Fastening system and monitoring system

Abstract

The utility model discloses a fastening system (1, 2, 3) and a monitoring system thereof. The fastening system comprises screws (11, 21, 31); a nut (12, 22, 32); and a monitoring system (13, 23, 33), said monitoring system (13, 23, 33) comprising image acquisition means (131, 231, 331) and image processing means (132, 231, 332), said image acquisition means (131, 231, 331) being able to acquire said surface images at different points in time; and the image processing devices (132, 231, 332) can judge whether the screw rods (11, 21, 31) and the nuts (12, 22, 32) have relative displacement or not by comparing the surface images acquired by the image acquisition devices at different time points.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of building technology, and in particular to a fastening system and a monitoring system. Background Technology

[0002] In construction engineering, anchoring structures are widely used to connect objects. However, during use, vibration and other factors can cause these anchoring structures to loosen, leading to safety risks. Therefore, it is essential to promptly detect and eliminate loosening and / or failure of anchoring structures.

[0003] In existing technologies, regular on-site inspections by personnel are generally required to identify potential safety hazards. For example, maintenance personnel determine if a nut is loose by checking for displacement relative to its initial position mark; or, they use a torque wrench to observe the loss of torque to determine if the connection is loose. Both of these methods rely entirely on visual inspection, inevitably resulting in a large amount of repetitive and intensive work, and are prone to omissions and errors. Therefore, the efficiency and reliability of this manual inspection are relatively low.

[0004] Currently, some technical solutions involve installing sensors on the anchoring structure and then identifying the nut by acquiring images. However, when the nut displacement is small or the loosening is exactly one turn, accurate identification is still difficult. Therefore, missed detections and false detections are possible. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the above, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a fastening system, especially a fastening system including a monitoring system, which can automatically and intelligently monitor the connection status of the screw and nut in the fastening system. Compared with the traditional manual inspection method, it can greatly improve the monitoring efficiency and accuracy, thereby improving the reliability of the fastening system and avoiding the occurrence of safety accidents as much as possible.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a fastening system comprising: a screw; a nut; and a monitoring system. The monitoring system is equipped with an image acquisition device and an image processing device. The image acquisition device is connected to the screw to acquire surface images of the nut, or the image acquisition device is connected to the nut to acquire surface images of the screw. Here, "or" means that, preferably, the fastening system is equipped with only one image acquisition device. However, this utility model does not exclude technical solutions with multiple image acquisition devices; for example, the fastening system may include two image acquisition devices, one connected to the nut and the other connected to the screw. The image acquisition device is adapted to capture surface images of the screw and / or the nut at different time points, and particularly further transmits the acquired surface images to the image processing device. The image processing device can determine whether the screw and the nut have undergone relative displacement by comparing the surface images acquired by the image acquisition device at different time points. In particular, the image acquisition device can be configured to periodically acquire the surface images at a constant time frequency. Preferably, the time frequency is 12 hours or 24 hours. In other words, the monitoring system checks the connection status between the bolt and the nut once or twice a day.

[0007] Based on this, the fastening system provided in this embodiment can detect the relative displacement between the nut and the screw, thereby monitoring whether the connection between the screw and the nut has become loose. Its structure is simple and requires no additional modifications to existing nuts and screws; that is, the monitoring system can be added without altering the existing nut or screw structure and construction.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the image acquisition device includes an optical sensor, particularly an element with a digital output interface. The optical sensor senses changes by converting received light signals into electrical signals and determining the characteristics of the monitored object based on changes in the intensity, wavelength, and / or polarization of the light signals, thereby relying on the interaction between light and the monitored object.

[0009] The optical sensor characterizes the surface features of the monitored object as optical signals, which are then converted into electrical signals and processed by the image processing device to determine whether the nut has shifted relative to the bolt. In this way, the monitoring system achieves a non-contact detection mechanism that does not interfere with the existing structure and performance of the nut and bolt. Furthermore, the optical sensor offers advantages such as high speed, high precision, low power consumption, and low cost.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment, the optical sensor includes a light source and a camera, both being specific electronic components with digital input and output interfaces. The light source and the camera are oriented towards the surface of the screw or nut to be imaged. Here, "oriented" means that the light source is positioned in a specific direction so that its emitted light illuminates the surface to be imaged, while the camera is positioned in a specific direction so that it can capture the necessary characteristic portions of the surface. The surface to be imaged includes the threaded surface of the screw, the end face of the screw, and the end face of the nut. Therefore, the surface image is captured from the surface to be imaged. In particular, the surface to be imaged does not include additional features such as markings or surface treatments that differ from other surface portions surrounding the screw or nut.

