WO2011085907A1 - Portable power wrench with torque sensor on drive spindle - Google Patents

Portable power wrench with torque sensor on drive spindle Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2011085907A1
WO2011085907A1 PCT/EP2010/070057 EP2010070057W WO2011085907A1 WO 2011085907 A1 WO2011085907 A1 WO 2011085907A1 EP 2010070057 W EP2010070057 W EP 2010070057W WO 2011085907 A1 WO2011085907 A1 WO 2011085907A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
drive spindle
torque sensor
housing
front section
main section
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2010/070057
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Karl Johan Lars Elsmark
Original Assignee
Atlas Copco Tools Ab
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Atlas Copco Tools Ab filed Critical Atlas Copco Tools Ab
Publication of WO2011085907A1 publication Critical patent/WO2011085907A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B21/00—Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B23/00—Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers
    • B25B23/14—Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B23/00—Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers
    • B25B23/14—Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers
    • B25B23/147—Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers

Definitions

  • Portable power wrench with torque sensor on drive spindle
  • the invention relates to a portable power wrench including a housing, a motor, a torque delivering output shaft, a power transmission including a torque transferring drive spindle, a torque sensor arranged to deliver signals in response to the magnitude of the delivered output torque, and a signal receiving device communicating with the torque sensor .
  • the torque sensor usually communicates signals to a signal treating circuitry in the main part of the wrench housing for further transmittance to a control unit, and when exchanging the front section of the housing the connections between the sensor in the front section of the housing and the circuitry in the main part of the housing have to be disconnected and reconnected. Normally, this requires a certain time and effort and has a negative effect on the productivity of the wrench.
  • Fig. 1 shows a side view of a portable power wrench
  • Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the forward end of the power wrench in Fig. 1.
  • the illustrated power wrench is of an electric angle type which comprises a straight housing with a main section 10, a front section 11, and a rear handle 12 carrying a power control lever 13.
  • a non-illustrated rotation motor which via a reduction gearing 14 is coupled to a drive spindle 15 rotatively supported in the front section 11 by a ball bearing 16 and a needle bearing 17, and the drive spindle 15 extends by a rear end portion 25 into the main section 10 of the
  • the drive spindle 15 At its forward end the drive spindle 15 is formed with a pinion gear 19 which is arranged to engage a bevel gear 20 on an output shaft 21 to form an angle gear 18.
  • the output shaft 21 extends in a right angle to the drive spindle 15 and is formed with a square end 22 for carrying a nut socket.
  • the output shaft 21 is supported relative to the front section 11 of the housing via a ball bearing 23 and needle bearing 24.
  • the front section 11 of the housing is detachably connected to the main section 10 via threaded connection of a
  • An advantageous feature of the power wrench according to the invention is that the front section 11 may easily be exchanged for another one of a number of front sections having identical interface relative to the main section 10 but having different characteristics for adapting the power wrench to different applications.
  • the difference in characteristics may relate to alternative angle drive gear ratios, provision of an angle head or not, and alternative sensors for torque and rotation angle.
  • the drive spindle 15 is formed with a weakened portion 26 which is elastically deformable to the torque transferred by the drive spindle 15 and which is provided with a torque sensor 27 in the form of a set of strain gauges. Moreover, the drive spindle 15 comprises a coaxially extending internal cavity 30 enclosing a signal treating circuitry 28 connected to the torque sensor 27. This connection is accomplished by a non-illustrated electric leads extending through the cavity 30 and a radial aperture 31 in the drive spindle 15.
  • a wiring 32 extends rearwardly through a coaxial extension 33 of the cavity 30, out through a radial opening 34 for connecting the circuitry 28 to a contact free signal transferring device 35 at the interface A-A between the main section 10 and the front section 11 of the housing.
  • the contact free device 35 comprises an induction device having a stationary part 36 supported on the main section 10 of the housing and a rotating part 37 supported on a flange 38 mounted on the rear end portion 25 of the drive spindle 15.
  • the signal transferring device 35 is provided for
  • the signal transferring device 35 is arranged to transfer some electric power as well, because a certain amount of electric power has to be supplied to activate the torque sensor 27.
  • the signal receiving device in the main section of the housing includes digitalizing means and communicates with a process control unit 40 which is located at a distance from the power wrench, wherein the communication between the signal receiving device in the power wrench housing and the control unit may be performed via a cable 41, as
  • the signal and power transferring device 35 comprises an inductive device.
  • the invention is not restricted to this particular type of device but may include other types of available devices for contact free transmission of electric power and signals.
  • a contact free transmission device is advantageous by being independent of mechanical contacts which are sensitive to oxide and/or dirt.
  • a contact free transmission device is advantageous also by facilitating exchange of front sections.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Details Of Spanners, Wrenches, And Screw Drivers And Accessories (AREA)

