Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2013085675A1/en
Timestamp: 2018-07-18 03:36:16
Document Index: 75154664

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 13', 'Application No. 11', 'Application No. 11', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 11', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60']

WO2013085675A1 - Tools apparatus system and method of use - Google Patents
Tools apparatus system and method of use
WO2013085675A1
WO2013085675A1 PCT/US2012/064808 US2012064808W WO2013085675A1 WO 2013085675 A1 WO2013085675 A1 WO 2013085675A1 US 2012064808 W US2012064808 W US 2012064808W WO 2013085675 A1 WO2013085675 A1 WO 2013085675A1
PCT/US2012/064808
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION^ This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 13/117,670, filed
May 25, 2011, which is a continuation of Application No. 11/679,113, filed 02/26/2007, now Patent No. 7,954,557, which is a continuation of Application No. 11/025,225, filed 12/22/2004, now Patent No. 7,182,147, which is a continuation of Application No. PCT/US03/30263, filed 09/26/2003, which is a Continuation-In-Part of PCT/US03/20426, filed 06/27/2003, which claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/414,191, filed 09/27/2002 and claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/392,322, filed 06/27/2002 and said Application No. 11/025,225, filed 12/22/2004, is a continuation of PCT/US03/30263, filed 09/26/2003, which is a
Continuation-In-Part of PCT/US03/20426, filed 06/27/2003, which claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/414,191, filed 09/27/2002 and claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/392,322, filed 06/27/2002, all of the foregoing being assigned to the assignee of the present disclosure and all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
With reference to a more specific example, a lug nut is attached to a bolt on a vehicle axle to mount the wheel to the vehicle. In this example, a vehicle such as a car may have four or five mounting bolts for mounting the wheel to the car. The wheel fits over the mounting bolts and the lug nuts are attached to the mounting bolts. It is desirable to prevent under-tightening so as to prevent disengagement of the lug nuts from the bolts. It is desirable to prevent overtightening so that the lug nuts can be disengaged at some time in the future and to prevent damage to the nut and bolt structure such as preventing "stripping" of the threads between the nut and bolt.
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a tool used for a controlled tool operation;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the tool of FIG. 1 , showing a cable attachment for sending and receiving data;
FIGS. 8 A and 8B are illustrations showing a front view and rear view respectively of the tool being carried on another embodiment of the controller;
FIGS. 9 A and 9B are illustrations showing a front view and rear view respectively of another embodiment of the controller supporting the tool;
FIG. 13 is a simplified diagrammatic view of a torque monitoring system including shop management system and a torque tool; FIG. 14 is a simplified diagrammatic view of another embodiment of the torque monitoring system;
FIG. 22 is a screen display highlighting a location of an "Add User" menu selection; FIG. 23 is a screen display of a dialog box for adding a user;
FIG. 27 is a screen display of a pop-up dialog box for selecting a user to perform a new work order; FIG. 28 is a pop-up dialog box for a user selected from the box of FIG. 27 to select a password;
FIG. 29 is a screen display of a "create work order" dialog box;
FIG. 34 is a screen display showing information about the vehicle transferred thereto; FIG. 35 is a screen display of the interface of FIG. 19 showing a completed work order row thereon;
FIG. 42 is the interface of FIG. 41 after a "show closed work orders" checkbox has been completed;
FIG. 44A-D are progressions of display on the tool during a service operation; FIG. 45 A-F are progressions of the display on the tool in conjunction with torque indicator lights;
As shown in FIG. 1, a tool 20 for controlled or otherwise guided application of torque is shown in the form of a manual or pneumatic torque wrench. Although a torque wrench embodiment is shown, the present disclosure is meant to broadly cover any tool used for torque applications including but not limited to torque wrenches, torque screwdrivers, adjustable click- type torque instruments, torque reading instruments, torque drivers, open head torque wrenches, ratchets, torque calibrators, and torque measurement acquisition systems. Further, this disclosure is intended to broadly include all tools which can be configured for use in the method and system as disclosed.
