JPB Système has announced important developments that further increase the functionality and accuracy of its Smart Washer device. Disruptive sealing technology improves MRO efficiencies by reducing the need to manually check the torque level thanks to touchless and wireless measurement of bolt axial load.
Currently, engineers can be quickly alerted to fasteners that are too tight or too loose and can address them accordingly to limit aircraft downtime. The washer performs the fundamental role of a standard option but uses intelligent connectivity by incorporating a proprietary strain gauge, as well as a transmission system into the washer, which via an accompanying reading device (Smart Reader), relays the information to maintenance engineers.
The enhancements to Smart Washer include a reduction of more than one third in the thickness of the device from 7.6mm to 5mm. By leveraging improvements in strain gauge technology, JPB Système has been able to respond to the needs of users with a smaller Smart Washer variant that is much easier to integrate and retrofit, while delivering the same functionality benefits as its larger counterpart. Thanks to its smaller sizer, the new-sized Smart Washer can also be used across an increased number of areas within the aircraft, while the original 7.6mm washer has proven itself to be increasingly suited to experimental scenarios in on-the-ground test environments.
Furthermore, as a result of its smaller size, the 5mm Smart Washer offers a weight reduction of one-third, which contributes to overall objectives for improved lighter weight.
Increased accuracy of nearly 60% offers improved safety
A crucially important development with JPB’s new Smart Washer is improved accuracy. Thanks to enabling relative measurement which calibrates the Smart Washer directly on the customer’s bolt, JPB now offers the ability for engineers to view the percentage of the tension, rather than the value of the bolt axial load, as was the case previously. This has increased the accuracy of the device from +/- 6% to +/- 2.5% which amounts to a much greater level of safety.
Safety is further improved thanks to new validated redundancy measurement, which allows Smart Washer to "control" itself to eliminate incorrect readings in the unlikely event of a software issue. This is enabled by double the amount of measurement points on the washer, which means that upon a false reading, the system immediately alerts the engineer before taking another measurement from another area of the device.
