ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR TORQUE WRENCH

An adjustment device for adjusting a torque of a torque wrench includes a base unit, a driving unit, and a control unit. The torque wrench includes a shank body extending along an axis, an adjusting unit threadedly engaging the shank body, and a resilient member abutting against the adjusting unit. The base unit is for mounting of the torque wrench. The driving unit includes a coupling member removably connected to the adjusting unit, and a driving motor. The control unit controls the driving motor to drive rotation of the coupling member about the axis for driving rotation of the adjusting unit to thereby move the adjusting unit along the axis to vary a preload force of the resilient member and thus a torque of the torque wrench and to move the adjusting unit to a position where the torque of the torque wrench corresponds to a predetermined torque value.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention Patent Application No. 111131882, filed on Aug. 24, 2022.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to an adjustment device, and more particularly to an adjustment device for a torque wrench.

BACKGROUND

A conventional adjustment device is provided for calibrating a torque of a torque wrench. The torque wrench includes a shank body, a torsion head mounted on one end of the shank body, a handle threadedly engaging the other end of the shank body, and a spring disposed in the shank body, and clamped between and abutting against the torsion head and the handle.

The conventional adjustment device includes a base for mounting of the torque wrench, two limiting members extending upwardly from the base and for clamping the shank body, a torque device mounted on the base, a display, and a computer electrically connected to the torque device and the display. The torque device includes a rotating member that is rotatable and that co-rotatably engages the torsion head of the torque wrench, a motor that is electrically connected to the computer to be controlled thereby and that is operable for driving rotation of the rotating member, and a torque sensor that measures the torque exerted by the rotating member and that is electrically connected to the computer to transmit a measuring result thereto.

When it is desired to calibrate the torque of the torque wrench, the handle is first rotated so the handle is moved relative to the shank body to compress or to release the spring, and thus the torque of the torque wrench is adjusted to correspond to a predetermined torque value. Then, the torsion head of the torque wrench is brought to engage the rotating member, the shank body is placed to be clamped between the limiting members, and the computer is operated to control the motor to drive rotation of the rotating member and thus the torque head. The torque sensor measures a peak torque value exerted by the rotating member when the torque exerted by the rotating member is greater than an actual torque value of the torque wrench, which is provided by the spring. When a difference between the peak torque value and the predetermined torque value is greater than a tolerance, the spring is to be replaced by another spring having an elasticity coefficient different from that of the original spring according to magnitude of the difference. Hereafter, the abovementioned operations are repeated until the difference is smaller than the tolerance. For example, in a case where a torque wrench is supposed to have a predetermined torque value equal to 40 Newton metre (Nm), and the peak torque value obtained from the torque sensor is 41 Nm, which represents that the actual torque value of the torque wrench is greater than the predetermined torque value. Therefore, the original spring is to be replaced by another spring with an elastic coefficient smaller than that of the original spring, until the peak torque value is substantially equal to the predetermined torque value, i.e., 40 Nm.

However, the abovementioned operation conducted by the conventional adjustment device is a trial-and-error method. It is troublesome to manually rotate the handle, to measure the peak torque value, and to replace the spring. Thus, calibration performed by the conventional adjustment device is not only time-consuming but also labor-intensive.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide an adjustment device and that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, an adjustment device for adjusting a torque of a torque wrench is provided. The torque wrench includes a shank body that extends along an axis and that defines an accommodating space therein, a torsion member and an adjusting unit that are disposed at two opposite ends of the shank body along the axis, and a resilient member that is disposed in the accommodating space and clamped between the torsion member and the adjusting unit. The adjusting unit threadedly engages the shank body, and is rotatable about the axis so as to be movable relative to the shank body along the axis to vary a preload force of the resilient member and thus a torque of the torque wrench. The adjustment device includes a base unit, a driving unit, and a control unit. The base unit includes a frame seat adapted for mounting of the torque wrench thereon, and a positioning member disposed on the frame seat and adapted for positioning the shank body. The driving unit includes a coupling member adapted to be removably connected to the adjusting unit, and a driving motor mounted movably to the frame seat, and operable for driving the coupling member to rotate about the axis for driving the adjusting unit to rotate about the axis. The control unit is electrically connected to the driving motor, and is configured to control the driving motor to drive rotation of the coupling member about the axis for driving rotation of the adjusting unit to thereby move the adjusting unit along the axis to a position where the torque of the torque wrench corresponds to a predetermined torque value.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS.1to3, an adjustment device of a first embodiment according to the present disclosure is for adjusting a torque of a torque wrench6. The torque wrench6includes a shank body61, a resilient member62, a torsion member63, an adjusting unit64, and an articulate rod module65. The shank body61is hollow, extends along an axis (L), and defines an accommodating space611therein. The resilient member62is disposed in the accommodating space611and is clamped between the torsion member63and the adjusting unit64. The adjusting unit64threadedly engages the shank body61, and is rotatable about the axis (L) so as to be movable relative to the shank body61along the axis (L) to vary a preload force of the resilient member62and thus a torque of the torque wrench6.

