# US 10,771,004 B2 · System and method for installation and verification of fasteners > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,771,004 B2 - Document ID: US10771004B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/558,358 - Filed: 2019-09-03 - Published: 2019-12-19 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-07-10 - Assignees: Newfrey LLC - Applicants: Newfrey LLC - Inventors: Jim Woyciesjes; Mikel Ezcurra; Zack Z. Qu - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771004B2 ## CPC - H02P 29/0027: {Controlling a clutch between the prime mover and the load} - B21J 15/022: {Setting rivets by means of swaged-on locking collars, e.g. lockbolts} - B21J 15/26: operated by rotary drive, e.g. by electric motor - B21J 15/285: {for controlling the rivet upset cycle} - B23B 45/02: driven by electric power - H02P 29/40: Regulating or controlling the amount of current drawn or delivered by the motor for controlling the mechanical load - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - B21J: FORGING; HAMMERING; PRESSING METAL; RIVETING; FORGE FURNACES (rolling of metal B21B; making particular products by forging or pressing B21K; cladding or plating B23K; finishing surfaces by hammering B23P9/04; compacting surfaces by blasting with particulate material B24C1/10; general features of presses, presses for consolidating scrap B30B; furnaces in general F27) - B23B: TURNING; BORING (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) ## Abstract A method is presented for operating a power tool during installation of a deformable fastener. The method includes: receiving measures of current supplied to a motor of the power tool during operation of the power tool; determining rate of change of the current during operation of the power tool; determining occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener based on the magnitude of the current supplied to the motor; determining occurrence of the power tool swaging the fastener based on the rate of change of the current; determining completion of the power tool swaging the fastener based on the magnitude of the current and the rate of change of the current; and verifying quality of the installation of the fastener using the determination of the occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener and the determination of the completion of the power tool swaging the fastener. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A power tool, comprising: a housing; a fastening mechanism at least partially contained in the housing, wherein the fastening mechanism includes: a drivable sliding sleeve with an anvil, and a collet configured to grip a deformable fastener and move the fastener in relation to the anvil, thereby performing a swaging operation; a motor arranged in the housing and drivably connected to the fastening mechanism; a current sensor configured to measure of current supplied to the motor of the power tool during operation of the power tool; and a controller configured to receive a measure of current from the current sensor and determine a rate of change of the current during operation of the power tool, wherein the controller determines occurrence of the power tool engaging a fastener based on the magnitude of the current supplied to the motor, determines occurrence of the power tool swaging the fastener based on the rate of change of the current, and determines completion of the power tool swaging the fastener based on the magnitude of the current and the rate of change of the current; wherein the controller is interfaced with the motor and alters rotation of the motor of the power tool in response to determining completion of swaging the fastener. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The power tool of claim 1 wherein the controller determines occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener by comparing the magnitude of the current to a first current threshold. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The power tool of claim 2 wherein the controller determines occurrence of the power tool swaging the fastener by comparing magnitude of the rate of change of the current to a first rate of change threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The power tool of claim 3 wherein the controller determines completion of the power tool swaging by comparing the magnitude of the current to a second current threshold and comparing magnitude of the rate of change of the current to a second rate of change threshold, where the second current threshold is larger than the first current threshold and the second rate of change threshold is larger than the first rate of change threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The power tool of claim 1 wherein the controller alters rotation of the motor by one of reversing rotation of the motor or stopping rotation of the motor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The power tool of claim 1 wherein the controller verifies quality of the installation of the fastener using the determination of the occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener and the determination of the completion of the power tool swaging the fastener; and generates an indicator for the quality of the installation of the fastener. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The power tool of claim 6 wherein the controller verifies quality of the installation of the fastener by determining a distance traversed by the sliding sleeve during swaging of the fastener, comparing the distance traversed by the sliding sleeve to known dimensions of the fastener, and generates the indicator for the quality of the installation of the fastener based on the comparison. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The power tool of claim 1 wherein the controller detects a failure in the installation of the fastener in response to a sudden drop in magnitude of the current or a sudden increase the rate of change of the current during swaging of the fastener. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The power tool of claim 1 wherein the fastener includes a stem having threads formed along a portion thereof and a collar that encircles the stem, such that the swaging operation deforms the collar of the fastener and swages the collar into the threads formed along the stem. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The power tool of claim 9 wherein the collet extends through the sliding sleeve and pulls the fastener inward and into the sliding sleeve, such that an inner diameter of the anvil is smaller than outer diameter of the collar. ### Claim 11 A power tool, comprising: a housing; a fastening mechanism at least partially contained in the housing, wherein the fastening mechanism includes: a drivable sliding sleeve with an anvil, and a collet configured to grip a deformable fastener and move the fastener in relation to the anvil, thereby performing a swaging operation; a motor arranged in the housing and drivably connected to the fastening mechanism; a current sensor configured to measure of current supplied to the motor of the power tool during operation of the power tool; and a controller configured to receive a measure of current from the current sensor during operation of the power tool and determine rate of change of the current during operation of the power tool, wherein the controller determines occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener based on the magnitude of the current supplied to the motor, determines occurrence of the power tool swaging the fastener based on the rate of change of the current, and determines completion of the power tool swaging the fastener based on the magnitude of the current and the rate of change of the current; wherein the controller further operates to verify quality of the installation of the fastener using the determination of the occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener and the determination of the completion of the power tool swaging the fastener, and generates an indicator for the quality of the installation of the fastener. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The power tool of claim 11 wherein the controller determines occurrence of the power tool engaging the fastener by comparing the magnitude of the current to a first current threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The power tool of claim 12 wherein the controller determines occurrence of the power tool swaging the fastener by comparing magnitude of the rate of change of the current to a first rate of change threshold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The power tool of claim 13 wherein the controller determines completion of the power tool swaging by comparing the magnitude of the current to a second current threshold and comparing magnitude of the rate of change of the current to a second rate of change threshold, where the second current threshold is larger than the first current threshold and the second rate of change threshold is larger than the first rate of change threshold. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The power tool of claim 11 wherein the controller alters rotation of the motor by one of reversing rotation of the motor or stopping rotation of the motor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The power tool method of claim 11 wherein the controller verifies quality of the installation of the fastener by determining a distance traversed by the sliding sleeve during swaging of the fastener, comparing the distance traversed by the sliding sleeve to known dimensions of the fastener, and generating the indicator for the quality of the installation of the fastener based on the comparison. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The power tool method of claim 16 wherein the controller presenting the indicator for the quality of the installation of the fastener to a tool operator or transmitting the indicator for the quality of the installation of the fastener via a transceiver over a wireless network. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the controller detects a failure in the installation of the fastener in response to a sudden drop in magnitude of the current or a sudden increase the rate of change of the current during swaging of the fastener. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The power tool of claim 11 wherein the fastener includes a stem having threads formed along a portion thereof and a collar that encircles the stem, such that the swaging operation deforms the collar of the fastener and swages the collar into the threads formed along the stem.