Intelligent monitoring nut

Abstract

The utility model discloses an intelligent monitoring nut, including shell, fixedly installed with potentiometer in the shell, and the lower part is fixedly connected with nut body, the center of potentiometer is equipped with rotatable potentiometer center axle, and the lower part of potentiometer center axle is connected with the bolt contact piece for connecting with the bolt end part of outside, the utility model provides an intelligent nut that compact structure, wireless alarm, low power consumption and convenient to install can realize the function of monitoring bolt loosening.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of fasteners, specifically to an intelligent monitoring nut. Background Technology

[0002] Bolted connections are a widely used connection method in mechanical equipment, building structures, rail transportation, and other fields. Due to long-term exposure to external factors such as vibration, temperature changes, and load fluctuations, bolts are prone to loosening, leading to structural failure and even safety accidents. Traditional methods for detecting bolt loosening mainly rely on regular manual inspections, which are inefficient, costly, and difficult to detect sudden loosening in a timely manner.

[0003] Currently, there are some smart nuts on the market that monitor bolt condition based on sensor technology, such as strain gauges, fiber optic sensors, or accelerometers. However, these solutions often suffer from problems such as complex installation, high cost, high power consumption, or the need for wiring, making them difficult to promote and apply in large-scale or concealed projects. Therefore, there is a need for a smart nut that is compact in structure, easy to install, can monitor in real time, and can provide wireless alarms. Utility Model Content

[0004] To solve the above technical problems, this utility model provides an intelligent monitoring nut that is compact in structure, accurate in monitoring, low in power consumption, and easy to install.

[0005] The technical solution is as follows: A smart monitoring nut includes a housing, the key feature of which is that a potentiometer is fixedly installed inside the housing, and a nut body is fixedly connected to its lower part; the potentiometer has a rotatable potentiometer shaft at its center; and a bolt contact piece for connecting to the end of an external bolt is connected to the lower part of the potentiometer shaft. With this structure, in use, the external bolt is screwed in from below the nut body, fixing its end to the bolt contact piece. Since the nut body, housing, and potentiometer are integrally connected, and the external bolt, bolt contact piece, and lower part of the potentiometer shaft are also integrally connected, when the nut body and the external bolt rotate relative to each other, the potentiometer shaft rotates. The potentiometer can monitor the loosening of the bolt it fastens and send an alarm signal wirelessly when an abnormality is detected.

[0006] Preferably, a lower circuit board and an upper circuit board are installed inside the housing above the potentiometer, with a battery installed between them. This structure allows for a centrally located battery with efficient space allocation, while the upper and lower circuit boards are located at opposite ends of the battery. The design is compact, minimizes power supply distance, reduces line loss and interference, maximizes the use of the limited internal installation space, and achieves integrated power supply, sensing, and communication.

[0007] As a preferred solution: a wireless transmission module is installed in the housing above the upper circuit board, a patch pin header is installed above the upper circuit board, the upper end of the patch pin header is electrically connected to the wireless transmission module, and a spring antenna is fixed on the wireless transmission module. With the above structure, the patch pin header provides stable mechanical support and reliable electrical connection for the wireless transmission module; the wireless transmission module is responsible for modulating and transmitting sensing signals. The cylindrical spring antenna has small volume, long effective communication distance and stable performance, which is suitable for the environment where outdoor power acquisition is difficult, ensuring that the alarm signal can be sent reliably.

[0008] As a preferred solution: the housing comprises a cylindrical nut connecting shell and a cylindrical nut top cover, the lower part of the nut top cover extends into the nut connecting shell and is clamped with the nut connecting shell, and the lower circuit board, the battery, the upper circuit board, the wireless transmission module and the spring antenna are sequentially installed in the nut top cover from bottom to top. With the above structure, through the inward protrusion at the upper end of the housing being fitted with the "convex"-shaped nut top cover, and combined with the nut bottom cover at the lower end, a multi-point and multi-directional mechanical locking structure is formed, so that the housing, the top cover and the bottom cover are firmly combined into a whole, which can withstand strong vibration and impact and prevent internal precision components from being damaged due to looseness.

