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US 2019/0160643 A1Published application
Force adjusting power tool with interchangable head
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorsJohn David Lefavour, Daniel Paul Owens
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Portable, hand held, battery operated, hydraulic tools are provided with a tool frame and one or more interchangeable working heads. When the working head is connected with the tool frame, a piston actuated by a hydraulic system within the tool frame applies force to the working head to perform a task. The tool includes a sensor for detecting the type of head connected with the tool and a mechanism for adjusting the amount of force applied to the head by the hydraulic system based on the detected head type.
Claims19
A hydraulic tool comprising:
- a working head, the working head comprising head indicia that identify a type of the working head;
- a tool frame having a piston;
- a hydraulic system coupled to piston;
- a coupling mechanism, the coupling mechanism releasably coupling the head to the frame and coupling the piston to a working surface of the head;
- a head sensor, the head sensor being adapted to detect the head indicia;
- and
- a controller connected with the head sensor and the hydraulic system,
- wherein the controller receives a signal generated by the head sensor in response to the head indicia, determines the type of the head, determines a maximum force to apply to the working surface based at least in part on the determined head type, and controls the hydraulic system to apply the maximum force.
5 more elements
A method of deforming a workpiece comprising the steps of:
- selecting a working head of a head type, the working head having a head indicia identifying the selected head type;
- providing a tool frame, the tool frame comprising;
- a hydraulic system;
- a piston connected with and driven by the hydraulic system;
- a head sensor adapted to detect the head indicia;
- a controller adapted to control the hydraulic system, wherein the controller is in signal communication with the head sensor and the hydraulic system and wherein the controller detects a current force applied by the hydraulic system;
- connecting the head with the tool frame and connecting the piston to a working surface of the head;
- determining, by the controller based on the signal from the head sensor the selected head type and a maximum force to apply based, at least in part on the selected head type;
- arranging a workpiece in the working head;
- energizing the hydraulic system to move the piston to drive the working surface toward the workpiece;
- monitoring the current force applied by the hydraulic system;
- determining that the current force is equal to or greater than the maximum force;
- and
- deenergizing the hydraulic system.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.