The adjustment device includes a base unit1, a driving unit2, a force applying unit3, a calibration unit4, and a control unit5.

The base unit1includes a frame seat11, two sliding rail sets12,12′ disposed on the frame seat11, and a positioning member13including two clamping portions131that are disposed on the frame seat11. The frame seat11has a front side101, a rear side102opposite to the front side101, a left side103interconnecting the front side101and the rear side102, and a right side104opposite to the left side103and interconnecting the front side101and the rear side102.

In this embodiment, the sliding rail sets12,12′ are mounted respectively adjacent to the rear side102and the left side103of the frame seat11.

The driving unit2includes a driving motor21and a coupling member22. The coupling member22includes a sleeve221, and is adapted to be removably connected to the adjusting unit64. The driving motor21is mounted movably to the frame seat11, is disposed between one of the sliding rail sets12adjacent to the rear side102of the frame seat11, and is operable for driving the coupling member22to rotate about the axis (L) for driving the adjusting unit64to rotate about the axis (L).

The force applying unit3includes a rotating member31, a torque-exerting motor32, and a measuring module33. The rotating member31is rotatably mounted adjacent to the front side101on the frame seat11, is disposed opposite to the driving motor21, and is adapted for engaging the torsion member63and exerting a torque on the torsion member63to drive rotation of the torsion member63. In this embodiment, the rotating member31has a recess311that is adapted for engaging the torsion member63. The torque-exerting motor32is mounted on the frame seat11for driving rotation of the rotating member31. The measuring module33is mounted to the rotating member31, and is configured to measure a peak torque value exerted by the rotating member31when the value of the torque exerted by the rotating member31is greater than an actual torque value of the torque wrench6. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the torque-exerting motor32and the measuring module33are mounted under the frame seat11and are depicted by dashed lines in the drawings.

The calibration unit4includes a calibration member41, a calibration motor42, and a restoring member43. The calibration member41is disposed between the other one of the sliding set12′ on the frame seat11, and is adapted to extend into a calibration hole612that is formed in the shank body61and that is in spatial communication with the accommodating space611. The calibration member41is further adapted to be connected to the articulate rod module65of the torque wrench6. The calibrating motor42is disposed on the frame seat11, is electrically connected to the control unit5, and is operable for driving rotation of the calibration member41. The restoring member43is connected between the calibration member41and the calibration motor42for resiliently biasing the calibrating member41away from the calibrating motor42. In this embodiment, the restoring member43is made of an elastic material, and biases the calibration member41away from the calibration motor42so as to be exposed outwardly of the calibration motor42. In this way, the calibration member41is movable relative to the calibration motor42in a resilient manner.

In this embodiment, the calibration member41has one end that is opposite to the calibration motor42and that is hexagonal. In other variations of the present disclosure, the end of the calibration member41may be a flat head, a cross head or have other configurations, and the present disclosure is not limited hereto.