[0009] As a preferred solution: a cylindrical nut bottom cover is abutted and installed at the lower end of the top cover, the potentiometer is located in the nut bottom cover, the bolt contact sheet is in a shape of a circular truncated cone with a small upper part and a large lower part, the small-diameter section of the bolt contact sheet is located in the nut bottom cover, and the outer side wall of the small-diameter section of the bolt contact sheet is in contact installation with the inner side wall of the nut bottom cover through a bolt contact ring. With the above structure, the bolt contact ring serves as a physical barrier, which can provide necessary waterproof isolation between the bolt contact sheet and the nut bottom cover, isolate the circuit from the humid environment, and can also share part of the mechanical stress, so as to protect the internal bolt contact sheet and the central shaft of the potentiometer from being damaged by excessive axial pressure.

[0010] As a preferred solution: at least two screws are screwed into the inner thread of the shell wall of the nut connecting shell, the lower ends of the screws are all inclined towards the center of the nut connecting shell, the screws are screwed in obliquely from the side wall of the nut connecting shell, and the ends of the screws are fastened with the outer wall of the nut body, so as to realize the fixed connection between the nut connecting shell and the nut body. With the above structure, the oblique screws form a mechanical self-locking structure, which enhances the connection strength between the housing and the nut body, resists vibration and prevents loosening, and ensures that the overall structure remains stable under harsh environments.

[0011] Preferably, the potentiometer's central axis has a cross-sectional shape resembling a cross, with a disc-shaped support in the center. The upper part of the potentiometer's central axis is embedded in the central hole of the potentiometer, and the upper end face of the support abuts against the lower end face of the potentiometer. The lower part of the potentiometer's central axis is embedded in the central hole of the bolt contact piece, and the lower end face of the support abuts against the upper end face of the bolt contact piece. With this structure, the potentiometer's central axis and the bolt contact piece are directly embedded and connected, ensuring that any minute rotation of the bolt is transmitted to the potentiometer, thereby converting it into a precise electrical signal change, resulting in high measurement sensitivity and accuracy.

[0012] Preferably, the lower end face of the bolt contact piece is recessed to form a bolt fixing groove. With this structure, the bolt contact piece is designed to be recessed to form a bolt fixing groove, which better matches the end shape of the bolt and increases the contact area.

[0013] Preferably, a 3M film is installed inside the bolt fixing groove for bonding to the end of the external bolt. This structure, with the 3M film installed inside the bolt fixing groove, ensures that both components rotate synchronously after bonding and tightening, preventing slippage and monitoring failure.

[0014] Preferably, a reed switch is mounted on the upper circuit board, located on one side of the wireless transmission module. With this structure, the reed switch, as a magnetically controlled mechanical switch, requires no power supply and only activates under the influence of an external magnetic field. Its placement as the main switch in the circuit achieves true "zero" standby power consumption. The circuit begins operation after soldering and battery installation. An external magnet is required to keep the circuit in the off state. Removing the magnet during smart nut installation allows the smart nut to operate continuously, significantly extending the lifespan of the built-in battery. This design is ideal for industrial scenarios requiring long-term deployment and where frequent battery replacements are not feasible.

