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Computer implemented method, and apparatus for controlling a hand-held tool

  • US 5,903,462 A
  • Filed: 10/17/1997
  • Issued: 05/11/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for controlling and diagnosing torque and speed applied to fasteners by a hand-held tool comprising:

  • a housing having a hand-grip portion;

    contained within said housing, an electric motor having a shaft, said motor being operable in current mode to control a force to be applied to a fastener interface mechanism connected to the shaft by varying current through the windings;

    a processor contained within said housing having a clock for providing timing pulses, wherein said processor controls an interrupt driven state machine for monitoring operating parameters of the hand-held tool, keeping a performance history of the tool'"'"'s operation comprising performance records, communicating with a remote computer and controlling the torque and speed applied to fasteners;

    a nonvolatile, writable memory for storing performance history;

    two random access memory locations for storing data points;

    a separate memory location for storing said data points into performance records from which the performance history will be selected;

    a first communications port located the housing capable of being accessed from exterior portion of the housing by the remote computer for linking said processor with the remote computer;

    a torque transducer responsive to the force being applied to the fastener interface mechanism by the shaft of the electric motor having an output capable of being transferred as a digital value to the processor;

    temperature transducers located within said housing having outputs capable of being transferred as digital values to the processor;

    said remote computer comprising a second communications port for uploading and downloading data to the hand-held tool and a graphical user interface for allowing an operator to manipulate the data and remotely control the tool;

    a circuit breaker connected to said motor for controlling current to the motor;

    display indicators located on the exterior of the housing for communicating information to the operator in response to messages generated by the processor;

    a trigger located on the exterior of the housing for switching the tool between a running state and an idling state and for sending a signal to the processor for the purpose of alerting the processor as to whether the tool is in a running or idling state; and

    selection controls located on the exterior of the housing for an operator to select torque and speed parameters.

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