[0011] With the camera and the light source, the lighting conditions for image acquisition are largely unaffected by ambient light, thus avoiding interference caused by changes in ambient lighting conditions. In particular, with the light source in place, the surface being captured can be completely blocked, isolating ambient light and further preventing any environmental interference.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the light source of the optical sensor is configured as a laser source. The laser source can be connected to a switch for turning it on and off. When the laser source is turned on, the laser light emitted from it reaches the surface being sampled, and is then reflected and received by the camera. The characteristics of the surface being sampled differ at different locations, therefore the intensity of the reflected light received by the camera also varies. Preferably, the surface image captured by the camera includes a laser speckle image, which characterizes the light intensity at different locations on the surface being sampled.

[0013] The laser light source emits light with better directionality and intensity, thus further resisting interference from ambient light. Furthermore, the sampled surface is defined as a set of light intensities using the laser speckle image. Any change in the sampled surface, even a very small one, will be reflected in the laser speckle image. Based on these changes, the image processing device can make accurate judgments.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the surface image acquired by the image acquisition device contains only metallic surface texture features. In other words, the acquired surface is defined by a set of metallic surface texture features, specifically features such as colored coatings or non-metallic printed markings on the acquired surface can be removed. Once one or more metallic surface textures change, the image processing device can determine that a relative displacement has occurred between the nut and the screw. The metallic texture features of the acquired surface of the nut or the screw are highly stable, thus avoiding the influence of changes in surface coatings and printed markings, or dust, rainwater, and foreign matter on the acquired surface features through the aforementioned method, thereby improving the reliability and accuracy of the monitoring system.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the image acquisition device is connected to the screw or the nut via an adapter. The adapter is shaped to match the screw or the nut. The monitoring system can be fixedly or detachably connected to the adapter by chemical means such as glue or mechanical means such as a slot. Preferably, the adapter is made of an elastic material, such as plastic.

[0016] By connecting the monitoring system to the nut or screw using the adapter, a monitoring system of the same size can be adapted to screws and nuts of different sizes. The simple structure of the adapter allows a monitoring system of the same size to accommodate different types and sizes of screws and nuts. Preferably, the adapter includes a first part and a second part, which are adapted to be connected or disconnected via one or more snap-fit ​​structures.

[0017] The adapter and the monitoring system attached to it can be detachably connected to the screw or nut via the snap-fit ​​structure. Therefore, the monitoring system, composed of electronic components, and the bolt and nut, made of metal, are independent structures. This facilitates independent production and transportation of both; furthermore, the electronic components in the monitoring system, compared to the metal components like the screw and nut, are more susceptible to damage, thus the adapter design aids in repair and replacement should the monitoring system fail or malfunction.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the image processing device is configured as a built-in processing device or a remote processor. "Built-in processing device" preferably refers to the image processing device being configured as a built-in chip, forming an integrated monitoring system. In other words, the monitoring system is a single, unified structure. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the image processing device may also be configured as a remote processor, such as a cloud computing processor.

[0019] The monitoring system is compact and easy to install thanks to the built-in chip.

[0020] The remote processor allows multiple monitoring systems to share the same processor. In application scenarios where multiple fastening systems are installed, the remote processor can be shared by multiple fixed systems to process surface images transmitted from multiple image acquisition devices of different fastening systems.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the image processing device can further calculate the specific value of the relative displacement between the screw and the nut based on the image acquisition device. The image processing device can calculate the displacement value between the screw and the nut by comparing surface images acquired at different time points with an initial surface image.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the monitoring system further includes a communication device adapted to transmit the surface image from the image acquisition device to the image processing device. The communication device can be configured to transmit image signals and data via wireless transmission methods such as Bluetooth, LoRa, or 4G.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the monitoring system further includes an indicator. When the relative displacement between the screw and the nut reaches a preset threshold, or when more than a preset number of nut and screw connections become loose in the case of multiple fastening systems, the indicator sends a signal to alert the user. The indicator may be configured with a visual indicator and / or an audio indicator to alert the user through visual signals such as flashing lights and / or auditory signals such as beeps.

[0024] By using an indicator, it will draw the operator's attention when the nuts and bolts become loose, causing potential safety problems, so that the safety hazard can be eliminated in a timely manner.

