PROGRAMMABLE TORQUE CONTROL METHOD FOR SENSING LOCKING ELEMENT

• US 20150041162A1
• Filed: 08/06/2013
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: China Pneumatic Corporation
• Original Assignee: China Pneumatic Corporation
• Inventors: CHU, Hsiu-Feng, TSAI, Ming-Zuan
• Application Number:
  US13/960,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20150041162A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 173/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1456 having electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1475 for impact wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 17/00 Control of torque; Control of mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 17/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

In a programmable torque control method for sensing locking element, at least one sensing locking element and a power torque tool are provided. A s sensed strain signal produced by the sensing locking element is transmitted to a controller of the power torque tool when the sensing locking element is driven by a power torque tool to a desired position and forward and backward rotations of a driving motor of the power torque tool are controlled by the controller, and the forward or backward rotation of the driving motor is determined according to the s sensed strain signal to control a programmable continuous motion until the tightening torque or clamping force reaches to a predetermined target torque value.

Claims

1. A programmable torque control method for sensing locking element, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing at least one sensing locking element, and a power torque tool, and the sensing locking element having a signal transmitting unit, and the power torque tool having a controller for controlling forward and backward rotations of a driving motor of the power torque tool;

(b) using the power torque tool to tighten the sensing locking element to a desired position, and transmitting a sensed strain signal generated by the sensing locking element when the sensing locking element is deformed by a torque exerted thereon to the signal transmitting unit, and then transmitting the sensing signal from the signal transmitting unit to the controller;

(c) providing a target torque value to the controller, computing and comparing the sensed strain signal received from the signal transmitting unit by the controller, and if the sensed strain signal is smaller than the predetermined torque value, the driving motor will be controlled to rotate forward; and

if the sensed strain signal is not smaller than the predetermined torque value, the driving motor will be controlled to rotate backward;

(d) repeating the step (c) until the sensed strain signal falls within a range of the predetermined torque value, and then stopping the driving motor.

2. The programmable torque control method for sensing locking element according to claim 1, wherein the sensing locking element comes with a plural quantity, and the same signal transmitting unit can be used for transmitting the sensing signal.

3. The programmable torque control method for sensing locking element according to claim 2, wherein the sensing locking element includes an identity (ID) element installed thereon.

4. The programmable torque control method for sensing locking element according to claim 3, wherein the identity (ID) element further includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) element.

5. The programmable torque control method for sensing locking element according to claim 1, wherein the sensing locking element includes an accelerometer installed thereon.

6. The programmable torque control method for sensing locking element according to claim 1, wherein the sensing locking element is a sensing bolt or a sensing washer.

7. The programmable torque control method for sensing locking element according to claim 1, wherein the signal transmitting unit transmits the sensing signal to the controller via a cable or wireless transmission.