to load measurement instrumentation. The probe is further capable of providing illumination of the bar code to facilitate reading of the bar code.

Classes IPC  ?

• B31B 1/00 - Mécanismes pour la fabrication de boîtes, de cartons, d'enveloppes ou de sacs, caractérisés par les opérations spécifiques effectuées

Abrégé

Pneumatic tightening tools can be used for high speed assembly of critical bolts to precise loads by dynamically controlling the output power of the pneumatic tool during a tightening cycle using an electronically controlled air pressure regulator (5) to reduce the tightening rate, or the load increase per impact for impact or impulse tools, to enable the tool to be stopped precisely at a specified stopping load or torque. For prevailing torque fasteners, the output power of the pneumatic tool is dynamically controlled to minimize the speed of rotation during rundown, to minimize the heating effects associated with such torque fasteners, and to then increase the power from the tool, as required, to provide the torque to reach the specified stopping load or torque. The maximum air pressure supplied to the pneumatic tool (3) can be limited, depending on the expected torque required to tighten the fastener to the specified load or torque.

Classes IPC  ?

• H01R 3/00 - Connexions conductrices de l'électricité non prévues ailleurs
• B23Q 17/00 - Agencements sur les machines-outils pour indiquer ou mesurer

Abrégé

A load indicating member is provided with an identifying element which can be accessed and used to determine ultrasonic measurement parameters specific to the load indicating member to provide more precise and more reliable load measurements by compensating for differences resulting from manufacturing variations in individual load indicating members. The parameters specific to the load indicating member can be stored in coding applied to the load indicating member or in a database that can be accessed remotely, for example, using the Internet.

Classes IPC  ?

• F16B 31/02 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture signalant ou limitant la charge de traction

Abrégé

An ultrasonic load measurement transducer (14) is mated with a thread-forming fastener (12) to provide a load indicating thread-forming fastener that can be used for the precise and reliable assembly of critical bolted joints, such as those in the automobile and aerospace industries, among others. Steps can then be taken to accurately measure and control the load in the thread-forming fastener during tightening, and to inspect the load in the thread-forming fastener after assembly. A similar result can be achieved for a thread-locking fastener by mating an ultrasonic transducer with the thread-locking fastener assembly.

Classes IPC  ?

• F16B 31/02 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture signalant ou limitant la charge de traction

Abrégé

An ultrasonic load measurement transducer is mated with a thread-forming fastener to provide a load indicating thread-forming fastener that can be used for the precise and reliable assembly of critical bolted joints, such as those in the automobile and aerospace industries, among others. Steps can then be taken to accurately measure and control the load in the thread-forming fastener during tightening, and to inspect the load in the thread-forming fastener after assembly. A similar result can be achieved for a thread-locking fastener by mating an ultrasonic transducer with the thread-locking fastener assembly.

Classes IPC  ?

• F16B 31/02 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture signalant ou limitant la charge de traction

Abrégé

A load indicating member is provided with an identifying element which can be accessed and used to determine ultrasonic measurement parameters specific to the load indicating member to provide more precise and more reliable load measurements by compensating for differences resulting from manufacturing variations in individual load indicating members. The parameters specific to the load indicating member can be stored in coding applied to the load indicating member or in a database that can be accessed remotely, for example, using the Internet.

Classes IPC  ?

• F16B 31/02 - Assemblages à vis spécialement modifiés en vue de résister à une charge de tractionBoulons de rupture signalant ou limitant la charge de traction

Produits et services

Metallic fasteners incorporating ultrasonic transducers for measuring load in the fasteners Ultrasonic load measurement instrumentation for measuring load in metallic fasteners, and ultrasonic transducers incorporated in metallic fasteners for measuring load in the fasteners

Produits et services

Ultrasonic load measurement instrumentation for measuring load in metallic fasteners incorporating ultrasonic transducers