[0025] This invention also provides a monitoring system, which is a stand-alone component adapted to be connected to a screw and / or nut for monitoring the relative displacement between the screw and the nut. The monitoring system can be configured as described in any of the foregoing embodiments. Attached Figure Description

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fastening system provided in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of a monitoring system for a fastening system provided in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 3 This is a structural schematic diagram of a fastening system in the adapter connection state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fastening system in the unconnected state according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 5 This is a top view of a fastening system provided in an embodiment of the present invention in the state where the adapter is not connected;

[0031] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a fastening system mentioned in another embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 7 This is a structural schematic diagram of a fastening system provided in another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0033] The technical solution of this utility model will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some, not all, of the embodiments of this utility model. Based on the embodiments of this utility model, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this utility model.

[0034] It should be noted that the terms "horizontal" and "vertical" in this utility model are used to describe approximate positional relationships, and not strictly "horizontal plane" or "vertical plane".

[0035] Figure 1 A fastening system 1 is shown, comprising a screw 11 and a nut 12 for fixing an object A to a mounting surface (not shown). The fastening system 1 provided in this embodiment is further equipped with a monitoring system 13, adapted to monitor whether the connection between the screw 11 and the nut 12 has become loose or failed.

[0036] Furthermore, the monitoring system 13 includes an image acquisition device 131 and an image processing device 132, wherein the image acquisition device 131 is adapted to acquire surface images of the screw 11 or the nut 12, and transmit the information of the acquired surface images to the image processing device 132 through a communication device 14; the image processing device 132 is adapted to determine whether the nut 12 and the screw 11 have undergone relative displacement by comparing the surface images of the screw 11 or the nut 12 acquired at different time points.

[0037] Furthermore, the image acquisition device 131 can be configured as an optical sensor. Optical sensors rely on the interaction between light and matter to sense changes in the environment, converting received light signals into electrical signals, and determining the properties of the detected object based on changes in light intensity, wavelength, and / or polarization. This is a non-contact measurement method with advantages such as high speed, high precision, low energy consumption, and low cost. Currently, in the field of fastening system technology, there is no technical solution using optical sensors to monitor the displacement of connectors.

[0038] Furthermore, in combination Figure 2 The optical sensor 131a can be configured to consist of a light source 1311 and a camera 1312. The light source 1311 can be a laser light source or an LED light source. The surface feature image acquired by the camera 1312 can be a laser speckle image. Preferably, the surface image can include only the metal surface texture feature image, that is, by comparing changes in a single feature, to avoid interference from different features on the judgment results of the image processing device 132, further improving the accuracy of the monitoring system 13.

[0039] Furthermore, in Figure 1 In the illustrated embodiment, the monitoring system 13 is connected to the nut 12 via an adapter 15. When the nut 12, together with the adapter 15, is mounted on the screw 11, the camera 1312 of the image acquisition device 131 faces the external thread surface of the screw 11 to capture surface images of the external thread surface of the screw 11 at different time points. Thus, the image processing device 132 determines whether there has been relative displacement between the screw 11 and the nut 12 by comparing the changes in the surface images of the external thread surface of the screw 11 at different time points.

[0040] Combination Figures 3 to 5 In the illustrated embodiment, the adapter 15 can be configured to include a first component 151 and a second component 152, which are detachably connected via a snap-fit ​​structure 153. This allows the monitoring system 13 to be detachably connected to the nut 12; furthermore, by changing the shape and size of the adapter 15 to match different nuts 12, the monitoring system 13 can be adapted to nuts 12 of different shapes and sizes, thereby improving the adaptability of the monitoring system 13.

[0041] In addition, the clamp structure ensures that the adapter 15, together with the monitoring system 13 connected to it, can be securely installed on the nut 12 without loosening under long-term vibration. Preferably, the adapter 15 can be made of an elastic material. When the adapter 15 is snapped onto the nut 12, a certain preload can be formed.

[0042] In some embodiments, the monitoring system 13 may be embedded in the adapter 15.

[0043] In some embodiments, the monitoring system 13 may be directly connected to the nut 12 without an adapter. The connection method may be a mechanical connection or a chemical connection.

[0044] In some embodiments, the monitoring system 13 may be configured to include one or more of the optical sensors 131. When the monitoring system 13 includes multiple optical sensors 131, the image processing device 132 can further improve the accuracy of the judgment results by cross-validating the surface images of the screw 11 acquired by different optical sensors 131 at different locations, and avoid the processing and judgment results of the image processing device 132 being affected by dirt, foreign objects, corrosion, etc. on the surface of the screw 11.

[0045] Furthermore, in Figure 1 In the embodiment shown, the monitoring system 13 further includes a storage device 133, which is adapted to store surface images acquired by the image acquisition device 131 at different time points, thereby enabling dynamic tracking of the connection status between the screw 11 and the nut 12.

