Method and System for Instantaneously Logging Data in an Electronic Torque Wrench

• US 20140331830A1
• Filed: 05/07/2013
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: King, Jerry A., Lee, Nathan J., Tomlinson, Timothy D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,523,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 81/467
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1422 torque indicators or adjustable torque limiters
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1425 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/24 for determining value of torque or twisting moment for tightening a nut or other member which is similarly stressed

Abstract

An electronic torque wrench is disclosed that instantaneously logs data in real time from a torqueing operation and can later transfer the data to an external device, such as a computer, for further analysis. For example, the computer can create a graph that can be analyzed to determine relevant parameters of the torqueing profile. The parameters of the graph can be analyzed to determine whether the torqueing operation was performed properly for a particular work piece or job task, or to assist users in future torqueing operations.

Claims

1. A tool comprising:

a head coupled to a sensor adapted to sense torqueing parameters of a torqueing operation applied to a work piece;

a memory operably coupled to the sensor and adapted to receive a signal including data relating to the torqueing parameters at a predetermined frequency and further adapted to store the data;

an interface adapted to receive a sampling interval indicating the predetermined frequency; and

a transceiver adapted to interface the tool with an external device for analysis of the data.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the torqueing parameters include an amount of torque and an angle of rotation of the work piece.

3. The tool of claim 2, wherein the sampling interval is input as a first value, the amount of torque is logged at a torque frequency corresponding to the first value, and the angle is logged at an angle frequency corresponding to a second value that is a multiple of the first value.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is adapted to wirelessly send the data.

5. A method of analyzing torqueing data comprising:

providing a tool having a sensor adapted to sense torqueing parameters of a torqueing operation applied to a work piece;

establishing a frequency at which the torqueing parameters are stored in a memory of the tool;

performing the torqueing operation on the work piece;

storing data representing the torqueing parameters in the memory at the frequency;

transmitting the data from the tool to an external device; and

analyzing the data with the external device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the torqueing parameters include an amount of torque and an angle of rotation of the work piece.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the frequency is input as a first value, the amount of torque is logged at a torque frequency corresponding to the first value, and the angle is logged at an angle frequency corresponding to a second value that is a multiple of the first value.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of analyzing the data with the external device includes plotting the data on a graph.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the graph includes angle values on a first axis of the graph and torque values on a second axis of the graph.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a slope of at least a portion of the graph.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising establishing a first value at which to begin the step of determining the slope, and establishing a second value at which to end the step of determining the slope.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first value is an angle value of about 4°

.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second value is an angle measured when the torqueing operation is approximately 90% complete.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting data from the tool to the external device is conducted wirelessly.

15. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of transmitting data from the tool to the external device is conducted by wired connection.

16. The method of claim 5, wherein the frequency is selected prior to the torqueing operation.