PROGRAMMABLE TOOL ORIENTATION BASED, ASSEMBLY TIGHTENING CONTROL

• US 20170305002A1
• Filed: 04/24/2016
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Subramaniam, Ajanthan, Rose, James Clifford, Moreau, Jordan James
• Granted Patent: US 10,160,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/00 Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose machines B23P19/06
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1456 having electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers

Abstract

In an embodiment herein, a tool is described. The tool comprises an inclinometer configured to determine a first inclination of the tool; and transmit a first indicator to a controller in response to determining the first inclination of the tool. The tool further comprises a controller interface configured to receive a first program from the controller in response to transmitting the first indicator. The tool further comprises a tool head configured to tighten a first fastener based, at least in part, on the first program.

Claims

1. A tool comprising:

an inclinometer configured to;

determine a first inclination of the tool; and

transmit a first indicator to a controller in response to determining the first inclination of the tool;

a controller interface configured to receive a first program from the controller in response to transmitting the first indicator; and

a tool head configured to tighten a first fastener based, at least in part, on the first program.

2. The tool of claim 1, wherein the inclinometer is further configured to:

determine a second inclination of the tool; and

transmit a second indicator to the controller, the second indicator indicating that the inclinometer is at the second inclination,

wherein the controller interface is further configured to receive a second program from the controller in response to transmitting the second indicator, and

wherein the tool head is further configured to tighten a second fastener based, at least in part, on the second program.

3. The tool of claim 1, wherein the inclinometer comprises a training interface, and wherein the inclinometer is further configured to:

receive a signal from a training device;

associate a current inclination of the inclinometer with the first indicator based, at least in part, upon receiving the signal.

4. The tool of claim 1, wherein the tool is a nutrunner.

5. The tool of claim 2, wherein the first inclination is part of a first range of inclinations.

6. The tool of claim 5, wherein the second inclination is part of a second range of inclinations.

7. A method for inclination based program selection, the method comprising:

determining, by an inclinometer, a first inclination of a tool;

transmitting, by the inclinometer, a first indicator to a controller in response to determining the first inclination of the tool;

receiving, by the tool, a first program from the controller in response to transmitting the first indicator; and

tightening, by the tool, a first fastener based, at least in part, on the first program.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining, by the inclinometer, a second inclination of the tool;

transmitting, by the inclinometer, a second indicator to the controller, the second indicator indicating that the inclinometer is at the second inclination;

receiving, by the tool, a second program from the controller in response to transmitting the second indicator, and

tightening, by the tool, a second fastener based, at least in part, on the second program.

9. The method of claim 7

receiving, at the inclinometer, a signal from a training device;

associating, by the inclinometer, a current inclination of the inclinometer with the first indicator based, at least in part, upon receiving the signal.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the tool is a nutrunner.

11. The tool of claim 8, wherein the first inclination is part of a first range of inclinations.

12. The tool of claim 11, wherein the second inclination is part of a second range of inclinations.

13. A system for inclination based program selection, the system comprising:

a tool comprising;

an inclinometer configured to;

determine a first inclination of the tool; and

transmit a first indicator to a controller in response to determining the first inclination of the tool;

a controller interface configured to receive a first program from the controller in response to transmitting the first indicator; and

a tool head configured to tighten a first fastener based, at least in part, on the first program; and

the controller configured to;

receive the first indicator;

determine the first program based, at least in part on the first indicator; and

transmit the first program to the tool.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the inclinometer is further configured to:

determine a second inclination of the tool; and

transmit a second indicator to the controller, the second indicator indicating that the inclinometer is at the second inclination,

wherein the controller interface is further configured to receive a second program from the controller in response to transmitting the second indicator, and

wherein the tool head is further configured to tighten a second fastener based, at least in part, on the second program.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising a training device comprising a switch, the training device configured to output a signal in response to activation of the switch, and wherein the inclinometer comprises a training interface, and wherein the inclinometer is further configured to:

receive a signal from the training device;

associate a current inclination of the inclinometer with the first indicator based, at least in part, upon receiving the signal.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the tool is a nutrunner.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the first inclination is part of a first range of inclinations.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second inclination is part of a second range of inclinations.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive a second indication from the inclinometer;

determine whether the first fastener has been tightened;

in response to determining the first fastener has been tightened, transit a second program to the tool; and

in response to determining the first fastener has not been tightened, delay transmitting the second program to the tool.