Method and System of Using an USB User Interface in an Electronic Torque Wrench

• US 20140336810A1
• 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: Li, Jie, King, Jerry A., Lee, Nathan J., Wu, Tingwen
• Granted Patent: US 10,585,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/103
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1422 torque indicators or adjustable torque limiters
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1425 by electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/182 characterised by the machine tool function, e.g. thread cutting, cam making, tool direction control G05B19/21 - G05B19/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/37344 Torque, thrust, twist, machining force measurement

Abstract

A communication port interface facilitates downloading of torque and/or angle log information from an electronic torque tool to an external device. Torque and/or angle preset job information may be entered in client software and uploaded from the external device to the electronic torque tool via the communication port interface. Additional information including real time clock information and wrench system parameters may be uploaded to the electronic torque tool via the communication port interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

entering a set of preset job parameters to a computing device, the preset job parameters including a torque setting and an identifier corresponding to the torque setting; and

communicating the set of preset job parameters from the computing device to a tool adapted to apply a torque to a work piece.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of preset job parameters includes an angular displacement setting corresponding to the torque setting.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of preset job parameters includes a calibration factor corresponding to the torque setting.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of preset job parameters includes a minimum torque setting, a maximum torque setting, a minimum angle setting and maximum angle setting.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the set of preset job parameters includes a mode selector, wherein the mode selector is selected from a group consisting of a torque only mode, an angle only mode, a torque then angle mode, an then torque mode and a simultaneous torque and angle mode.

6. A method, comprising:

storing torque measurements in a memory of a tool adapted to apply torque to work pieces, wherein the torque measurements respectively represent amounts of torque applied to work pieces by the tool;

communicating the torque measurements from the tool to an external computing device.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the torque measurements correspond to a set of preset job parameters stored in the memory.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein communicating the torque measurements includes communicating the torque measurements from the memory via a communication port disposed on the tool, the port being in operable communication with the memory.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

storing angular displacement measurements in the memory, wherein the angular displacement measurements corresponds to the set of preset job parameters stored in the memory; and

communicating the angular displacement measurements from the tool to the external computing device.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the angular displacement measurements are each time stamped using a real time clock.

11. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the torque measurements are each time stamped using a real time clock.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving a real time clock setting from a computing device;

configuring a clock of a tool adapted to apply torque to a work piece based on the real-time clock setting.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising, receiving the real-time clock settings via a communication port disposed on the tool.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving a set of preset job parameters from a computing device, the preset job parameters including a torque setting and an identifier corresponding to the torque setting;

storing the set of preset job parameters in a memory of tool adapted to apply torque to work pieces.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of preset job parameters includes an angular displacement setting corresponding to the torque setting.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

displaying the identifier on a display operably coupled to the tool;

receiving a user input to the tool indicating a selection of the identifier;

configuring the tool with the torque setting corresponding to the selected identifier.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

configuring the tool with the angular displacement setting corresponding to the selected identifier.

18. A method, comprising:

receiving a tool specific identifier from a computing device;

storing the tool specific identifier in the memory of a tool adapted to apply torque to work pieces.

19. A method, comprising (performed on an electronic torque wrench):

receiving a tool software update from an external computing device;

storing the tool software update in the memory of electronic torque wrench.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving a set of wrench system parameters from an external computing device;

storing the wrench system parameters in memory of an electronic torque wrench;

configuring the electronic torque wrench with the wrench system parameters.

21. A torque tool adapted to apply torque to work pieces, comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor

a torque sensor coupled to the processor;

a universal serial bus (USB) interface circuit coupled to the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions executable by the processor to;

receive a set of preset job parameters from a computing device via the USB circuitry, the preset job parameters including the torque setting and an identifier corresponding to the torque setting, and

store the set of preset job parameters in the memory.

22. The torque tool of claim 21, wherein the instructions further include instructions executable by the processor to:

store torque measurements in the memory, wherein the torque measurements respectively represent amounts of torque applied to work pieces, and

communicate the torque measurements from the torque tool to an external computing device via the USB circuitry.