Patent US3851386A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3851386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of tensioning bolts
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1973-08-31
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Granted: 1974-12-03
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Expires: 1993-08-31
Abstract
Abstract The method of tensioning a nut engaging bolt comprising the steps of placing a first indexing mark in a visible location on the bolt, then, on a non-moving member which is juxtapositioned with respect to the bolt as the bolt is tensioned for joining two members together, placing a second indexing mark at a predetermined location on said non-moving member, at which location said second indexing mark is aligned with said first indexing mark when the bolt has been properly tensioned. Finally, the bolt is rotated while retaining the nut stationary for a predetermined number of complete rotations of the bolt, and a further fractional rotation sufficient to bring said first and second index marks into alignment.
Inventors
- 👤 L Ellzey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 08:29
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16B; F16B31/00; F16B31/02; F16B2200/00; F16B2200/95; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49764; Y10T29/49766; Y10T29/49767
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
The method of tensioning a nut-bolt combination comprising the steps of: placing a first indexing mark in a visible location on a portion of the nut-bolt combination; placing a second indexing mark at a predetermined location on a non-moving member which is juxtapositioned with respect to the portion of said nut-bolt combination carrying said first mark as the bolt of the combination is tensioned for joining two members together, said second indexing mark being positioned on said non-moving member at a location such that said first and second indexing marks are aLigned when the bolt has been properly tensioned; screw tightening the nut-bolt combination until the nut and the bolt head thereof are in positions of contact with the members to be joined by use of the nut-bolt combination; and then rotating the portion of said nut-bolt combination which carries said first indexing mark to tension the bolt, and continuing said rotation for a predetermined and specified number of complete rotations, and, in addition, effecting such further rotation of the head of the bolt as is needed to bring said first and second index marks into alignment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
187 words
The method of tensioning a nut-bolt combination comprising the steps of: placing a first indexing mark in a visible location on a portion of the nut-bolt combination; placing a second indexing mark at a predetermined location on a non-moving member which is juxtapositioned with respect to the portion of said nut-bolt combination carrying said first mark as the bolt of the combination is tensioned for joining two members together, said second indexing mark being positioned on said non-moving member at a location such that said first and second indexing marks are aLigned when the bolt has been properly tensioned; screw tightening the nut-bolt combination until the nut and the bolt head thereof are in positions of contact with the members to be joined by use of the nut-bolt combination; and then rotating the portion of said nut-bolt combination which carries said first indexing mark to tension the bolt, and continuing said rotation for a predetermined and specified number of complete rotations, and, in addition, effecting such further rotation of the head of the bolt as is needed to bring said first and second index marks into alignment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of tensioning a nut-bolt combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said first indexing mark is placed on the head of the bolt in the nut-bolt combination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of tensioning a bolt as defined in claim 2 wherein said second indexing mark is placed on one of the members to be joined by the bolt, and positioned immediately under the head of the bolt.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of tensioning a bolt as defined in claim 1 wherein the second indexing mark is placed on the nut.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of tensioning a nut as defined in claim 2 wherein said first indexing mark is one of the corners of the head of a bolt having a hexagonally shaped head.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
356 words
The improvement in a process for manufacturing bolts comprising: a. placing a visible mark on one of the bolts from an identically fabricated lot of bolts at a location offset from the rotational axis of the bolt so that the mark will rotate about the axis of the bolt as it is tightened; b. screwing on said one bolt, a nut from a lot of nuts fabricated identically for use on said bolts, effecting said screwing as the nut and bolt are used to join two structural members of the type intended to be joined by the bolt, and continuing said screwing until the nut is finger tight and against one of said two structural members; c. placing an indexing mark on a non-moving member adjacent the bolt in a location to facilitate visual observation of registration and alignment of said first mentioned mark with said indexing mark; d. turning the head of the bolt to tighten the bolt until the bolt fails, observing in doing so the number of turns of the bolt head, and the fraction of a complete additional turn undergone at failure; e. repeating steps a, b and c with a second bolt and second nut selected at random from said lots; f. turning the head of the second bolt to tighten the second bolt until the second bolt is visually and by feel placed in substantial tension, observing in doing so, the number of turns of the bolt head, and the fraction of a complete turn undergone by the bolt head; g. averaging the number of turns and the fractional turn of the bolt head at failure of the first bolt with the number of turns and fractional turn of the bolt head of the second bolt in achieving substantial tension; and h. preparing written instructions for optimum tensioning of the bolts of the lot, using said average value to indicate the extent to which the bolt head is to be turned, and placing visible indicia on the bolt head of each bolt being manufactured to indicate at least the number of complete turns of the head to effect optimum tensioning.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