The control unit5includes a display module51, an input module52, a storage module53, and a control module54. The storage module53of the control unit5stores a plurality of setting torque values. It should be noted that, prior to adjusting a torque of the torque wrench6, a plurality of to-be-measured torque values may be inputted by a user via the input module52so as to be stored in the storage module53and respectively serve as the setting torque values. The control module54is electrically connected to the measuring module33, the torque-exerting motor32, the driving motor21, the display module51, the input module52, and the storage module53. The control module54is further configured to receive the peak torque value from the measuring module33and transmit the same to be stored in the storage module53. The control module54is configured to control operations of the driving motor21, the torque-exerting motor32, and the calibration motor42. Specifically, the control module54drives rotation of the driving motor21to drive rotation of the coupling member22about the axis (L) for driving rotation of the adjusting unit64to thereby move the adjusting unit64along the axis (L) to a position where the torque of the torque wrench6corresponds to a predetermined torque value. In this embodiment, the display module51is a screen, and the input module52is a keyboard, and other display modules and input modules may be used in other embodiments of the present disclosure. It should be noted that the control module54includes a microcontroller or a controller such as, but not limited to, a single core processor, a multi-core processor, a dual-core mobile processor, a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a digital signal processor (DSP), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), etc.

As shown inFIG.3, the resilient member62has a head end621, and a tail end622opposite to the head end621along the axis (L). In this embodiment, the resilient member62is a spring.

The torsion member63and the adjusting unit64are disposed at two opposite ends of the shank body61along the axis (L). The torsion member63has a head portion631, and a body portion632connected to the head portion631, extending into the accommodating space611, and connected pivotably to the shank body61. The adjusting unit64includes an abutment portion641, a polygonal rod642, and a handle portion643. The abutment portion641threadedly engages the shank body61, abuts against the tail end622of the resilient member62, and is co-rotatably connected to and abuts against the polygonal rod642at an end thereof opposite to the resilient member62. The handle portion643is sleeved movably on the shank body61, and is detachably connected to the abutment portion641. The polygonal rod642extends into the tail end622of the resilient member62, and is driven by the driving motor21to drive rotation of the abutment portion641to move the abutment portion641along the axis (L).

The head end621of the resilient member62is connected to and abuts against the articulate rod module65, and the tail end622of the resilient member62abuts against the abutment portion641of the adjusting unit64. In this way, the resilient member62is compressed and released during rotation of the adjusting unit64about the axis (L) and thus movement of the adjusting unit64along the axis (L) relative to the shank body61.

In this embodiment, a length of the articulate rod module65along the axis (L) is adjustable so as to fine tune the preload force of the resilient member62and thus the torque of the torque wrench6. It should be noted that, in other embodiments of the present disclosure, the articulate rod module65may be replaced by a slidable structure (not shown) that is movable relative to the shank body61along the axis (L) and that directly engages the resilient member62, such that the resilient member62is resiliently clamped between the torsion member63and the adjusting unit64, and the preload force thereof may also be adjusted when the slidable structure moves along the axis (L). In this embodiment, the articulate rod module65is disposed in the accommodating space611, is pivotably connected to the torsion member63, and includes a slidable block651, a first link rod652, a second link rod653, and a threaded rod654. The slidable block651abuts against the head end621of the resilient member62. The first link rod652has a first end portion655abutting against the body portion632of the torsion member63, a second end portion656opposite to the first end portion655, a pivot connecting portion657located between the first end portion655and the second end portion656and pivotably connected to the shank body61via a pin, and a threaded hole658formed between the pivot connecting portion657and the second end portion656and extending transverse to the axis (L). Two opposite ends of the second link rod653are pivotably and respectively connected to the second end portion656and the slidable block651. The threaded rod654extends through and threadedly engages the threaded hole658, and has first and second ends opposite in a direction transverse to the axis (L). The first end of the threaded rod654is disposed adjacent to the shank body61, and the second end of the threaded rod654is formed with an engaging hole659facing the calibration hole612. When the slidable block651is biased by the resilient member62to push the second link rod653along the axis (L) via one of the ends of the second link rod653that is pivotably connected thereto, the other one of the ends of the second link rod653that is pivotably connected to the second end portion656of the first link rod652moves the first end of the threaded rod654to press against the shank body61. An arrow shown inFIG.3depicts a direction of torque being exerted on the first link rod652.

The engaging hole659is an internal hexagonal hole being engaged with and co-rotatable with the calibration member41. It should be noted that the shape of the engaging hole659may be modified as long as the engaging hole659may be engaged with and co-rotatable with the calibration member41, and the present disclosure is not limited to the configuration of the engaging hole659.

