Torque wrench

A torque wrench including an elongate deflection beam section. Two strain gauges are attached to the beam in longitudinal spaced relationship from the ends thereof and relative to each other. Each strain gauge is connected in a related cyclically energized measuring bridge, the output voltage of which is amplified and, under control of a switch, is conducted to and stored in a related measured value memory. The two stored measured value voltages are cyclically and alternatingly conducted to a micro-processor by means of an analog-to-digital converter. The micro-processor compares the measured value voltages and conducts a resulting signal to an indicating instrument which displays the resulting signal in force units.

This invention has to do with torque wrenches and is particularly concerned 
with a torque wrench having novel electronic means for measuring and 
indicating applied forces. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Torque wrenches of the class here concerned with are provided to apply 
measured predetermined torque or bias forces onto and through various 
screw fastening means, such as headed screw fasteners engaged in work 
pieces. Such wrenches characteristically include elongate lever arms with 
fastener engaging means or points of engagement at one of their ends and 
manually engageable handles at their other ends. Further, the class of 
torque wrenches here concerned with is further characterized by the 
inclusion or provision of elongate, elastic, deflection beam portions or 
sections extending longitudinally of the lever arms, between the ends 
thereof and which bend under the work forces applied to and conducted 
through the wrenches and by means which measure the deflection of the 
beams and which translate and display the measured deflection of the 
beams, by means of indicating instruments, in suitable force units. 
In most torque wrenches of the class here concerned with, the means for 
measuring deflection of the deflection beams and the indicating 
instruments have been mechanical means and instruments. 
The number of such wrenches incuding electrical or electronic means for 
measuring deflection of the deflection beams and related electrical or 
electronic indicating instrument, such as my invention includes, is 
limited. 
The most pertinent prior art that I am aware of is that torque wrench which 
is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,006,629. That patented wrench structure 
has or is provided with four strain gauges attached to the deflection 
beam, there being two strain gauges attached to one side and two strain 
gauges attached to the opposite or other side of the beam. The pairs of 
strain gauges at the opposite sides of the deflection beam are spaced 
differently longitudinally of the beam and from the fastener engaging 
means or point of engagement of the wrench structure. The four strain 
gauges establish the four resistors of a Wheatstone bridge, the output 
voltage of which is representative of the deflection of the beam and of 
the torsional force applied by the wrench onto a related fastener or the 
like. As long as there is no load or force applied through the wrench, the 
output voltage of the bridge is zero. Changes in the length of the beam 
resulting from thermal expansion and contraction act symmetrically on the 
four gauges, precluding a change in the voltage output of the bridge. When 
the wrench is used and the beam bends, the pair of strain gauges at one 
side of the beam are stretched or lengthened and the pair of gauges at the 
other or opposite side of the beam are compressed or shortened. 
Lengthening and shortening of the gauges in the above manner changes their 
resistance and an output voltage of the bridge is obtained which deviates 
from zero. That output voltagg is supplied to an indicating instrument for 
digital display of the measured value by means of a corresponding 
converter. 
The foregoing prior art wrench requires a constant power supply to the 
bridge, converter and indicating instrument whereby power consumption is 
so high that an outside power supply must be provided. A self contained 
high capacity battery power supply capable of sustaining operation of the 
noted wrench structure would be excessively large and heavy for practical 
use of that wrench structure. 
A further disadvantage of the noted prior art wrench resides in the fact 
that balancing and adjustment of the wrench is not possible subsequent to 
attachment of the strain gauges to the deflection beam and the finished 
dimensions of the beam and of the gauges involve tolerances. Also, 
attachment and positioning of the gauges on the beam involves tolerances. 
Deviations in the wrench structure due to such tolerances are cumulative 
and cause errors in measurement which cannot be balanced or otherwise 
compensated for. Still further, the finished dimensions of the strain 
gauges (involving tolerances) have associated therewith the 
proportionality factor K indicative of the ratio of change in length to 
corresponding change in resistance. 
