CN220304807U - Detection module for monitoring failure of screw fastening device and screw fastening system - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a detection module for monitoring failure of a screw fastening device configured for fastening a load below a mounting surface, wherein the detection module is mounted on the screw fastening device, the detection module having a housing, an acceleration sensor, a rotation sensor and a signal processing unit in signal connection with the acceleration sensor and the rotation sensor. Furthermore, the utility model relates to a screw fastening system. The various failure modes of the screw fastening device can be monitored more fully by the detection module and the screw fastening system for monitoring screw fastening device failure according to the utility model.

Description

Detection module for monitoring failure of screw fastening device and screw fastening system

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a detection module for monitoring failure of a screw fastening device and a screw fastening system.

Background

Threaded fasteners are widely used in projects such as construction, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and the like. Typically, threaded fastening devices are used to fasten different components together or to anchor the components to a building structure, such as concrete, for fixation purposes. The stability of the screw tightening device is closely related to engineering safety. Once the threaded fastener fails completely, it can cause significant personal and property damage. Therefore, it is important to monitor the failure of the screw tightening device.

Traditional monitoring is carried out by manual inspection. In manual inspection, torque wrenches are often used to test the tightness of the threaded fastening device one by one or to visually inspect preset paint markings, which makes the inspection inefficient, requires the installation location of the threaded fastening device, and does not timely detect signs of failure. There are also solutions in the prior art to monitor stress or strain in threaded fastening devices. However, such a solution is complex in structure, may destroy the structure of the screw fastening device itself, thereby adversely affecting the screw fastening device performance and being considerably affected by factors such as construction conditions, external environment (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.). In addition, there are also solutions for checking the failure of screw fastening devices by vibration excitation, ultrasound technology, optical measurement technology, computer-aided image recognition technology, etc., but these solutions have limited implementation conditions and are difficult to adapt to a wide range of application scenarios of screw fastening devices.

The solutions existing in the prior art mostly only concern the relative movement between threaded fasteners, such as between bolts and nuts, i.e. the loosening of the rotation therebetween, and ignore other failure modes of the threaded fastening means, such as failures due to thread-slipping, creep elongation, partial fracture, and material denaturation of the mounting surface. This results in limitations in monitoring of failure of the threaded fastening device, and the effectiveness and reliability of the monitoring cannot be ensured. There is therefore a need for a technique that can monitor multiple failure modes of a threaded fastener.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present utility model is to provide a detection module for monitoring the failure of a screw fastening device and a screw fastening system which allow a more comprehensive monitoring of the various failure modes of a screw fastening device.

A first aspect of the utility model relates to a detection module for monitoring failure of a screw tightening device configured for tightening a load below a mounting surface, wherein the detection module is mounted on the screw tightening device, the detection module having a housing, an acceleration sensor, a rotation sensor and a signal processing unit in signal connection with the acceleration sensor and the rotation sensor.

In the context of the present utility model, a threaded fastening means refers to a device structure for fastening a connection that mainly comprises threaded fasteners. The threaded fastener may include, for example, a bolt, a stud, a screw, a self-tapping screw, a wood screw, or the like, wherein the bolt includes, in particular, a normal bolt, a high-strength bolt, a foundation bolt, an expansion bolt, a chemical bolt, a stud, or the like. In addition to the threaded fasteners listed above, the threaded fastening means also include washers, collars, nuts, etc. that fit together if necessary. For example, when the threaded fastener is a stud, the threaded fastener needs to be matched with a nut for fastening a load; the threaded fastener is a bolt or a screw (comprising an externally threaded main body and a head), and can independently fasten a load, and the bolt is generally used with a nut.

According to the utility model, the screw fastening device is provided for fastening a load to be fastened under a mounting surface, in particular a stationary mounting surface. Here, the installation surface may relate to a surface of a building structure, a surface of a wall, a roof, a beam, etc., such as a tunnel, a bridge, a building, etc.; a surface of a mechanical device component; fastening surfaces of pipe flanges, etc.

The utility model provides that the detection module mounted on the screw fastening device comprises not only a rotation sensor but also an acceleration sensor. Thus, by the detection module according to the utility model, rotational looseness occurring on the screw fastening device and displacement due to slide wire release, creep elongation, partial fracture and material denaturation of the mounting surface of the screw fastening device can be detected simultaneously. The signal processing unit is in signal connection with the acceleration sensor and the rotation sensor in order to process the sensor signals from these two sensors and to be able to determine therefrom whether the screw fastening device has failed.

