JPB Système, the manufacturer of technology solutions for aerospace, aeronautic and other industries has expanded its Smart Washer tightening monitoring technology portfolio with a new version engineered to extend its benefits to broader applications.
The innovative Smart Washer solution enables intelligent monitoring of bolt tightening, which improves maintenance efficiencies by reducing the need to manually check torque levels. Instead, engineers are able to check assemblies in real time via touchless and wireless measurement of bolt tightening before being alerted to fasteners that are too tight or too loose. This capability is particularly advantageous in environments in which bolts are difficult to access, facilitating easier predictive maintenance and reducing costs.
Complementing its RFID version of Smart Washer for aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul operations, JPB Système has introduced an alternative, WIRED Smart Washer and app. The new version extends its application use into other applications and sectors where accessibility due to significant height or distance is an issue and where remote monitoring from the ground is required.
This makes it especially suited to address obvious challenges when accessing, for example, certain elevated amusement park rides and aerial ski lifts, as well as scaffolding and other temporary structures in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings.
Unlike the RFID variant, which requires a manual check with an accompanying Smart Reader, the new WIRED solution is a connected ‘always-on’ device. As such, maintenance engineers enjoy measurement of tightening level anywhere and at any time. Automatic checks can be set at the desired time intervals, which in the event of tightening levels dropping below a pre-defined setting, would generate a text or email alert so that issues can be immediately addressed.
A log within a webapp also provides an historical record of measurement activity to enable quick and easy retrospective traceability. For many applications, maintenance checks using WIRED now take seconds compared to the minutes or hours of the classical manual solution – not only significantly reducing costs but minimising the risk of bolt breakages and potentially fatal accidents.
Jocelyn VECCHIO, Engineering & Innovation Director at JPB Système, adds: “There are many instances in which bolted assemblies are negatively subjected to prolonged vibrations, repeated stress, variations of temperature and shocks – all of which can lead to nut loosening, which in certain scenarios could be catastrophic.
“Our Smart Washer Program addresses such issues head-on, by providing the means to install periodic checks to monitor bolt tension and perform preventative maintenance before a situation escalates. In doing so, the eventuality of breakages or equipment malfunction is eradicated, avoiding costly shutdowns and invariably more expensive repairs. Essentially, Smart Washer can at the very least save significant financial cost, while potentially avoiding serious or lethal accidents.”
Smart Washer’s technology is based on a very thick metal body – only 5mm for both versions – that performs the role of a standard washer but uses intelligent connectivity and proprietary strain gauges to undertake the measurement and data transmission. Values are then relayed to maintenance engineers via the Smart Reader (RFID version) or app (WIRED version).
