Tool apparatus, system and method of use

• US 20050173142A1
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Published: 08/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Cutler, Brian J., Costantino, David R., Keefe, Gary, Duvan, David, Atkinson, Denny
• Granted Patent: US 7,182,147 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 173/181
• 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 23/1425 by electrical means

Abstract

A system, and a method of using a system, for controlled tool operation. The method includes providing a tool used in a force application such as a such torque application. The tool communicates with a controller which can communicate with the tool, and to a display in communication with the tool and the controller. The controller can be programmed with operational information about a tool operation. Information related to the operational information is displayed to a user during use. Service information including at least information about an amount of force applied during use is recorded and stored in the controller. Also disclosed is a computerized system for controlled tool operation which sends operational instructions to the tool before use and retrieves service information from the tool after use.

Claims

1. A method for controlled tool operation, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tool;

providing a driver operatively associated with the tool;

providing a controller operatively associated with the tool;

providing a cradle for receiving the tool;

receiving and retaining information in the tool when the tool is docked in the cradle, the information being for use in at least one tool operation;

identifying a tool operation;

providing operational information corresponding to the tool operation;

performing the tool operation corresponding to the operational information while recording service information; and

storing the service information on the controller.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a display operatively associated with the controller.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the cradle being coupled to a shop management system to enable communication between the tool and the shop management system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of guiding the tool operation with the operational information.

5. The method of claim 1, the tool operation further comprising a torque application operation.

6. The method of claim 5, the torque application operation further comprising replacing a plurality of lug nuts on at least one tire of a vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6, the step of providing operational information further comprising providing a target applied torque for each lug nut.

8. The method of claim 5, the step of providing operational information further comprising defining a lug nut service pattern.

9. The method of claim 5, the step of performing the tool operation corresponding to the operational information further comprising:

controllably displaying a representation of a vehicle on the display;

displaying a tire position indicator corresponding to each of the at least one tire;

activating the tire position indicator when an operation is to be performed on that tire.

10. The method of claim 9, the method further comprising providing a switch on the tool in communication with the controller;

cyclically rotating the tire position indicator between each of the tire position indicators upon actuation of the switch.

11. The method of claim 5, the method further comprising:

providing a first visual indicator corresponding to an approach condition;

providing a second visual indicator corresponding to a target condition; and

providing a third visual indicator corresponding to an over-torque condition;

the first, second, and third indicators being coupled to the controller;

controllably operating the first, second, and third indicators to illuminate when a corresponding condition has been reached.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the approach condition corresponds to from between 85% to 98% of the target applied torque.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the over-torque condition corresponds to from 105% to 120% of the target applied torque.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

providing an alert indicator coupled to the controller;

producing a first alert on the alert indicator when the approach condition has been reached;

producing a second alert on the alert indicator when the target condition has been reached; and

producing a third alert on the alert indicator when the over-torque condition has been reached.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing each of the first alert, second alert and third alert with a different alert indication.

16. A method for controlled tool operation, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tool;

providing a driver operatively associated with the tool;

providing a controller operatively associated with the tool;

providing a display operatively associated with the tool and the controller;

providing a control unit having a first connection communicating with a cradle and a second connection communicating with a shop management system, the cradle being dimensioned for receiving the tool to enable communication between the tool and the control unit.

providing a shop management system being in detachable communication with the tool, the shop management system controllably generating work orders;

retrieving information for at least one work order on the shop management system;

transmitting at least one work order to the control unit for storage in the control unit;

selecting a work order stored on the control unit and transmitting the work order to the tool;

performing a torque application related to the work order using the tool and recording service information;

transmitting the service information to the control unit; and

transmitting the service information from the control unit to the shop management system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the work order includes operational information and job information.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein operational information includes at least a driver size, a target applied torque, a number of lug nuts per tire, and a lug nut service pattern for a selected vehicle.

19. A method for controlled tool operation, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a tool;

providing a driver operatively associated with the tool;

providing a controller operatively associated with the tool;

providing a display operatively associated with the tool and the controller;

providing a cradle coupled to a shop management system for receiving the tool to enable communication between the tool and the shop management system;

providing the shop management system in communication with the controller, the shop management system being programmably operated to perform the following steps;

entering work order information including a vehicle type;

selecting operational information based on the vehicle type; and

sending the work order information and operational information to the controller;

performing the tool operation guided by the operational information while simultaneously recording service information;

storing the service information on the controller; and

sending the service information to the shop management system, when the tool is docked in the cradle.

20. A system for controlled tool operation, the system comprising:

a tool;

a driver operatively associated with the tool;

a driver operatively associated with the tool and the controller;

a display operatively associated with the tool and the controller; and

a cradle coupled to a shop management system for receiving the tool to enable communication between the tool and the shop management system.

21. The system of claim 20, the tool further comprising a port for removably connecting the tool to the cradle.

22. The system of claim 20, the cradle further comprising a docking cavity, the docking cavity defined by a docking section wall and having a width dimension, a length dimension, and a depth dimension which cooperatively correspond to a length, width, and depth of the tool.

23. The system of claim 22, the cradle further comprising a control unit.

24. The system of claim 23, the cradle further comprising a network card for communication with the shop management system.

25. The system of claim 23, the control unit further comprising a personal digital assistant.