RATCHETING DEVICE FOR AN ELECTRONIC TORQUE WRENCH

• US 20110162493A1
• Filed: 12/30/2010
• Published: 07/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apex Brands Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apex Brands Inc.
• Inventors: Chen, Xia, Anjanappa, Muniswamappa, Bedi, Nitin
• Granted Patent: US 8,714,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 81/479
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/46 of the ratchet type, for providing a free return stroke of the handle
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/141 Mechanical overload release couplings
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1422 torque indicators or adjustable torque limiters
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1425 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1427 by mechanical means

Abstract

An electronic torque wrench including a wrench body, a wrench head configured to engage a workpiece, a first sensor producing a first output signal, that is proportional to an amount of torque being applied to the workpiece, a grip handle, a second sensor producing a second output signal that is proportional to an amount of rotation being applied to the workpiece, a user interface including an input device for inputting a preset torque value, and a processor for converting the first output signal into a current torque value, comparing the current torque value to the preset torque value, and converting the second output signal into a first angle value through which the workpiece has been rotated after the current torque value exceeds the preset torque value.

Claims

1. An electronic torque wrench for engaging a workpiece, comprising;

a wrench body;

a wrench head disposed on the wrench body, the wrench head being configured to engage the workpiece;

a first sensor operatively coupled to the wrench head and producing a first output signal, the first output signal being proportional to an amount of torque being applied to the workpiece by the torque wrench;

a second sensor operatively coupled to the wrench body and producing a second output signal, the second output signal being proportional to an amount of rotation being applied to the workpiece by the torque wrench;

a user interface carried by the wrench body, the user interface including a digital display with a first readout and an input device for inputting a preset torque value; and

a processor for converting the first output signal into a current torque value being applied to the workpiece, comparing the current torque value to a peak applied torque value to which the workpiece has been subjected, and converting the second output signal into a first angle value through which the workpiece has been rotated after the current torque value exceeds the previous peak applied torque value.

2. The electronic torque wrench of claim 1, further comprising a ratchet mechanism so that torque can be applied to the workpiece using multiple rotational cycles of the electronic torque wrench without having to disengage the workpiece.

3. The electronic torque wrench of claim 2, wherein the processor determines the peak applied torque value during a first rotational cycle, converts the first output signal into a current torque value being applied to the workpiece during a second rotational cycle, compares the current torque value of the second rotational cycle to the peak applied torque value of the first rotational cycle, and converts the second output signal of the second rotational cycle into a second angle value through which the workpiece has been rotated after the current torque value of the second rotational cycle exceeds the peak applied torque value of the first rotational cycle.

4. The electronic torque wrench of claim 3, wherein the processor adds the first angle value and the second angle value to determine an accumulated angle value.

5. The electronic torque wrench of claim 1, the first sensor further comprising a strain gage assembly for indicating the amount of torque applied to the workpiece.

6. The electronic torque wrench of claim 1, the second sensor further comprising a gyroscopic sensor for indicating the amount of angular rotation applied to the workpiece.

7. The electronic torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a second readout, wherein the first readout displays a peak applied torque value continuously during torque mode operations and the second readout displays an applied torque value continuously during torque mode operations.

8. The electronic torque wrench of claim 7, wherein the first readout is a numeric display and the second readout is a bar graph display for indicating the proximity of the applied torque value to the preset torque value during torque mode operations.

9. The electronic torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the processor compares the current torque value of a rotational cycle to a threshold torque value, and converts the second output signal into a first angle value through which the workpiece has been rotated after the current torque value exceeds the threshold torque value.

10. The electronic torque wrench of claim 9, wherein the rotational cycle further comprises a first rotational cycle of the electronic torque wrench.

11. An electronic torque wrench for engaging a workpiece, comprising;

a wrench body;

a wrench head disposed on the wrench body, the wrench head being configured to engage the workpiece;

a ratcheting mechanism so that torque can be applied to the workpiece using multiple rotational cycles of the torque wrench;

a strain gage assembly operatively coupled to the wrench head and producing a first output signal, the first output signal being proportional to an amount of torque being applied to the workpiece by the torque wrench;

a gyroscopic sensor operatively coupled to the wrench body and producing a second output signal, the second output signal being proportional to an amount of rotation being applied to the workpiece by the torque wrench;

a user interface carried by the wrench body, the user interface including an input device for inputting a preset torque value; and

a processor for converting the first output signal into a current torque value being applied to the workpiece, comparing the current torque value to the preset torque value, and converting the second output signal into a first angle value through which the workpiece has been rotated after the current torque value exceeds the preset torque value.

12. The electronic torque wrench of claim 11, wherein the processor determines a peak applied torque value during a first rotational cycle, converts the first output signal into a current torque value being applied to the workpiece during a second rotational cycle, compares the current torque value of the second rotational cycle to the peak torque value of the first rotational cycle, and converts the second output signal of the second rotational cycle into a second angle value through which the workpiece has been rotated after the current torque value of the second rotational cycle exceeds the peak applied torque value of the first rotational cycle.

13. The electronic torque wrench of claim 12, wherein the processor adds the first angle value and the second angle value to determine an accumulated angle value.

14. The electronic torque wrench of claim 11, wherein the user interface further comprises a first readout and a second readout, wherein the first readout displays a peak torque value continuously during torque mode operations and the second readout displays an applied torque value continuously during torque mode operations.