The idea of the utility model is to disassemble the changes in the various failure modes of the screw-thread tightening device into two movements, namely a rotational movement on the screw-thread tightening device when the screw-thread tightening device is rotated loose and a translational movement on the screw-thread tightening device as a whole when the screw-thread tightening device fails due to slipping, elongation, partial breaking and material denaturation of the mounting surface. Two different sensors are used in the detection module to detect the two movements in a targeted manner respectively, so that more comprehensive monitoring of various failure modes of the screw fastening device is realized, and accordingly, when any failure occurs to the screw fastening device, the screw fastening device can be monitored early, further progress of the failure or superposition of various failures is avoided, and personal and property losses caused by complete failure falling of the screw fastening device are effectively prevented.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the acceleration sensor is provided for detecting a displacement of the screw fastening device in its longitudinal direction. Since the screw tightening device is configured to tighten a load below the mounting surface, the load continuously applies a tensile load to the screw tightening device, and thus failure due to thread slip, creep elongation, partial fracture, and material denaturation of the mounting surface of the screw tightening device is liable to occur. For this purpose, the displacement of the screw fastening device in its longitudinal direction or the position in the vertical direction can be detected reliably by means of an acceleration sensor. Advantageously, the acceleration sensor may be mounted on the lower end of a threaded fastener or on a nut.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the rotation sensor forms a gyroscope for measuring the rotation of the screw fastening device. In measurement techniques gyroscopes are generally used to measure angular movement of an object in a relative inertial space, which is well suited for detection of rotation of a threaded fastening device. The rotation detected by the gyroscope is understood here to be the absolute rotation of the threaded fastener or nut in space.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the detection module is attached or integrated on the radially outer part of the nut or the threaded fastener head of the threaded fastening device; or the detection module is sleeved or integrated on the periphery of the nut of the screw fastening device or the head of the screw fastening device.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the acceleration sensor and the gyroscope are integrated in an inertial measurement unit. The inertial measurement unit with higher integration level can simplify the number of circuit components in the detection module and facilitate signal processing.

According to an alternative embodiment of the utility model, the rotation sensor constitutes an encoder for measuring the relative rotation between the threaded fastener and the nut of the threaded fastening device. In measurement technology, an encoder or rotary encoder is a sensor for converting an angular displacement into an electrical signal. With this embodiment, the cost can be further reduced and the processing of data can be simplified relative to the aforementioned scheme using gyroscopes.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the scanner and the code wheel of the encoder are connected to the threaded fastener or nut of the threaded fastener, respectively, in a rotationally fixed manner.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the utility model, the detection module is fitted on the periphery of the nut and the scanner or code wheel of the encoder is arranged on the threaded fastener. The detection module is here fitted around the periphery of the nut, which causes rotation of the nut to be transmitted into the detection module housing, and angular displacement of one of the scanner and the code wheel of the encoder, which is fixed to the detection module housing, relative to the other, which is fixed to the threaded fastener, is understood to be relative rotation between the threaded fastener and the nut. In the event of this relative rotation, it can be reliably ascertained that a rotational loosening has occurred in the screw-on fastening device.

According to one embodiment of the present utility model, the signal processing unit outputs the failure indication signal upon receiving at least one of the displacement signal of the acceleration sensor and the rotation signal of the rotation sensor. In the case of partial failure, only one of the acceleration sensor and the rotation sensor detects a change signal. For example, in the case of creep elongation of the threaded fastener or deformation of the mounting surface material, the rotation sensor will not detect rotation of the threaded fastener, but only the displacement change will be sensed by the acceleration sensor. Thus, it should be determined that the screw fastening device is out of order when one of the acceleration sensor and the acceleration sensor detects a change. For this purpose, simple logic devices, such as or gates, can be used in the signal processing unit.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the detection module comprises an alarm unit connected to the signal processing unit. The alarm unit is in particular an acoustic and/or light alarm unit. The alarm which is easy to sense can provide a timely alarm for monitoring personnel when failure signs appear, and personal and property losses caused by breakage and falling of the fastening device are avoided.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the detection module comprises a communication unit, preferably a wireless communication unit, connected to the signal processing unit. The status of the screw fastening device, in particular the failure, can be transmitted to a data center, a data collection device or the like by means of the communication unit.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the communication unit transmits signals periodically and/or event-triggered. In order that the detection module can remain operational over the entire life cycle of the screw fastening device, the communication unit can communicate signals energy-saving only periodically and/or only in the event of a specific event. The specific event may be, for example, a change detected by at least one of the acceleration sensor and the rotation sensor, the detection module determining that the screw fastening device is out of order and/or receiving a communication activation signal from the outside. The communication unit may send, for example, raw sensor signals detected by the acceleration sensor and the rotation sensor and/or failure indication signals output by the signal processing unit.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the detection module comprises a power supply unit and/or an energy harvesting unit, wherein the power supply unit can supply electrical energy, for example by means of a dry cell or a battery.

