Torque Wrench and Method for Determining Rotational Angle of Torque Wrench

• US 20110185863A1
• Filed: 02/03/2010
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabo Tool Company
• Original Assignee: Chih-Ching Hsien
• Inventors: HSIEH, Chih-Ching
• Granted Patent: US 8,327,741 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 81/479
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/14 Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers couplings for transmitting rotation or clutches F16D; devices for measuring torque per se G01L
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/142 specially adapted for hand operated wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1425 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1427 by mechanical means

Abstract

A torque wrench includes a wrench body, a torque sensor, an angle sensor, a gravity sensor and a processor. The wrench body can provide a torque to a workpiece. The torque sensor can sense whether the torque is greater than a predetermined torque value. The angle sensor can obtain a rotational angle value by measuring the rotation of the wrench body after the torque is greater than the predetermined torque value. The gravity sensor can sense the tilt angle of the wrench body. The processor is programmed to correct the rotational angle value according to the tilt angle of the wrench body.

Claims

1. A torque wrench comprising:

a wrench body for providing a torque to a workpiece;

a torque sensor for sensing whether the torque is greater than a predetermined torque value;

an angle sensor for obtaining a rotational angle value by measuring the rotation of the wrench body after the torque is greater than the predetermined torque value;

a gravity sensor for sensing the tilt angle of the wrench body; and

a processor programmed to correct the rotational angle value according to the tilt angle of the wrench body.

2. The torque wrench of claim 1, further comprising:

a display unit for displaying the corrected rotational angle value.

3. The torque wrench of claim 2, further comprising:

a warning light located on the wrench body.

4. The torque wrench of claim 2, further comprising:

a buzzer located on the wrench body.

5. The torque wrench of claim 1, further comprising:

a data input/output interface located on the wrench body.

6. The torque wrench of claim 1, further comprising:

a storage unit located in the wrench body.

7. A method for determining the rotational angle of a torque wrench, the method comprising:

obtaining a rotational angle value by measuring the rotational angle of the torque wrench;

sensing the tilt angle of the torque wrench; and

correcting the rotational angle value according to the tilt angle of the torque wrench.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a torque to a workpiece by the torque wrench, wherein the rotational angle of the torque wrench is measured after the torque is greater than a predetermined torque value.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

measuring the torque by a torque sensor.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the rotational angle is measured by an angle sensor.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing the predetermined torque value by a memory.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the tilt angle of the torque wrench is sensed by a gravity sensor.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

displaying the corrected rotational angle value.

14. A torque wrench comprising:

means for providing a torque to a workpiece;

means for sensing whether the torque is greater than a predetermined to torque value;

means for obtaining an rotational angle value by measuring the rotation of the torque wrench after the torque is greater than a predetermined torque value;

means for sensing the tilt angle of the torque wrench; and

means for correcting the rotational angle value according to the tilt angle of the torque wrench.

15. The torque wrench of claim 14, further comprising:

means for displaying the corrected rotational angle value.

16. The torque wrench of claim 14, further comprising:

means for providing a warning signal when the corrected rotational angle value exceeds a predetermined rotational angle value.

17. The torque wrench of claim 14, further comprising:

means for outputting the corrected rotational angle value.

18. The torque wrench of claim 14, further comprising:

means for inputting the predetermined torque value.

19. The torque wrench of claim 14, further comprising:

means for storing the predetermined torque value.