As shown in FIG. 5, tool 20 can be configured to mate with a control unit 46A. FIG. 5 also shows tool 20 including a sensory response device or alert indicator 44 in the form of four lights seated in handle 23 and electronically controlled by controller 28. Although visual alert indicators are shown, the alert indicator 44 may also be an auditory device for making an auditory signal, or may be a device for creating tactile sensation such as a vibration, heating, or cooling. Alert indicator 44 may also be some combination of auditory, visual, or tactile device. Although one possible positioning for alert indicator 46 is shown, other locations such as at the end or underside of the handle 33 are suitable as well. Control unit 46A is configured to communicate with tool 20 when tool 20 is docked therein. Control unit 46A include control unit display 48, control unit buttons 50A used for inputting commands and interfacing with menus presented on display 48, and docking section 51. During docking, tool 20 is inserted in docking cavity 52 defined by the upright docking section wall 53 and having a width dimension 54, a length dimension 56, and a depth dimension 58 which are slightly larger than a corresponding length, width, and depth of handle 23 to allow removably secure positioning of tool 20 within the docking cavity 52. A coupling or junction (not shown) is also provided along an interior wall of docking cavity 52 for electrically connecting control unit 46 A to controller 28. A top plan view and side perspective view of tool 20 docked in control unit 46A are shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, respectively.
An alternative embodiment of control unit 46B is shown in FIG. 8 A and FIG. 8B. In this embodiment, tool 29 docks by hanging on support or hanger 60. Connection between the control unit 46B and tool 20 may be through hanger 60 or via wireless communication when control unit 46B and tool 20 are brought in close proximity. FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of a control unit 46C in which the drive head 22 is inserted or clicked into a hanging docking cavity 65. Control unit 46 is elevated from the floor or other support platform by pole or support 66.
FIG. 47 is another view of the control unit 46D showing a pneumatic or hydraulic pressure system 89 including gauge 90, valve apparatus 91, and chambers 92, 93 in
communication with valve apparatus 91 fixedly mounted to stand 68. Pressure system 89 may be constructed from any pressure delivery system known in the industry suitable for providing pressures needed for the applications described herein.
FIG. 12 is a simplified diagrammatic view of a shop management system 100. Shop management system 100 can be configured on a general purpose computer that includes a processor 102, a specification database module 104 accessible by or loaded onto the system 100, a work order database module 106 accessible by or loaded onto system 100, and a
communications port 108. The modules 104, 106 can be accessed by the processor locally or remotely over a communications network such as a local area network, wide area network, over an intranet, or over the Internet or another suitable communications hereafter devised and usable for this system. Shop management system 100 will also include both dynamic memory such as RAM and a storage device such as a hard drive or the like. The term "module" referenced in this disclosure is meant to broadly cover various types of software code including but not limited to routines, functions, objects, libraries, classes, members, packages, procedures, methods, or lines of code together performing similar functionality to these types of coding, therefore one program can operate to provides the functionality, or the functionality can be divided over a number of programs, accessible either locally or remotely. The system 100 may also communicate with one or more output devices 110 such as monitors or printers. For the purposes of the present example, and as illustrated in figures, the database modules 104, 106 will be loaded on the shop management system 100.
As shown in FIGS. 13-16, shop management system 100 can communicate directly with tool 20. System 100 and tool 20 make up torque management system 112 A. This connection may be via a hardwire or wireless using any of the communications protocols previously described. In the alternative, as shown in FIG. 14, the control unit 46, or alternatives embodiments 46 A, 46B, 46C, 46D thereof, can also be used an intermediate interface between shop management system 100 and tool 20 these three components defining an another torque management system 112B. As shown in FIG. 15, the control unit 46 can also be used to control more than one tool 20 the group of which define torque management system 112C. Recall that tool 20 removably docks with control unit 46 so one tool can be removed and another connected so that one control unit 46 can be used to communicate with more than one tool 20. As shown in FIG. 16, shop management system 100 can be used to communicate with more than one control unit 46 which in turn can be used to communicate with one or more tools 20. The control units can be within the same location or at different locations from the shop management system 100. The combination of the shop management system 100, multiple control units 46, and multiple tools 20 make up torque management system 112D.
