System for Providing Quantitative Process Control of Finesse Polishing

• US 20090186556A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Hermann, Justin L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,922,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 451/5
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 23/005 Auxiliary devices used in connection with portable grinding machines, e.g. holders
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 49/00 Measuring or gauging equipment for controlling the feed movement of the grinding tool or work; Arrangements of indicating or measuring equipment, e.g. for indicating the start of the grinding operation B24B33/06, B24B37/005 take precedence; if applicable to other machine tools, B23Q15/00 - B23Q17/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 49/16 taking regard of the load

Abstract

A system for providing quantitative process control of a finesse polishing based upon feedback to the operator as to whether he/she is meeting the one or more predetermined key control characteristics (KCCs). One or more sensors provide data to a controller, wherein the controller provides the operator feedback regarding his/her operational compliance with respect to the KCCs, and disables operation in the event of operator noncompliance, with the intention to promote proper operator procedure and prevent operator error when polishing a flawed painted surface.

Claims

1. A system for providing quantitative process control of a power hand tool, comprising:

a hand tool having predetermined operational characteristics when operating;

a controller;

at least one sensor sensing at least one operational characteristic of the predetermined operational characteristics, said at least one sensor being connected to said controller to thereby provide said controller with data related to the at least one operational characteristic; and

a controlled switch connected with said tool and said controller such that said controller selectively enables and disables said controlled switch, wherein said controlled switch enables power to said tool when said controlled switch is enabled, and wherein said controlled switch disables power to said tool when said controlled switch is disabled;

wherein said controller selectively enables and disables said controlled switch responsive to said at least one sensor sensing the at least one operational characteristic.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a feedback indicator connected with said controller;

wherein said controller registers, at said feedback indicator, selected information regarding the data.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said tool comprises a polishing tool;

and wherein the at least one operational characteristic comprises at least one key control characteristic of the operation of the tool.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one operational characteristic comprises applied force of said tool with respect to a surface;

wherein said controller enables and disables said controlled switch responsive to said controller determining either one of the applied force being below a predetermined minimum applied force and the applied force being above a predetermined maximum applied force.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor senses rotational speed of said tool;

wherein said controller converts the rotational speed into the applied force according to a predetermined relationship therebetween.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said controller provides a first indication at said feedback indicator responsive to the applied force being between the maximum and minimum applied forces;

said controller provides a second indication at said feedback indicator responsive to the applied force being above the maximum applied force;

said controller provides a third indication at said feedback indicator responsive to the applied force being below the minimum applied force; and

said controller provides a fourth indication at said feedback indicator responsive to said controller disabling said controlled switch.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising an operator reset device connected to said controller, wherein when said controller disables said controlled switch, a manual reset of said operator reset device is required before said controller will thereafter enable said controlled switch.

8. The system of claim 3, wherein said at least one operational characteristic comprises polishing time;

wherein said controller further selectively enables and disables said controlled switch responsive to said polishing tool being operated in compliance with said polishing time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor senses rotational speed of said tool;

wherein said controller converts the rotational speed into the applied force according to a predetermined relationship therebetween.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein:

said controller provides a first indication at said feedback indicator responsive to the applied force being between the maximum and minimum applied forces;

said controller provides a second indication at said feedback indicator responsive to the applied force being above the maximum applied force;

said controller provides a third indication at said feedback indicator responsive to the applied force being below the minimum applied force; and

said controller provides a fourth indication at said feedback indicator responsive to said controller disabling said controlled switch.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an operator reset device connected to said controller, wherein when said controller disables said controlled switch, a manual reset of said operator reset device is required before said controller will thereafter enable said controlled switch.

12. A method for providing quantitative process control of a tool, comprising the steps of:

determining at least one operational characteristic of a tool;

determining an acceptable range of each respective operational characteristic of the at least one operational characteristic of the tool;

operating the tool;

sensing operation of the tool to thereby provide data relating to the least one operational characteristic of the tool during the operation of the tool; and

automatically disabling operation of the tool in response to said step of sensing if operation of the tool is outside the acceptable range of an operational characteristic of the at least one operational characteristic.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

indicating information regarding tool operation with respect to the acceptable range of at least one operational characteristic of the tool.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of determining at least one operational characteristic comprises determining at least one key control characteristic of a polishing tool.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of determining an acceptable range of each operational characteristic of the at least one characteristic of the tool comprises:

determining a range of acceptable applied force of the polishing tool with respect to a surface.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of sensing comprises:

sensing rotational speed of the polishing tool; and

converting the rotational speed into the applied force according to a predetermined relationship therebetween.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising manually resetting an operator reset device in the event the polishing tool has been automatically disabled in said step of automatically disabling in order to thereby re-enable operation of the tool.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of sensing comprises:

sensing rotational speed of the polishing tool; and

converting the rotational speed into the applied force according to a predetermined relationship therebetween.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein said step of determining an acceptable range of each respective operational characteristic of the at least one operational characteristic of the tool comprises:

determining a polishing time of the polishing tool.

20. The system of claim 12, further comprising momentarily disabling said tool at the end of the polishing time.