The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 02, 2005
Filed:
Oct. 15, 2002
Steven P. Kadner, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Steven P. Kadner, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Canberra Aquila, Inc., Albuquerque, NM (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method for measuring and recording the torque applied to a bolt. The present invention utilizes a piezoelectric compound disposed between an upper member and a lower member. When the bolt is tightened, the piezoelectric compound is physically distorted and a net electrical potential is created across the piezoelectric compound. A processor in the bolt measures the electrical potential and calculates the torque based on the potential. The bolt then transmits a data packet comprising the torque value and bolt information to a wrench, which later transmits the data packet to a computer and a database. Alternatively, the bolt can be configured with a transmitter so that the data packet can be transmitted directly from the bolt to the computer and database. The bolt can also be configured with energizing circuitry that acts as a power source for the bolt.