Torque-angle wrench

• US 5,589,644 A
• Filed: 12/01/1994
• Issued: 12/31/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Technologies Incorporated (Snap-On Incorporated)
• Inventors: Niesen, Randy J., Iwinski, Dean J., Crass, Matthew M., Becker, Thomas P., Putney, Gordon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chilcot, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIEGEL, RONALD L
• Application Number:
  US08/347,871
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 73/862.23, 73/862.24, 73/862.21, 73/504.04, 73/504.12
• US Class Current: 73/862.23
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1425 by electrical means

Abstract

A torque-angle wrench is provided with a handle for applying torque, such as to a fastener or bolt, through a tightening angle, at a rotational angular velocity. A piezoelectric gyroscopic sensor device including circuitry for vibrating an oscillating body is coupled to the wrench. As the wrench is rotated through the tightening angle, its rotational angular velocity causes the vibrating body to alter its direction of vibration. The new vibrating pattern is sensed and converted, by appropriate sensing circuitry, into an electrical signal proportional in intensity to the rotational angular velocity of the wrench. The electrical signal can be electronically processed by appropriate conversion and display circuitry to provide a visual indication of the tightening angle. Such conversion and display circuitry can be integral with the wrench or as part of an adaptably coupled meter non-integrally connected to the sensor device.

Claims

1. A torque-angle wrench comprising:

a handle for applying torque through a tightening angle at a rotational angular velocity;

a piezoelectric gyroscopic sensor, including a vibrating body responsive to rotation of said handle, for generating an electrical signal representative of the rotational angular velocity; and

integrating means for converting said electrical signal into an output signal representing degrees of rotation of said handle, said integrating means including a voltage to frequency converter and a totalizer circuit, said electrical signal being converted to a digital pulse signal by said voltage to frequency converter and said digital pulse signal being fed directly to said totalizer circuit which, on the basis of said digital pulse signal, generates said output signal.

2. The wrench of claim 1, wherein said integrating means further includes display means coupled to said totalizer circuit and responsive to said output signal for displaying the degree of rotation of said handle.

3. The wrench of claim 1, wherein said handle, said integrating means and said sensor are integrally constructed as part of a self-contained wrench.

4. The wrench of claim 1, wherein said integrating means further includes means for presetting the wrench to a predetermined torque level.

5. The wrench of claim 1, wherein the vibrating body is an electrically excitable vibrating prism having a piezoelectric ceramic sensor plate mounted on each of three sides.

6. A torque-angle wrench comprising:

a handle for applying torque through a tightening angle at a rotational angular velocity;

a piezoelectric gyroscopic sensor, including a vibrating body responsive to rotation of said handle, for generating an electrical signal representative of the rotational angular velocity; and

means for presetting the tightening angle to a predetermined level.

7. A torque-angle wrench comprising:

a handle for applying torque through a tightening angle at a rotational angular velocity;

a piezoelectric gyroscopic sensor, including a vibrating body responsive to rotation of said handle, for generating an electrical signal representative of the rotational angular velocity;

means for converting said electrical signal into a digital pulse signal corresponding to degrees of rotation of said handle; and

means for counting said pulses and setting off an alarm when a predetermined number of pulses are accumulated.

8. A torque-angle wrench system comprising:

a handle for applying torque through a tightening angle at a rotational angular velocity; and

a set of torque-applying adapter units each adapted for use with said handle,

each said adapter unit including a piezoelectric gyroscopic sensor, including a vibrating body responsive to rotation of said handle for generating an electrical signal representative of the rotational angular velocity.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a display/control unit including integrating means for converting said electrical signal into an output signal representing degrees of rotation of said tool handle.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said integrating means includes a voltage to frequency converter and a totalizer circuit, said electrical signal being converted to a digital pulse signal by said voltage to frequency converter and said digital pulse signal fed directly to said totalizer circuit which, on the basis of said digital pulse signal, generates said output signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said integrating means further includes display means coupled to said totalizer circuit and responsive to said output signal for displaying the degrees of rotation of said tool handle.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said display/control unit comprises:

means for converting said electrical signal into a digital pulse signal corresponding to degrees of rotation of said tool handle; and

means for counting said pulses and setting off an alarm when a predetermined number of pulses are accumulated.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein said display means includes means for presetting the tightening angle to a predetermined level.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said display means further includes means for presetting the torque applied to a predetermined torque level.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the vibrating body is an electrically excitable vibrating prism having a piezoelectric ceramic sensor plate mounted on each of three sides.