Loading patent…
AssigneeCentro Richerche Fiat S.p.A.
InventorsGabriele Gallizio, Giovanni Balestrino
Estimating the term…
In order to determine whether the screwing home of a threaded element, such as a screw, by a power tool has been acceptably executed, the number of revolutions undergone by the threaded element during the screwing operation is measured as a function of time. The revolution-time function derived for the screwing operation is compared with a reference function corresponding to an acceptable screwing operation. The comparison shows up unacceptable screwing operations and can be performed both visually and by a microcomputer. Apparatus for effecting such monitoring of screwing operations includes sensing means for measuring rotation of the output shaft of the power tool and circuit means for processing the output of the sensing means and effecting the comparison with the reference function.
A method of monitoring the screwing home of a threaded element by a power tool, the method comprising the steps of:
Apparatus for monitoring the screwing home of a threaded element by a power tool, the apparatus comprising sensing means responsive to rotation of the output shaft of the power tool to output an electrical signal indicative of the angular magnitude of that rotation, and electronic circuit means arranged to receive the process the output to derive therefrom the number of revolutions executed by the said shaft during the operation of screwing home the threaded element, the electronic circuit means including means for subdividing the duration of the screwing operation into a plurality of intervals, means for storing two threshold values respectively corresponding to a maximum and a minimum number of revolutions acceptable at the end of each time interval during the screwing operation, and comparison means arranged for verifying that the number of revolutions made by the said shaft form the beginning of the screwing operation up to the end of each time interval lies between the said two threshold values.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.