OBJECTS AND FEATURES OF MY INVENTION 
It is an object of this invention to provide an improved torque wrench 
structure of the same general type and/or class referred to above in which 
the several shortcomings and/or disadvantages noted to exist in such 
torque wrenches provided by the prior art are avoided. 
Another object of my invention is to provide a wrench of the class 
notedabove which includes low-priced and simple means for accurate 
measurement and indicating of torque at low power consumption, while also 
providing increased applicability and adjustment. 
The objects are attained by providing and attaching two independent strain 
gauges to a side of the elongate deflection beam, portion or section of a 
related torque wrench structure, in spaced longitudinal relationship from 
and between the ends of the beam and relative to each other, connecting 
each gauge as a resistance in a related measuring bridge, amplifying the 
output voltage of each bridge and, by means of suitable related switches, 
conducting and storing the amplified voltages is related measured value 
memories. Next, by suitable switching means, cyclically and alternatingly 
conducting the stored measured value voltages into an analog-to-digital 
converter and thence into a micro-processor for interconnection, comparing 
and processing for indication of the actual amount of force applied onto 
and through the deflection beam by an indicating instrument connected with 
and receiving a resulting output signal from the micro-processor. 
The two measuring bridges are controlled by electric current delivered 
thereto by transistors which are triggered by signals from the 
micro-processor and are cyclically energized for periods of from 15 to 200 
micro-seconds. Actual measuring of forces (beam deflection) is therefore 
effected intermittently for very short periods of time and little power is 
required and/or consumed. 
When the wrench that I provide is used, the cyclic sequence of the 
measurements can increase upon display of the rapidly changing measured 
value, controlled by the micro-processor. Therefore, the measuring periods 
can be varied, and they adapt themselves automatically to requirements. As 
long as the measured value remains constant, only a few measurements per 
unit of time will be carried out, whereas, when differing measured values 
are received, the number of measurements per unit of time will be 
increased. This also reduces the power consumption, as most of the 
measurements are only carried out, when the torque wrench is actually 
applying force to a fastener or the like. Then too, actual measurement is 
quite temporary. 
For a zero torque measurement, the two measuring bridges can have an output 
voltage corresponding to half of the maximum voltage processed by the 
AD-converter, whereby torque measurement in one direction of rotation of 
the wrench covers voltage values between say 1/2 and 1/1 and torque 
measurement in the other direction of rotation of the wrench covers 
voltage values between say 1/2 and 0. Thereby, positive and negative 
torques can be displayed in simple manner by the indicating instrument. 
The maximum voltage being processed by the AD-converter may be 
approximately 2.5 volts. This voltage is sufficient to carry out an 
appropriate measurement. When measuring a zero torque, the output voltage 
at the measuring bridges will be approximately 1.25 volts. 
Upon a zero torque measurement, the actual value of the output voltages of 
the measuring bridges can be compared with the nominal value and 
deviations during actual measurement of positive or negative torques can 
be used as correction values in the micro-processor. Thus, a zero 
correction is effected in simple manner, as when the strain gauges are 
lengthened or compressed as a result of thermal expansion and contraction. 
The measured values of series of measurements are interconnected in the 
micro-processor and the mean value of the series of measurements is 
displayed upon interrogation. Therefore, the micro-processor is effective 
to compile series of measurements in a particularly simple manner, the 
individually measured values being compared with each other, and a mean 
value displayed upon interrogation. 
The measured values of series of measurements is also interconnected in the 
micro-processor and the maximum value of the series of measurements is 
displayed upon interrogation. Here too, the measured values are compared 
with each other in simple manner, and the maximum value is displayed upon 
interrogation. 
Reaching a nominal value to be adjusted and provided with plus and minus 
tolerances, of the torque to be applied, can be displayed optically and/or 
acoustically. An optical and/or acoustic signal demonstrates to the user 
that the adjusted tolerance range is reached. 
Advantageously, interconnection of the measured values in the 
micro-processor is such that only the actual values within the tolerance 
range are processed. 
