Monitoring attachment for monitoring a nut of a screw connection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12517002-B2
Application number	US-202118245436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 24, 2021
Priority date	Sep 24, 2020
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

The invention relates to a monitoring attachment for monitoring a nut ( 9 ) of a screw connection for cracking, deformation and/or breakage, wherein the monitoring attachment has a conductor loop which is guided around an outer periphery of the nut ( 9 ) and which is interrupted in the event of deformation, cracking and/or breakage of the nut ( 9 ). The monitoring attachment is characterised by at least two segments ( 1, 1′, 1″, 1 ′″) which together enclose the periphery of the nut ( 9 ) and are held together frictionally at at least one radial connection point, wherein the conductor loop is guided over contacts at the connection point.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A monitoring attachment for monitoring a nut of a screw connection, comprising a conductor loop including at least two segments which together enclose a periphery of the nut and are held together by friction at at least one radial connection point, said conductor loop being guided around a periphery of the nut and over contacts at said at least one connection point and which is interrupted in the event of at least one of deformation, cracking and breakage of the nut.

2 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 1 , wherein two semicircular segments join to form a ring enclosing the nut and two connection points.

3 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 2 , and further comprising a plug-in connection at said at least one connection point, said plug-in connection including a plug section on one of said segments and a receiving section on another of said segments.

4 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 3 , in which both connection points comprise plug-in connections.

5 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 3 , wherein one of said connection points is a plug-in connection and another connection point comprises a hinge.

6 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 3 , wherein said plug section includes a cylindrical shaft and said receiving section includes a receptacle configured to receive said shaft to define said plug-in connection.

7 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 6 , wherein said cylindrical shaft contains a groove and further comprising a sealing ring inserted into said groove.

8 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 6 , wherein said plug-in connection includes an electrical contact arranged in one segment and an electrical mating contact arranged in another segment which define contacts of said at least one connection point.

9 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 8 , wherein said electrical contact has a deflecting contact tip with which it contacts a contact surface of said mating contact.

10 . The monitoring attachment according to one of claim 1 , and further comprising a snap-lock connection to retain said at least one connection point in a closed state.

11 . The monitoring attachment according to one of claim 1 and further comprising at least one magnet to retain said at least one connection point in a closed state.

12 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 11 , wherein said at least one magnet comprises a contact of said conductor loop.

13 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 1 , and further comprising a circuit board from which conductors terminate in said contacts of said at least one connection point, said conductor sections and said contacts forming said conductor loop.

14 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 13 , wherein said circuit board includes one of a power cable and a power plug connected to said conductor loop.

15 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 14 , wherein said circuit board further includes an illumination device connected in parallel to said conductor loop.

16 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 13 , wherein said segments include a housing which is open to one side and a casting compound is arranged in said housing.

17 . The monitoring attachment according to claim 16 , wherein said circuit board and said conductor sections are embedded in said casting compound.

18 . The monitoring attachment according to one of claim 1 , and further comprising a connecting cable for connection with a further monitoring attachment.

Assignees

• Weidmueller Interface Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Böcker Marc
• Niggemann Steffen
• Schumacher Ralf
• Busch Gerald
• Heggemann Christian

Classifications

• F16B39/10

  by a plate, {spring, wire} or ring immovable with regard to the bolt or object {and mainly perpendicular to the axis of the bolt}(F16B39/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01L5/243

  using washers · CPC title

• F16B2200/93

  Fastener comprising feature for establishing a good electrical connection, e.g. electrostatic discharge or insulation feature · CPC title

• F05B2260/301

  Retaining bolts or nuts · CPC title

• G01M5/0083

  by measuring variation of impedance, e.g. resistance, capacitance, induction · CPC title