Fastening with load indicator

• Main Author: Barraclough, Andrew Saul
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 31.03.2022
• Subjects: BLASTING; DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS ORMACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS,CLIPS, WEDGES, JOINTS OR JOINTING; ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVEFUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; HEATING; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL; WEAPONS

- 10 A fastening for installation in concrete or the like has an indicator for visually indicating a loss or reduction in anchoring capacity of the fastening. The indicator comprises a spring washer interposed between a head of the fastening and a component being clamped by the fastening, the washer being deformable from an unstressed state to a compressed state upon setting of the fastening to a required loading and being returnable to or towards its unstressed configuration in response to loss or reduction of said loading to thereby cause a visual indication of such loss or reduction to be given. In one embodiment, the visual indication can be provided by an indicator cap applied to a head of the fastening and displaceable in response to return of the washer from its compressed state. In another embodiment, the visual indication is provided colouring a part of the washer in a bright colour which is observable upon return of the washer from its compressed state.