If the maximum value of the torque to be applied is exceeded, reverse 
rotation of the wrench removes the inadmissibly high measured value from 
the measured value interconnection and allows for desired determination of 
the maximum value and/or mean value of a series of measurements. When 
exceeding the maximum value to be adjusted, of the torque to be applied, 
the user must release the inadmissibly high work force exerted in and 
through the wrench. By rotation of the torque wrench in reverse direction, 
the excessively high measured value is cancelled from the measured value 
interconnection and has no influence on the determination of the mean 
value of a series of measurements. 
The voltages applied to the measuring bridges are controlled by the 
micro-processor. Thus, the measuring range of the bridges can be varied. 
Therefore, the micro-processor is effective to change the measuring range 
of the torque wrench in simple manner. 
Amplification of the output voltages of the measuring bridges is controlled 
by the micro-processor. Thus, by changing the amplification of the output 
voltages the measuring range can be adjusted or changed in simple manner. 
With the micro-processor also a conversion and switching to different units 
of measure can be carried out. By conversion, therefore, the units of 
measure meterkilogram, Newtonmeter, etc. can be used. 
The foregoing objects and features of the invention will be fully 
understood from the following description of the invention throughout 
which reference is made to the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The torque wrench illustrated in FIG. 1 serves for application and/or 
measurement of preset bias or torsional forces exerted by the wrench 
structure onto and through screw fasteners engaged in work pieces. For 
reasons of simplicity, the work pieces and screw fasteners are not shown. 
The torque wrench comprises an elongate lever arm in the form of or 
defining a deflection beam 3. At one end of the deflection beam 3, there 
is a point of engagement in the form of a square 2. In accordance with 
common practice, the square 2 or point of engagement is an elongate 
polygonal drive member fixed to one end of the deflection beam with its 
axis normal to the axis of the beam and with which a fastener engaging 
socket or the like can be drivingly engaged. At the other end of the 
deflection beam 3, there is provided an elongate manually engageable 
handle 1. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the handle 1 is 
a flat metal part attached to its related end of the deflection beam 3 by 
welding. The handle, as shown, establishes an extension on the deflection 
beam 3. 
The deflection beam 3 has attached thereto two strain gauges 16 and 17. The 
strain gauges 16 and 17 are positioned and attached to a side of the beam 
3 which is lengthened or compressed during proper and intended use of the 
torque wrench. The two strain gauges 16 and 17 are spaced apart from each 
other in a longitudinal direction relative to the axis of the deflection 
beam 3. As diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 2, the strain gauge 16 is 
spaced a distance 11 from the point of engagement of the beam (the 
longitudinal axis of the square 2). The strain gauge 17 is spaced a 
distance 12 from the strain gauge 16. For reasons still to be explained, 
the spacings are expediently dimensioned such that 11 equals 12. 
The lengthening and compression of the outer fiber of the deflection beam 
3, as measured by the strain gauges 16 and 17, is proportional to the 
flexure of the beam and that flexure is dependent on the applied torque, 
the elasticity module and the moment of inertia. Since, when applying a 
force to the handle of a torque wrench, the lever arm, the elasticity 
module and the moment of inertia remain unchanged, the torque achieved can 
therefore be measured by the flexure. 
When, for example, using the single strain gauge 16, the torque of the 
torque wrench corresponds to the product of torque measured with the 
strain gauge 16, Ml and 1/(1-11); 1 being the overall length of the lever 
arm to the point of application of the force and 11 being the distance 
between the strain gauge used and the pivot point of the torque wrench. As 
the distance between the pivot point of the torque wrench and the active 
force influences the accuracy of measurement, it is necessary to have the 
force applied to the same point of the handle for which a calibration had 
been made. The foregoing disadvantages are avoided by the use of the 
second strain gauge 17 spaced from the first strain gauge 16 at a distance 
12 and interconnecting (comparing) the value measured at strain gauge 17 
with the measured value of the first strain gauge 16. 
