External tie-rod load indicator
AssigneeValley Forge & Bolt Mfg. Co.
InventorRonald C. Clarke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load indicator apparatus which is compact, portable and detachably mounted on the tie-rod. The load indicator apparatus includes a first reference fixture configured for attachment at a first position on the tie-rod, a second fixture configured for attachment at a second position on the tie-rod and an elongation gauge extending between the first reference fixture and the second fixture and configured to measure displacement of the second fixture relative to the first reference fixture during elongation of the tie-rod. A displacement transducer is connected to the second fixture to measure a capacitance value proportional to the loading acting on the tie-rod and transfers it to a load monitoring unit which translates the measured capacitance into a visual load reading and an electronic load output value.
Claims19
A tie-rod load indicator comprising:
- a first reference fixture configured for attachment at a first position on a tie-rod;
- a second fixture configured for attachment at a second position on the tie-rod;
- and an elongation gauge extending between the first reference fixture and the second fixture and configured to measure displacement of the second fixture relative to the first reference fixture during elongation of the tie-rod.
A method for measuring loading of a tie-rod comprising:
- affixing a first reference fixture at a first position on the tie-rod;
- affixing a second fixture at a second position on the tie-rod;
- calibrating an elongation gauge extending between the first reference fixture and the second fixture;
- and using the elongation gauge to measure displacement of the second fixture relative to the first reference fixture as a measure of loading of the tie-rod.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.