Innovation Plus, LLC

Sps Technologies, LLC

Ultrafast, Inc.

Ian E Kibblewhite

Robert Molsbergen

Donald E Kotas

Robert H Strunk

Christopher J Vecchio

Denis Downey

John Drummond

John F Butler

Low cost transducer bonding tooling and techniques are provided which can be used to duplicate the quality of factory manufactured load indicating members, and to allow transducers to be attached to fasteners irrespective of their orientation. The bonding tooling and techniques can also be used to bond other small objects requiring precise placement and reliable bonding such as, for example, the bonding of identification labels to manufactured components or structures.

System for applying an ultrasonic transducer to a fastener

Complex assembly procedures for joining components with plural fasteners are accomplished using predefined procedures for performing a multi-step assembly of a joint using a dynamically controllable assembly tool, or to inspect an assembled joint. An assembly tool is coupled with an electronically controlled regulator for reducing the tightening rate, or the load increase per impact for an impact or impulse tool, so the tool can be stopped precisely at a specified stopping load or torque. The predefined procedures for performing the desired tightening operation are established in a controller coupled with the electronically controlled regulator, for dynamically controlling the assembly tool. The system can be used to assemble joints involving multiple fasteners and which are subject to elastic interaction between the fasteners, rocking, or joint relaxation, and in assembly or inspection operations in which an operator is to be guided through a particular sequence of instructions.

System for performing predefined fastener installation procedures

An ultrasonic load measurement transducer () is mated with a thread-forming fastener () to provide a load indicating thread-forming fastener () that can be used for precise and reliable assembly of critical bolted joints, such as those in the automobile and aerospace industries, among others. Steps can then be taken to accurately measure and control the load in the thread-forming fastener () during tightening, and to inspect the load in the thread-forming fastener () after assembly. A similar result can be achieved for a thread-locking fastener by mating an ultrasonic transducer with the thread-locking fastener assembly.

Thread forming fasteners for ultrasonic load measurement and control

A system is provided for both reading an optical identification mark, such as a bar code, on a fastener and for making ultrasonic load measurements in the fastener using a single probe for use during fastener installation with assembly tools and for the inspection of load in preinstalled fasteners. The probe includes both a fiber optic imaging cable and at least one electrical conductor. The fiber optic imaging cable is optically coupled to an imaging device such as a bar code reader allowing the bar code reader to be located remote from the fastener. The electrical conductor provides an electrical connection from the ultrasonic transducer on the fastener to load measurement instrumentation. The probe is further capable of providing illumination of the bar code to facilitate reading of the bar code.

Probe for fastener identification and ultrasonic load measurement

A load indicating member is provided with an identifying element which can be accessed and used to determine ultrasonic measurement parameters specific to the load indicating member to provide more precise and more reliable load measurements by compensating for differences resulting from manufacturing variations in individual load indicating members. The parameters specific to the load indicating member can be stored in coding applied to the load indicating member or in a database that can be accessed remotely, for example, using the Internet.

Load indicating member with identifying element

An ultrasonic load measurement transducer is mated with a thread-forming fastener to provide a load indicating thread-forming fastener that can be used for the precise and reliable assembly of critical bolted joints, such as those in the automobile and aerospace industries, among others. Steps can then be taken to accurately measure and control the load in the thread-forming fastener during tightening, and to inspect the load in the thread-forming fastener after assembly. A similar result can be achieved for a thread-locking fastener by mating an ultrasonic transducer with the thread-locking fastener assembly.

Pneumatic tightening tools can be used for high speed assembly of critical bolts to precise loads by dynamically controlling the output power of the pneumatic tool during a tightening cycle using an electronically controlled air pressure regulator to reduce the tightening rate, or the load increase per impact for impact or impulse tools, to enable the tool to be stopped precisely at a specified stopping load or torque. For prevailing torque fasteners, the output power of the pneumatic tool is dynamically controlled to minimize the speed of rotation during rundown, to minimize the heating effects associated with such torque fasteners, and to then increase the power from the tool, as required, to provide the torque to reach the specified stopping load or torque. The maximum air pressure supplied to the pneumatic tool can be limited, depending on the expected torque required to tighten the fastener to the specified load or torque.

System for dynamically controlling the torque output of a pneumatic tool

A load indicating member is provided with a permanent identifying mark which can be read and used to determine ultrasonic measurement parameters specific to the load indicating member to provide more precise and more reliable load measurements by compensating for differences resulting from manufacturing variations in individual load indicating members. The parameters specific to the load indicating member can be stored in coding applied to the load indicating member or in a database that can be accessed remotely, for example, using the Internet.

Load indicating member with identifying mark

A load-indicating device including a load-bearing member adapted to deform when stressed. Ultrasonic waves are directed into one end of the load-bearing member and ultrasonic echoes are received at the same end by ultrasonic wave transmitting and receiving equipment. In one embodiment, ultrasonic waves are transmitted and received using an ultrasonic transducer disposed on either the head or the opposite end of the load-bearing member. The head, the end, the shank or a combination thereof are contoured to reduce the influence of geometric variations and asymmetrical stress in the load-bearing member on the ultrasonic measurement. A method is also provided, which encompasses a model, by which preferred geometries of the contoured surfaces of the load-bearing member can be designed. Also provided are a method of making a load-bearing member including contouring at least one end of a load-bearing member, or the shank to reduce the influence of geometric variations and asymmetrical stress in the load-bearing member on ultrasonic measurement, and a method of identifying a contour on a load-bearing member that will provide accurate and reliable ultrasonic load measurements.

Minimizing the effect of bending on ultrasonic measurements in a

A method of measuring in a material a time-of flight of a signal having a first signal burst and a second signal burst, the first signal burst having a first set of cycles and the second signal burst having a second set of cycles. The method includes identifying a cycle in the second signal burst corresponding to a cycle in the first signal burst, to measure the time-of-flight of the signal.

Technique for eliminating ambiguity when making pulse-echo timing

A load indicating device and a method of using a load indicating device for monitoring the deformation in and imparting torque to a load bearing member are disclosed and claimed. An ultrasonic transducer, grown on one surface of a load bearing member, such as a fastener, is used to determine the length, stress or other tensile load dependent characteristic of the member using ultrasonic techniques.

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Wayne, PA, United States of America

Ian E Kibblewhite