15. The electronic torque wrench of claim 14, wherein the first readout is a numeric display and the second readout is a bar graph display for indicating the proximity of the applied torque value to the preset torque value during torque mode operations.

16. The electronic torque wrench of claim 14, wherein the first readout displays an accumulated angle value continuously during angle mode operations and the second readout indicates the proximity of the accumulated angle value to a preset accumulated angle value during angle mode operations.

17. An electronic torque wrench for engaging a workpiece, comprising:

a wrench body;

a wrench head in driving engagement with the wrench body, the wrench head being configured to engage the workpiece;

a first sensor operatively coupled with the wrench head and outputting a first signal, the first signal corresponding to a torque being applied to the workpiece by the torque wrench;

a second sensor operatively coupled to the wrench body and outputting a second signal, the second signal corresponding to rotation of the torque wrench about an axis of the workpiece when the torque wrench applies said torque to the workpiece;

a user interface operatively coupled to the wrench body and having a display and having an input through which a user inputs a preset torque value;

a processor that receives the first signal, the second signal and the preset torque value;

in a first mode, compares the torque being applied to the workpiece to the preset torque, and drives the user interface to display the torque being applied to the workpiece; and

in a second mode, determines an angle of rotation based on the second signal and drives the user interface to display the torque being applied to the workpiece and the angle of rotation.

18. The electronic torque wrench of claim 17, further comprising a ratchet coupling disposed in the wrench head and configured to receive the workpiece so that the ratchet coupling transfers torque from the wrench head to the workpiece in one rotational direction of the wrench head but permits relative rotation between the wrench head and the workpiece in an opposite rotational direction of the wrench head.

19. The electronic torque wrench of claim 18,

wherein the processor monitors the second signal in the second mode and, based on the second signal, accumulates angular rotation of the wrench head into an angle measurement as the wrench head moves in the one rotational direction but not the opposite rotational direction, and

wherein the processor monitors the first signal in the second mode and determines a peak said torque during a rotational movement of the wrench head in the one rotational direction before the wrench head changes to the opposite rotational direction and, during a next rotational movement of the wrench head in the one rotational direction, begins accumulating angular rotation of the wrench head into the angle measurement only when the first signal indicates said torque applied to the workpiece is at or greater than the peak torque.

20. The electronic torque wrench of claim 19,

wherein the processor monitors the second signal in the second mode and, based on the second signal, accumulates angular rotation of the wrench head into an angle measurement during a predetermined period as the wrench head moves in the one rotational direction but not the opposite rotational direction, and

wherein the processor monitors the first signal in the second mode and determines a peak said torque during each rotational movement of the wrench head during the predetermined period in the one rotational direction before the wrench head changes to the opposite rotational direction and, during each subsequent rotational movement of the wrench head in the one rotational direction during the predetermined period, begins accumulating angular rotation of the wrench head into the angular measurement only when the first signal indicates said torque applied to the workpiece is at or greater than the peak torque determined during an immediately preceding said rotational movement.

21. The electronic torque wrench of claim 17, wherein the first sensor comprises a strain gage.

22. The electronic torque wrench of claim 17, wherein the second sensor comprises a gyroscopic sensor.

23. An electronic torque wrench for engaging a workpiece, comprising:

a wrench body;

a wrench head in driving engagement with the wrench body, the wrench head being configured to engage the workpiece;

a first sensor operatively coupled with the wrench head and outputting a first signal, the first signal corresponding to a torque being applied to the workpiece by the torque wrench;

a second sensor operatively coupled to the wrench body and outputting a second signal, the second signal corresponding to rotation of the torque wrench about an axis of the workpiece when the torque wrench applies said torque to the workpiece;

a user interface operatively coupled to the wrench body and having a display and having an input through which a user inputs a preset torque value; and

a processor that receives the first signal, the second signal and the preset torque value, and

in a first mode, compares the torque being applied to the workpiece to the preset torque value, and drives the user interface to display the torque being applied to the workpiece, and

in a second mode, determines an angle of rotation based on the second signal and drives the user interface to display the angle of rotation,

wherein the processor monitors the second signal in the second mode and, based on the second signal, accumulates angular rotation of the wrench head into an angle measurement as the wrench head moves in one rotational direction but not an opposite rotational direction, and

wherein the processor monitors the first signal in the second mode and determines a peak said torque during a rotational movement of the wrench head in the one rotational direction before the wrench head changes to the opposite rotational direction and, during a next rotational movement of the wrench head in the one rotational direction, begins accumulating angular rotation of the wrench head into the angle measurement only when the first signal indicates said torque applied to the workpiece is at or greater than the peak torque.

24. The electronic torque wrench of claim 23,

wherein the processor monitors the second signal in the second mode and, based on the second signal, accumulates angular rotation of the wrench head into an angle measurement during a predetermined period as the wrench head moves in the one rotational direction but not the opposite rotational direction, and

wherein the processor monitors the first signal in the second mode and determines a peak said torque during each rotational movement of the wrench head during the predetermined period in the one rotational direction before the wrench head changes to the opposite rotational direction and, during each subsequent rotational movement of the wrench head in the one rotational direction during the predetermined period, begins accumulating angular rotation of the wrench head into the angular measurement only when the first signal indicates said torque applied to the workpiece is at or greater than the peak torque determined during an immediately preceding said rotational movement.