356 words
The improvement in a process for manufacturing bolts comprising: a. placing a visible mark on one of the bolts from an identically fabricated lot of bolts at a location offset from the rotational axis of the bolt so that the mark will rotate about the axis of the bolt as it is tightened; b. screwing on said one bolt, a nut from a lot of nuts fabricated identically for use on said bolts, effecting said screwing as the nut and bolt are used to join two structural members of the type intended to be joined by the bolt, and continuing said screwing until the nut is finger tight and against one of said two structural members; c. placing an indexing mark on a non-moving member adjacent the bolt in a location to facilitate visual observation of registration and alignment of said first mentioned mark with said indexing mark; d. turning the head of the bolt to tighten the bolt until the bolt fails, observing in doing so the number of turns of the bolt head, and the fraction of a complete additional turn undergone at failure; e. repeating steps a, b and c with a second bolt and second nut selected at random from said lots; f. turning the head of the second bolt to tighten the second bolt until the second bolt is visually and by feel placed in substantial tension, observing in doing so, the number of turns of the bolt head, and the fraction of a complete turn undergone by the bolt head; g. averaging the number of turns and the fractional turn of the bolt head at failure of the first bolt with the number of turns and fractional turn of the bolt head of the second bolt in achieving substantial tension; and h. preparing written instructions for optimum tensioning of the bolts of the lot, using said average value to indicate the extent to which the bolt head is to be turned, and placing visible indicia on the bolt head of each bolt being manufactured to indicate at least the number of complete turns of the head to effect optimum tensioning.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
197 words
The improvement defined in claim 6 wherein the first and second bolts are tightened with a torque wrench and the value of the torque applied at failure of the first bolt and the value of the torque applied upon completing the turning of the head of the second bolt, are measured and averaged; then tightening a number of additional bolts from the lot in the same manner, using the same torque wrench, and turning the head of each such additional bolt until said average value of torque is applied thereto; observing the number of complete turns and the additional fraction of a complete turn undergone by each bolt in achieving such average torque value; and then averaging the number of complete turns and fraction of a complete turn undergone iN tensioning the several additional bolts to said average tension; and preparing written instructions for optimum tensioning of the bolts, using said average value to indicate the extent to which the bolt head is to be turned, and placing visible indicia on the bolt head of each bolt being manufactured to indicate at least the number of complete turns of the bolt head needed to effect optimum tensioning.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
161 words
The method of manufacturing bolts and nuts which comprises: a. determining the extent to which the shank of the bolt is elongated at the time of failure of the bolt due to tensioning the bolt for the purpose of joining two structural members together by the use of the bolt and of a nut intended to be used therewith; b. converting the determined shank elongation at failure of the bolt to a number of complete rotations and a fractional rotation of the bolt head or nut which, upon tightening the bolt in joining said structural members, will produce such elongation of the bolt shank; and c. placing visible indicia on the bolt or nut indicative of a number of rotations of the bolt or nut which should be employed for joining two such structural members together using such bolt and nut, said number of rotation being an arbitrary fraction of a complete turn less than the determined number of step b.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
161 words
The method of manufacturing bolts and nuts which comprises: a. determining the extent to which the shank of the bolt is elongated at the time of failure of the bolt due to tensioning the bolt for the purpose of joining two structural members together by the use of the bolt and of a nut intended to be used therewith; b. converting the determined shank elongation at failure of the bolt to a number of complete rotations and a fractional rotation of the bolt head or nut which, upon tightening the bolt in joining said structural members, will produce such elongation of the bolt shank; and c. placing visible indicia on the bolt or nut indicative of a number of rotations of the bolt or nut which should be employed for joining two such structural members together using such bolt and nut, said number of rotation being an arbitrary fraction of a complete turn less than the determined number of step b.
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) | 1977-12-02 | 1978-06-03 | 1978-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-02 | 1982-06-03 | 1982-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-02 | 1986-06-03 | 1986-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |