Method for self-programming a power nutrunner control system during initial tightening processes

• US 6,539,603 B1
• Filed: 12/04/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB (Atlas Copco AB)
• Original Assignee: Atlas Copco Tools AB (Atlas Copco AB)
• Inventors: Bülow, Christer Sten-Sture
• Primary Examiner(s): Vidovich, Gregory M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cozart, Jermie E.
• Application Number:
  US09/646,426
• Time in Patent Office: 848 Days
• Field of Search: 294/070.1, 294/070.2, 294/070.3, 294/070.5, 294/46, 295/251.1, 297/09, 297/14, 297/18, 737/61, 738/622.1, 173/5, 173/6, 173/176, 173/180, 173/181
• US Class Current: 29/407.01
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/066 by electrical means
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49764 with testing or indicating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49766 torquing threaded assemblage or determining torque herein
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49767 Determining relative number of threaded member rotations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49771 Quantitative measuring or gauging
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53039 with control means energized in response to activator stimulated by condition sensor

Abstract

A method for self-programming a computerized power nutrunner control system for tightening a number of similar screw joints to a desired final torque level (M_F) is provided. The method includes the steps of: (i) tightening initially at a low speed one of the screw joints up to the final torque level (M_F), while detecting and analyzing one or more screw joint characteristics, (ii) adjusting successively during a number of succeeding tightening processes one or more nutrunner operating parameters with respect to the detected and analyzed screw joint characteristics, and (iii) locking the self-programming after the nutrunner operating parameters have been adjusted to accomplish a safe tightening of respective following ones of the screw joints to the final torque level (M_F) at a satisfactory short time interval.

Claims

1. A method for self-programming a computerized power nutrunner control system for tightening a number of similar screw joints to a desired final torque level (M_F), said method comprising:

tightening initially at a low speed one of said screw joints up to said final torque level (M_t), while detecting and analyzing one or more screw joint characteristics,

adjusting successively during a number of succeeding tightening processes one or more nutrunner operating parameters with respect to said detected and analyzed screw joint characteristics, and

locking said self-programming after said nutrunner operating parameters have been adjusted to accomplish a sate tightening of successive ones of said number of similar screw joints to said final torque level (M_F) at a satisfactory short time interval.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

screw joint tightening is performed in a two-step process comprising a first tightening step in which tightening is carried out up to a preliminary target torque level (M_PT) which is considerably lower than said final torque level (M_F), and a second tightening step in which said screw joint is tightened from a pretension level (M_P) obtained by aiming at said preliminary target torque level to said final torque level (M_F),

said first tightening step is initially carried out at a low nutrunner speed which is successively increased up to a maximum speed level (V_max) during a number of succeeding tightening processes to make an actually obtained angular position (Φ

_1-5) of the screw joint at the end of said first tightening step differ from a final angular position (Φ

_F) corresponding to a predetermined fraction of said final torque level (M_F).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said predetermined fraction is 20%-50% of said final torque level (M_F).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said successive increase of the nutrunner speed to said maximum speed level (V_max) is followed by a successive increase of said preliminary target torque level (M_pt) until the actually obtained angular position (Φ

_1-5) at the end of said first tightening step differs from said final angular position (Φ

_F) by no more than 20%-50%.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said one or more screw joint characteristics comprise frictional resistance and torque growth-to-angle of rotation.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein said one of more screw joint characteristics comprise frictional resistance and torque growth-to-angle of rotation.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein said successive increase of the nutrunner speed to said maximum speed level (V_max) is followed by a successive increase of said preliminary target torque level (M_pt) until the actually obtained angular position (Φ

_1-5) at the end of said first tightening step differs from said final angular position (Φ

_F) by no more than 20%-50%.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said one or more screw joint characteristics comprise frictional resistance and torque growth-to-angle of rotation.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein said one or more screw joint characteristics comprise frictional resistance and torque growth-to-angle of rotation.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

screw joint tightening is performed in a two-step process comprising a first tightening step in which tightening is carried out up to a preliminary target torque level (M_pt) which is considerably lower than said final torque level (M_F), and a second tightening step in which said screw joint is tightened from said preliminary target torque level (M_pt) to said final torque level (M_F),

said first tightening step is initially carried out at a low speed which is successively increased up to a maximum speed level (V_max) during a number of succeeding tightening processes to make an actually obtained pretension value (M_p5;

M_p8) at the end of said first tightening step amount to a predetermined fraction of said final torque level (M_F).

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein said successive increase of the nutrunner speed to said maximum speed level (V_max) is followed by a successive increase of said preliminary target torque level (M_pt) until the actually obtained pretension value (M_P) reaches said predetermined fraction of said final torque level (M_F).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said predetermined fraction is 50%-80% of said final torque level (M_F).

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein said one or more screw joint characteristics comprise frictional resistance and torque growth-to-angle of rotation.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said one or more screw joint characteristics comprise frictional resistance and torque growth-to-angle of rotation.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein said predetermined fraction is 50%-80% of said final torque level (M_F).

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein said one or more screw joint characteristics comprise frictional resistance and torque growth-to-angle of rotation.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein said one or more screw joint characteristics comprise frictional resistance and torque growth-to-angle of rotation.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detected and analyzed screw joint characteristics are used to determine whether the tightening process should be performed in one step or in two steps.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said one or more screw joint characteristics comprise frictional resistance and torque growth-to-angle of rotation.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more screw joint characteristics comprise frictional resistance and torque growth-to-angle of rotation.

21. A method for self-programming a computerized power nutrunner control system for tightening a number of similar screw joints to a desired final torque level, said method comprising:

analyzing during an initial tightening process, screw joint characteristics via said control system, and

performing during a final part of each one of a number of succeeding tightening processes a number of controlled empirically related changes of two or more system parameters which are evaluated against criteria for running down speed and tightening angle derived from said screw joint characteristics analysis.