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the energy collecting unit is a solar energy collecting unit, a wind energy collecting unit, a heat energy collecting unit, a fluid kinetic energy collecting unit or an electromagnetic energy collecting unit, so that external energy can be continuously converted into electric energy required by the detection module

According to one embodiment of the utility model, the detection module is intermittently awakened by a built-in micro control unit and/or by a radio frequency signal from the outside. In order to further save electric energy, the detection module can be in a standby state with low or no power consumption most of the time, but is only intermittently in an operating state according to a preset wake-up time in the micro control unit and/or triggered only by an external radio frequency signal.

A second aspect of the utility model relates to a screw fastening system comprising a screw fastening device and a detection module according to the foregoing.

It should be noted that features, functions, effects, advantages and the like according to one aspect of the present utility model can be referred to the above description of other aspects of the present utility model as well. Furthermore, the various aspects described in the present utility model may be combined with each other in various ways.

Drawings

FIG. 1 illustrates an arrangement of a detection module and associated threaded fastening means according to one embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 2 shows an arrangement of a detection module and associated threaded fastening means according to another embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of a detection module and associated threaded fastening means according to another embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement of a detection module and associated threaded fastening means according to another embodiment of the present utility model;

FIG. 5 shows an arrangement of a detection module and associated threaded fastening means according to another embodiment of the present utility model; and

fig. 6 shows a block diagram of a detection module according to an embodiment of the utility model.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows an arrangement of a detection module and an associated screw fastening device according to an embodiment of the utility model. In fig. 1, the threaded fastening device 2 is a device structure consisting of a threaded fastener 21 (here a stud, in particular a chemical anchor), a nut 22 and a washer 23. The screw-thread fastening structure 2 has a longitudinal axis L. The screw fastening device 2 is arranged for fastening a load 3 to be fastened under a mounting surface 4. Here, the mounting surface 4 is a surface of the concrete structure 41.

The detection module 1 for monitoring the failure of the screw fastening device 2 shown in fig. 1 is mounted on the screw fastening device 2, here its nut 22. The detection module 1 has a housing 14, an acceleration sensor 11, a rotation sensor 12, and a signal processing unit 13 in signal connection with the acceleration sensor 11 and the rotation sensor 12.

In the event of failure of the screw-thread fastening device 2, there may be mainly two movements, namely a rotational movement of the screw-thread fastener or nut in the screw-thread fastening device 2 when the screw-thread fastening device is rotated loose, namely a rotational movement R of the nut 22 around the screw-thread fastener 21, indicated by the hatched circular arrow; and translational movement on the threaded fastening means 2, i.e. translational movement T of the threaded fastening means 2 indicated by the hatched straight arrow, when the threaded fastening means 2 fails due to slipping out, creep elongation, partial fracture and material denaturation of the mounting surface. This translational movement is understood in the present embodiment as a displacement of the threaded fastening means 2 in its longitudinal direction (longitudinal axis L).

In order to detect failure of the screw tightening device 1, the detection module 1 is attached on the radially outer portion of the nut 22 as shown in fig. 1, which is such that when the screw tightening device 2 fails due to the loosening of the nut 22 rotation, the rotating nut 22 will bring the detection module 1 to rotate together. In the detection module 1, a rotational movement R of the threaded fastener 21 on the threaded fastening device 2, i.e. the nut 22, fixed around the position can then be detected by means of the rotation sensor 12. The rotation sensor 12 can in particular be a gyroscope, in particular a MEMS gyroscope, for measuring the rotation of the screw fastening device 2. On the other hand, it is also possible to detect a translational movement T on the threaded fastening device 2, in this case a displacement of the nut 23 in the longitudinal direction of the entire threaded fastening device 2, by means of the acceleration sensor 11 integrated together in the detection module 1, by the threaded fastening 21 being lengthened or lowered in the event of failure. Therefore, the detection module 1 can realize more comprehensive monitoring of various failure modes of the screw fastening device 2, so that the screw fastening device 2 can be monitored early when any failure occurs, further progress of the failure or superposition of various failures is avoided, and personal and property losses caused by complete failure and falling of the screw fastening device 2 are effectively prevented.

In order to simplify the installation of the screw-thread fastening device 2, it is also conceivable that the detection module 1 is integrated with the radially outer part of the nut 22 in the configuration shown in fig. 1. Whereby the detection module 1 can be supplied with the nut 22, thereby saving the installation step.