[0015] Compared with existing technologies, this utility model offers the following advantages: It directly measures the relative rotation angle between the external bolt and nut body using a potentiometer, providing rapid response, high measurement accuracy, and timely detection of even minor signs of loosening. Utilizing a reed switch achieves zero standby power consumption, consuming power only during operation, extending battery life to several years and meeting long-term monitoring needs. An integrated wireless transmission module enables remote wireless transmission of status data, facilitating the construction of an IoT monitoring system, eliminating the need for manual on-site inspections, and improving efficiency and safety. Employing a multi-layered compact structure and robust outer casing, it boasts strong anti-interference capabilities; furthermore, its installation method is identical to that of ordinary nuts, allowing for immediate replacement and use, making it ideal for large-scale applications in various industrial environments. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this utility model;

[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Top view;

[0018] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Sectional view along AA;

[0019] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the mid-angle sensor a;

[0020] Figure 5 for Figure 4 The front view;

[0021] Figure 6 for Figure 5 Sectional view along BB;

[0022] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the operation of the clamping plate of this utility model;

[0023] Figure 8 for Figure 7 The front view. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0025] like Figures 1 to 6 As shown, an intelligent monitoring nut includes a housing 1, in which a potentiometer 4 is fixedly installed, and a nut body 16 is fixedly connected to the lower part; the potentiometer 4 has a rotatable potentiometer central shaft 5 at its center; the lower part of the potentiometer central shaft 5 is connected to a bolt contact piece 6 for connecting with the end of an external bolt 19.

[0026] The outer shell 1, serving as the main structure, is typically made of high-strength engineering plastic. The nut top cover 1b is convex in shape and hollow inside. Its convex structure precisely fits into the inwardly protruding design of the upper end of the nut connecting shell 1a, forming the first mechanical locking and positioning structure. During the loosening of the nut body 16, it drives the nut connecting shell 1a to rotate. The nut connecting shell 1a, through the mechanical locking, drives the nut top cover 1b to rotate, and the nut top cover 1b and its internal circuitry rotate together. The nut bottom cover 1c is designed to be concave and located at the bottom. Its concave shape provides space for the internal bolt contact pieces and also serves as the final physical barrier to prevent dust and moisture from directly intruding. At least two screws 12 with inwardly inclined lower ends are threaded into the inner wall of the nut connecting shell 1a. After the two screws 12 are screwed in obliquely from the side wall, their lower ends are fastened to the outer wall of the built-in nut body 16, forming a mechanical self-locking structure. Through the inward and downward locking force, the nut connecting shell 1a, the nut top cover 1b and the nut bottom cover 1c are firmly locked into a whole, which can effectively resist vibration and impact and prevent the internal structure from loosening.

[0027] The nut body 16 is a common nut, which is fixedly installed inside the lower end of the outer shell 1. Remove the magnet 21 on the nut top cover 1b, and snap the entire smart nut onto the end of the external bolt 19. The bolt contact piece 6 is then bonded and fixed to the end of the external bolt 19 through the 3M film 20. After the nut connecting shell 1a covers the nut body 16, tighten the screws 12 on both sides to fix the nut connecting shell 1a onto the nut body 16.

[0028] The nut top cover 1b forms an internal cavity, from bottom to top, housing a lower circuit board 3, a battery 2, an upper circuit board 7, a wireless transmission module 9, and a spring antenna 10. The battery 2 is located at the center of the structure, with its positive and negative terminals connected to the upper circuit board 7 and the lower circuit board 3 via surface mount pins 8. This efficient space allocation shortens the power supply distance and reduces losses and interference. The potentiometer's central axis 5 has a cross-section in the shape of a cross, with a disc-shaped support 13 in the center. This support is crucial for monitoring the rotation angle of the external bolt 19. The lower circuit board 3 is mounted close to the lower end of the battery 2. Its function is to provide a stable reference voltage for the potentiometer 4, then transmit the voltage divider signal to the upper circuit board 7 via the surface mount pins 8, and finally, the upper circuit board 7 collects the voltage divider signal. The potentiometer 4 is mounted at the lower end of the lower circuit board 3 and has an opening in the center. The potentiometer 4 is a rotary analog angle sensor whose resistance value changes linearly with the rotation angle. The bolt contact piece 6 is designed as a concave ring, which better fits the end of the external bolt 19. 3M film is installed inside the bolt fixing groove to ensure that both can rotate synchronously after bonding and tightening, avoiding monitoring failure due to slippage. The bolt contact ring 15 is embedded in the outer wall of the small-diameter section of the bolt contact piece 6, and the bolt contact ring 15 is installed in contact with the inner wall of the nut bottom cover 1c. The potentiometer's central shaft 5 is cylindrical, with a disc-shaped support 13 in the middle section for supporting and positioning the potentiometer 4. The upper part of the shaft 5 is embedded in the center hole of the potentiometer 4, and the upper end face of the support part 13 abuts against the lower end face of the potentiometer 4. The lower part of the shaft 5 of the potentiometer is embedded in the center hole of the bolt contact piece 6, and the lower end face of the support part 13 abuts against the upper end face of the bolt contact piece 6. The upper part of the potentiometer is fixedly connected to the lower circuit board 3. Finally, the bolt contact piece 6 is placed in the nut bottom cover 14, so that the inner side wall of the nut bottom cover 14 contacts the mounting bolt contact ring 15. When the bolt contact piece 6 rotates with the external bolt 19, it will directly drive the shaft 5 of the potentiometer to rotate, thereby changing the resistance value of the potentiometer 4 and generating an angle sensing signal.

