Remote control qualifier

• US 6,349,266 B1
• Filed: 05/28/1999
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CE Electronics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: CE Electronics, Inc.
• Inventors: Casterline, Tony L., Lysaght, Richard G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff, Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US09/322,366
• Time in Patent Office: 998 Days
• Field of Search: 702/41, 702/33, 702/105, 702/113, 702/180, 702/114, 702/115, 733/790.1, 714/714, 714/715, 714/712, 714/713, 714/798, 714/819, 173/177, 173/178, 173/180, 173/181, 173/5
• US Class Current: 702/41
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/14 Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers couplings for transmitting rotation or clutches F16D; devices for measuring torque per se G01L

Abstract

This remote control qualifier, typically a radio frequency (RF) qualifier, is an apparatus for monitoring a mechanical torque wrench with torque switch. The torque wrench includes a means for stimulating the torque switch wherein the torque switch can provide an electrical signal upon reaching target torque. The torque wrench also includes a transmitter for sending the electrical signals to a receiver. The RF qualifier is remote and includes a receiver for receiving the electrical signals from the transmitter of the torque wrench. The remote qualifier also includes a means for electrically computationally processing the electrical signals into other signals.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a mechanical tool with a mechanical switch comprising:

the mechanical tool including a means for stimulating the switch wherein the switch can provide electrical signals upon reaching a mechanical parameter;

the mechanical tool also including a transmitter for sending the electrical signals to a receiver;

a remote qualifier including a receiver for receiving the electrical signals from the transmitter of the mechanical tool;

the remote qualifier also including a means for electrically computationally processing the electrical signals into other signals representing at least one parameter corresponding to a condition of the mechanical tool being monitored which is a function of the condition, wherein the means for electrically processing the signals includes a programmed microprocessor configured to identify a portion of the signals representative of the mechanical switch condition corresponding to the parameter and wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to identify and store the parameter of a first period of time for the electrical signal to attain a predetermined level and also configured to identify and store a second period of time for the electrical signal to remain at that level; and

a means for displaying the parameter.

2. A system for monitoring a mechanical torque wrench with a torque switch comprising:

the torque wrench including a means for stimulating the torque switch wherein the switch can provide an electrical signal upon reaching target torque;

the torque wrench also including a transmitter for sending the electrical signals to a receiver;

a remote qualifier including a receiver for receiving the electrical signals from the transmitter of the torque wrench;

the remote qualifier also including a means for electrically computationally processing the electrical signals into other signals representing at least one parameter corresponding to a condition of the mechanical tool being monitored which is a function of the condition, wherein the means for electrically processing the signals includes a programmed microprocessor configured to identify a portion of the signals representative of the mechanical switch condition corresponding to the parameter and wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to identify and store the parameter of a first period of time for the electrical signal to attain a predetermined level and also configured to identify and store a second period of time for the electrical signal to remain at that level; and

a means for displaying the parameter.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter and the receiver is a radio frequency receiver.

6. A system according to claim 2 wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to identify and store a portion of the electrical signal as a calibration value.

7. A system according to claim 3 wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to identify and store the parameter of a threshold corresponding to the calibration value.

8. A system according to claim 2 wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to identify a portion of the signals representative of the electrical signal of the wrench driving a fastener to its target torque and successfully completing a cycle.

9. A system according to claim 2 wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to count a completed cycle, store the count and generate signals when the measured current is the same as the identified and stored parameter.

10. A system according to claim 2 wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to generate signals when a cycle is completed unsuccessfully.

11. A system according to claim 2 wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to generate signals when a fastener has been over tightened.

12. A system according to claim 2 wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to ignore signals that do not meet the identified and stored parameter.

13. A system according to claim 2 wherein a battery provides power to the transmitter.

14. A system according to claim 13 wherein the transmitter includes a means to monitor the power of the battery and the means to transmit a low battery signal to the receiver.

15. A system according to claim 2 wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to count a completed cycle when the measured torque is the same as the identified and stored parameter, wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to identify a portion of the signal representative of the torque of the wrench driving a fastener to its target torque and successfully completing a cycle, and wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to count a completed cycle, store the count and generate signals when the measured torque is the same as the identified and stored parameter.

4. A system for monitoring a mechanical torque wrench with a torque switch comprising:

the torque wrench including a means for stimulating the torque switch wherein the switch can provide an electrical signal upon reaching target torque;

the torque wrench also including a transmitter for sending the electrical signals to a receiver wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter and the receiver is a radio frequency receiver and wherein the transmitter and receiver include a rolling code algorithm to ensure that receivers and transmitters that are on the same frequency do not “

cross talk”

;

a remote qualifier including a receiver for receiving the electrical signals from the transmitter of the torque wrench;

the remote qualifier also including a means for electrically computationally processing the electrical signals into other signals representing at least one parameter corresponding to a condition of the mechanical tool being monitored which is a function of the condition, wherein the means for electrically processing the signals includes a programmed microprocessor configured to identify a portion of the signals representative of the mechanical switch condition corresponding to the parameter; and

a means for displaying the parameter.

