Torque-angle instrument
First Claim
1. A method for measuring applied torque and applied angle to a workpiece either individually or simultaneously comprising the steps of:
- providing a wrench having a gripping section, a drive head, and internal circuitry coupled to the drive head, wherein the circuitry comprises a microprocessor having stored programming, input means, output means, and a power supply for powering the microprocessor, the input means and the output means;
engaging the drive head of the wrench to a workpiece;
applying torque to the workpiece around the drive head;
operating the input means to create a first signal related to the torque and angle being applied to the workpiece;
receiving the first signal into the microprocessor from the input means;
interpreting the signal by the stored programming;
sending the interpreted signal to the output means;
displaying the interpreted signal as an accurate torque measure and/or angle measure from the output means.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic torque-angle instrument including a generally tubular body having a gripping section and a pivoting head for engaging a workpiece, such as a nut or bolt, and a housing associated with the body and containing electronics, including a microprocessor, which permit individual or simultaneous measurement of torque and angle applied to the workpiece. The microprocessor includes stored programs which interpret a signal from an input, such as a gyroscopic sensor, and sends the interpreted signal to an output means. The signal is finally displayed as an accurate torque measure and/or angle measure from the output means
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A method for measuring applied torque and applied angle to a workpiece either individually or simultaneously comprising the steps of:
-
providing a wrench having a gripping section, a drive head, and internal circuitry coupled to the drive head, wherein the circuitry comprises a microprocessor having stored programming, input means, output means, and a power supply for powering the microprocessor, the input means and the output means;
engaging the drive head of the wrench to a workpiece;
applying torque to the workpiece around the drive head;
operating the input means to create a first signal related to the torque and angle being applied to the workpiece;
receiving the first signal into the microprocessor from the input means;
interpreting the signal by the stored programming;
sending the interpreted signal to the output means;
displaying the interpreted signal as an accurate torque measure and/or angle measure from the output means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. An electronic torque-angle instrument comprising:
-
a generally tubular body including a gripping section and a pivoting head for engaging a workpiece, such as a nut or bolt; and
a housing associated with the body and containing electronics, including a microprocessor, which permit individual or simultaneous measurement of torque and angle applied to the workpiece. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
-
21. A torque-angle instrument comprising:
-
a handle for applying torque through a tightening angle at a rotational angular velocity; and
electronics including stored program providing at least one of the features selected from the group consisting of bending beam deflection compensation;
simultaneous torque and angle measurement;
preset scroll stop at full-scale torque only;
scroll through (past) angle mode without waiting for sensor initialization;
angle mode torque units from last changed units;
ignoring angle measure in reverse direction;
sensor output offset monitoring;
alternating display of peak torque and angle values;
use of pre-torque direction to select allowable angle sensing direction;
use of integer math to yield accuracy comparable to floating-point math;
motion indicator at angle sensor initialization;
temperature drift compensation;
direct connection of the torque and angle sensors to the microprocessors;
angle zero set function;
signal level monitoring for over-speed indication; and
sample data interrupt technique used to convert instantaneous angular velocity signal to filtered angle position.
-
-
22. A torque-angle wrench comprising:
-
a handle for applying torque through a tightening angle at a rotational angular velocity;
a torque-angle applying adapter attached to the handle; and
a piezoelectric gyroscopic sensor, including vibrating body responsive to rotation of said handle for generating an electrical signal representative of a desired measurable parameter.
-
Specification