FIG. 2 illustrates the torque pattern relative to unilaterally clamped 
deflection beam. The torques determined by the two strain gauges 16 and 17 
are referenced 16 and 17. The strain gauge 16 is spaced from the clamping 
point (square 2) at a distance 11, the strain gauge 17 at a distance 11+12 
from the clamping point. Then, for the torque at the clamping point 
M=M1+(11/12) (M1-M2). In the specific case where 11=12, then M=2 M1-M2. 
Thus, the torque at the clamping point can be determined independently of 
the point of application of the force. 
FIG. 3 illustrates the circuit diagram. The strain gauge 16 is connected as 
resistor in a measuring bridge 18 together with three other resistors. The 
strain gauge 17 is connected as resistor in a second measuring bridge 19 
together with three other resistors. Hence, the two strain gauges 16 and 
17 are connected independently of each other in their related measuring 
bridges 18 and 19. The output voltage of the measuring bridge 18 leads to 
an amplifier 7, while the output voltage of the measuring bridge 19 leads 
to an amplifier 8. The amplifier 7 can be controlled by a potentiometer 4 
and the amplifier 8 can be controlled by a potentiometer 5. These 
potentiometers 4 and 5 permit an accurate adjustment, even though the 
moment of resistance and thus, the moment of inertia of the deflection 
beam 3, is subject to deviations due to tolerances. The proportionality 
factor K of the strain gauges 16 and 17 may be subject to deviations due 
to tolerances. The proportionality factor K is the ratio between relative 
longitudinal lengthening and change of resistance of each strain gauge 16 
and 17. An incorrect attachment of the strain gauges 16 and 17 to the 
deflection beam 3, i.e., a change in the spacings 11 and 12 may also be 
balanced by the potentiometers 4. 
The output voltage from the measuring bridge 18 is supplied to a switch 9 
via the amplifier 7, and vis the switch 9 to a measured value memory 11 in 
the form of or provided by a condenser. The output voltage from the 
measuring bridge 19 is supplied to a switch 10 via the amplifier 8, and 
via the switch 10 to a measured value memory 12 which is also in the form 
of or provided by a condenser. The measured values stored in the memories 
(condensers) 11 and 12 are alternatingly and successively applied to an 
analog-to-digital converter 13 (AD-converter) by a switch 22. The 
analog-to-digital converger 13 is connected to a micro-processor 14 which, 
in turn, is connected to an indicating instrument 15 for digital display 
of the measured values. 
The micro-processor controls the switch 22 and the switches 9 and 10, as 
well as the amplifiers 7 and 8. The micro-processor 14 further controls 
two transistors 20 and 21 connected with the two measuring bridges 18 and 
19. The transistors 20 and 21 operate to cyclically apply electric current 
to activate the related bridges for periods of approximately 15 to 200 
micro-seconds. 
When using the torque wrench as intended, the measurements will be carried 
out in very short intervals so that power consumption is very low. As the 
measuring times are quite short, approximately 20 measurements per second 
can be carried out without requiring substantial power consumption. In 
use, the cyclic sequence of the measurements can increase upon display of 
the rapidly changing measured value, controlled by the micro-processor. As 
soon as the measured values do not change when using the torque wrench, 
the cyclic sequence will be slowed down substantially so that hardly any 
power consumption occurs. 
The measuring bridges 18 and 19 are only switched on by the transistors 20 
and 21 for fractions of the actual measuring cycle and their measured 
values are stored in their related memories (condensers) 11 and 12. This 
greatly reduces the power consumption during actual measurement as well as 
when measurement is interrupted. By storing the measuring voltages 
measured and amplified in the amplifiers 7 and 8, it is possible to 
successively process the values obtained during the measurements in the 
AD-converter 13 and the micro-processor 14. The AD-converter 13 is slow to 
operate with respect to the operating speed of the measuring bridges 18 
and 19. The measuring bridges 18 and 19 need not be switched on during the 
whole conversion time of the relatively slow AD-converter 13. Since the 
AD-converter 13 is slow operating, it operates at low power consumption. 
