Programmable tool orientation based, assembly tightening control

• US 10,160,106 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2016
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Subramaniam, Ajanthan, Rose, James Clifford, Moreau, Jordan James
• Primary Examiner(s): Shakeri, Hadi
• Application Number:
  US15/136,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20170305002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 975 Days
• Field of Search: 81469
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1456 having electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers

Abstract

In an embodiment herein, a tool is described. The tool comprises an inclinometer configured to determine a first inclination of the tool; and transmit a first indicator to a controller in response to determining the first inclination of the tool. The tool further comprises a controller interface configured to receive a first program from the controller in response to transmitting the first indicator. The tool further comprises a tool head configured to tighten a first fastener based, at least in part, on the first program.

Claims

1. A tool comprising:

an inclinometer including a training device configured to generate a signal responsive to the tool being positioned at a first inclination, the signal being configured to associate the first inclination with a first indicator, the first indicator being configured to indicate that the inclinometer is at the first inclination,

the training device also being configured to generate another signal responsive to the tool being positioned at a second inclination, the other signal being configured to associate the second inclination with a second indicator, the second indicator being configured to indicate that the inclinometer is at the second inclination,

the inclinometer being configured to;

determine a current inclination of the tool;

determine if the current inclination of the tool is one of the first inclination and the second inclination;

if the current inclination is the first inclination, transmit the first indicator to a controller;

if the current inclination is the second inclination, transmit the second indicator to the controller;

a controller interface configured to receive from the controller a first program associated with the first inclination, in response to transmitting the first indicator, and also configured to receive from the controller a second program associated with the second inclination, in response to transmitting the second indicator; and

a tool head configured to tighten a first fastener based, at least in part, on the first program, and also configured to tighten a second fastener based, at least in part, on the second program.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is a nutrunner.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first inclination is part of a first range of inclinations.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second inclination is part of a second range of inclinations.

5. A method for inclination based program selection in a tool, the method comprising:

receiving, by an inclinometer, a signal from a training device responsive to the tool being positioned at a first inclination, the signal being configured to associate the first inclination with a first indicator based, at least in part, upon receiving the signal, the first indicator being configured to indicate that the inclinometer is at the first inclination;

receiving, by the inclinometer, another signal from the training device responsive to the tool being positioned at a second inclination, the other signal being configured to associate the second inclination with a second indicator based, at least in part, upon receiving the other signal, the second indicator being configured to indicate that the inclinometer is at the second inclination;

determining, by the inclinometer after association of the first inclination with the first indicator and after association of the second inclination with the second indicator, a current inclination of the tool;

determining, by the inclinometer, if the current inclination of the tool is one of the first inclination of the tool and the second inclination of the tool;

responsive to a determination that the current inclination is the first inclination;

transmitting, by the inclinometer, the first indicator to a controller;

receiving, by the tool, a first program from the controller in response to transmitting the first indicator; and

tightening, by the tool, a first fastener based, at least in part, on the first program;

responsive to a determination that the current inclination is the second inclination;

transmitting, by the inclinometer, the second indicator to the controller;

receiving, by the tool, a second program from the controller in response to transmitting the second indicator; and

tightening, by the tool, a second fastener based, at least in part, on the second program.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the tool is a nutrunner.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second inclination is part of a second range of inclinations.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the first inclination is part of a first range of inclinations.

9. A system for inclination based program selection, the system comprising:

a training device;

a tool comprising an inclinometer including a training interface configured to receive a signal from the training device responsive to the tool being positioned at a first inclination, the signal being configured to associate the first inclination with a first indicator based, at least in part, upon receiving the signal, the first indicator being configured to indicate that the inclinometer is at the first inclination,

the training interface also being configured to receive another signal from the training device responsive to the tool being positioned at a second inclination, the other signal being configured to associate the second inclination with a second indicator based, at least in part, upon receiving the other signal, the second indicator being configured to indicate that the inclinometer is at the second inclination,

the inclinometer being configured to;

determine a current inclination of the tool;

determine if the current inclination is one of the first inclination and the second inclination;

if the current inclination is the first inclination, transmit to a controller the first indicator;

if the current inclination is the second inclination, transmit to the controller the second indicator;

a controller interface configured to receive a first program from the controller in response to transmitting the first indicator, and also configured to receive a second program from the controller in response to transmitting the second indicator; and

a tool head configured to tighten a first fastener based, at least in part, on the first program, and also configured to tighten a second fastener based, at least in part, on the second program; and

the controller configured to;

receive the first indicator;

determine the first program based, at least in part on the first indicator; and

transmit the first program to the tool,

the controller also being configured to;

receive the second indicator;

determine the second program based, at least in part on the second indicator; and

transmit the second program to the tool.

10. The system of claim 9 further wherein the training device comprises a switch, the training device configured to output the signal in response to toggling the switch to a first position, the training device also being configured to output the other signal in response to toggling the switch to a second position.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the tool is a nutrunner.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the second inclination is part of a second range of inclinations.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a second indication from the inclinometer;

determine whether the first fastener has been tightened;

in response to determining the first fastener has been tightened, transmit a second program to the tool; and

in response to determining the first fastener has not been tightened, delay transmitting the second program to the tool.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the first inclination is part of a first range of inclinations.