Patent ID: 7089080

Claim:
A system for monitoring and controlling a compressed air driven, pulse tool comprising: a means for measuring air pressure within a pneumatic pulse tool and converting the air pressure into an electrical signal representative of the air pressure; a means for electrically computationally processing the electrical signal into another signal representative of at least one parameter corresponding to a condition of the tool being monitored which is a function of air pressure; a programmed microprocessor configured to identify a portion of the signal representative of the air pressure corresponding to the parameter; a means for controlling the flow of air to the tool wherein the means is external to the tool; wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to identify and store the parameter of a first threshold air pressure to begin monitoring the parameter of a cycle; wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to identify and store the parameter of a second air pressure to identify a portion of the signal representative of the pressure of the tool driving a fastener; wherein the microprocessor is configured to indicate a pulsing region based on the parameter of the second air pressure; wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to identify and store a portion of the air pressure as a calibration value for the parameter of the second air pressure; wherein the programmed microprocessor is configured to identify and store timers to be associated with the parameters; and wherein the microprocessor is configured to report an acceptable condition if all of the timers are satisfied and the air flow to the tool has been shut-off by the microprocessor.