US3914992A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Load measuring gage
Assignee: United States Department of the Interior
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Filing: 1974-08-12
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A load measuring gage with a vibratory wire. In the embodiment preferred for its cost, a single short stressed piano wire is fixed at its ends in a vertical cut out slot in a steel gage body. If accuracy is more important than cost, three of these wires equidistantly spaced in individual vertical slots on a steel gage body may be used in an alternate embodiment. The steel gage body may be in the shape of a hollow cylinder which is made from medium carbon steel tubing. Each of the piano wires employed are tensioned to tens of thousands of pounds per square inch stress and then crimped into slots in the gage body. When in place with a load placed on ends of the gage body, a low voltage readout system can be used to pluck the wires to determine its initial vibratory mode. Should the load be due to a tightened rock bolt, the initial voltage reading can be correlated to the torque placed on the tightened bolt. Subsequent readings made by the readout system can be used to indicate variations from the initial vibration readings and thereby alert observers to changes in the tension on the bolt.
Inventors
- 👤 Clarence O Babcock
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:33
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/10; G01L1/106; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S116/00; Y10S116/34; Y10S73/00; Y10S73/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
A small vibratory wire load measuring gage for use as a load cell comprising: a rigid gage body having at least one generally vertical slot in its outer side and an upper and lower load bearing body surface; and a wire made of material having a high yield stress tensioned in said slot extending in the same direction as the slot and being anchored only by the gage body material at its ends in two narrow body anchor slots located on opposite ends of said vertical slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
A small vibratory wire load measuring gage for use as a load cell comprising: a rigid gage body having at least one generally vertical slot in its outer side and an upper and lower load bearing body surface; and a wire made of material having a high yield stress tensioned in said slot extending in the same direction as the slot and being anchored only by the gage body material at its ends in two narrow body anchor slots located on opposite ends of said vertical slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The gage of claim 1 wherein said gage body is made of a material having less than half the yield stress of the wire.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The gage of claim 1 wherein the gage anchors the wire by crimping its ends in said narrow slots that are forced shut under pressure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The gage of claim 1 wherein a central mounting hole extends through the gage body for mounting a load receiving apparatus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The gage of claim 1 wherein there are three equidistantly spaced slots with each slot having its own tensioned wire.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The gage of claim 1 wherein the yield stress of said wire is over 100,000 pounds per square inch and said wire is tensioned to greater than 10,000 pounds per square inch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The gage of claim 1 wherein said gage body is made of steel and is less than 2 inches in overall length.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The gage of claim 7 wherein there are three equidistantly spaced vertical slots and a vertical wire tensioned by over 10, 000 pounds per square inch in each slot.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The gage of claim 1 wherein said gage body is cylindrical in shape with a central aperture extending the length of said body, and a plurality of Said vertical slots are equidistantly spaced in and around the periphery of said body with their vertical directions being parallel to said aperture.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
A combined measuring gage and rock bolt comprising: an elongated rock bolt with an earth engaging anchor one end and a bolt tensioning means on the other end; a load gage through which said rock bolt can inserted, said gage having a rigid gage body with a plurality of generally vertically slots in its outer side surface; and a vibratory tensioned wire anchored in each vertical slot only by the gage body material at its opposite ends and extending in the same direction as each vertical slot.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
A combined measuring gage and rock bolt comprising: an elongated rock bolt with an earth engaging anchor one end and a bolt tensioning means on the other end; a load gage through which said rock bolt can inserted, said gage having a rigid gage body with a plurality of generally vertically slots in its outer side surface; and a vibratory tensioned wire anchored in each vertical slot only by the gage body material at its opposite ends and extending in the same direction as each vertical slot.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein each of said wires is anchored in said gage body by crimping the material of the gage body near the ends of the wire.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
The combination of claim 10 wherein each of said wires has a vibratory length less than 1 inch and is under a tension of at least 10,000 pounds per square inch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |