Bolt sensor assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9778118-B2
Application number	US-201415036624-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 17, 2014
Priority date	Nov 18, 2013
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

A bolt sensor assembly provides a body adapted for insertion into a hole in a component, the body having a first end and a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The first end includes an attachment means for attachment of the bolt sensor assembly to the component, and the second end mounts a sensor element, such as a strain gauge element. The sensor element is movable with respect to the body in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body and the sensor element is constrained against rotation about the longitudinal axis with respect to the body.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bolt sensor assembly comprising:
a body configured to be inserted into a hole in a component, the body having a first end and a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween, wherein
the first end includes an attachment means for attachment of the bolt sensor assembly to the component, wherein
a sensor element is mounted to the second end and wherein the sensor element is movable with respect to the body in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the body and wherein the sensor element is constrained against rotation about the longitudinal axis with respect to the body,
wherein at least a part of the body comprises the second end, the hole, and cooperating elements that prevent relative rotation therebetween, and
wherein sensor element is biased to project from the second end of the body.

2. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the body is rotatable about the longitudinal axis to engage and disengage the body from the hole.

3. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 2 , wherein the body includes a threaded portion for engagement with a correspondingly threaded portion of the hole.

4. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor element is a temperature sensor.

5. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the attachment means comprises a collar that is slidably mounted on the body.

6. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the attachment means is mounted on the body for relative rotation therebetween.

7. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 5 , further comprising a biasing element located between the body and the attachment means, the biasing element configured to urge the body and the attachment means in opposite directions along the longitudinal axis.

8. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein sensor element is provided within a sensor assembly that is mounted at the second end of the body, the assembly comprising a base including an opening in which the sensor element is slidably mounted, a reaction member and a biasing means disposed between the sensor element and the reaction member.

9. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 8 , wherein the sensor assembly further includes a mount to which the sensor element is attached, and wherein the biasing means is disposed between the mount and the reaction member.

10. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor element is movable between a first position and a second position, in the first position the sensor element is positioned behind the second end of the body and in the second position at least a part of the sensor element is disposed at the second end of the body, the bolt sensor assembly further comprising an actuator adapted to move the sensor element between the first and second positions.

11. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the body includes a bore and the actuator acts on the sensor element through the bore.

12. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the sensor element is mounted on a shaft, and the actuator engages the shaft.

13. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 10 , further comprising biasing means arranged to exert a force on the sensor element biasing it into the second position.

14. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the end of the body in which the sensor element is mounted is configured such that the friction strain sensor element is constrained against rotation with respect to the body about the longitudinal axis.

15. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 10 , wherein the second end of the body comprises a removable cap attachable to the remainder of the body, the sensor element mounted in the cap.

16. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor element-is an acoustic emission sensor.

17. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor element is a vibration sensor.

18. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor element is a strain gauge sensor.

19. The bolt sensor assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor element is a friction strain gauge sensor.

Assignees

• Skf Ab

Inventors

• Campbell Andrew

Classifications

• F16C19/522

  related to load on the bearing, e.g. bearings with load sensors or means to protect the bearing against overload · CPC title

• F16C2360/31

  Wind motors · CPC title

• G01L1/22 Primary

  using resistance strain gauges · CPC title

• G01N25/00

  Investigating or analyzing materials by the use of thermal means (G01N3/00 - G01N23/00 take precedence) · CPC title

• G01L5/0061

  Force sensors associated with industrial machines or actuators (for the specific machine or actuator involved see relevant class, e.g. F01, F04, F16, B66, E21) · CPC title