5. A system for monitoring a mechanical torque wrench with a torque switch comprising:

the torque wrench including a means for stimulating the torque switch wherein the switch can provide an electrical signal upon reaching target torque;

the torque wrench also including a transmitter for sending the electrical signals to a receiver wherein the transmitter is a radio frequency transmitter and the receiver is a radio frequency receiver wherein the transmitter has a seed code and the qualifier is configured to learn the seed code of the transmitter;

a remote qualifier including a receiver for receiving the electrical signals from the transmitter of the torque wrench;

the remote qualifier also including a means for electrically computationally processing the electrical signals into other signals representing at least one parameter corresponding to a condition of the mechanical tool being monitored which is a function of the condition, wherein the means for electrically processing the signal includes a programmed microprocessor configured to identify a portion of the signals representative of the mechanical switch condition corresponding to the parameter; and

a means for displaying the parameter.

16. A process for monitoring a mechanical tool with a mechanical switch comprising the steps of:

stimulating the switch to provide electrical signals upon the mechanical tool reaching a mechanical parameter;

transmitting the electrical signals from a transmitter connected to the mechanical switch of the mechanical tool;

receiving the electrical signals from the transmitter with a receiver connected to a qualifier;

transmitting the electrical signals from the receiver to a programmed microprocessor connected to the qualifier;

configuring the microprocessor to identify and store the parameter of a first period of time for the electrical signal to attain a predetermined level and also configuring the microprocessor to identify and store a second period of time for the electrical signal to remain at that level;

identifying the electrical signals from the receiver and comparing them to a stored parameter;

counting a completed cycle when the identified signals are the same as the stored parameter; and

displaying the counted parameter on a display connected to the qualifier.

17. A process according to claim 16 including the step of converting the electrical signals into binary code before transmitting the signals to the receiver.

18. A process according to claim 16 wherein the mechanical tool and the mechanical switch are a mechanical torque wrench and torque switch and the transmitted electrical signals represent the torque of the wrench.

19. A process according to claim 16 wherein the transmitter and receiver are radio frequency modules and the transmitted signals are radio frequency signals.

20. A process according to claim 18 wherein the programmed microprocessor counts a completed cycle when the measured torque is the same as the identified and stored parameter, wherein the programmed microprocessor identifies a portion of the signal representative of the torque of the wrench driving a fastener to its target torque and successfully completing a cycle, and wherein the programmed microprocessor counts a completed cycle, store the count and generate signals when the measured torque is the same as the identified and stored parameter.

21. A process according to claim 16 wherein the programmed microprocessor generate signals when a cycle is completed unsuccessfully.

22. A process according to claim 20 wherein the programmed microprocessor generate signals when a fastener has been over tightened.

23. A process for monitoring a mechanical tool with a mechanical switch comprising the steps of:

stimulating the switch to provide electrical signals upon the mechanical tool reaching a mechanical parameter;

transmitting the electrical signals from a radio frequency transmitter connected to the mechanical switch of the mechanical tool;

receiving the electrical signals from the transmitter with a radio frequency receiver connected to a qualifier;

including a rolling code algorithm in the transmitter and receiver to ensure that receivers and transmitters that are on the same frequency do not “

cross talk”

;

transmitting the electrical signals from the receiver to a programmed microprocessor connected to the qualifier;

identifying the electrical signals from the receiver and comparing them to a stored parameter;

counting a completed cycle when the identified signals are the same as the stored parameter; and

displaying the counted parameter on a display connected to the qualifier.

24. A process for monitoring a mechanical tool with a mechanical switch comprising the steps of:

stimulating the switch to provide electrical signals upon the mechanical tool reaching a mechanical parameter;

transmitting the electrical signals from a radio frequency transmitter connected to the mechanical switch of the mechanical tool;

receiving the electrical signals from the transmitter with a radio frequency receiver connected to a qualifier;

including a seed code in the transmitter; and

configuring the qualifier to learn the seed code of the transmitter;

transmitting the electrical signals from the receiver to a programmed microprocessor connected to the qualifier;

identifying the electrical signals from the receiver and comparing them to a store parameter;

counting a completed cycle when the identified signals are the same as the stored parameter; and

displaying the counted parameter on a display connected to the qualifier.