Tranducerized torque wrench

• US 7,090,030 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2003
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jergens, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Microtorq L.L.C. (Jergens, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Jerry Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Louis K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Truong, Thanh
• Application Number:
  US10/654,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 173/178, 173/179, 173180-183, 173/217, 173/2, 814/67, 814/69
• US Class Current: 173/2
• 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: B25B 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: B25F 5/026 in the form of an auxiliary handle B25F5/024 takes precedence

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a variable speed tool useful for use with securing or removing industrial fasteners. The tool also includes a means to torque the fastener to a certain precise torque. The tool can be used with an associated controller that provides control commands to the tool.

Claims

1. A fastener driver comprising:

a motor capable of providing a rotational force;

a chuck assembly operatively connectable to said motor; and

a variable voltage device responsive to a magnetic field, wherein said motor is in operative communication with said variable voltage device and,

wherein selectively moving the chuck assembly varies the magnitude of the magnetic field applied to the variable voltage device and proportionally varies the power supplied to said motor and thereby variably alters the corresponding rotational speed of the chuck assembly.

2. The fastener driver of claim 1, wherein said variable voltage device is a Hall effect transformer.

3. The fastener driver of claim 1, further comprising a field device provided on said chuck assembly capable of emitting a magnetic field.

4. The fastener driver of claim 3, wherein positioning said field device by selective movement of said chuck assembly controllably drives said motor, whereby positioning said field device manipulates the magnitude of the magnetic field subjected to said variable voltage device emanating from said field device.

5. The fastener driver of claim 4, wherein the magnitude of the magnetic field proportionally relates to the proximity of the variable voltage device in relation to the field device.

6. The fastener driver of claim 1 further comprising a lever assembly having a field device formed thereon capable of emitting a magnetic field.

7. The fastener driver of claim 6 wherein positioning said field device by selective movement of said lever assembly controllably drives said motor, whereby positioning said field device manipulates the magnitude of the magnetic field subjected to said variable voltage device emanating from said field device.

8. The fastener driver of claim 7, wherein the magnitude of the magnetic field proportionally relates to the proximity of the variable voltage device in relation to the field device.

9. The fastener driver of claim 1, further comprising a torque transducer capable of measuring the value of the torque generated by said chuck assembly.

10. The fastener driver of claim 9 further comprising at least one strain gauge in cooperative engagement with said torque transducer.

11. The fastener driver of claim 10, wherein said at least one strain gauge transmits data representing the torque generated by said chuck assembly usable to terminate operation of said driver when the torque generated by said chuck assembly reaches a predetermined amount.

12. The fastener driver of claim 1 further comprising a first selector switch programmably capable of selectively reversing the polarity of the electrical power supplied to said driver.

13. The fastener driver of claim 1 further comprising a second selector switch programmably capable of selectively operating said driver in a different control mode.

14. A system to drive fasteners comprising a fastener driver combinable with a controller assembly:

said fastener driver comprising, a motor capable of providing a rotational force, a chuck assembly operatively connectable to said motor, and a variable voltage device responsive to a magnetic field, wherein said motor is in operative communication with said variable voltage device and wherein selectively moving the chuck assembly varies the magnitude of the magnetic field applied to the variable voltage device and proportionally varies the power supplied to said motor and thereby variably alters the corresponding rotational speed of the chuck assembly;

said controller assembly capable of providing control instructions to said fastener driver, said control instructions comprising maximum torque magnitude, operational speed.

15. A fastener device useful for driving fasteners comprising:

a motor operatively connectable with a variable voltage power source;

a means for creating a magnetic field, wherein said magnetic field can be applied to the variable power source;

a chuck assembly capable of coupling said fastener device with a fastener; and

a transducer comprising a strain gage coupled with a flexure capable of monitoring the magnitude of the torque applied to the fastener by said fastener device and wherein selectively moving the chuck assembly varies the magnitude of the magnetic field applied to the variable voltage power source and proportionally varies the power supplied to said motor and thereby variably alters the corresponding rotational speed of the chuck assembly.

16. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein said fastener device is hand held.

17. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein said transducer provides real time feed back information of the magnitude torque of the torque applied to the fastener by said fastener device.

18. The fastener device of claim 17, wherein said transducer provides said real time feed back information to a controller that communicates with said fastener driver.

19. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein said fastener device is capable of accurately applying a magnitude of torque to a fastener that ranges from about 1 in-pounds to about 50 in-pounds.

20. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein said fastener device is capable of accurately applying a magnitude of torque to a fastener of about 20 in-pounds.

21. The fastener device of claim 15, wherein said flexure is operatively coupled with said chuck assembly.