FIG. 17, shows the general steps by which tool operation or torque management system 112A-D is used. In a first step 200, a particular tool operation, for purposes of illustration, a torque application can be identified. A torque application can be any task or process that requires the use of a torque tool where precise tolerances, a desired range, or limits of the magnitude of the torque applied need to be monitored. Generally, a fastening or unfastening of a fastener to a member can be a torque application. One specific example of a torque application is related to changing a tire on a vehicle. In this example, a number of lug nuts need to be removed, then tire is then replaced, and in turn the lug nuts are refastened to secure a replacement tire. It is known in the automobile industry that each vehicle manufacturer offers specifications for a
recommended and maximum safe amount of torque that should be applied to securely fasten lug nuts for that vehicle. While the lug nuts could be manually removed, the tool is used to at least attach the lug nuts to a desired torque range. In step 200, the torque application such as a lug nut replacement is made to the system 100, the tool 20, or the control unit 46. That identification can be made in a number of different ways. For example, vehicle criteria or identification information such as a particular vehicle make, model, model year, as well as VIN or serial number, bar code scanning, or other identification means, can be input. The system 100 references the specifications database module 106 to find corresponding manufacturer's specifications for the identified torque application. Alternatively, a tire type can be identified. In another embodiment, a torque application code can be entered. In yet another embodiment, the vehicle can be fitted with a device to identify itself to the system 100. The identification can be made to the tool 20, system 100, or control unit 46 by any input method or device including using a keyboard, interacting with a graphical user interface that has menus or other selection protocols, scanning a barcode from a printed work order, or from import/export or other communication with work order or job database, such as a work order database used in a vehicle repair facility.
In a second step 210, the manufacturer's specifications for the identified torque application are retrieved and transmitted to the tool. If the system 100 referenced the
specification database in step 200, then the specifications are transmitted from the system 100 to the tool 20 via a communications path 34 therebetween. Alternatively, the system 100 sends the specifications to the control unit 46 which in turn transmits the specifications to the tool 20 when the tool 20 is docked therein. If the specifications are already on tool 20, for example because the same torque application was performed prior to the current torque application, the specification can be recalled from the tool's 20 memory. Similarly, if the specifications are already resident on the control unit 46, the specifications can be recalled and loaded onto tool 20. In a third step 220, a user or operator, such as, for example, a mechanic or technician, uses the tool loaded with the torque application specifications to perform the torque application. The tool 20 or the tool 20-control unit 46 combination are configured to guide the user through the torque application. This guidance can come in the form of specifying a particular portion of the application and displaying a maximum allowable applied torque. The torque magnitudes displayed can be in either U.S. customary units (lbs-ft) or in S.I. units ( -m).
In this embodiment, the accuracy of the actual applied torque at the interface of the head of the tool and the wheel socket is +/-3% of the applied torque.
The torque tool 20 has an air powered assist ratchet for the removal and seating of the wheel lug nuts prior to the manual application of the final torque to complete the tightening of the lug nut. The air ratchet is based on currently available air ratchet assemblies of known construction. The air ratchet is used to run the lug nut on and off the wheel stud. The air ratchet is design to purposefully not have sufficient power to be used in the breaking free of the lug nut for removal. The air ratchet used in the installation of the lug nut only has sufficient power to apply torque to seat the lug nut, but does not have sufficient power to reach the final required torque specification for the lug nut. Construction of the hand held air ratchet/torque wrench tool is consistent with industry practice for air powered tools, and will be designed for the intended use and environment as represented as typical to a tire service centers. In this embodiment, the specifications for the tool 20 are as follows: the maximum torque capability applied through the air ratchet will be limited to an output of 50 ft.lbs. at 120 psi supplied line pressure. The level of torque output will be proportional to the supplied air pressure. The maximum achievable torque, at the defined line pressure, is at the point the ratchet stalls with no further rotation in the selected direction. The compressed air requirements for the ratchet require operation within a range of 85 to 120 psi. line pressure @3.0 CFM minimum air supply.
A second type of indicator is a tactile indicator. A tactile indicator form of vibration is used to indicate the preset torque value has been achieved and signals the user to release the force being applied to the wrench. A third type of indicator is an audible torque set point indicator. An audible indicator is provided to indicate to the user that the preset torque value has been achieved, signaling the user to release the force being applied to the wrench.
In this embodiment, the power ratchet head is a standard 1/2" square drive. The ratchet assembly operates under power in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The power driven ratchet has the capacity to sustain repeated torque loads up to 250 ft.lbs. and meet ASME Specification B 107.10- 1996 for cyclical loading. The air ratchet/torque wrench can be protected from significant damage in the event that the tool is dropped from a height not exceeding three (3) feet above the shop flooring.
The handgrip is designed to allow comfortable grasping of the tool in the right hand. The size will support the palm for application of force to achieve the desired torque. The composition of the grip is synthetic rubber to provide a tactile slip resistant grip. The trigger or button used to control the on/off air supply to the ratchet is located within easy finger reach on the handgrip. The trigger will be located as not to interfere with the hand application of force to achieve the desired torque on the lug nut. In this embodiment, the wrench is provided with a secondary handgrip to be used to balance the tool and assist in positioning the wrench at the lug nut. The secondary grip is located immediately below to the ratchet head of the wrench. The length of the wrench will be established to provide sufficient leverage to apply manual downward force to achieve the necessary preset torque value per ASME Specification B 107.14-1994.
The host computer formats the work order data, searches a database for the torque limits and forwards relevant data to an available control unit upon request by the control unit. The control unit then indicates that it has work such as by illuminating an LED and displaying a message on the LCD display. In the event there is no available information in the database, an override mode is offered. A service representative can also select the override mode manually. The override mode allows the service representative to enter and confirm torque settings and other important parameters into the control unit. For safety and security the service
representative may be asked for a positive ID upon confirmation of the input data.
The control unit then transfers the relevant data to the wrench and asks the operator for a positive verification (e.g. license plate number/VTN number, barcode scan). The control unit also maintains a clear display of all the relevant information regarding the vehicle under service in the service bay where the service is in progress. Next, an operator is guided by the torque wrench through the LCD messages to start applying the torque measurement/recording within the given limits (i.e. +/-allowed tolerance). Secondary attempts at applying torque are permitted with any error/alarm condition. Alarms will trigger a recovery sequence wherein single or multiple lug nut data points, or the entire wheel pattern may be voided. A complete walk-through of each tire location and lug nut check pattern can be performed.
The hand held device 30 communicates with the shop management system 22. The technician selects a vehicle to work on from a pick list presented at the controller 28. Upon selection from the pick list, the control unit 46 queries its internal database for the vehicle associated with the repair order, or sends a request to the system 100 to query the specification database module 104 and retrieve the lug nut torque specifications for each wheel. Once the data is displayed, the technician can then beam, via infrared communication path 34, the
specifications to the infrared port on the tool 20. Upon completion of the lug nut torqueing activities, the technician can beam the results of the activity back to the control unit 28 which can subsequently communicate the confirmation information and repair order number back to the shop management system 100 for storage.
Although a variety of shop management systems may be used in conjunction with the current system, one example of such a system is described for the purposes of illustrating the disclosed system. Reference to this shop management system is not intended to limit the present disclosure. The database used by the shop management system may be written in any
commercially available programming language, may be developed using industry known database authoring programs such as Oracle, Access, SQL server, or may be developed from a combination of customizing database and generating software code to provide the functionality described hereinafter.
FIG. 19 shows one embodiment of the screen of the current work order database module 106 during initial user setup. Interface 300 is built on a common graphical user interface including menu selections 302 which may include one or more drop down menus such as "file," "options" 304 and "help" corresponding to functions known in common windows-based system. By selecting the options 304 menu selection, dropdown menu 306 is displayed containing selection choices Setup, Add User, Delete User and change password 308. Selecting "change password" 308, such as by clicking or moving a highlighted cursor, causes pop-up window 310 to be displayed.
