Strain-Sensing U-Bolt Assembly for Uniform Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
U-bolts face challenges in uniformly fixing fastening objects due to uneven strain distribution between shaft parts, leading to potential horizontal displacement and increased complexity in inspection and repair, especially in infrastructure facilities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating strain gauges in the U-bolt's shaft parts to measure and equalize the strain, using a measurement device to acquire and display the strain data, allowing for uniform fixation and simplifying the U-bolt's structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If strain gauges are embedded in each shaft part to measure and equalize strain, then uniform fixation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds strain gauges in each shaft part to measure strain in real-time, providing feedback information about the actual strain state. This feedback enables operators to adjust the tightening process to achieve uniform strain distribution across both shaft parts, directly resolving the contradiction by using measurement information to control the fixation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical tightening control methods with strain measurement and control. Instead of relying solely on torque control or manual tightening, the system uses electrical strain gauges to detect and monitor strain, substituting mechanical sensation with electrical measurement for more precise control.
2Stability of the object's composition
If strain gauges are embedded in shaft parts, then horizontal displacement is prevented, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the strain measurement function from the overall U-bolt system by embedding dedicated strain gauges in each shaft part. This allows independent measurement and control of strain in each shaft, enabling detection and correction of horizontal displacement tendencies without requiring complex overall structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies strain gauges locally at specific positions on each shaft part rather than modifying the entire U-bolt structure. This localized approach provides the necessary measurement capability to prevent horizontal displacement while minimizing the overall complexity and manufacturing difficulty of the U-bolt assembly.
3Ease of repair
If the U-bolt structure is simplified for easier inspection, then ease of repair is improved, but measurement capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the strain measurement function with the U-bolt structure itself by embedding strain gauges directly into the shaft parts. This integration allows the measurement system to become part of the structural component, enabling inspection of both structural integrity and strain distribution through a single unified system that does not add external complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The U-bolt with embedded strain gauges performs self-diagnosis by automatically measuring and indicating its own strain state. This self-service capability allows the structure to monitor its own condition without requiring external measurement equipment, maintaining simplicity while providing comprehensive strain measurement for inspection and repair purposes.
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
The solution ensures uniform strain distribution across the U-bolt's shaft parts, preventing horizontal displacement and reducing the complexity of the U-bolt's structure, thereby facilitating easier inspection and repair while maintaining effective fixation.
Implementation Method 1
a strain gauge which outputs a signal corresponding to a strain of the shaft part in the second direction is embedded in each of the pair of shaft parts
Data Source
AI summary
An installing system (100) according to the present disclosure includes a U-bolt (10) which includes a pair of shaft parts (11) aligned in a first direction and extending in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, and a bridge part (12) that connects one ends of each of the pair of shaft parts (11); and a measurer (20), in which a strain gauge (14) which outputs a signal corresponding to a strain of the shaft parts (11) in the second direction is embedded in each of the pair of shaft parts (11), in line symmetry with respect to a straight line (OX) including an apex (0) of the U-shape and extending in the second direction, and the measurer (20) measures the strain of each of the pair of shaft parts (11) in the second direction, from an output signal of the strain gauge (14) embedded in each of the pair of shaft parts (11).