Impact Driver Control System

• US 20160121467A1
• Filed: 01/14/2015
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Black & Decker Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ng, Wong Kun, Sergyeyenko, Oleksiy P., Wenger, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US14/596,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20160121467A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/02 with means for imparting impact to screwdriver blade or nut socket
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/026 Impact clutches
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1475 for impact wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/02 Construction of casings, bodies or handles B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence

Abstract

An impact driver having an impact driver control system which can activate a driver release. The activation of a driver release can be controlled by an electronic controller which can be set to activate a driver release when parameters of the impact drivers meet specified conditions.

Claims

1. An impact driver, comprising:

a motor which provides a driving force to an impact mechanism;

a controller which is an electronic controller and which controls the state of a driver control system;

the controller monitoring a parameter of the impact driver;

the controller configured to activate the driver control system to free the impact mechanism from the driving force when the parameter satisfies a driver release condition; and

wherein a release activation value of the parameter which satisfies the driver release condition varies depending upon at least one of a driving condition.

2. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is at least one of a current, an rpm of a motor and a torque.

3. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the release activation value varies depending upon a type fastener being driven.

4. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the release activation value varies depending upon a type of workpiece into which a fastener is being driven.

5. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a motor current;

and

the driver release condition comprises a first decrease of the motor current over a first time period, followed by a first increase in motor current over a second time period, followed by a second decrease of the motor current over a third time period, followed by a second increase in in motor current over a fourth time period.

6. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a motor current and the driver release condition comprises an increase in the motor current over each of a number of sequential sampling periods.

7. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a motor current and the driver release condition comprises an increase in the motor current to a value greater than an upper limit of motor current.

8. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a motor current and the driver release condition comprises a decrease in the motor current over each of a number of sequential sampling periods.

9. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a motor current and the driver release condition comprises a decrease in a the motor current to a value lower than a lower limit of motor current.

10. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a motor current and the driver release condition comprises a change in the motor current, wherein the change in current is less than a current change limit over a number of sampling periods.

11. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a motor current and the driver release condition comprises a change in the motor current, wherein the motor current remains within an upper limit of motor current and a lower limit of motor current over a period of time greater than a driver release activation time.

12. The impact driver according to claim 1, wherein the parameter is a motor current;

and

the driver release condition comprises a first decrease of the motor current over a first time period, followed by a first increase in motor current over a second time period;

followed by a second decrease of the motor current over a third time period, followed by a second increase in motor current over a fourth time period;

followed by an increase in a motor current over each of a number of sequential sampling periods.

13. An impact driver control system, comprising:

an motor which provides a driving force to an impact mechanism;

an electronic controller which controls the state of a driver control system;

the controller monitoring a parameter of the impact driver to identify a driver release condition;

when the controller identifies the driver release condition, the driver control system activates a driver release which frees said impact mechanism from receiving said driving force;

wherein the driver release condition is satisfied by a first motor torque while driving a first fastener;

wherein the driver release condition is satisfied by a second motor torque while driving a second fastener; and

wherein the first motor torque is at least 3% different from the second motor torque.

14. The impact driver control system of claim 13, wherein the first motor torque is at least 10% different than the second motor torque.

15. The impact driver control system of claim 13, wherein the first motor torque is at least 20% different than the second motor torque.

16. The impact driver control system of claim 13, wherein the driver release condition is satisfied by a first driving time for the first fastener;

wherein the driver release condition is satisfied by a second driving time for the second fastener; and

wherein the first driving time is at least 20% different than the second driving time.

17. An impact driver, comprising:

a motor which provides a motor force that drives an impact mechanism;

a controller which is an electronic controller and which controls the state of a driver control system;

the controller monitoring a parameter of the impact driver;

the controller configured to activate the driver control system to free the output mechanism from the driving force when the parameter satisfies a driver release condition; and

wherein the driver release condition corresponds to a fastener being driven by the impact driver into a workpiece to a point where it is approximately flush with the workpiece.

18. The impact driver of claim 17, wherein the driver release condition varies such that a plurality of different fasteners can be driven into a workpiece or a plurality of different workpieces to an approximately flush condition.

19. The impact driver of claim 17, wherein the driver release condition varies such that a number of similar fasteners can be driven into a workpiece or a plurality of different workpieces to an approximately flush condition.

20. The impact driver according to claim 17, wherein the parameter is at least one of a current, an rpm of a motor and a torque.