Wireless fastener grip gauge

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10330453-B2
Application number	US-201715472784-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 29, 2017
Priority date	Mar 29, 2017
Publication date	Jun 25, 2019
Grant date	Jun 25, 2019

Abstract

An apparatus comprises a pin, a stop, a spring, one or more flanges, a measurement device, and a transmitter. The pin comprises a first end configured for insertion in an aperture in a component. The stop is slidably engaged with the pin and configured to contact a first surface of the component as the pin is inserted into the aperture in the component. The spring couples the stop to the housing. The one or more flanges are located proximate to the first end of the pin. The one or more flanges are configured to contact a second surface of the component. The measurement device is coupled to the pin. The transmitter is communicatively coupled to the measurement device.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a pin comprising a first end configured for insertion in an aperture in a component;
a housing affixed proximate to a second end of the pin;
a stop slidably engaged with the pin and configured to contact a first surface of the component as the pin is inserted into the aperture in the component;
a spring coupling the stop to the housing, the spring configured to compress when the stop contacts the first surface of the component as the pin is inserted in the aperture in the component;
one or more flanges located proximate to the first end of the pin, the one or more flanges configured to transition between a first retracted state during insertion of the pin and a second extended state when the first end of the pin passes through the aperture in the component, the one or more flanges configured to contact a second surface of the component when in the second extended state;
a linear displacement metrology device coupled to the pin such that an axis of the linear displacement metrology device is substantially aligned with an axis of the pin;
a transmitter communicatively coupled to the linear displacement metrology device, the transmitter located in the housing and configured to communicate to a receiver a value indicating a grip length of a fastener for use in the aperture in the component; and
a button for causing the one or more flanges to transition between a first retracted state and a second extended state in response to a user pressing the button and further for causing the one or more flanges to transition between the second extended state and a third retracted state that is the same as the first retracted state in response to the user pressing the button again.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the linear displacement metrology device transformer comprises:
a cylinder;
a rod having a first end coupled to the stop and a second end coupled to the cylinder, wherein the rod is slidably engaged with the cylinder; and
circuitry configured to measure a distance that the rod has moved responsive to insertion of the pin into the aperture, the distance that the rod has moved corresponding to the grip length of the fastener for use in the aperture in the component.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the one or more flanges are affixed to the exterior of the pin using one or more hinges.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more flanges are located inside the pin when in the first retracted state;
the one or more flanges are configured to extend perpendicular to the axis of the pin such that they can contact the second surface of the component when in the second extended state; and
the apparatus comprises a mechanism for causing the one or more flanges to transition between the first retracted state and the second extended state.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , and further comprising a timer configured to determine when the transmitter is to communicate to the receiver the grip length of the aperture in the component.

6. An apparatus, comprising:
a pin comprising a first end configured for insertion in an aperture in a component;
a stop slidably engaged with the pin and configured to contact a first surface of the component as the pin is inserted into the aperture in the component;
a spring coupled to the stop;
one or more flanges located proximate to the first end of the pin, the one or more flanges configured to contact a second surface of the component;
a measurement device coupled to the pin;
a transmitter communicatively coupled to the measurement device and configured to communicate to a receiver a value indicating a grip length of the aperture in the component; and
a timer configured to determine when the transmitter is to communicate to the receiver the grip length of the aperture in the component.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the spring is configured to compress when the stop contacts the first surface of the component during placement of the pin in the aperture in the component.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the one or more flanges are configured to transition between a first retracted state during insertion of the pin and a second extended state when the first end of the pin passes through the aperture in the component.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein:
the one or more flanges are located inside the pin when in the first retracted state;
the one or more flanges are configured to extend from the pin such that they contact the second surface of the component when in the second extended state; and
the grip gauge comprises a mechanism for causing the one or more flanges to transition between the first retracted state and the second extended state.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the transmitter is located in a housing affixed proximate to a second end of the pin.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the measurement device comprises:
a linear differential transformer, comprising:
a cylinder;
a rod having a first end coupled to the stop and a second end coupled to the cylinder, wherein the rod is slidably engaged with the cylinder; and
circuitry configured to measure a distance that the rod has moved responsive to insertion of the pin into the aperture, the distance that the rod has moved corresponding to a grip length of a fastener for use in the aperture in the component.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the timer is configured to determine that the transmitter is to communicate the grip length when the value is consistent for a certain amount of time.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the timer is configured to determine that the transmitter is to communicate the grip length after a certain amount of time.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 , and further comprising a mechanism for causing the one or more flanges to transition between a first retracted state and a second extended state in response to input from a user and further for causing the one or more flanges to transition between the second extended state and a third retracted state that is the same as the first retracted state in response to an additional input from a user.

15. A method, comprising:
inserting a first end of a pin of a grip gauge into an aperture in a component;
determining a grip length for a fastener to be used in the aperture in the component, the grip length determined based on a measurement performed using a measurement device coupled to the pin of the grip gauge;
wherein the grip gauge comprises:
a pin having a first end configured for insertion in the aperture in the component;
a stop slidably engaged with the pin and configured to contact a first surface of the component as the pin is inserted into the aperture in the component;
a spring coupling the stop to the housing;
one or more flanges located proximate to the first end of the pin, the one or more flanges configured to contact a second surface of the component;
a transmitter communicative coupled to the linear displacement metrology device and configured to transmit the value indicating the determined grip length to the receiver; and
a mechanism for causing the one or more flanges to transition between a first retracted state and a second extended state in response to input from a user and further for causing the one or more flanges to transition between the second extended state and a third retracted state that is the same as the first retracted state in response to an additional input from a user; and

transmitting a value indicating the determined grip length to a receiver.

16. The method of claim

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Rup Tyler Martin
• Chovanec Philip Michael

Classifications

• G01B3/28 Primary

  Depth gauges · CPC title

• G01B5/18

  for measuring depth · CPC title

• G01B5/06 Primary

  for measuring thickness · CPC title

• G01B3/22

  Feeler-pin gauges, e.g. dial gauges (for measuring contours or curvatures G01B5/20) · CPC title

• G01B3/002

  Details · CPC title