Electric tool and controlling method thereof

• US 9,162,331 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2010
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Positec Power Tools Company Limited (Positec Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: Positec Power Tools Company Limited (Positec Group Limited)
• Inventors: Tang, Xiangyang
• Primary Examiner(s): CHUKWURAH, NATHANIEL C
• Application Number:
  US13/143,325
• Publication Number:
  US 20110303427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,115 Days
• Field of Search: 173/1, 173/2, 173/176, 318/474
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 19/066 by electrical means
• 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: G05D 17/02 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/02 Providing protection against overload without automatic interruption of supply protection against faults of stepper motors H02P8/36
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/08 for stopping or slowing a dc motor
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/285 controlling armature supply only
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 7/29 using pulse modulation

Abstract

A power tool including a motor for rotatably driving a tool bit at an attained rotational speed, a source for supplying an electric current to the motor, a sensor for measuring the current, and a control device. The control component fulfills the task of detecting a variation of the slope of the current in the course of time, and generates a control signal. The rotational speed of the tool is reduced in response to the control signal. The power tool automatically detects whether the work piece operated by the tool bit reaches a predetermined position by electronic control means. It may make sure that the screw is driven into a piece of wood and does not go beyond the predetermined position once it detects that the work piece reaches the position and carries out a changing action.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electric tool, the electric tool comprising an electric motor and an output shaft which is driven by the electric motor and configured for outputting a rotary torque to drive a tool bit to work on a work piece, the method comprising:

measuring a current supplied to the electric tool in dependence on time,

presetting a predetermined threshold value,

calculating a second or higher derivative of the current in dependence on time,

calculating a product of;

i) the second or higher derivative and ii) the current,

generating a control signal only when the absolute value of the product is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, and

changing a rotational speed of the electric tool in response to the control signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electric tool further comprises a housing and a planetary gear mechanism accommodated in the housing, the planetary gear mechanism comprising a planet carrier, a planet wheel arranged on the planet carrier and a gear ring arranged around the planet wheel.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a function value of the second or higher derivative includes a function factor of the product of the second derivative and a first derivative.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control signal is configured to set the rotational speed of the electric tool to a low-speed level or zero, and the control signal is generated instantly or after the preset delay time.

5. An electric tool, comprising:

an output shaft;

an electric motor configured to drive the output shaft to rotate,

a power supply for supplying power to the electric motor,

a sensor for measuring a current supplied to the electric tool, and

a control component configured to preset a predetermined threshold value, to calculate a second or higher derivative of the current in dependence on time, to calculate a product of;

i) the second or higher derivative and ii) the current, and to generate a control signal to change a rotational speed of the electric motor only when the absolute value of the product is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

6. The electric tool according to claim 5, wherein the control signal is configured to set the rotational speed of the electric tool to a low-speed level or zero, and the control signal is generated instantly or after preset delay time.

7. The electric tool according to claim 5, further comprising a housing and a planetary gear mechanism accommodated in the housing, the planetary gear mechanism comprising a planet carrier, a planet wheel arranged on the planet carrier and a gear ring arranged around the planet wheel.

8. A method for controlling an electric tool, the electric tool comprising an electric motor and an output shaft which is driven by the electric motor and configured for outputting a rotary torque to drive a tool bit to work on a work piece, the method comprising:

measuring a parameter representing the load on the output shaft in dependence on time,

presetting a predetermined threshold value,

calculating a second or higher derivative of the parameter in dependence on time,

generating a control signal only when the function value of the second or higher derivative is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, and

changing a rotational speed of the electric tool in response to the control signal, wherein the parameter is one of a current supplied to the electric tool, a rotational speed of the output shaft, a voltage of the electric motor, the rotational speed of the electric motor and the efficiency of the electric motor.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the function includes a function factor of the product of the second derivative and a first derivative.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the control signal is generated only when the absolute value of the product of the second derivative and the first derivative of the parameter or the absolute value of the product of the higher derivative and the first derivative of the parameter is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the control signal is generated only when the absolute value of the product of the second derivative and the parameter or the absolute value of the product of the higher derivative and the parameter is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

12. An electric tool comprising:

an output shaft,

an electric motor configured to drive the output shaft to rotate,

a power supply for supplying power to the electric motor,

a sensor for measuring a parameter representing the load on the output shaft, and

a control component configured to preset a predetermined threshold value and to calculate a second or higher derivative of the parameter in dependence on time, and to generate a control signal to change a rotational speed of the electric motor only when the function value of the second or higher derivative is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value,

wherein the parameter is one of a current supplied to the electric tool, a rotational speed of the output shaft, a voltage of the electric motor, the rotational speed of the electric motor and the efficiency of the electric motor.

13. The electric tool according to claim 12, wherein the control signal is generated only when the absolute value of the product of the second derivative and the parameter or the absolute value of the product of the higher derivative and the parameter is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

14. The electric tool according to claim 12, wherein the control signal is generated only when the absolute value of the product of the second derivative and a first derivative of the parameter or the absolute value of the product of the higher derivative and a first derivative of the parameter is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.

15. A method for controlling an electric tool, the electric tool comprising an electric motor and an output shaft which is driven by the electric motor and configured for outputting a rotary torque to drive a tool bit to work on a work piece, the method comprising:

measuring a parameter representing the load on the output shaft in dependence on time,

calculating a first or second or higher derivative of the parameter in dependence on time,

generating a control signal only when the absolute value of the product of the second derivative and the first derivative of the parameter or the absolute value of the product of the higher derivative and the first derivative of the parameter is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, and

changing a rotational speed of the electric tool in response to the control signal.

16. An electric tool comprising:

an output shaft,

an electric motor configured to drive the output shaft to rotate,

a power supply for supplying power to the electric motor,

a sensor for measuring a parameter representing the load on the output shaft, and

a control component configured to calculate a first or second or higher derivative of the parameter in dependence on time, and to generate a control signal to change a rotational speed of the electric motor only when the absolute value of the product of the second derivative and the first derivative of the parameter or the absolute value of the product of the higher derivative and the first derivative of the parameter is greater than or equal to the predetermined threshold value.