Pop-up window 310 includes a label 312, in this case shown as "change password" although other labels conveying the same message may be displayed. Pop-up window 310 also includes one or more fields, along with the associated labels, related to changing the password including user ID 314, password 316, new password 318 and new password confirmation 320. Information is entered into the field by clicking within the empty field area and typing in the desired information or, as in the case of user ID 314, by selecting the drop down menu button adjacent to the field.
Pop-up menu 310 also includes control buttons 322 which may include "OK," "Cancel," or other control buttons for performing similar operations. Interface 300 also includes other information to open work orders. Information about work orders is displayed in a tabular format columns 324 to be discussed herein after. Each work order will be displayed on a row within work order summary section 326. A check box 328 for displaying only closed work orders is also positioned and available for use by the user (described below). Interface 300 also includes instruction field 330, comment field 322, extras field 334 and wheel position labels 336 which include "left front," "right front," "right rear" and "left rear." Although four tire positions are shown in the current embodiment, it is envisioned that the current system may be used for trucks and other large vehicles that may include more than four tire positions or for vehicles with less than 4 tires such as motor cycles or 3 wheeled vehicles.
Interface 300 also includes communication information 340. Communication information 340 may include but is not limited to communications port information such as "Com2" and shown transfer rate information such as 9600 baud. These settings are shown for illustrative purposes only as other communication ports or transfer rates may be used. Information about bytes transferred and bytes received may be shown as well.
With reference to FIG. 22, by selecting the add user selection 358 from the options menu 306 an "Add User" dialog box 360 is displayed by which new user information can be added upon entering a valid administrative password 316, a new user ID 362, and password for the new user ID 364. Completion of the add user process is performed by clicking on the OK control button at the bottom of pop-up box 360. FIG. 24-25 exemplify the process for deleting a user when a "Delete User" selection 366 is made from the options menu 304. Pop-up box 368 for deleting a user is displayed and upon entering a valid password in admin password field 316 and selecting a user to be deleted from the user ID selection menu 370, a user can be deleted. Deletion is completed by clicking an OK control button.
FIG. 26 shows the interface 300 after setup has been completed highlighting New
Workorder button 341. By clicking New Workorder button 341, pop-up menu as shown in FIG. 27 is displayed which allows a user ID to be selected by using the drop-down button 372 and selecting an appropriate user from the menu displayed. In the example shown in the figures, the user is Jim 374.
Check boxes corresponding to the left front tire 410, right front tire 412, right rear tire 414 or left rear tire 416 are shown. For vehicles that have more than four tires, additional check boxes and additional wheel designations are displayed. An "Extras" information area including one or more check boxes may also be shown on the screen and may include any number of extra services that can be provided at the facility including, but not limited to, rotating the wheels, balancing wheels, or fixing a flat. Control buttons 420, 422 for completing the data entry are also found on screen 378.
As shown in FIG. 31 , after selecting the year 424 the year column 430 will be updated to show the selected year. A user is next able to select the make of the car from the make field 426 by clicking the make drop-down button 432 and selecting from a make list 434 from which a user can select a particular make of car such as, for example, "Ford" 436. After a particular make of car is displayed, all cars matching the year and make of the selected cars will be entered into the grid which will simultaneously display the number of fasteners 438 and the torque to be applied 440 for each of vehicle matching the vehicle identification variables selected.
Finally, as shown in FIG. 32, a particular model of car can be selected by clicking the drop-down button 443 to display model list 444 from which a user can select a particular model of car, such as, for example, the model "Taurus" 446.
FIG. 36 is one embodiment of a screen display 43 visible on control unit 46. Screen display 453 will include a work order number 454, the current status of the vehicle 456, which may include entries such as open, closed or cancelled, a current time 458, the vehicle year 460, the make and model of the car 462 and the vehicle's license plate number 464. Screen 453 will also include information 472 related to the work order including the color of the vehicle, the torque numbers that correspond to the vehicle as selected from the vehicle selection steps described above, the number of lug nuts per wheel, the wheels to be serviced, special instructions and any extra instructions that are required for the vehicle. If more than one work order exists it will be listed and can be selected by using the "up-down" control buttons 470 and clicking the enter button 468 when a desired work order is reached. The menu button 466 is also available to select additional menu items. When a desired Workorder is selected, a servicing screen 413 is displayed such as shown in FIG. 37.
