System for processing measurement data and/or measurement parameter data

• US 10,132,659 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2012
• Issued: 11/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eduard Wille GmbH & Co. KT.
• Original Assignee: Eduard Wille GmbH & Co. KT.
• Inventors: Pape, Klaus, Waind, David, Butanowitz, Horst, Backhaus, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Barbee, Manuel L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nimox, Raymond
• Application Number:
  US14/001,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20140067328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,457 Days
• Field of Search: 702187
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1425 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/00 Recording measured values
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 25/003 for measuring torque
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/84 Measuring functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (100) for processing measurement data and/or measurement parameter data which are read from a calibratable tool. The invention is characterized in that said system comprises a data conversion device (11) or protocol conversion device which, on the one hand, can be connected to a tool (10) via an interface in order to read the measurement data from the tool (10), and which, on the other hand, can be connected to a data processing device (12) via the same interface or an additional interface, wherein the data conversion device (11) performs a protocol conversion and/or a check of the measurement values so that measurement data from the different tools (10b, 10c, 10d) can be read with the aid of different interfaces and/or protocols by the data conversion device (11), the system thus allowing the use of tools with different protocols.

Claims

1. A method for use in safety-relevant installations including nuclear power plants and the aerospace industry, for processing measurement data or measurement parameter data which is read from multiple calibratable tools, wherein the multiple calibratable tools have different interfaces or different protocols, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

providing multiple calibratable tools, at least one of the multiple calibratable tools having an interface or protocol for data storage and transmission that is different from an interface or protocol for data storage and transmission of another of the multiple calibratable tools,

connecting a data conversion device (11) to an interface of each of the multiple calibratable tools, the data conversion device being a protocol conversion device,

connecting a data processing unit (12) to the data conversion device,

with the data conversion device (11), reading measurement data or measurement parameter data from the multiple calibratable tools,

with the data conversion device, performing a protocol conversion and a check of measured values so that measurement data from different tools (10 b, 10 c, 10 d) of the multiple calibratable tools, having different interfaces or protocols, can be read with the aid of different interfaces or protocols by the data conversion device (11) when connected to the data conversion device (11), and

after performing the protocol conversion at the data conversion device, transmitting the measurement data to the data processing unit so that the measurement data can be read by the data processing unit (12) without having to perform a protocol conversion at the data processing unit (12),

with the data processing unit, monitoring the use of the multiple calibratable tools and checking which user has used the calibratable tools;

with the data processing unit, checking as to whether the user has correctly adjusted a tool or whether the measured values have been correctly electronically adopted, and in response to the check, generating an indication of a state of readiness of the tool;

in response to the check, with the data processing unit, locking the tool to prevent use if the check indicates that the tool has not been correctly adjusted or the measured values have not been correctly electronically adopted.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the data processing unit (12) is connected, in particular bi-directionally, with a data base (13) or further data processing units.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

reading the measurement data of the tool (10) read into the data conversion device (11) by a hub or via radio.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

with the data processing unit (12), performing a data comparison of calibration data.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

with the data conversion device (11), recording settings or set values, and

with the data processing unit (12), checking the settings or set values.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

performing a check of the tool (10) or of set values of the tool (10) for checking the correctness of settings using a test instrument, wherein the check carried out by the data processing unit (12) involves a feedback message.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

with the data conversion device (11), generating or storing set values, measured values, time stamps, identification data or valuations.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the multiple calibratable tools is a tool (10) for producing a screw connection, in particular a torque wrench generating the measurement data.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the state of readiness is locked and/or OK, or not OK.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the measurement data comprises torques of screw connections, and

wherein the method further includes the step of, with the data processing unit, controlling operation of the multiple calibrate tools by communicating data relating to screw connection parameters to the multiple calibrate tools via the data conversion device to produce a screw connection with a predetermined tensioning force.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the data conversion device (11) is configured so that measurement data of the tool (10) read into the data conversion device (11) is read out continuously by a hub or via radio.

12. A method for use in safety-relevant installations including nuclear power plants and the aerospace industry, for processing measurement data or measurement parameter data which is read from multiple torque wrenches, wherein the multiple torque wrenches have different interfaces or different protocols, wherein the method comprises the steps of:

providing multiple torque wrenches, at least one of the multiple torque wrenches having an interface or protocol for data storage and transmission that is different from an interface or protocol for data storage and transmission of another of the multiple torque wrenches,

connecting a data conversion device (11) to an interface of each of the multiple torque wrenches,

connecting a data processing unit (12) to the data conversion device,

with the data conversion device (11), reading torques of screw connections from the multiple torque wrenches,

with the data conversion device, performing a protocol conversion and a check of measured values so that torques of screw connections from different torque wrenches of the multiple torque wrenches, having different interfaces or protocols, can be read with the aid of different interfaces or protocols by the data conversion device (11) when connected to the data conversion device (11),

after performing the protocol conversion at the data conversion device, transmitting the torques of screw connections to the data processing unit so that the torques of screw connections can be read by the data processing unit (12) without having to perform a protocol conversion at the data processing unit (12), and

with the data processing unit, locking the tool to prevent use if a check indicates that the tool has not been correctly adjusted or the measured values have not been correctly electronically adopted.