Axial-force measurement method, tightening determination method, axial-force measurement apparatus, and tightening determination apparatus for bolt

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11480484-B2
Application number	US-201916240833-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2019
Priority date	Feb 22, 2018
Publication date	Oct 25, 2022
Grant date	Oct 25, 2022

Abstract

A method for measuring an axial-force of a bolt fastened to a component to be fastened, includes temporarily fastening the bolt to the component to be fastened with a temporarily-tightening torque, the temporarily-tightening torque being a torque which is determined in advance and by which a depression is formed on a head of the bolt, measuring a first axial force of the temporarily-fastened bolt, regularly fastening the bolt to the component to be fastened with a regularly-tightening torque, the regularly-tightening torque being torque which is determined in advance and larger than the temporarily-tightening torque, measuring a second axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt, and measuring an estimated axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt by using the torque with which the bolt is temporarily fastened, the torque with which the bolt is regularly fastened, and a difference between the first and second axial forces.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for measuring an axial-force of a bolt fastened to a component to be fastened, comprising:
temporarily fastening the bolt to the component to be fastened with a temporarily-tightening torque, the temporarily-tightening torque being a torque which is determined in advance and by which a depression is formed on a head of the bolt;
measuring a first axial force of the temporarily-fastened bolt;
regularly fastening the bolt to the component to be fastened with a regularly-tightening torque, the regularly-tightening torque being torque which is determined in advance and larger than the temporarily-tightening torque;
measuring a second axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt; and
measuring an estimated axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt by using the torque with which the bolt is temporarily fastened, the torque with which the bolt is regularly fastened, and a difference between the first and second axial forces, wherein
the measuring of the first axial force comprises:
acquiring a first image representing a height distribution on the head of the temporarily-fastened bolt;
measuring a first depression amount on the head of the temporarily-fastened bolt by using the first image; and
measuring the first axial force by using the first depression amount and a predetermined correlation between axial forces of the bolt and depression amounts on the head of the bolt,
the measuring of the second axial force comprises:
acquiring a second image representing a height distribution on the head of the regularly-fastened bolt;
measuring a second depression amount on the head of the regularly-fastened bolt by using the second image; and
measuring the second axial force by using the second depression amount and the predetermined correlation between axial forces of the bolt and depression amounts on the head of the bolt, and
the estimated axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt is derived from Expression (1):
F=f 2 ×t 2/( t 2 −t 1)  (Expression 1)

where F denotes an estimated axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt, f 2 denotes a difference between the first and second axial forces, t 1 denotes a torque with which the bolt is temporarily fastened, and t 2 denotes a torque with which the bolt is regularly fastened.

2. A tightening determination apparatus for a bolt fastened to a component to be fastened, comprising:
a fastening unit configured to fasten the bolt to the component to be fastened;
a measurement unit configured to measure an axial force of the bolt; and
a determination unit configured to determine whether or not the bolt is properly fastened to the component to be fastened, wherein
the measurement unit is further configured to:
measure a first axial force of the bolt temporarily fastened to the component to be fastened with a temporarily-tightening torque, the temporarily-tightening torque being a torque which is determined in advance and by which a depression is formed on a head of the bolt, by acquiring a first image representing a height distribution on the head of the temporarily-fastened bolt, measuring a first depression amount on the head of the temporarily-fastened bolt by using the first image, and using the first depression amount and a predetermined correlation between axial forces of the bolt and depression amounts on the head of the bolt;
measure a second axial force of the bolt regularly-fastened to the component to be fastened with a regularly-tightening torque, the regularly-tightening torque being torque which is determined in advance and larger than the temporarily-tightening torque, by acquiring a second image representing a height distribution on the head of the regularly-fastened bolt, measuring a second depression amount on the head of the regularly-fastened bolt by using the second image, and using the second depression amount and a predetermined correlation between axial forces of the bolt and depression amounts on the head of the bolt; and
measure an estimated axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt by using the torque with which the bolt is temporarily fastened, the torque with which the bolt is regularly fastened, and a difference between the first and second axial forces as shown in Expression 1:
F=f 2 ×t 2/( t 2 −t 1)  (Expression 1)

where F denotes an estimated axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt, f 2 denotes a difference between the first and second axial forces, t 1 denotes a torque with which the bolt is temporarily fastened, and t 2 denotes a torque with which the bolt is regularly fastened, and
the determination unit is further configured to determine whether or not an estimated axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt is equal to or larger than a predetermined target axial force, and determine that the regularly-fastened bolt is properly fastened to the component to be fastened when the estimated axial force of the bolt is equal to or larger than the predetermined target axial force.

3. The method for measuring the axial force of the bolt according to claim 1 , wherein
the bolt is a bolt including a solid shaft, and
each of the first and second depression amounts is a value that is obtained by subtracting an average value of a height distribution in a circular area centered on a center of gravity of the head of the bolt from an average value of a height distribution in a fringe part on the head of the bolt.

4. The method for measuring the axial force of the bolt according to claim 1 , wherein
the bolt is a bolt including a hollow shaft, and
each of the first and second depression amounts is a value that is obtained by subtracting an average value of a height distribution in an annular area on the head of the bolt from an average value of a height distribution in a circular area on the head of the bolt, the circular area being centered on a center of gravity of the head of the bolt, the annular area surrounding the circular area and being located on an extended line of the shaft.

5. A method for determining tightening of a bolt fastened to a component to be fastened, comprising:
temporarily fastening the bolt to the component to be fastened with a temporarily-tightening torque, the temporarily-tightening torque being a torque which is determined in advance and by which a depression is formed on a head of the bolt;
measuring a first axial force of the temporarily-fastened bolt;
regularly fastening the bolt to the component to be fastened with a regularly-tightening torque, the regularly-tightening torque being torque which is determined in advance and larger than the temporarily-tightening torque;
measuring a second axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt;
measuring an estimated axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt by using the torque with which the bolt is temporarily fastened, the torque with which the bolt is regularly fastened, and a difference between the first and second axial forces; and
determining that the regularly-fastened bolt is properly fastened to the component to be fastened when the estimated axial force of the regularly-fastened bolt is equal to or larger than a predetermined target axial force, wherein
the measuring of the first axial force comprises:
acquiring a first image representing a height distribution on the head of the temporarily-fastened bolt;
measuring a first depression amount on the head of the temporarily-fastened bolt by using the first image; and
measuring the first axial force by using the first depression amount and a predetermined correlation between axial forces of the bolt and depression amounts on the head of the bolt,
the measuring of the second axial force comprises:
acquiring a second image representing a height distribution on the head of the regularly-fastened bolt;
measuring a second depression amount on the head

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Sakakibara Masahito
• Hirano Yuichi

Classifications

• G06T7/66

  of image moments or centre of gravity · CPC title

• G01L5/24 Primary

  for determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member which is similarly stressed · CPC title

• G01L5/0042 Primary

  applying a torque · CPC title

• B25J13/085

  Force or torque sensors (B25J13/082, B25J13/084 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01H35/006

  Switches operated by mechanical overload condition, e.g. transmitted force or torque becoming too high · CPC title