Fastening apparatus and method

• US 6,981,311 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Original Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company (Trane Technologies plc)
• Inventors: Seith, Warren A., McCallops, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): JIMENEZ, MARC QUEMUEL
• Application Number:
  US10/383,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• Field of Search: 29705-709, 297/14, 297/98, 298/21, 294/070.1, 294/070.2, 294/070.3, 294/070.7, 735/81, 173/168, 173/169, 173/1
• US Class Current: 29/707
• 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 23/14 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 29/49774 by vibratory or oscillatory movement
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5303 Responsive to condition of work or product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53061 Responsive to work or work-related machine element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5343 Means to drive self-piercing work part

Abstract

A system and method for precision fastening of a fastener. The fastening system includes a motor and a sensor that provides a feedback signal from the motor to a controller. The controller compares the feedback signal to a threshold value to determine if an error condition exists. If the error condition exists, the controller oscillates a rotor to the motor between a first and a second position. In one construction, a resolver provides a signal to the controller representing a position of the oscillating rotor. The oscillating rotor vibrates the housing, thereby alerting an operator of the error condition. In one construction, the fastener device can alert the operator that the fastener is not tightened to a proper torque, and that the fastener is not rotated through a proper angle of rotation.

Claims

1. A fastening system for driving a fastener in a workpiece, comprising:

a housing defining a chamber;

a motor positioned within the chamber and having a rotor, the rotor being connectable to the fastener and being operable to drive the fastener in the workpiece;

a sensor coupled to the rotor to provide a feedback signal representative of a motor operation; and

a controller to receive the feedback signal, to determine a fastener condition based upon the feedback signal, and to oscillate the rotor between a first position and a second position to vibrate the housing when the fastener condition is different than a predetermined fastener condition.

2. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the controller provides a control signal to a stator to induce the rotor to oscillate.

3. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a torque sensor and the feedback signal represents a torque force exerted by the motor.

4. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a resolver and the feedback signal represents a position of the rotor with respect to a reference.

5. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein a communication bus links the controller to the sensor.

6. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the motor includes a stator at least partially surrounding the rotor, and further comprising a second sensor to detect a position of the rotor with respect to the stator.

7. The fastening system of claim 6, wherein the second sensor is a resolver.

8. The fastening system of claim 7, wherein the resolver provides a first feedback signal to the controller when the rotor reaches the first position and a second feedback signal to the controller when the rotor reaches the second position.

9. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the first position of the rotor and the second position of the rotor are ninety degrees apart.

10. The fastening system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface operable to receive an input from an operator that includes the first and second positions and a speed to oscillate the rotor.

11. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the motor is a direct current, brushless motor.

12. The fastening system of claim 1, wherein the rotor oscillates between the first and second positions at a frequency of ten hertz.