Sensor unit and method for monitoring the state of fasteners
OwnerTore Eideinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Sensor unit (30) for monitoring the state of fasteners, such as ratchet straps, chains, wires, ropes, bars or similar, which are being used for fastening and/or securing and/or anchoring one or more objects (20), which fasteners preferably includes fastening means (14, 104) and means (15, 100) for tensioning of the fasteners. The sensor unit (30) includes one or more measuring elements (32) for measuring tension force and/or tension and/or pressure and/or bending moment and/or shear force for the fastener and/or fastening means (14, 104) of the fastener and/or anchoring devices (22) for fasteners for monitoring the state of the fasteners.
Claims38
A sensor unit for remotely monitoring the state of fasteners which are being used for fastening, securing, and anchoring one or more objects, which fasteners include a fastening means for tensioning the fasteners, which fastening means, means for tensioning the fasteners, connection links and anchoring devices are provided with bolts, said sensor unit comprising:
- at least one deformable sleeve, to which deformable sleeve at least one measuring element is arranged, wherein said deformable sleeve has a mainly circular shape in default state, wherein the deformable sleeve is arranged for surrounding the bolt or for arrangement in a loop formed at the end of flexible fasteners surrounding the bolt, such that the sleeve is not responsible for transmission of forces in the fasteners, which deformable sleeve is arranged for being asymmetrically deformed by a combination of axial and radial forces acting between the bolt and fasteners or between parts of the fasteners forming the loop or eye at the end of the fasteners and thereby measuring tensioning force straight after tensioning or static tension or pressure acting axially on the fasteners at a given point in time without affecting the fasteners.
A sensor unit for remotely monitoring the state of fasteners which are being used for fastening, securing, and anchoring one or more objects, wherein the fasteners comprise fastening means, means for tensioning the fasteners, and connection links or anchoring devices, wherein the fastening means, means for tensioning the fasteners, connection links and anchoring devices are provided with a bolt, said sensor unit comprising:
- at least one elastic element, to which elastic element at least one measuring element is arranged or that the elastic element in itself constitutes an elastic measuring element, wherein the elastic element or elastic element provided with measuring elements are integrated in or arranged to the fasteners, the fastening means, connection links or anchoring devices, wherein the elastic element itself or elastic element provided with measuring elements is arranged for being affected by tension in the fastener to provide a value for the tensioning force straight after tensioning or static tension or pressure acting axially on the fasteners at a given point in time without affecting the fasteners.
A method for monitoring the state of fasteners which are being used for fastening, securing, or anchoring one or more objects, wherein the fasteners include a fastening means, means for tensioning of the fasteners, and possibly connection links or anchoring devices, wherein the fastening means, means for tensioning the fasteners, connection links and anchoring devices are provided with a bolt, wherein the method is executed by means of a sensor unit including at least one measuring element,
- wherein the method includes measuring tension force straight after tensioning or static tension or pressure acting axially on the fasteners at a given point in time without affecting the fasteners by means of one or more of:
- a sensor unit including at least one deformable sleeve element, to which deformable sleeve one or more measuring elements are arranged, wherein the deformable sleeve has a mainly circular shape in default state, wherein the deformable sleeve is arranged for surrounding the bolt or for arrangement in a loop formed at the end of flexible fasteners surrounding the bolt, such that the sleeve is not responsible for transmission of forces in the fasteners, wherein the asymmetric deformation of the deformable sleeve a combination of axial and radial forces acting between the bolt and fasteners or between parts of the fasteners forming the loop or eye at the end of the fasteners is measured to provide a value for tension force straight after tensioning or static tension or pressure acting axially on the fasteners at a given point in time,
- a sensor unit including at least one elastic element, to which elastic element one or more measuring elements are arranged or that the elastic element constitutes an elastic measuring element, wherein the elastic element or elastic element provided with measuring elements are integrated in or arranged to the fasteners, fastening means, connection links or anchoring devices where the elastic element or elastic element provided with measuring elements will when affected by tension in the fastener measure the tension in the fastener, and thus provide a value for the forces acting on the fastener.
In combination, a sensor unit and a load securing fastener, comprising:
- a fastener for fastening, securing, and anchoring one or more objects, wherein said fastener comprises a bolt;
- wherein the sensor unit remotely monitors the state of the fastener;
- said sensor unit comprising:
- at least one deformable sleeve, to which deformable sleeve at least one measuring element is arranged, which deformable sleeve has a mainly circular shape in default state, wherein the deformable sleeve is arranged for surrounding the bolt or for arrangement in a loop formed at the end of flexible fasteners surrounding the bolt, such that the sleeve is not responsible for transmission of forces in the fasteners, which deformable sleeve is arranged for being asymmetrically deformed by a combination of axial and radial forces acting between the bolt and fasteners or between parts of the fasteners forming the loop or eye at the end of the fasteners and thereby measuring tensioning force straight after tensioning or static tension or pressure acting axially on the fasteners at a given point in time without affecting the fasteners.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.