When the calibration rod41is driven by the calibration motor42to rotate, the threaded rod654is co-rotatable therewith through engagement between the engaging hole659and the calibration rod41. Specifically, the calibration rod41is rotatable in a first rotational direction for expanding the articulate rod module65to compress the resilient member62, and is rotatable in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction for shrinking the articulate rod module65to release the resilient member62, thereby varying the preload force of the resilient member62. In this embodiment, when the threaded rod654is rotated by the calibration rod41in the first rotational direction, the threaded rod654abuts against the shank body61and the first link rod652pivots relative to the second link rod653, and is moved in a direction depicted by the arrow shown inFIG.4, such that an angle between the first link rod652and the second link rod653is increased to push the slidable block651toward the resilient member62and thus the articulate rod module65expands to compress the resilient member62along the axis (L). On the other hand, when the threaded rod654is rotated by the calibration rod41in the second rotational direction, the threaded rod654still abuts against the shank body61and the first link rod652pivots relative to the second link rod654, and is moved in a direction depicted by an arrow shown inFIG.3, such that an angle between the first link rod652and the second link rod653is decreased and the slidable block651is moved by the second link rod653away from resilient member62and thus the articulate rod module65is shrunk to release the resilient member62. In this way, the preload force of the resilient member62is adjusted and thus the torque of the torque wrench6may be finely tuned by rotation of the calibration member41via the threaded rod654without rotating the handle643. In this embodiment, the first rotational direction is a clockwise direction of the threaded rod654relative to the first link rod652inFIG.3, while the second rotational direction is a counterclockwise direction of the threaded rod654relative to the first link rod652inFIG.3.

In this embodiment, the output torque value of the torque wrench6ranges from 20 Nm to 100 Nm, but is not limited thereto.

As shown inFIGS.3and4, steps of mounting the torque wrench6on the frame seat11of the base unit1are described in the following. First, the handle643of the adjusting unit64is removed from the shank body61, and the remaining portion of the torque wrench6is disposed on the frame seat11so that the clamping portions131of the positioning member13clamp the shank body61therebetween. In this embodiment, the clamping portions131are adapted to clamp diametrically opposite sides of the shank body61. The recess311of the rotating member31of the force applying unit3is adapted for engaging the head portion631of the torsion member63and exerting a torque on the torsion member63to drive rotation of the torsion member63. The sleeve221of the coupling member22of the driving unit2is adapted to be sleeved on and drive the polygonal rod642to rotate, thereby driving the abutment portion641of the adjusting unit64to move along the axis (L). In this embodiment, the polygonal rod642is a hexagonal rod, and the sleeve221is internal hexagonal and is removably sleeved on the polygonal rod642. Then, the calibration motor42is controlled by the control module54to drive the calibration member41to extend into the calibration hole612and engage the engaging hole659formed in the threaded rod654. When the rotating member31exerts a torque on the head portion631of the torsion member63to drive rotation thereof, a direction of the torque exerted on the first link rod652is opposite to the direction depicted by the arrow shown inFIG.4. It should be noted that, in a case where the torque exerted by the rotating member31is smaller than the actual torque value of the torque wrench6, the first link rod652will not be rotated.

Referring toFIG.5, a method for adjusting a torque of the torque wrench6to be conducted by the adjustment device of the first embodiment of the present disclosure is shown and includes steps S1to S9.

In step S1, the control module54selects a minimum one of the setting torque values stored in the storage module53to be the predetermined torque value.

In step S2, the control module54controls the driving motor21to drive rotation of the coupling member22about the axis (L) for driving the polygonal rod642of the adjusting unit64to rotate about the axis (L), so the adjusting unit64is moved relative to the shank body61along the axis (L) to a position where the torque of the torque wrench6corresponds to the predetermined torque value.

In step S3, the control module54controls the torque-exerting motor32to drive rotation of the rotating member31to exert a torque on the head portion631of the torsion member63and to drive rotation of the head portion631, and the measuring module33measures a peak torque value exerted by the rotating member31when the value of the torque exerted by the rotating member31is larger than an actual torque of the torque wrench6. At this time, the control module54receives the peak torque value from the measuring module33and transmits the peak torque value to be stored in the storage module53, and then the control module54controls the torque-exerting motor32to stop driving the rotating member31to thereby release the torsion member63.