FIG. 38 shows the progression of the operation with three more lug nuts being tested for right front tire 488. Lug nuts are not necessarily serviced in a clockwise or counter clockwise pattern, but instead using a star replacement pattern known in the industry. FIG. 39 shows a further progression after two tires have been serviced and lug nut one of the left front tire is being serviced. As the torque is being applied, the torque measurements or generally "service information" in the case of a tool used for torque and other types of measurements is recorded to the tool and control unit.
FIG. 40 shows a screen after all testing has been completed. After grid 489 is completed, a message is displayed to the user, such as the example shown "Completed! Accept" 490, and an accept button 491 is displayed which can be clicked to indicate that servicing has been completed. After the repair process is completed, a user can go back to interface 300 to review the collected date and perform other managerial functions such as reordering the results and printing reports.
FIG. 42 is an example of a screen that utilizes the show closed work orders check box
328. By clicking the check box 328, only work orders that have been completed are displayed in the grid. FIG. 42 also shows the various statuses that can be shown for closed workorders.
FIG. 43 is an example of a report that can be generated by the current system. FIG. 43 is shown only as an example of one report since many other layouts for reports can be utilized as well and still be within the scope of this disclosure. The torque data results 504 for the testing are displayed in the report for review by a vehicle owner and for filing for later retrieval by the service facility. In addition to using a control device having screen displays such as those shown in FIGS. 36-40, a technician can also view information related to the torque application to be performed directly on the tool's display 50. FIGS. 44A-D show one embodiment of a progression of screens of display 30 as the screens appear during testing. The display 30 includes a stylized vehicle representation 506 which generally corresponds to the shape of a vehicle including four tire indicators 510, 512, 514 and 516 corresponding to the rear left, rear right, front left and front right tires respectively. Vehicle representation 506 also includes a vehicle lug nut indicator 508 shown as a hexagonal box with a roman numeral displayed therein. As shown in FIG. 44A, the current vehicle tire being serviced is the rear right tire as indicated by a bar within tire indicator 512. The display 30 also includes a measurement reading 518 shown as 000 with a unit indicator shown adjacently, in this embodiment as ft.lbs. Control button 520 is actuated by the user to select a tire that is about to be serviced.
FIG. 45A-F show a progression of displays 506 as a service operation that requires 100 ft.lbs of torque is being performed including the indicator lights 522, 524, 526 and how they operate in response to certain measurements being shown on the device. 45A shows an initial stage with the right rear tire selected with no indicator lights being active or illuminated because no torque is being applied. FIG. 45B shows a reading of 43 ftlbs of torque is being applied during an operation. No indicator lights are shown because no threshold has been reached that interest a user, in contrast to the threshold values described hereinafter. FIG. 45C shows a reading of 95 ft.lbs at which point 95% of total applied torque threshold has been exceeded at which time a first indicator light or approach light 522 is illuminated in a yellow color to caution the user that the required torque is being approached and an approach condition has been reached. Although 95% is used as an approach condition threshold, other suitable values may be used as well. FIG. 45D shows the target applied torque being achieved and yellow indicator light 522 being illuminated and target indicator light 524 being illuminated in a green color to indicate that the desired torque has been achieved. FIG. 45E shows all three sets of indicator lights 522, 524, and 526 being illuminated when the desired torque has been exceeded. Caution set of indicator lights 526 is illuminated in a red color to indicate to the user that torque application should be ceased. FIG. 45F shows a reading of 115 ft.lbs which is an over-torque condition, at which point caution indicators 526 are illuminated. Although 115% of the target applied torque is used to designate an over-torque condition, other values may be sued as well. In this manner, the user can use the tool to perform tests, record readings and at the same time have indicators to guide the user with respect to an amount of torque that should be applied. Although one approach indicator, one target indicator, and a set of two caution indicators are shown, other types of indicators, or other color combinations may be used as well. Other combinations may be used as well as long as the third alert corresponding to the over-torque condition is more intense than the second condition corresponding to the target torque condition, and the second condition is more intense to the first condition which corresponds to an approach condition. An alert being "more intense" may include being brighter, being larger in diameter so as to produce a more visible alert, flashing more frequently, and so forth.
