Other

Clarke, Ronald C.

Clarke, Philomena

Stanley Ceney

John A Hirst

A fastener system employs a portable, sensing device, such as one or more reactance capacitors or an image processor such as a camera or a laser, which removably attaches adjacent to the fastener to detect and measure the change in a gap or specialized form of the bolt head or associated washer caused by the relative movement of portions of the fastener system when the fastener is under strain without contacting the sensed portions undergoing the significant relative movement. Associated electronic components process and indicate the clamp load of the fastener system. Embodiments of the relatively moving portions which provide a resilient, repeatable changing gap or form under load include inward movement of a cylindrical bar anchored in a bore in the head and shank relative to the flush outer top surface of the bolt head, a washer form change relative to the outer surface of the clamped joint, a form change in one portion of a bolt head relative to another portion of the bolt head, and a washer form change relative to a bolt head form change.

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Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

Stanley Ceney