US 2015/0028893 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOOSE NUT DETECTION

Abstract

One illustrative embodiment includes an apparatus for detecting if a fastener moves from a first position to a different second position. The apparatus includes a first connector for connecting a first side of a contact bridge to the fastener for movement in response to movement of the fastener, and a second connector for connecting a second side of the contact bridge to an object to remain stationary relative to the object. One of the first and second sides of the contact bridge includes first and second spaced apart electrical conductors; the other side includes a third electrical conductor. The third electrical conductor is positionable to contact the first and second electrical conductors when the fastener is in the first position, and the third electrical conductor may be spaced apart from at least one of the first and second electrical conductors when the fastener is in the second position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

Apparatus for detecting rotation of a fastener relative to an object;

the apparatus comprising:
a first part having an aperture configured to receive and non-rotationally engage a part of the fastener that is rotatable relative to the object;
a second part between the first part and the object, the second part comprising a base configured to non-rotationally engage the object;
an electrical current path extending between first and second electrical conductors on the second part wherein the electrical current path extends from the second part into the first part, through the first part and back into the second part wherein rotation of the first part relative to the second part results in a varying electrical characteristic of the current path, the variable electrical characteristic having distinct values for each of multiple different relative angular positions of the first and second parts.

1 more element

Apparatus for detecting movement of a fastener away from a first position relative to an object, the apparatus comprising:

a contact bridge having first and second sides wherein one of the first and second sides of the contact bridge includes first and second spaced-apart electrically-conductive bodies and the other one of the first and second sides of the contact bridge includes a third electrically-conductive body dimensioned to bridge between the first and second electrically-conductive bodies;
a first connector operative to couple the first side of the contact bridge to move together with the fastener if the fastener moves relative to the object;
a second connector operative to connect the second side of the contact bridge to remain stationary relative to the object;
wherein, when the first connector couples the first side to the fastener in the first position and the second connector couples the second side to the object, the third electrically-conductive body is positionable to bridge between the first and second electrically-conductive bodies and motion of the fastener relative to the object causes change in a value of an electrical characteristic of a current path extending through the first, second and third electrically-conductive bodies.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for loose nut detection

Life of this patent

System and method for loose nut detection

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20