Method for controlling a screwdriver and screwdriver

• US 10,464,195 B2
• Filed: 11/08/2013
• Issued: 11/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wagner Vermogensverwaltungs-GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Wagner Vermogensverwaltungs-GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Andres, Gunter, Neiss, Gunter, Zimmer, Andreas, Linsel, Bernd, Bozek, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Chukwurah, Nathaniel C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Palmer, Lucas E. A.
• Application Number:
  US14/440,237
• Publication Number:
  US 20150290784A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,188 Days
• Field of Search: 173 1
• 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 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/44 for measuring angular speed G01P3/56 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for controlling a screwdriver that has an electromotor, the electromotor having a clear ratio of rotational speed (n) to torque (M) at a defined effective voltage (U_{eff soll}), involving the following method step: —defining an effective voltage (U_{eff soll}) for operating the electromotor, —defining a cut-off rotational speed (n_ab) that corresponds to a pre-defined cut-off torque (M_soll) at the pre-defined effective voltage (U_{eff soll}), —operating the screwdriver under load with the pre-defined effective voltage (U_{eff soll}), —during operation of the screwdriver: —determining the rotational speed (n), —shutting down the electromotor when the cut-off rotational speed (n_ab) is attained.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a screwdriver having an electric motor, the electric motor having a distinct ratio of rotational speed to torque at a given effective voltage, the method comprising:

predefining a constant effective voltage for the operation of the electric motor, said predefined effective voltage associated with an unloaded rotational speed;

predefining a cutoff rotational speed which corresponds to a predetermined cutoff torque at the predefined effective voltage, the cutoff rotational speed being a minimum speed threshold below which the cutoff torque is exceeded;

operating the screwdriver under load, wherein operating the screwdriver under load comprises maintaining the predefined effective voltage without controlling the rotational speed of the motor by dynamically adjusting the current;

during operation of the screwdriver under load, determining a detected rotational speed of the electric motor when the electric motor is operating at the predefined effective voltage, said detected rotational speed being less than the unloaded rotational speed; and

when the detected rotational speed at the predefined effective voltage is decreased to the cutoff rotational speed by the load, switching off the electric motor.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the effective voltage is regulated by means of pulse width modulation or phase angle control.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the phase angle or the pulse width modulation can be adjusted in a variable manner.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in operation, the effective voltage present at the electric motor is determined, and the effective voltage is adjusted if the effective voltage deviates from the predefined effective voltage.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a maximum rotational speed that the electric motor can generate is limited.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein after the start of the electric motor, a cutoff logic regulating the switching off of the electric motor is activated only after the cutoff speed has previously been reached or exceeded once or after a predefined period of time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the rotational speed is determined from operational data of the electric motor or is measured directly.

8. A screwdriver, comprising:

an output portion and a drive portion having an electric motor, the electric motor having a distinct ratio of rotational speed to torque at a given effective voltage, and the drive portion having a control means for controlling the electric motor, an effective voltage driving the electric motor being adjustable by means of the control means, said effective voltage being associated with an unloaded rotational speed,

wherein a rotational speed detecting device detects the rotational speed of the electromotor during operation of the screwdriver under load, wherein operation of the electric motor under load comprises operation of the electric motor at the effective voltage without control of the rotational speed of the motor based on dynamic adjustment of the current, said detected rotational speed being less than the unloaded rotational speed,

wherein a cutoff rotational speed, which at a predefined constant effective voltage corresponds to a predetermined cutoff torque, the cutoff rotational speed being a minimum speed threshold below which the cutoff torque is exceeded, is set by means of the control means, and

wherein the rotational speed detecting device transmits the detected rotational speed to the control means, with the control means switching off the electric motor when the detected rotational speed at the effective voltage is decreased to the cutoff rotational speed by the load.

9. The screwdriver of claim 8, wherein the control means comprises a pulse width modulation or phase angle control for adjusting the effective voltage.

10. The screwdriver of claim 8, wherein the electric motor is a universal motor or a DC motor.

11. The screwdriver of claim 8, wherein the control means or the output portion comprises a rotational speed limiter.

12. The screwdriver of claim 8, wherein the rotational speed detecting device comprises a rotational speed counter.