Load indcating fastener insert
OwnerRonald C. Clarkeinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining fastener axial loading includes a fastener insert having an arched bottom surface, which deflects correlative to the level of axial loading. A load indicating mechanism determines axial loading by measuring the amount of deflection experienced by the arched insert. In addition, the arched insert stores elastic energy which is added to the overall elastic energy of the fastener, thereby aiding the fastener integrity during use. The system comprises a zeroing mechanism and full-scale adjustment mechanism for calibration of the system, and an apparatus for measuring in-service load.
Claims24
A load indicating system for use in fasteners experiencing loading, comprising:
- a fastener insert including an arched surface for deflecting when said insert is loaded, said deflecting relative to said loading;
- and
- a load indicator mechanism system affixed to said insert, said load indicator mechanism system for translating said deflecting into a visually discernable quantity representing the amount of loading experienced by said load indicating system.
A load indicating system for use with fasteners experiencing axial loading, comprising:
- a fastener insert for including in a fastener joint, said fastener insert comprising:
- an upper insert surface;
- a front insert surface
- a rear insert surface;
- and
- a bottom insert surface substantially parallel to said upper insert surface, said bottom insert surface including an arc, said arc formed from said front insert surface to said rear insert surface, said arc positioned to provide for insert deflection during loading.
A method for measuring insert loading comprising:
- providing a fastener insert with at least one surface including an arc, the arched surface configured to store elastic energy during loading of the insert,
- providing a load indicator mechanism system affixed to the insert, the load indicator mechanism system configured to provide visual indication of the real-time level of loading of the insert.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.