Fig. 50 illustrates an exploded view of bezel assembly 640. As shown, the bezel assembly 640 includes a transceiver 660 disposed within a housing 665, and optionally held within the housing 665 by a bracket 667. A cover 670 can also be provided to further enclose the transceiver 660 within the housing. In an embodiment, a wireless diffuser 675 is provided adjacent to the transceiver 660 and operatively coupled to a printed circuit board 680 (PCB). A liquid crystal display (LCD) 685 may be provided in the bezel assembly 640, for example, attached to the PCB 680, to provide information to a user. A keypad 690 or other input means can also be included in order to facilitate interactation with the LCD 685 and allow the user to enter information into the LCD 685, thereby creating a user interface. In an embodiment,the bezel assembly 640 can include a vibration motor 695 to provide a tactile alert to the user when information has been received by the transceiver 660, when a specific torque has been achieve, when an over-torqued condition has occurred, or for any other reason Light emitting diode (LED) lights 700 can also be provided on the printed circuit board 680 to notify the user when, for example, a designated amount of torque has been applied to the work piece. In an
embodiment, LED lights 700 can each be different colors, depending upon torque application. For example, there can be a single green LED, indicating proper torque application, a yellow LED, indicating proper torque application is approaching, and a red LED, indicating an over- torque condition.
In an embodiment, the transceiver 660 can be aligned axially, relative to the longitudinal axis of the tool. The transceiver 660 can be generally L-shaped. The transceiver can
communicate by any communication protocol, for example, 802.11, RF, infrared, Bluetooth, or any other form of wireless communication.
Several exemplar methods of operating the tool 600 and shop management system will now be discussed. A user can activate the keypad 690 to ask the shop management system what will be the appropriate amount of torque to apply to a designated workpiece. The user can use the LCD screen 685 to scroll through several different types of work pieces and select the work piece that is being fastened. Upon selecting the appropriate work piece, the shop management system may send a specified torque value of the work piece to the tool 600, which can be displayed on the LCD screen. When the user applies the specified amount of torque to the work piece, that torque value is sensed by the strain gauge 625 and transmitted to the flash memory of the tool 600. The LEDs and/or vibration device can alert the user that proper, specified torque has been achived. The torque values can thereafter be sent by the tool to the shop management system without any user interaction with the tool 600, or can be manually transmitted to the shop management system if the user enters the appropriate information into the keypad 690.
1. A hand-held tool and a shop management system combination comprising:
a driver operatively associated with the tool and adapted to engage a work piece and apply a torque to the work piece;
a driver controller operatively associated with the tool and adapted to sense a magnitude of the torque applied to the work piece;
a transceiver adapted to wirelessly transmit and receive information, the transceiver being coupled to the tool to increase range and gain; and
a communications element operatively associated with the shop management system and adapted to wirelessly communicate with the transceiver to controllably transmit information relating to driving operations including an amount of the torque that should be applied to the work piece.
2. The hand-held tool and shop management system combination as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the driver controller is adapted to record service information including data corresponding to the torque applied to the work piece, and transmit the service information including the data corresponding to the torque applied to the work piece to the shop management system.
3. The hand-held tool and shop management system combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transceiver is located within the tool.
4. The hand-held tool and shop management system combination as claimed in claim 3, wherein the transceiver is substantially axially aligned relative to the tool.
5. The hand-held tool and shop management system combination as claimed in claim 4, wherein the transceiver is substantially L-shaped.
6. The hand-held tool and shop management system combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tool is associated with a unique address.
7. The hand-held tool and shop management system combination as claimed in claim 6, wherein the address is an Internet Protocol address.
8. The hand-held tool and shop management system combination as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a memory associated with the tool and configured to store the torque value applied by the tool.
9. The hand-held tool and shop management system combination as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tool further includes a power source adapted to supply power to the controller.
