Color displaying fatigue sensor
OwnerWilliam R. Scottinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for determining fatigue in a structural part. The fatigue sensor comprises, for example, a thin silver zinc film affixed to a structural member that is to be monitored for fatigue damage. Upon sufficient flexing or other cold working, the silver zinc film undergoes a color change, pink to silver, to thereby indicate that the structural member has reached predetermined fatigue levels.
Claims5
A fatigue analysis process for determining the amount of fatigue experienced by a structural member subject to cyclic loading comprising:
- affixing a continuous metal alloy film to a portion of a surface of said specimen, said film being selected from the group consisting of Ag.sub.50 Zn.sub.50, CuAu, Cu.sub.3 Au, Ag.sub.54 Zn.sub.46 and Ag.sub.50 Cd.sub.50, and having the property of undergoing a detectable color change upon experiencing sufficient cyclic stress;
- and
- observing said film to ascertain the extent of said color change.
A fatigue analysis process for determining the amount of fatigue experienced by a structural member subject to cyclic loading comprising:
- affixing a continuous metal alloy film to a portion of a surface of said specimen, said film being selected from the group consisting of Ag.sub.54 Zn.sub.46, Ag.sub.50 Zn.sub.50 and Ag.sub.50 Cd.sub.50, and having the property of undergoing a detectable color change upon experiencing sufficient cyclic stress;
- and
- observing said film to ascertain the extent of said color change.
A fatigue analysis process for determining the amount of fatigue experienced by a structural member subject to cyclic loading comprising:
- affixing a continuous metal alloy film to a portion of a surface of said specimen, said film being selected from the group consisting of CuAu and Cu.sub.3 Au, and having the property of undergoing a detectable color change upon experiencing sufficient cyclic stress;
- and
- observing said film to ascertain the extent of said color change.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.