Fig. 2 shows an arrangement of a detection module and an associated screw fastening device according to another embodiment of the utility model. The detection module 1 in fig. 2 likewise has a housing 14, an acceleration sensor 11, a rotation sensor 12, and a signal processing unit 13 which is connected to the acceleration sensor 11 and the rotation sensor 12 in a signal-transmitting manner. The rotation sensor 12 is likewise preferably designed as a gyroscope, in particular as a MEMS gyroscope. The difference from fig. 1 is that the detection module 1 is fitted around the periphery of the nut 22 via its housing 14. In this way, when the screw tightening device 2 fails due to the loosening of the nut 22, the rotated nut 22 will also drive the detection module 1 to rotate together. The rotational movement R of the nut 22 about the threaded fastener 21 can then likewise be detected by means of the rotation sensor 12 of the detection module 1, preferably a gyroscope. At the same time, it is also possible to detect the displacement of the threaded fastener 21, which is elongated or lowered in the event of failure, with the nut 22 in the longitudinal direction of the entire threaded fastening device 2 by means of the acceleration sensor 11 integrated together in the detection module 1.

In order to simplify the installation of the screw-thread fastening device 2, it is also conceivable that the detection module 1 is integrated with the outer circumference of the nut 22 in the configuration shown in fig. 2. This means that the detection module 1 can be supplied with the nut 22, in particular that the nut 22 thus supplied can have, for example, the sleeve-like appearance as shown in fig. 2.

Fig. 3 shows an arrangement of a detection module and an associated screw fastening device according to another embodiment of the utility model. The threaded fastener 21 in the threaded fastening device 2 is mounted in this case in an inverted orientation with respect to fig. 1. Here, the nut 22 is fixedly received in the concrete member 41, and the threaded fastener 21 is reversely screwed with the nut 22 for hoisting the load 3. In the embodiment shown, the detection module 1 may be attached or integrated on the radially outer part of the head of a threaded fastener 21 (here a bolt).

In addition, fig. 3 shows that instead of the acceleration sensor 11 and the rotation sensor 12 being separate from each other, an inertial measurement unit 15 is used in the detection module 1 for detecting the rotational movement R of the threaded fastener 21 about the fixed nut 22 and the translational movement T on the threaded fastener 2.

Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of a detection module and an associated screw fastening device according to another embodiment of the utility model. The embodiment shown in fig. 4 differs from fig. 3 only in that the detection module 1 is mounted by its housing 14 on the periphery of the threaded fastener 21 head, i.e. the screw head. Whereby the detection module 1 can be supplied with threaded fasteners, thereby saving the installation steps.

Fig. 5 shows an arrangement of a detection module and an associated screw fastening device according to another embodiment of the utility model. In order to reduce the costs and simplify the processing of the data, an encoder for measuring the relative rotation between the threaded fastener and the nut of the threaded fastener 2 is used as the rotation sensor 12. For this purpose, the scanner and the code wheel of the encoder are each connected to a threaded fastener or nut of a threaded fastening device in a rotationally fixed manner.

As shown in fig. 5, in the case where the detection module 1 is fitted around the periphery of the nut 22, the encoder's code wheel 17 is disposed on a threaded fastener 21 (here, a stud), and the encoder's scanner 16 is fixed within the housing 14 of the detection module 1. Thus, when the screw fastening device 2 fails due to the loosening of the nut 22, the rotating nut 22 will also drive the detection module 1 to rotate together as a whole, so that the scanner 16 fixed in the detection module 1 is angularly displaced relative to the code wheel 17 provided on the screw fastening device 21. It is thereby possible to determine whether a rotational loosening has occurred in the screw-fastening device 2 by detecting the angular displacement with the aid of an encoder. Without being limited thereto, it is also conceivable to dispose the scanner 16 of the encoder eccentrically on the screw fastener 21 and fix the code wheel 17 of the encoder in the housing 14 of the detection module 1.