[0029] The wireless transmitting module 9 is used to wirelessly transmit the angle sensing signal to the receiving terminal. It is installed between the battery 2 and the nut top cover 13. The reed switch 11 is installed on the edge of the upper circuit board. The lower end of the upper circuit board 7 abuts against the upper end of the battery 2. The upper edge is reserved for the installation position of the patch pin header 8 and the reed switch 11.

[0030] The surface mount pins 8 are symmetrically mounted on both sides of the upper edge of the upper circuit board 7. The upper end is connected to the pins of the wireless transmitting module 9 through insertion, serving the dual functions of support and electrical connection. The lower pins of the wireless transmitting module 9 are fixed to the surface mount pins 8, and the upper end is fixed to a socket at the upper end of the wireless transmitting module 9 by soldering. The spring antenna 10 is made of copper wire wound into a cylindrical shape.

[0031] The reed switch 11 is a normally closed type and is fixed to the upper edge of the upper circuit board 7 by a bracket, with its pins fixedly connected to the upper circuit board 7. When an external magnetic field is present, the reed switch 11 is disconnected; after installation, the magnet 21 is removed, and the reed switch 11 closes, triggering the system to power on and achieve "zero" standby power consumption. The reed switch 11 only controls the circuit after the magnet 21 is removed; when not in operation, the battery does not supply power and requires no power consumption. Combined with the low-power wireless module, this can greatly extend the battery life.

[0032] like Figure 7 , Figure 8 As shown, this is a schematic diagram of the operation of the clamping plates of this utility model. The intelligent monitoring nut is screwed onto the standard external bolt 19 through the nut body 16, clamping the upper clamping plate 17 and the lower clamping plate 18. At the same time, the end of the external bolt 19 is tightly bonded to the bolt contact piece 6 through the 3M film 20. During the installation process, the magnet 21 is present, the reed switch 11 is open, and the system does not consume power. After the installation is completed, the magnet 21 is closed, the reed switch 11 is closed, the wireless transmission module 9 and other components are powered on and started, and the system enters the working state, firmly clamping the upper clamping plate 17 and the lower clamping plate 18. At this time, it is in real-time monitoring state.

[0033] When the nut body 16 loosens and rotates, the loosening process causes the nut connecting shell 1a to rotate. The nut connecting shell 1a, through a "mechanical lock," causes the nut top cover 1b to rotate. The nut top cover 1b and its internal circuitry rotate together. The bolt contact piece 6 is bonded and fixed to the end face of the external bolt 19 via 3M film 20. The potentiometer shaft 5 is fixed to the bolt contact piece 6, while the potentiometer 4 body is fixed to the circuitry. The rotation of the nut body 16 is ultimately transmitted to the lower circuit board 3, causing a potential change in the potentiometer 4. This change signal is amplified and filtered by the signal conditioning circuit of the lower circuit board 3 before being transmitted to the upper circuit board 7. When the angle sensing signal exceeds a preset threshold, the wireless transmitting module 9 transmits the loosening signal to the remote receiving terminal via the spring antenna 10, achieving timely early warning.

