Equipment Comprising at Least One Rotary Member and Means for Measuring Vibrational Frequencies of Said Member to Determine Its Wear Condition, Corresponding Control Unit and Method

• US 20080271580A1
• Filed: 02/23/2006
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Etablissements Georges Renault SAS (Atlas Copco AB)
• Original Assignee: Etablissements Georges Renault SAS (Atlas Copco AB)
• Inventors: Gilibert, Arnaud, Pineau, Laurent, Le Du, Nicolas, Marie, Vincent, Allenou, Benoit
• Granted Patent: US 7,735,374 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 81/467
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/06 Screw or nut setting or loosening machines
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 17/12 for indicating or measuring vibration
• 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: G05B 19/4065 Monitoring tool breakage, life or condition
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37435 Vibration of machine
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/50325 As function of measured vibrations

Abstract

The subject of this disclosure concerns a screwing equipment comprising at least one rotary member (1), (21); (22), (3) mounted in a tool body (1)) and capable of producing at least one vibrational frequency representing a wear condition of said rotary member(s). The subject of this disclosure is characterized in that it comprises means for measure (5) said vibrational frequencies designed to communicate (1) with means for processing (52) said measurement enabling same to be compared to at least one reference frequency in order to determine said wear condition.

Claims

1. Screwing tool including at least one rotary member (1), (21), (22), (3) mounted in a tool body (10) and capable of producing at least one vibration frequency representing a condition of wear of said rotary member(s),

characterised in that it includes means (5) for measuring said vibration frequency or frequencies intended to communicate with means (52) for processing said measurement, making it possible to compare it with at least one reference frequency so as to determine the condition of wear.

2. The screwing tool according to claim 1, characterised in that said rotary member(s) (1), (21), (22), (3) are intended to produce a tightening torque, with said measurement means (5) including at least means for measuring said torque.

3. The screwing tool according to claim 2, characterised in that said processing means (52) include calculation means making it possible to process a frequency spectrum obtained on the basis of a signal transmitted by said means (5) for measuring said torque.

4. The screwing tool according to claim 1, characterised in that said processing means (52) include means for storing a reference frequency relative to each of said rotary members (1), (21), (22), (3).

5. The screwing tool according to claim 1, characterised in that a reference frequency is stored for at least one of the members belonging to the following group:

motor (1);

bell crank member (3); and

gear member (21), (22).

6. The screwing tool according to claim 1 characterised in that it includes means for issuing an alert when at least one of said vibration frequencies measured reaches a predetermined level with respect to a reference frequency.

7. The screwing tool according to claim 1, characterised in that said processing means (52) are integrated in a control unit (6) separate from said tool.

8. The screwing tool according to claim 7, characterised in that said unit (6) includes at least one display device (62).

9. The screwing tool according to claim 7, characterised in that said unit (6) includes communication means (61) capable of being connected to a communication network.

10. Control unit (6) intended to be provided in equipment including at least one rotary member (1), (21), (22), (3) mounted in a tool body (40) and capable of producing at least one vibration frequency representing a condition of wear of said rotary member(s), characterised in that it includes means (52) for processing at least one vibration frequency measurement making it possible to compare it with at least one reference frequency so as to determine said condition of wear, which equipment includes means (5) for measuring said vibration frequency or frequencies.

11. Method for checking the condition of wear of equipment including at least one rotary member mounted in a tool body (10) and capable of producing at least one vibration frequency representing a condition of wear of said rotary member(s) (1), (21), (22), (3), characterised in that it includes the steps of:

measuring said vibration frequency or frequencies; and

comparing said vibration frequency or frequencies with at least one reference frequency in order to determine said condition of wear.