Fig. 6 shows a block diagram of a detection module according to an embodiment of the utility model. The detection module 1 in fig. 6 includes the acceleration sensor 11, the rotation sensor 12, and the signal processing unit 13 signal-connected to the acceleration sensor 11 and the rotation sensor 12 as described above. A logic device, such as an or gate, for example, may be integrated in the signal processing unit 13 so that the signal processing unit 13 outputs a failure notification signal upon receiving at least one of the displacement signal of the acceleration sensor 11 and the rotation signal of the rotation sensor 12. The detection module 1 may also comprise a power supply unit 18 and/or an energy harvesting unit in order to supply power to the various circuit components of the detection module 1. The power supply unit 18 may supply electrical energy via a dry cell or a battery, while the energy harvesting unit may preferably be a solar energy harvesting unit, a wind energy harvesting unit, a thermal energy harvesting unit, a fluid kinetic energy harvesting unit, an electromagnetic energy (e.g. radio frequency) harvesting unit, or the like. The detection module 1 may furthermore comprise an alarm unit 19, in particular an acoustic and/or light alarm unit, thereby providing a timely alarm to the monitoring personnel in the event of signs of failure, avoiding personal and property losses. Meanwhile, the detection module 1 may also have a communication unit 20, preferably a wireless communication unit, for transmitting the screw tightening device status, in particular reporting failure, to a data center, a data collection device, or the like. Particularly preferably, the communication unit 20 can transmit signals periodically and/or event-triggered. In addition, in order to achieve failure monitoring over the entire life cycle of the screw tightening device 2, the detection module 1 may also have a micro-control unit 24 for intermittently waking up the detection module 1, so that the detection module 1 may be in a standby state with low power consumption or without power consumption for most of the time, while the detection module 1 is in an operating state only according to a wake-up time preset in the micro-control unit 21. It should be noted that the block diagram of the detection module 1 shown in fig. 6 is merely exemplary. The circuit components of the detection module 1 can be deleted or changed according to specific needs.

The utility model is not limited to the embodiments shown, but includes or extends to all technical equivalents which fall within the effective scope of the appended claims. The positional references selected in the description, such as, for example, up, down, left, right, etc., refer to the direct description and the drawings shown and can be transferred to new positions in the sense of a change in position.

The features disclosed in this document can be essential for the implementation of the embodiments in different embodiments and can be implemented not only individually but also in any combination.

Although the present utility model has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the embodiments, and any person skilled in the art can make any possible variations and modifications to the technical solution of the present utility model by using the methods and technical matters disclosed above without departing from the spirit and scope of the present utility model, so any simple modifications, equivalent variations and modifications to the embodiments described above according to the technical matters of the present utility model are within the scope of the technical matters of the present utility model.

Claims (16)

1. A detection module for monitoring failure of a screw tightening device configured for tightening a load below a mounting surface, characterized in that the detection module is mounted on the screw tightening device, the detection module having a housing, an acceleration sensor, a rotation sensor and a signal processing unit in signal connection with the acceleration sensor and the rotation sensor.

2. A detection module according to claim 1, characterized in that the acceleration sensor is arranged for detecting a displacement of the screw fastening device in its longitudinal direction.

3. A detection module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotation sensor constitutes a gyroscope for measuring the rotation of the screw fastening device.

4. The detection module according to claim 3, wherein,

the detection module is attached to or integrated on the radially outer portion of the nut of the threaded fastening device or the threaded fastener head; or alternatively

The detection module is sleeved or integrated on the periphery of the nut of the threaded fastening device or the head of the threaded fastening device.

5. A detection module according to claim 3, wherein the acceleration sensor and the gyroscope are integrated in one inertial measurement unit.

6. A detection module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotation sensor constitutes an encoder for measuring the relative rotation between the threaded fastener and the nut of the threaded fastening device.

7. The detection module of claim 6, wherein the scanner and the code wheel of the encoder are respectively non-rotatably connected to a threaded fastener or nut of a threaded fastener device.

8. The inspection module of claim 7 wherein the inspection module is assembled over the periphery of the nut and the scanner or code wheel of the encoder is disposed on the threaded fastener.

9. The detection module according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the signal processing unit outputs the failure indication signal upon receiving at least one of a displacement signal of the acceleration sensor and a rotation signal of the rotation sensor.

10. A detection module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the detection module comprises an alarm unit connected to the signal processing unit.

11. A detection module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the detection module comprises a communication unit connected to the signal processing unit.

12. Detection module according to claim 11, characterized in that the communication unit sends signals periodically and/or triggered by events.

13. A detection module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the detection module comprises a power supply unit and/or an energy harvesting unit.

14. The detection module of claim 13, wherein the energy harvesting unit is a solar energy harvesting unit, a wind energy harvesting unit, a thermal energy harvesting unit, a fluid kinetic energy harvesting unit, or an electromagnetic energy harvesting unit.

15. Detection module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the detection module is intermittently awakened by means of a built-in micro control unit and/or by radio frequency signals from the outside.

16. A screw fastening system, characterized in that it comprises screw fastening means and a detection module according to one of claims 1 to 15.