[0046] For example, when the fastening system 1 is initially installed, rotating the nut 12 causes the adapter 15 and the optical sensor 131 mounted on the nut 12 to rotate one revolution, thereby scanning and acquiring an initial surface image of the screw 11's external thread surface around 360°, and transmitting it to the storage device 133 via the communication module. Furthermore, the optical sensor 131 can be configured to acquire an image of the screw 11's external thread surface at regular intervals, or, when needed, activate the optical sensor 131 to acquire a surface image of the screw 11 at a specific point in time. The image processing device 132 then compares these images to determine whether there is relative displacement between the screw 11 and the nut 12. Simultaneously, when relative displacement occurs between the screw 11 and the nut 12, the image processing device 132 can further compare the acquired surface image with the initial surface image of the screw 11's external thread surface around 360° stored in the storage device 133 to determine the precise angular value of the relative displacement between the screw 11 and the nut 12.

[0047] It is worth noting that, Figure 1 The image processing device 132, storage device 133, and communication device 14 shown are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent actual physical structures or locations. In some embodiments, the image processing device 132 may be configured as a built-in processing device, preferably a built-in chip, meaning the chip with signal processing capabilities may be formed on the same substrate as the image acquisition device 131. In some embodiments, the image processing device 132 may also be configured as a remote processor, meaning the processor and the image acquisition device 131 are not located on the same entity; for example, the processor may be located at a remote operating terminal or in the cloud.

[0048] In some embodiments, the communication device 14 can be configured to transmit image signals and data via wireless transmission methods such as Bluetooth, LoRa, and 4G.

[0049] In summary, during the use of the fastening system 1 provided in the aforementioned embodiments, the optical sensor 131 can be activated at fixed intervals or as needed to acquire surface images of the screw 11. The image processing device 132 then compares the surface images acquired during activation with the stored original surface images of the screw 11. This allows for the determination of whether the screw 11 and the nut 12 have undergone relative displacement. Furthermore, if displacement is determined to have occurred, the specific value of the relative displacement between the screw 11 and the nut 12 can be further calculated.

[0050] In some embodiments, when the displacement value exceeds a preset threshold, the image processing device 132 can also communicate with an indicator device (not shown in the figures) through a communication module. The indicator device further issues a prompt signal, such as a visual signal and / or a sound signal, to attract the user's attention and thereby promptly eliminate potential safety hazards caused by loose or failed connections.

[0051] In some embodiments, the monitoring system may also be configured with other sensors, such as temperature sensors and attitude sensors, to assist in monitoring the connection status between the screw and the nut.

[0052] Figure 6 A fastening system 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown, which includes a screw 21, a nut 22, and a monitoring system 23. The monitoring system 23 is connected to the nut 22 via an adapter cover 25 to be adapted to acquire surface images of the end face of the screw 21.

[0053] In this second embodiment, apart from the adapter settings and the installation location of the monitoring system 23, the aforementioned Figure 1 The illustrated embodiment differs from the one described above; other structures and configurations may differ from those described above. Figures 1 to 5 The embodiments shown are consistent. To avoid ambiguity, in this second embodiment, when the monitoring system 23 rotates one full circle (360°) with the adapter cover 25, the surface image scanned and collected is the initial image of one circumference of the end face of the screw 21.

[0054] Figure 7 A fastening system 3 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown, comprising a screw 31, a nut 32, and a monitoring system 33. The monitoring system 33 is mounted on the screw 31 via an adapter cover 35 to facilitate the acquisition of surface images of the end face of the nut 32. To avoid ambiguity, in this third embodiment, when the monitoring system 33 rotates 360° with the adapter cover 35, the surface image acquired is an initial image of one circumference of the end face of the nut 32.

[0055] Similarly, in this third embodiment, except for the adapter settings and the installation location of the monitoring system 33, the above-mentioned Figure 1 The illustrated embodiment differs from the one described above; other structures and configurations may differ from those described above. Figures 1 to 5 The embodiments shown are consistent.

[0056] This utility model embodiment also provides a monitoring system for a fastening system. The fastening system includes a first part and a second part connected to each other. The second part has a mounting hole defined on it, and the first part is at least partially installed in the mounting hole. The monitoring system includes an image acquisition device and an image processing device. The image acquisition device is connected to the first part to acquire surface images of the second part, or connected to the second part to acquire surface images of the first part. The image acquisition device is used to acquire surface images at different time points. The image processing device can determine whether the first part and the second part have undergone relative displacement by comparing the surface images acquired by the image acquisition device at different time points. Furthermore, this monitoring system can use an optical tracking sensor to monitor the specific state of the relative angular displacement between the bolt or anchor body and the nut, i.e., the loosening value, as well as the attitude change of the bolt or anchor, thereby determining whether there is a failure problem in the fastening system. It is convenient to use and has high accuracy, which helps to reduce the labor intensity of workers and can effectively prevent accidents.

