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:
Nov. 15, 2011
Filed:
Nov. 12, 2008
Muhammad E. Abdallah, Houston, TX (US);
Lyndon Bridgwater, Houston, TX (US);
Myron A. Diftler, Houston, TX (US);
Douglas Martin Linn, White Lake, MI (US);
Charles W. Wampler, Ii, Birmingham, MI (US);
Robert Platt, Houston, TX (US);
Muhammad E. Abdallah, Houston, TX (US);
Lyndon Bridgwater, Houston, TX (US);
Myron A. Diftler, Houston, TX (US);
Douglas Martin Linn, White Lake, MI (US);
Charles W. Wampler, II, Birmingham, MI (US);
Robert Platt, Houston, TX (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A technique that determines the tension in a tendon using a conduit reaction force applied to an end of a conduit through which the tendon is threaded. Any suitable tendon tension sensor can be employed that uses the conduit reaction force for this purpose. In one non-limiting embodiment, the tendon tension sensor includes a cylindrical strain gauge element and a force member mounted to an end of the conduit. The force member includes a cylindrical portion having a bore and a plate portion, where the cylindrical portion is inserted into a bore in the strain gauge element. The tendon is threaded through the strain gauge element and the force member. A strain gauge is mounted to the strain gauge element and measures the reaction force when tension on the tendon causes the strain gauge element to be pushed against the force member.