ELECTRONIC TORQUE WRENCH AND METHOD FOR TORQUING FASTENERS
First Claim
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1. A torque wrench, comprising:
- a handle; and
,a head including—
a first portion for engaging and applying torque to a fastener about a rotational axis of the fastener,a second portion pivotally coupled with the handle for allowing the handle to pivot to any of a plurality of positions relative to the head, andmeans on the head for measuring the amount of torque applied to the fastener irrespective of the pivotal position of the handle.
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Abstract
An electronic torque wrench having a flexible head provides accurate torque measurements irrespective of the angular position of the head relative to a handle on which the force is applied. The head includes first and second portions connected by at least three pivotal links. One of the links is used to react against the entire torque applied to the handle, regardless of the pivotal position of the handle. An electronic strain gauge on the torque-reacting link provides a measurement of the torque applied to the fastener.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A torque wrench, comprising:
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a handle; and
,a head including— a first portion for engaging and applying torque to a fastener about a rotational axis of the fastener, a second portion pivotally coupled with the handle for allowing the handle to pivot to any of a plurality of positions relative to the head, and means on the head for measuring the amount of torque applied to the fastener irrespective of the pivotal position of the handle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An electronic torque wrench having a flexible drive head, comprising:
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a handle for applying a force; a head including a first portion adapted to engage and apply a force to a fastener about an axis of rotation, and a second portion between the handle and the first portion; a hinge pivotally connecting the handle with the second portion of the head and allowing the handle to pivot to any of a plurality of positions relative to the head; a torque reacting first link connecting the first and second portions of the head for reacting against substantially the entire force applied through the handle to the first portion of the head irrespective of the pivotal position of the handle; and an electronic sensor on the head for measuring the amount of torque applied to the fastener. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of applying and measuring torque on a fastener using a torque wrench having a pivotal head, comprising:
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separating the head into first and second portions; connecting the first and second portions of the head by at least a first link; transmitting a force through the first link that results in substantially only torque being applied to the fastener; and
,measuring the torque transmitted through the first link. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An electronic torque wrench having a flexible drive head, comprising:
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a handle to which a force may be applied; a head including a first portion adapted to engage and apply a torque to a fastener within a plane extending substantially orthogonal to an axis about which the fastener rotates, and a second portion between the handle and the first portion; a hinge pivotally connecting the handle with the second portion of the head and allowing the handle to pivot out of the plane to any of a plurality of positions relative to the head; a torque reacting first link pivotally connecting the first and second portions of the head for reacting against substantially only torque applied through the handle to the first portion of the head irrespective of the pivotal position of the handle, the first link having pivot points on opposite ends thereof and a longitudinal axis passing through the pivot points and extending orthogonal to the axis about which the fastener rotates; second and third links pivotally connecting the first and second portions of the head and reacting to off-axis force applied to the fastener by through the handle to the first portion; and
,a strain gauge on the first link for measuring the amount of torque applied to the fastener though the first link.
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25. A method of applying and measuring torque on a fastener using a torque wrench having a head pivotally connected to a handle, comprising:
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providing first and second head portions; engaging the fastener with the first head portion; pivotally connecting the first and second head portions using pivotal connections on opposite ends of a first link; pivotally connecting the first and second head portions by second and third links; pivotally connecting a handle to the second head portion; transmitting substantially all of the torque applied to the fastener through the first link; and
,using the second and third links to react against off-axis force applied to the fastener; and
,using an electronic strain gauge to measure the torque transmitted through the first link.
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Specification