Abstract

A portable power wrench having a housing with a main section (10) and an exchangeable front section (11), wherein the main section (10) includes a rotation motor, and the front section (11) includes a drive spindle (15) coupled to an output shaft (21). The drive spindle (15) comprises a weak portion (26) elastically deformable by the torque transferred by the drive spindle (15) and carrying a strain gauge type torque sensor (27). The drive spindle (15) is also formed with an internal coaxially extending cavity (30) in which is supported a signal treating circuitry (28). The latter communicates with the torque sensor (27) and a contact free signal and power transferring device (35) located at an interface (A-A) between the front section (15) and the main section (10) of the housing and arranged to transfer signals and power between the drive spindle (15) and the main section (10).

Description

Portable power wrench with torque sensor on drive spindle.
The invention relates to a portable power wrench including a housing, a motor, a torque delivering output shaft, a power transmission including a torque transferring drive spindle, a torque sensor arranged to deliver signals in response to the magnitude of the delivered output torque, and a signal receiving device communicating with the torque sensor .
In power wrenches of the above mentioned type there is a desire to locate the torque sensor as close as possible to the output shaft to get a torque responsive signal with as small deviations as possible from the actually delivered output torque magnitude and without disturbances from reduction gearings. This means that the torque sensor should be located in the front section of the wrench housing, on or close to the output shaft. In some
previously known wrench designs the torque sensor has actually been located on the output shaft, but the drawback of such an arrangement is added dimensions of the output end of the wrench resulting in an impaired accessibility of the wrench in cramped areas. On the other hand it has been difficult to find a space inside the housing for locating the torque sensor in a position well protected from
external disturbances and without adding in a negative way to the outer dimensions of the wrench.
Another problem is related to the above type of power wrenches having a front section which includes not only a torque sensor but a gearing, for instance an angle gear, and/or some other functional means that may be specific for certain power wrench applications and which would be exchangeable for adapting the wrench to different
application. This is usually obtained by exchanging the entire front section of the wrench housing for another front section comprising a different gearing and/or other features. In this type of tools the torque sensor usually communicates signals to a signal treating circuitry in the main part of the wrench housing for further transmittance to a control unit, and when exchanging the front section of the housing the connections between the sensor in the front section of the housing and the circuitry in the main part of the housing have to be disconnected and reconnected. Normally, this requires a certain time and effort and has a negative effect on the productivity of the wrench. It is an object of the invention to provide an improved power wrench by which the above problems are solved by arranging not only a torque sensor but a torque signal treating circuitry in association with the drive spindle inside the front section of the wrench housing thereby getting a reliable torque signal, a compact wrench design.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved power wrench with a torque sensor and signal treating circuitry located in association with the drive spindle inside the front section of the wrench housing, and including means for a wireless communication of signals between the signal treating circuitry and a control unit, whereby is accomplished an easy way of changing front sections and adapting the wrench to different applications without time consuming wire disconnections and
reconnections . Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following specification and claims.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawing.
In the drawing
Fig. 1 shows a side view of a portable power wrench
according to the invention.
Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section through the forward end of the power wrench in Fig. 1.
The illustrated power wrench is of an electric angle type which comprises a straight housing with a main section 10, a front section 11, and a rear handle 12 carrying a power control lever 13. In the main section 10 there is supported a non-illustrated rotation motor which via a reduction gearing 14 is coupled to a drive spindle 15 rotatively supported in the front section 11 by a ball bearing 16 and a needle bearing 17, and the drive spindle 15 extends by a rear end portion 25 into the main section 10 of the
housing. At its forward end the drive spindle 15 is formed with a pinion gear 19 which is arranged to engage a bevel gear 20 on an output shaft 21 to form an angle gear 18. The output shaft 21 extends in a right angle to the drive spindle 15 and is formed with a square end 22 for carrying a nut socket. The output shaft 21 is supported relative to the front section 11 of the housing via a ball bearing 23 and needle bearing 24.
The front section 11 of the housing is detachably connected to the main section 10 via threaded connection of a
