General Electric Company
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING FASTENER TENSION

Abstract:

A system for monitoring fastener tension includes a fastener clamping a first member to a second member. A load monitoring sensor is interposed between a nut and the second member, and outputs an electrical signal upon changes in fastener tension. A signal collection hub is connected to the load monitoring sensor so that the electrical signal is transmitted from the load monitoring sensor to the signal collection hub. The signal collection hub collects and converts electrical signals into a data package. A processor transforms the data package into a digital representation of mechanical data. The mechanical data is compared to a predetermined mechanical limit value by the processor. If a value of the mechanical data is equal to or less than the predetermined mechanical limit value then an indication is generated to indicate that the fastener should be serviced.