In step S4, the control module54determines whether each of the setting torque values stored in the storage module53is selected as the predetermined torque value. When the determination is affirmative, the flow of the method proceeds to step S6, otherwise the flow goes to step S5.

In step S5, the control module54selects the minimum one of the setting torque values that has not been selected as the predetermined torque value and the flow of the method goes back to step S2.

When the control module54determines that each of the setting torque values stored in the storage module53is selected as the predetermined torque value, step S6is performed. In step S6, the control module54generates a linear equation according to the predetermined torque value and the peak torque value obtained from step S3corresponding to each of the setting torque values stored in the storage module53and then the flow of the method goes to step S7. For example, in this embodiment, the linear equation is expressed as Y=aX+b, where X and Y respectively represent the peak torque value and the predetermined torque value corresponding to a selected one of the setting torque values, and a and b represents an upper limit and a lower limit of a calibration tolerance.

In step S7, the control module54determines whether the linear equation satisfies a calibration tolerance standard, and the flow of method proceeds to step S9when affirmative, otherwise step S8is performed. For example, the control module54determines that the linear equation satisfies the calibration tolerance standard when a is greater than 0, and b is greater than 0 and smaller than 1. In a case where a is equal to 1 and b is equal to 0, X is equal to Y. It should be noted that a range of the calibration tolerance may be modified as required, and the main feature of the present disclosure does not reside in the determination made in step S7, further details of the same are omitted for the sake of brevity.

In step S8, the control module54controls the calibration motor42to drive rotation of the calibration member41and thus the threaded rod654according to the linear equation to fine tune the preload force of the resilient member62and thus the torque of the torque wrench6, then the flow of the method goes back to step S1. It should be noted that how the control module54controls the calibration motor42according to the linear equation is well known in the pertinent art and is not the salient feature of the present disclosure. Therefore, further details elaborating the same are omitted for the sake of brevity.

In step S9, the control module54controls the display module51to display the linear equation.

It should be noted that in one embodiment of the present disclosure, the control module54controls the display module51, in steps S1to S6, to display the information of the predetermined torque value corresponding to the selected one of the setting torque values, the peak torque value, and the linear equation for the user to refer to or record in real time.

In this embodiment, the number of the to-be-measured torque values is three and the to-be-measured torque values are respectively, e.g., 20 Nm, 60 Nm, and 100 Nm. The storage module53stores a conversion equation related to the number of rotation of the abutment portion641corresponding to a variation in the torque of the torque wrench6. Thus, the control unit5controls the driving motor21to rotate the abutment portion641for a certain number of turns according to the conversion equation so as to move the abutment portion641to a position where the torque of the torque wrench6corresponds to the predetermined torque value, i.e., the selected one of the setting torque values. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, when another torque wrench having a torque different from that of the torque wrench6is to be adjusted, another conversion equation related to the number of rotation corresponding to a variation in the torque of another torque wrench is stored in the storage module53. It should be noted that, the number of the to-be-measured torque values may be modified to be two or more than four and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Referring toFIG.6, the adjustment device of a second embodiment according to the present disclosure is similar to the first embodiment, and the differences between the first embodiment and the second embodiment reside in the following. In the second embodiment, the coupling member22includes a fastening portion222adapted to be fixedly connected to and drive the handle portion643of the adjusting unit64to rotate, thereby driving the abutment portion641of the adjusting unit64, which is co-rotatably connected to the handle portion643, which threadedly engages the shank body61, and which abuts against the resilient member62, to move along the axis (L). In this embodiment, it is not required to remove the handle643when mounting the torque wrench6on the frame seat11of the base unit1.

In summary, in the adjustment device of the present disclosure, by virtue of the driving motor21that drives rotation and thus movement of the adjusting unit64along the axis (L), a process of manually rotating the handle643to adjust the torque of the torque wrench6may be omitted. Furthermore, the calibration unit4is controlled by the control module54to fine tune the preload force of the resilient member62and thus the torque wrench6, so calibration of the torque wrench6may be completed in a relatively simple manner. In addition, by virtue of the restoring member43that biases the calibrating member41away from the calibrating motor42, the calibrating member41engages the engaging hole659at all time, and removal of the calibration member41from the engaging hole659during rotation of the rotating member31that drives rotation of the torsion member63to drive pivot movement of the first link rod652may be prevented.