Further, when measurement is interrupted, the AD-converter 13 can be 
disconnected from the micro-processor 14. The measuring voltages are 
stored in the memories or condensers 11 and 12 since the switches 9 and 10 
are connected with and controlled by the micro-processor 14. The memories 
or condensers 11 and 12 are charged during switch-on of the measuring 
bridges 18 and 19. Prior to switch-off of the measuring bridges 18 and 19, 
the switches 9 and 10 are opened by the micro-processor. During charging 
of the condensers 11 and 12, the switch 22 is open. Only during 
interrogation of the stored measured values in the memories 11 and 12 is 
the switch 22 in one or the other of its two closed switching positions 
and then establishes only a temporary connection to the AD-converter 13. 
To further save electric current, the amplifiers 7 and 8, controlled by 
the micro-processor, are disconnected or turned off between the measuring 
cycles. 
Advantageously, during a zero torque measurement, the two measuring bridges 
18 and 19 may have an output voltage applied thereto, corresponding to 
approximately half the maximum voltage to be processed by the AD-converter 
13. During a torque measurement in one direction of rotation of the 
wrench, the voltage values cover the range between say 1/2 and 1/1, while 
during a torque measurement in the other direction of rotation of the 
wrench, the voltage values cover the range between 1/2 and 0. This 
provides a simple means of indicating positive and negative torques, i.e., 
torques in the one or the other direction of rotation. The maximum voltage 
to be processed by the AD-converter 13 is about 2.5 volts. During a 
measurement of torque of zero order, the AD-converter 13 is supplied with 
an output voltage of approximately 1.25 volts from the measuring bridges 
18 and 19. 
During a zero torque measurement, the acutal value of the output voltage of 
the measuring bridges 18 and 19 can be compared with the nominal value and 
deviations during actual measurement of positive or negative torques are 
used as correction values in the micro-processor. Changes in length of the 
strain gauges 16 and 17, due to thermal expansion and contraction, are 
therefore balanced automatically in a simple manner. 
The measured values of series of measurements can be interconnected and/or 
compared in the micro-processor 14 so that the mean value and/or the 
maximum value of a series of measurements can be displayed upon 
interrogation. 
It is also possible to optically and/or acoustically indicate when a 
predetermined torque to be applied is reached or exceeded, within a 
desired range of tolerances (plus or minus). The user is thereby informed 
optically and/or acoustically that the adjusted tolerance range is 
reached. As soon as the lower limit is reached, a green lamp, not shown 
here, for instance, lights up. If the tolerance range is exceeded, a red 
lamp, also not shown here, may light up. When passing through the 
tolerance range, an acoustic signal may also be supplied. Prior to use of 
the torque wrench, the user may feed in the tolerance range of the nominal 
value with respect to the upper and lower limits differently in percents. 
When exceeding the maximum value of the torque to be applied, by reverse 
rotation of the wrench, the inadmissibly high measured value can be 
removed from the measured value interconnection for determination of the 
maximum value and/or mean value of a series of measurements. When the user 
has applied an inadmissibly high torque to a screw fastener with the 
torque wrench, he must release the screw fastener again by reverse 
rotation. By this reverse rotation, the inadmissibly high measured value 
is removed from the measured value interconnection so that it does not 
have any influence on the determination of the mean value of a series of 
measurements. Of course, it is also possible to interconnect in the 
micro-processor 14 only such actual values which are within the tolerance 
range. All other values, such as those associated with the opposite 
direction of rotation of the wrench, will not be processed. 
The micro-processor 14 may be used to change the voltage supplied to the 
measuring bridges 18 and 19 and hence, the measuring range. A change in 
the measuring range may also be achieved by changing the amplification of 
the output voltages of the measuring bridges 18 and 19, as controlled by 
the micro-processor. The micro-processor 14 may also be used to 
simultaneously carry out a conversion and change over to different units 
of measure. As units of measure, for instance, meterkilogram and 
Newtonmeter can be used. Also, a conversion to the English system of 
measures is possible. 
Having described only one typical preferred form and embodiment of my 
invention, I do not wish to be limited to the details set forth above, but 
wish to reserve to myself any modifications and/or variations which might 
appear to those skilled in the art and which fall within the scope of the 
following claims: