Systems and methods for a hydraulic tool
OwnerConnor F. Galarneau, Alex P. Groteluescheninventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydraulic power tool includes a trigger, motor, pump, hydraulic circuit, fluid reservoir, pressure sensor, and controller. The controller initiates motor operation when the trigger is depressed, causing the pump to move hydraulic fluid through the circuit. The controller monitors pressure via the sensor, calculates a pressure derivative representing the rate of pressure change over time, and increments a buffer counter when the pressure derivative is at or near zero. When the pressure derivative remains at or near zero for a predetermined time period, indicating work operation completion, the controller automatically releases hydraulic fluid from the circuit back to the reservoir.
Claims20
A hydraulic power tool, comprising:
- a trigger;
- a motor;
- a pump driven by the motor;
- a hydraulic circuit in fluid communication with the pump;
- a fluid reservoir in communication with the hydraulic circuit to store a hydraulic fluid;
- a pressure sensor in communication with the hydraulic circuit;
- and
- a controller in communication with the motor, the pressure sensor, and the trigger, the controller to:
- initiate motor operation in response to depression of the trigger, the motor operation to cause the pump to move hydraulic fluid from the fluid reservoir through the hydraulic circuit;
- monitor a pressure within the hydraulic circuit via pressure measurements from the pressure sensor;
- calculate a pressure derivative representing a rate of change of the pressure over time;
- increment a buffer counter when the pressure derivative is at or near zero;
- detect when the pressure derivative remains at or near zero for a predetermined time period to indicate that a work operation is complete;
- and
- when the pressure derivative is detected to be at or near zero for the predetermined time period, automatically release the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic circuit back to the fluid reservoir.
A method of operating a hydraulic power tool, the method comprising:
- initiating motor operation in the hydraulic power tool in response to activation of an actuator of the hydraulic power tool;
- activating a pump of the hydraulic power tool, via initiation of the motor operation, to move hydraulic fluid from a fluid reservoir through a hydraulic circuit;
- monitoring a pressure within the hydraulic circuit via a pressure sensor arranged within the hydraulic power tool;
- calculating a pressure derivative representing a rate of change of the pressure over time;
- incrementing a buffer counter when the pressure derivative is at or near zero;
- detecting when the pressure derivative remains at or near zero for a predetermined time period indicating a work operation of the hydraulic tool is completed;
- and
- upon detecting that the pressure derivative remains at or near zero for a predetermined time period, releasing the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic circuit back to the fluid reservoir.
A method of operating a hydraulic power tool, the method comprising:
- initiating motor operation in a hydraulic power tool in response to activation of an actuator;
- pumping hydraulic fluid from a fluid reservoir through a hydraulic circuit via initiation of the motor operation;
- monitoring a pressure within the hydraulic circuit;
- detecting when the pressure varies at a rate that exceeds a first threshold indicating a work operation of the hydraulic tool is completed;
- and
- upon detecting that the pressure varies at the rate that exceeds the first threshold indicating the work operation is completed, releasing the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic circuit back to the fluid reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.