conventional design, and the interface between the front section 11 and the main section 10 is illustrated by a thickened line A-A. An advantageous feature of the power wrench according to the invention is that the front section 11 may easily be exchanged for another one of a number of front sections having identical interface relative to the main section 10 but having different characteristics for adapting the power wrench to different applications. The difference in characteristics may relate to alternative angle drive gear ratios, provision of an angle head or not, and alternative sensors for torque and rotation angle.
The drive spindle 15 is formed with a weakened portion 26 which is elastically deformable to the torque transferred by the drive spindle 15 and which is provided with a torque sensor 27 in the form of a set of strain gauges. Moreover, the drive spindle 15 comprises a coaxially extending internal cavity 30 enclosing a signal treating circuitry 28 connected to the torque sensor 27. This connection is accomplished by a non-illustrated electric leads extending through the cavity 30 and a radial aperture 31 in the drive spindle 15. A wiring 32 extends rearwardly through a coaxial extension 33 of the cavity 30, out through a radial opening 34 for connecting the circuitry 28 to a contact free signal transferring device 35 at the interface A-A between the main section 10 and the front section 11 of the housing. The contact free device 35 comprises an induction device having a stationary part 36 supported on the main section 10 of the housing and a rotating part 37 supported on a flange 38 mounted on the rear end portion 25 of the drive spindle 15.
The signal transferring device 35 is provided for
transferring electric signals between the rotating signal treating circuitry 28 in the front section 11 of the housing, and a non-illustrated signal receiving device in the main section 10 of the housing. The signal transferring device 35 is arranged to transfer some electric power as well, because a certain amount of electric power has to be supplied to activate the torque sensor 27.
The signal receiving device in the main section of the housing includes digitalizing means and communicates with a process control unit 40 which is located at a distance from the power wrench, wherein the communication between the signal receiving device in the power wrench housing and the control unit may be performed via a cable 41, as
illustrated in Fig. 1, or via a radio frequency
communication.
In the illustrated embodiment of the invention the signal and power transferring device 35 comprises an inductive device. However, the invention is not restricted to this particular type of device but may include other types of available devices for contact free transmission of electric power and signals. A contact free transmission device is advantageous by being independent of mechanical contacts which are sensitive to oxide and/or dirt. A contact free transmission device is advantageous also by facilitating exchange of front sections.
It is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to the above described example but may be freely varied within the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims .
1. Portable power wrench comprising a housing
(10,11), a motor, an output shaft (21), a power
transmission including a drive spindle (15) and coupling the motor to the output shaft (21), a torque sensor (27), and a signal receiving device located in the housing
(10,11) and communicating with the torque sensor (27), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that
• the drive spindle (15) comprises a weak portion (26) elastically deformable by the transferred torque and carrying the torque sensor (27),
• the drive spindle (15) is formed with an internal
cavity (30) ,
• a signal treating circuitry (28) connected to the
torque sensor (27) and confined within said cavity (30) , and
• a contact free signal transferring means (35) arranged to transfer signals between said signal treating circuitry (28) in the drive spindle cavity (30) and the signal receiving device in the housing (10,11) .
2. Power wrench according to claim 1, wherein the housing (10,11) comprises a main section (10), and a front section (11), the drive spindle (15) is rotatively
journalled in said front section (11), and said contact free signal transferring means (35) is arranged to transfer signals as well as electric power between the drive spindle (15) and said main section (10) .
3. Power wrench according to claim 2, wherein said front section (11) forms a separate unit detachably mounted on the main section (10), and said front section (11) is provided with a gearing (19,20) with a certain gear ratio, wherein said front section (11) is one of a number of exchangeable units with different gear ratios.
4. Power wrench according to claim 3, wherein said gearing (19,20) comprises an angle gear (18) coupling the drive spindle (15) to the output shaft (21) .
5. Power wrench according to anyone of claims 1-4, wherein said drive spindle (15) has a rear end portion (25) extending into the main section (10), and said contact free signal transferring device (35) comprises a stationary part (36) mounted in said main section (10) and a rotating part (37) connected to the drive spindle (15) .
PCT/EP2010/070057 2010-01-13 2010-12-17 Portable power wrench with torque sensor on drive spindle WO2011085907A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE1000028A SE534472C2 (en) 2010-01-13 2010-01-13 Portable nut wrench with torque sensor on drive spindle
SE1000028-9 2010-01-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2011085907A1 true WO2011085907A1 (en) 2011-07-21

