Patent ID: 11940418
Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 7:
8. A method for inspecting characteristics of a bolted connection, comprising:
(a) transiently attaching a portable system to at least a portion of a bolted connection, wherein the portable system comprises a first PZT transducer, a second PZT transducer movably positioned adjacent to the first PZT transducer, a first rod having a first transducer end on which the first PZT transducer is mounted and having a first spring for applying a force on the first rod to move the first PZT transducer toward the second PZT transducer, a second rod having a second transducer end on which the second PZT transducer is mounted and having a second spring for applying a force on the second rod to move the second PZT transducer toward the first PZT transducer, wherein the second rod is movably positioned in a linear fashion adjacent to the first rod, a fixture on which the first rod and the second rod are movably mounted, wherein the fixture connects to ends of the first spring and the second spring, and connectors attached to the PZT transducers,
wherein the portable system is transiently attached to at least a portion of the bolted connection by moving the first rod away from the second rod to separate the first PZT transducer from the second PZT transducer, by positioning the portion of the bolted connection between the first PZT transducer and the second PZT transducer and by releasing the first rod and the second rod, whereby compressive forces from the first spring and the second spring cause the first PZT transducer and the second PZT transducer to move toward each other and to contact opposing positions on the portion of the bolted connection;
(b) transmitting signals from the PZT transducers through the connectors to provide information about the characteristics of the bolted connection;
(c) removing the portable system from the bolted connection; and
repeating steps (a) and (b) for additional bolted connections using the portable system.