[0057] In some embodiments, the first part may specifically be a screw that matches a nut, or a screw that does not require a nut, or a rivet without threads, or other insertion structures with pin-shaped features.

[0058] In some embodiments, the second part may specifically be an accessory or base structure adapted to the first part; when the second part is an accessory, the second part may be a nut, a washer, etc.; when the second part is a base structure, it may be a part of a building structure that is fastened to a mounting surface by the first part, such as the surface of a beam, slab, column, etc.; or it may be a base part of a building structure, such as a concrete wall or floor, or a marker installed on the wall or floor, etc.

[0059] In some embodiments, the marker may have a certain shape, and / or color, and / or surface texture features. The marker may be a pre-installed component or a mark engraved on the surface of the base part, etc.

[0060] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and does not limit the implementation method and protection scope of the present utility model. Those skilled in the art should realize that all solutions obtained by equivalent substitutions and obvious changes made based on the description and illustrations of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A fastening system (1,2,3), characterized in that, include: Screw (11,21,31); Nuts (12, 22, 32); and The monitoring system (13,23,33) includes an image acquisition device (131,231,331) and an image processing device (132,232,332); The image acquisition device (131,231,331) is connected to the screw (11,21,31) to acquire the surface image of the nut (12,22,32), or connected to the nut (12,22,32) to acquire the surface image of the screw (11,21,31). The image acquisition device (131, 231, 331) is used to acquire surface images at different time points; The image processing device (132, 232, 332) can determine whether the screw (11, 21, 31) and the nut (12, 22, 32) have undergone relative displacement by comparing the surface images acquired by the image acquisition device (131, 231, 331) at different time points.

2. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The image acquisition device (131, 231, 331) includes an optical sensor (131a).

3. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 2, characterized in that, The optical sensor (131a) includes a light source (1311) and a camera (1312), wherein the light source (1311) and the camera (1312) face the sampled surface of the screw (11,21,31) or the nut (12,22,32), the sampled surface including the threaded surface (111) of the screw (11), or the end face (211) of the screw (21), or the end face (321) of the nut (32).

4. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 3, characterized in that, The light source (1311) includes a laser light source, and the surface image acquired by the camera (1312) includes a laser speckle image.

5. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The image processing device (132, 232, 332) is used to determine the differences between the surface images taken at different time points, wherein the surface images only include the texture of the metal surface.

6. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes: an adapter (15,25,35), through which the image acquisition device (131,132,133) is connected to the screw (11,21,31) or the nut (12,22,32).

7. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The adapter (15, 25, 35) includes a first component (151) and a second component (152), which are detachably connected by at least one snap-fit ​​structure (153).

8. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The image processing device (132, 232, 332) is either a built-in processing device or a remote processing device.

9. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The image processing device (132, 232, 332) can calculate the value of the relative displacement based on the surface images captured by the image acquisition device (131, 231, 331) at different time points.

10. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: The communication device (14,24,34), the image acquisition device (131,231,331), and the image processing device (132,232,332) transmit data through the communication device (14,24,34).

11. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 1, characterized in that, Also includes: An indicator that sends a signal when the relative displacement exceeds a preset threshold.

12. The fastening system (1,2,3) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The signal is either a visual signal or an audio signal.

13. A monitoring system for a fastening system, the fastening system comprising a first part and a second part interconnected, the second part defining a mounting hole, the first part being at least partially mounted within the mounting hole; Its features are, The monitoring system includes: Image acquisition device and image processing device; The image acquisition device is connected to the first part to acquire a surface image of the second part, or connected to the second part to acquire a surface image of the first part; The image acquisition device is used to acquire surface images at different time points; The image processing device can determine whether the first part and the second part have undergone relative displacement by comparing the surface images acquired by the image acquisition device at different time points.

14. The monitoring system according to claim 13, characterized in that, The image acquisition device includes an optical sensor.

15. The monitoring system according to claim 14, characterized in that, The optical sensor includes a light source and a camera, wherein the light source and the camera are oriented toward the surface being sampled in the first or second portion.

16. The monitoring system according to claim 15, characterized in that, The light source includes a laser light source, and the surface image captured by the camera includes a laser speckle image.

17. The monitoring system according to claim 13, characterized in that, The image processing device is used to determine the differences between the surface images taken at different time points, wherein the surface images only include the material surface texture.

Images