Family

ID=43858226

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/EP2010/070057 WO2011085907A1 (en) 2010-01-13 2010-12-17 Portable power wrench with torque sensor on drive spindle

Country Status (2)

Country Link
SE (1) SE534472C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2011085907A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102012017376B4 (en) 2012-06-13 2024-07-11 Robert Bosch Gmbh Tool and method for its operation

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4210201A1 (en) * 1992-03-28 1993-09-30 Gardner Denver Gmbh Compressed air screwdriver tool - has drive motor arranged in housing and connected to compressed air source across air line connected to handle for driving shaft with screwing tool bit and measurement value pick-up at driven shaft
DE4307131A1 (en) * 1993-03-06 1994-09-08 Albert Kipfelsberger Power screwdriver with electronic torque limiting
DE29607207U1 (en) * 1996-04-20 1997-08-21 Wagner, Paul-Heinz, 53804 Much Hydraulic power wrench
DE19637934A1 (en) * 1996-09-17 1998-03-26 Psm Drucklufttechnik Vertrieb Angular screwdriver with integral torque meter
WO2002085568A1 (en) * 2001-04-20 2002-10-31 Paul-Heinz Wagner Power screwdriver
SE0900795A1 (en) * 2009-06-11 2010-12-12 Atlas Copco Tools Ab Nut wrench with gearbox and parameter transducer

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE4210201A1 (en) * 1992-03-28 1993-09-30 Gardner Denver Gmbh Compressed air screwdriver tool - has drive motor arranged in housing and connected to compressed air source across air line connected to handle for driving shaft with screwing tool bit and measurement value pick-up at driven shaft
DE4307131A1 (en) * 1993-03-06 1994-09-08 Albert Kipfelsberger Power screwdriver with electronic torque limiting
DE29607207U1 (en) * 1996-04-20 1997-08-21 Wagner, Paul-Heinz, 53804 Much Hydraulic power wrench
DE19637934A1 (en) * 1996-09-17 1998-03-26 Psm Drucklufttechnik Vertrieb Angular screwdriver with integral torque meter
WO2002085568A1 (en) * 2001-04-20 2002-10-31 Paul-Heinz Wagner Power screwdriver
SE0900795A1 (en) * 2009-06-11 2010-12-12 Atlas Copco Tools Ab Nut wrench with gearbox and parameter transducer

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102012017376B4 (en) 2012-06-13 2024-07-11 Robert Bosch Gmbh Tool and method for its operation

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE534472C2 (en) 2011-09-06
SE1000028A1 (en) 2011-07-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8991518B2 (en) Portable power wrench with a gear casing and a parameter sensing device
JP5222860B2 (en) Portable power tool with wireless communication function with stationary controller
KR101896133B1 (en) Power wrench with a torque sensing unit
US10124474B2 (en) Impact screwdriver
US5115701A (en) Drive mechanism and strain gauge mounting for a nutrunner appliance
EP2109516B1 (en) Power wrench wi th swivelling gear casing
CN104100692B (en) Reducer and electric power steering apparatus having the same
EP3785862B1 (en) Tool with wireless switch
TW200927396A (en) Digital power torque wrench of indirect transmission
JP6186456B2 (en) Nut runner
EP4076845B1 (en) Clamping tool with interchangeable arm
WO2007108745A1 (en) Electric power tool with swivelled cable connection
WO2011085907A1 (en) Portable power wrench with torque sensor on drive spindle
EP4116035A1 (en) Power machine tool
CN208729643U (en) The signal transmission structure and its Electric torque wrench of Electric torque wrench
EP1779975B1 (en) Angle nut runner
US10967439B2 (en) Electrical tools
CA2637420A1 (en) Semiautomatic gearbox for vehicles
US11633845B2 (en) Power machine tool
CN219882361U (en) Electric spanner
CN201483014U (en) Drill chuck
TWI411491B (en) Wireless manual pulse generator
KR20110130684A (en) Apparatus for measuring movement of pair cross
WO2006115449A1 (en) Communication means connecting a portable power tool with a control unit.
CN115823238A (en) Automobile gear shifting manipulator

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 10801402

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 10801402

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1