Patent Document ID: 5587931
Application ID: 08546361
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A method for monitoring the condition of an electrically powered tool of a selected tool type performing a cyclical task comprising the steps of: a. using a tool to perform a cyclical task and measuring a power consumption signal of said tool as said tool performs said cyclical task; b. decomposing said power consumption signal of said tool into components by converting said power consumption signal into time segments, each time segment having a digital value equivalent to the analog value of said signal at said time, and decomposing said time segments of said power consumption signal into different frequency components using a mathematical algorithm; c. selecting feature components of said power consumption signal; d. using said selected components of said power consumption signal to set a power threshold in a learning cycle; e. using a tool to perform a cyclic task and monitoring its power consumption signal; and f. identifying a worn condition of the tool of step e. based upon a comparison of said power consumption signal with said predetermined power threshold of step d.