Method and device for producing screw connections

• US 8,161,613 B2
• Filed: 03/04/2005
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Schuele, Manfred, Voigt, Mike
• Primary Examiner(s): Bryant, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOEHLER, CHRISTOPHER M
• Application Number:
  US10/579,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095154A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,608 Days
• Field of Search: 294/070.1, 294/070.2, 294/070.3, 294/070.5, 294/070.9, 294/071, 297/09, 297/14, 297/06, 297/07, 297/08, 173/176, 173/181, 173/182, 173/183, 173/1, 173/5, 173/6, 173/180, 814/67, 814/69, 738/620.8, 738/622.1, 738/622.3
• US Class Current: 29/407.01
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/147 specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49764 with testing or indicating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/5303 Responsive to condition of work or product

Abstract

The invention is based on a method for producing a screw connection by means of a cutout screwdriver (10) that terminates a screw driving operation when a predetermined torque is achieved.

According to the invention, data relating to an operation are detected in the cutout screwdriver (10) and transmitted to an external monitoring unit (20). The invention also discloses a device for executing the method as well as a cutout screwdriver.

Claims

1. A method for producing a screw connection by a cordless cutout screwdriver (10) comprising an evaluation unit (18), which cordless cutout screwdriver (10) terminates a screw driving operation when a predetermined torque is achieved, comprising:

detecting and evaluating data relating to the operation using the evaluation circuit (18),

transmitting the data to an external monitoring unit (20), and

deactivating the cutout screwdriver (10) when a number of idle screwdriver actuations exceeds a predetermined limit value per screw driving cycle.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the monitoring unit (20) receives and evaluates the transmitted data with regard to predetermined limit values, and, when the predetermined limit values are not met, generates an error message.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising deactivating the cutout screwdriver (10) if the data are evaluated as being outside a tolerance range.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising detecting a current torque by use of a torque sensor (12) in the cutout screwdriver (10) and transmitting the detected current torque to the evaluation circuit (18).

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the evaluation circuit (18), based on the achievement of a desired torque, determines whether a correct screw driving operation has been executed.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation circuit (18) detects the number of screw driving operations per screw driving cycle.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation circuit (18) detects the duration of a screw driving procedure.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation circuit (18) detects the current consumption and/or voltage drop of the cutout screwdriver during the screw driving operation.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein limit values for the data transmitted from the evaluation circuit (18) are stored in the monitoring unit (20), with which the transmitted data are compared and evaluated, and when limit value criteria are not met, the monitoring unit (20) sends the cutout screwdriver (10) a signal that causes the supply of current to the cutout screwdriver (10) to be interrupted.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the evaluation circuit (18) is coupled to the monitoring unit (20).

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the cutout screwdriver (10) has a transmitter/receiver system, which, in conjunction with a transmitted signal, is able to interrupt a supply of current to the cutout screwdriver (10).

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the monitoring unit (20) has a transmitter/receiver system that is able to receive data transmitted from the evaluation circuit (18) and to send a deactivation signal to the cutout screwdriver (10).

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the monitoring unit (20) has an evaluation unit (22) in which the data transmitted from the evaluation circuit (18) are stored, compared with limit values for the transmitted data, and evaluated, and, when limit value criteria are not met, the evaluation unit sends the cutout screwdriver (10) a signal that permits a control unit (16) to interrupt the supply.

14. A cutout screwdriver equipped with a transmitter/receiver unit for executing the method as recited in claim 1.

15. A cutout screwdriver, comprising:

a cutout screwdriver device (10) comprising an evaluation circuit (18); and

an external monitoring unit (20),

wherein the evaluation circuit (18) detects and evaluates data relating to an operation of the cutout screwdriver device (10) and then transmits the evaluated data to the external monitoring unit (20), and

wherein the cutout screwdriver (10) is deactivated when a number of idle screwdriver actuations exceeds a predetermined limit value per screw driving cycle.

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the evaluation circuit (18) detects the number of screw driving operations per screw driving cycle.

17. A method for producing a screw connection by a cordless cutout screwdriver (10) comprising an evaluation unit (18), which cordless cutout screwdriver (10) terminates a screw driving operation when a predetermined torque is achieved, comprising:

detecting and evaluating data relating to the operation using the evaluation circuit (18), including current consumption and/or voltage drop during the screw driving operation, and transmitting the data to an external monitoring unit (20),

evaluating the data received by the external monitoring unit (20), including comparing the data with stored predetermined limit values and generating and sending a signal to the output screwdriver (10) that causes the supply of current thereto to be interrupted in a case wherein the predetermined limit values are not met, and

deactivating the cutout screwdriver (10) when a number of idle screwdriver actuations exceeds a predetermined limit value per screw driving cycle.