[0034] Finally, it should be noted that the above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model. Those skilled in the art can make various similar representations under the guidance of the present utility model without departing from the spirit and claims of the present utility model, and such modifications all fall within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A smart monitoring nut, comprising a housing (1), characterized in that: A potentiometer (4) is fixedly installed inside the housing (1), and a nut body (16) is fixedly connected to the lower part; the potentiometer (4) has a rotatable potentiometer shaft (5) at its center; the lower part of the potentiometer shaft (5) is connected to a bolt contact piece (6) for connecting with the end of an external bolt (19).

2. The intelligent monitoring nut according to claim 1, characterized in that: A lower circuit board (3) and an upper circuit board (7) are installed inside the housing (1) above the potentiometer (4), and a battery (2) is installed between the lower circuit board (3) and the upper circuit board (7).

3. The intelligent monitoring nut according to claim 2, characterized in that: A wireless transmission module (9) is installed inside the housing (1) above the upper circuit board (7). A patch header (8) is installed on the upper circuit board (7). The upper end of the patch header (8) is electrically connected to the wireless transmission module (9). A spring antenna (10) is fixed on the wireless transmission module (9).

4. The intelligent monitoring nut according to claim 3, characterized in that: The outer casing (1) includes a cylindrical nut connecting shell (1a) and a cylindrical nut top cover (1b). The lower part of the nut top cover (1b) extends into the nut connecting shell (1a) and is engaged with the nut connecting shell (1a). The lower circuit board (3), battery (2), upper circuit board (7), wireless transmission module (9) and spring antenna (10) are installed in the nut top cover (1b) from bottom to top.

5. The intelligent monitoring nut according to claim 4, characterized in that: A cylindrical nut bottom cover (1c) is installed at the lower end of the top cover (1b). The potentiometer (4) is located inside the nut bottom cover (1c). The bolt contact piece (6) is in the shape of a frustum with a smaller upper part and a larger lower part. The small diameter section of the bolt contact piece (6) is located inside the nut bottom cover (1c). The outer wall of the small diameter section of the bolt contact piece (6) is in contact with the inner wall of the nut bottom cover (1c) through the bolt contact ring (15).

6. A smart monitoring nut according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that: At least two screws (12) are threaded inside the shell wall of the nut connecting shell (1a). The lower ends of the screws (12) are inclined toward the center of the nut connecting shell (1a). The screws (12) are screwed in obliquely from the side wall of the nut connecting shell (1a), and their ends are fastened to the outer wall of the nut body (16), thereby realizing the fixed connection between the nut connecting shell (1a) and the nut body (16).

7. The intelligent monitoring nut according to claim 6, characterized in that: The potentiometer shaft (5) has a cross-section in the shape of a cross, with a disc-shaped support (13) in the middle. The upper part of the potentiometer shaft (5) is embedded in the center hole of the potentiometer (4), and the upper end face of the support (13) abuts against the lower end face of the potentiometer (4). The lower part of the potentiometer shaft (5) is embedded in the center hole of the bolt contact piece (6), and the lower end face of the support abuts against the upper end face of the bolt contact piece (6).

8. The intelligent monitoring nut according to claim 7, characterized in that: The lower end face of the bolt contact piece (6) is recessed to form a bolt fixing groove (14).

9. The intelligent monitoring nut according to claim 8, characterized in that: A 3M film (20) is installed in the bolt fixing groove (14) for bonding to the end of the external bolt (19).

10. The intelligent monitoring nut according to claim 7, characterized in that: A reed switch (11) is mounted on the upper circuit board (7), and the reed switch (11) is located on one side of the wireless transmission module (9).

Images