Acoustic Strain Washer Assembly for Accurate Bolt Load Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for measuring load on bolt assemblies, such as torque wrenches and pressure gauges, suffer from poor accuracy, complexity, high production costs, and reliability issues due to friction, creep, and cumbersome procedures.
Innovation Solution
A strain measuring washer assembly with a plate-shaped washer body equipped with sound emitting and detecting means, emitting and detecting sound signals to calculate strain based on echo responses, utilizing internal cavities and fluid-filled compartments for enhanced accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If torque wrenches are used to control load on bolt assemblies, then the procedure is simple and cheap, but the accuracy is poor due to friction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical measurement systems (torque wrenches, pressure gauges) with an acoustic measurement system. Sound emitting means generate acoustic waves that propagate through the washer body, and sound detecting means measure the acoustic response. This substitution eliminates friction-related errors inherent in mechanical contact methods while providing direct load measurement through acoustic wave propagation characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acoustic waves as an intermediary medium to measure load on the bolt assembly. Instead of direct mechanical contact that suffers from friction, acoustic waves serve as a non-contact intermediary that interacts with the washer body's mechanical properties, allowing accurate load determination without the harmful friction effects.
2Measurement precision
If pressure gauges are mounted in the bolt assembly to measure load directly, then measurement accuracy improves, but device complexity and production cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical pressure gauge systems with an acoustic measurement system. Instead of mounting physical pressure gauges that require extensive wiring and complex assembly, the invention uses sound emitting and detecting means that measure load through acoustic wave propagation, dramatically simplifying the device while maintaining measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses acoustic wave propagation characteristics as a copy or proxy for direct pressure measurement. Rather than measuring pressure directly with complex gauges, the system measures the acoustic response (time of flight, amplitude, frequency) which correlates to the load state, providing an indirect but accurate measurement method that is much simpler to implement.
3Ease of operation
If ultrasonic measurements are used to estimate load from bolt expansion, then non-contact measurement is achieved, but reliability decreases due to creep and plastic deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from the bolt itself and relocates it to the washer body. By placing sound emitting and detecting means on the washer rather than measuring bolt expansion directly, the system avoids reliability issues associated with bolt creep and plastic deformation, while maintaining non-contact measurement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the washer body as an intermediary medium between the bolt load and the measurement system. Acoustic waves propagate through the washer which is directly loaded by the bolt, providing a reliable measurement path that avoids the creep and plastic deformation problems of the bolt material itself.
4Measurement precision
If existing measurement methods are used, then some level of load measurement is achieved, but sensitivity and measurement efficiency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic acoustic wave emission and detection cycles to continuously monitor load on the bolt assembly. The sound emitting means periodically generate acoustic pulses, and the detecting means periodically measure the response, enabling real-time or near-real-time load monitoring with high sensitivity and measurement efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous load measurement through uninterrupted acoustic wave propagation and detection. The system maintains continuous monitoring capability where sound waves continuously traverse the washer body, providing ongoing sensitive measurement of load changes without interruption, thereby maximizing measurement efficiency and productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides accurate and efficient measurement of load on bolt assemblies with improved sensitivity and reduced complexity, overcoming limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
sound emitting means, positioned on the washer body outer peripheral surface and configured to emit a sound signal into the plate shaped washer body, and sound detecting means positioned on the washer body outer peripheral surface and configured to detect an echo response of the sound signal from the plate shaped washer body
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a solution for how to measure the strain in a washer mounted in a bolt assembly comprising a bolt, nut and washer. The invention concerns a strain measuring washer assembly comprising a plate shaped washer body, sound emitting means and sound detecting means, and a method for using such.