10. The hand-held tool and shop management system combination as claimed in claim 9, wherein the power source is a Lithium-ion battery.
11. A hand-held tool, comprising:
a driver controller operatively associated with the tool and adapted to sense a magnitude of the torque applied to the work piece; and
a transceiver operatively associated with the driver controller and adapted to wirelessly transmit information relating to an amount of the torque that has been applied to the work piece, the transceiver being coupled to the tool to increase range and gain.
12. The hand-held tool of claim 11 , wherein the transceiver is coupled to the tool by a bracket.
13. The hand-held tool of claim 11 , wherein the driver controller is adapted to record service information including data corresponding to the torque applied to the work piece.
14. The hand-held tool of claim 11 , wherein the transceiver is housed within the tool.
15. The hand-held tool of claim 11 , wherein the transceiver is substantially axially aligned relative to the tool.
16. The hand-held tool of claim 11, wherein the transceiver is L-shaped.
17. The hand-held tool of claim 11, further comprising a memory adapted to store torque values applied by the tool.
18. The hand-held tool of claim 11 , further comprising a self-contained power source adapted to supply power to the tool.
19. The hand-held tool of claim 11 , further comprising a light adapted to notify a user when the tool applies a designated amount of torque to the work piece.
PCT/US2012/064808 2002-06-27 2012-11-13 Tools apparatus system and method of use WO2013085675A1 (en)
US13/295,719 2011-11-14
WO2013085675A1 true true WO2013085675A1 (en) 2013-06-13
PCT/US2012/064808 WO2013085675A1 (en) 2002-06-27 2012-11-13 Tools apparatus system and method of use
FR3040904A1 (en) * 2015-09-15 2017-03-17 Sncf Mobilites Cle clamping and method for clamping and marking
US9956673B2 (en) 2014-08-20 2018-05-01 Tohnichi Mfg. Co., Ltd. Tightening tool
DE3637236C2 (en) 1986-11-03 1991-10-17 Stabil Elektronik Gmbh, 7300 Esslingen, De
DE3922049A1 (en) 1988-07-08 1990-01-11 Atlas Copco Ab Portable power-driven tool to tighten the bolt or nuts
KR100315912B1 (en) 1998-04-27 2001-11-14 윤종용 Automation system using file server and method for controlling the same
DE19843151C2 (en) 1998-09-21 2001-03-08 Alfing Montagetechnik Gmbh Machining device with at least one machining tool
DE69921070D1 (en) 1998-12-10 2004-11-18 Atlas Copco Tools Ab A power tool with a programmable control unit
US6405598B1 (en) 1999-07-12 2002-06-18 Blm S.A.S. Di L. Bareggi & C. Tightening tool and monitoring station with mutual wireless communication
WO2002030624A3 (en) 2000-10-11 2002-06-27 Ingersoll Rand Co Electronically controlled torque management system for threaded fastening
JP2002183284A (en) 2000-12-15 2002-06-28 Pioneer Electronic Corp System and method for managing parts for moving body
US6804576B2 (en) 2002-03-26 2004-10-12 First Data Corporation Insertion control
DE602004018264D1 (en) 2004-03-22 2009-01-22 Cooper Power Tools Gmbh & Co Intelligent spindle for tightening with integrated transducer, servo amplifiers and the data processing system
EP3144104A1 (en) * 2015-09-15 2017-03-22 SNCF Mobilités Spanner and method for tightening and marking
US9126317B2 (en) 2015-09-08 grant
US20060155582A1 (en) 2006-07-13 Modular microprocessor-based power tool system
US20020112016A1 (en) 2002-08-15 System and architecture for providing a modular intelligent assist system
US20130240812A1 (en) 2013-09-19 Electronically controlled wheel lift system
US20120217091A1 (en) 2012-08-30 Warning and message delivery and logging system utilizable in the monitoring of fall arresting and prevention devices and method of same
Ref document number: 12855742
Ref document number: 2851163
Ref document number: 2012348290
Date of ref document: 20121113
Ref document number: 1407791.1
Ref document number: 1407791
Free format text: PCT FILING DATE = 20121113