Wireless manufacturing line control

• US 20100023152A1
• Filed: 07/23/2008
• Published: 01/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: CE Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CE Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Lysaght, Richard
• Application Number:
  US12/220,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20100023152A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/108
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/066 by electrical means

Abstract

This device is a wireless tool monitor assembly line interface. The current embodiment of this new tool monitor has the ability to communicate with multiple different tool types. Pneumatic, electric, click based torque tools, and strain gauge torque transducers can all be outfitted with a radio. Once outfitted with a radio, and programmed to communicate with a common protocol, all of these devices can communicate with the tool monitor. The device is especially useful with a plurality of wireless qualifiers for monitoring and controlling a plurality of wireless tools wherein the wireless qualifiers are configured to send wireless signals to the wireless interface: a plurality of wireless tools configured to send wireless signals to the wireless qualifiers; and a wireless self-contained internal power supply located in the transducer housing.

Claims

1. A wireless, manufacturing line control comprising:

a wireless tool monitor assembly line interface configured to identify signals from a plurality of wireless qualifiers for monitoring and controlling a plurality of wireless tools;

a plurality of wireless qualifiers for monitoring and controlling a plurality of wireless tools wherein the wireless qualifiers are configured to send wireless signals to the wireless interface;

a plurality of wireless tools configured to send wireless signals to the wireless qualifiers; and

a self-contained internal power supply located in the wireless tools.

2. A wireless line control according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of wireless tools further comprises a plurality of wireless, compressed air driven tools, wireless, electrically driven tools and wireless mechanical torque wrenches.

3. A wireless line control according to claim 1 wherein the wireless line control further comprises a wireless transceiver.

4. A wireless line control according to claim 1 wherein the wireless qualifiers further comprises a wireless transceiver.

5. A wireless line control according to claim 1 wherein the wireless line control is configured to supervise the plurality of wireless tools and configured to confirm if a fastening was good or bad (OK/NOK).

6. A wireless line control according to claim 1 wherein the wireless control further comprises multiple parameter sets and is programmed to utilize one parameter set at a time.

7. A wireless line control according to claim 6 wherein the multiple parameter sets wherein each of the parameter sets holds information about the tools and the liner control is configured to send results while in that parameter set.

8. A wireless line control according to claim 6 wherein the wireless line control is programmed to only accept signals from any one of the tools while in a given parameter set.

9. A wireless line control according to claim 1 wherein the wireless line control is configured for the use of multiple tools in a “

shoot and click”

environment wherein fastener are run with pneumatic tools and then confirmed with a click wrench.

10. A wireless line control according to claim 1 wherein the wireless line control is configured to carry out a torque audit to ensure that each of the tools is set up to deliver the appropriate torque.

11. A wireless line control according to claim 1 wherein the wireless line control is configured to communicate with a transducerized torque tool equipped with a radio and further configured to check a fastener'"'"'s torque values without having to utilize an extra torque monitor.

12. A wireless line control according to claim 1 wherein the self-contained internal power supply of the wireless tool is a battery.

13. A wireless line control according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of wireless qualifiers further comprises a wireless qualilfier for monitoring and controlling a wireless, compressed air driven tool comprising:

a pressure transducer for measuring air pressure within a pneumatic tool and converting of the air pressure;

into an electrical signal representative of the air pressure;

a programmed microprocessor configured to identify a portion of the signal representative of the air pressure;

a programmed microprocessor configured to identify a portion of the signal representative of the air pressure;

a self-contained internal power supply located in the wireless transducer;

a wireless transceiver for receiving and transmitting remote signals between the transducer, the microprocessor and the power supply;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to monitor the pressure of air in response the signal received from the pressure transducer;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to wake up and come out of its low-current sleep state when a conditioned signal from the transducer is greater than a reference signal; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to monitor the pressure of the pneumatic tool when the microprocessor is awake.

14. A wireless line control according to claim 1 the plurality of wireless qualifiers further comprises a wireless qualifier for monitoring and controlling a wireless, electrically driven tool having current flow through the tool comprising:

a current transducer for measuring and converting the currents into electrical signals representative the measured currents;

a programmed microprocessor configured to identify a portion of the signal representative of the electrical signals;

a self-contained internal power supply located in the electrically driven tool;

a wireless transceiver for receiving and transmitting remote signals between the transducer, the microprocessor and the power supply;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to control the electrical current response the signal received from the transducer;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to wake up and come out of its low-current sleep state when a conditioned signal from the transducer is greater than a reference signal; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to monitor the electrical current of the tools when the microprocessor is awake.

15. A wireless line control according to claim 1 the plurality of wireless qualifiers further comprises a:

a wireless qualifier for monitoring and controlling a wireless, a mechanical torque wrench with torque switch comprising;

a means for electrically stimulating the switch wherein the torque switch can provide an electrical signal upon reaching target torque;

a programmed microprocessor configured to identify a portion of the signal representative of the mechanical torque;

a self-contained internal power supply located in the tool;

a wireless transceiver for receiving and transmitting remote signals between the transducer, the microprocessor and the power supply;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to monitor the torque in response the signal received from the torque switch;

wherein the microprocessor is configured to wake up and come out of its low-current sleep state when a conditioned signal from the transducer is greater than a reference signal; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to monitor the torque of the tool when the microprocessor is awake.