Apparatus for tightening threaded fasteners
AssigneeHYTORC Division UNEX Corporation
InventorEric P. Junkers
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an operation parameter regulation unit (50) for use with a bolting system having a plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools (10, 11) and/or drive portions of torque tools (10, 11) for simultaneous tightening of industrial threaded fasteners (40), the operation parameter regulation unit (50) including: a processing unit (53); an output unit (51) an input unit (52) an activation unit (55) for activating operation units and/or drive portions of torque tools (10, 11); and a control unit (54) for controlling operation parameters (41) of each of the plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools (10, 11) and/or drive portions of torque tools (10, 11) to maintain a difference between the operation parameters (41) within a predetermined value.
Claims28
An operation parameter regulation unit for use with a bolting system having a plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools for simultaneous tightening of industrial threaded fasteners, the operation parameter regulation unit including:
- a processing unit;
- an output unit connected and/or integrated with the processing unit;
- an input unit connected and/or integrated with the processing unit;
- an activation unit connected and/or integrated with the processing unit for activating operation units of the plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools;
- a control unit for controlling operation parameters of each of the plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools to maintain a difference between the operation parameters within a predetermined value;
- and
- one or more sensor units including bolting application separation (gap) sensors for direct and/or indirect measurement of the operation parameters of either:
- the plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools;
- the plurality of parts of a joint to be closed;
- or the plurality of networked threaded fasteners.
An operation parameter regulation unit according to any preceding claim wherein the operation parameters include either:
- tool electrical circuit parameters including current, voltage and/or magnetic field;
- tool torque output values;
- fastener rotation speeds;
- fastener pretensioning force;
- fastener rotation angle;
- fastener elongation;
- fastener and/or tool torsion;
- reaction fixture side load;
- fastener frictional resistance;
- and/or any combination thereof.
An operation parameter regulation unit according to any preceding claim wherein during operation if the difference in the operation parameters of the plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools exceeds the predetermined value the control unit regulates the operation parameters of each tool and/or drive portion until the difference in operation parameter(s) returns to within the predetermined value by either:
- ceasing operation parameter(s) of tool(s) and/or drive portions with increased operation parameter(s);
- lowering operation parameter(s) of tool(s) and/or drive portions with increased operation parameter(s);
- raising operation parameter(s) of tool(s) and/or drive portions with decreased operation parameter(s);
- or
- performing any one or more of such actions to any one or more such tool(s) and/or drive portions either causally, simultaneously and/or in predetermined order.
An operation parameter regulation unit according to any preceding claim, including a data capturing unit connected and/or integrated with the processing unit, wherein the processing unit is designed for the output of the value to be set on the operation parameter regulation unit based on fastener connection process parameters determined with the data capturing unit.
An operation parameter regulation unit according to any preceding claim including a storage unit.
An operation parameter regulation unit according to any preceding claim designed for wireless connection with the plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools by any suitable means including Satellite, WI-FI, WiMAX, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Microwave, Infrared, and/or Radio.
An operation parameter regulation unit according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the data capturing unit is designed for wireless connection with the processing unit.
An operation parameter regulation unit according to any preceding claim designed for the documentation of realized bolting connections.
An electrically powered torque tool including an operation parameter regulation unit according to any preceding claim.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.