Torque control
AssigneeO.E. Electronics, Inc.
InventorRichard G. Lysaght
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
This torque control is a system that controls and monitors the power delivered to a tool without the use of a torque transducer. By monitoring the amount of power being delivered to the tool, a control is able to calculate the amount of torque the tool is generating. This torque system includes a controller, microprocessor, variable frequency drive (VFD) and a power tool. The control is the heart of the system. It is responsible for communicating with the VFD and tool. As the user operates the switches on the tool, the control dictates the frequency at which the VFD will run the tool. While the tool is running, the control also monitors the amount of current that the VFD is providing the tool. For every frequency that the VFD uses to stimulate the tool, the microprocessor can calculate the torque the tool is providing.
Claims14
An apparatus for controlling torque delivered by a transducerless, power driven tool comprising:
- a power driven tool;
- a variable frequency drive (VFD) providing power to the power driven tool;
- a controller connected to the VFD that selects a target frequency for the power the VFD provides the tool, wherein the controller also monitors the power the VFD is providing the tool;
- a microprocessor connected to the controller programmed to provide a specific power at a given frequency, programmed with a power to torque curve for each given frequency, programmed to calculate the torque the tool is providing using the curve, and programmed to compare the calculated torque to a target torque;
- and
- means for turning off the power the VFD is providing the tool when the calculated torque reaches the target torque.
A process for controlling torque delivered by a transducerless, power driven tool comprising the steps of:
- providing a power driven tool;
- powering the power driven tool with a variable frequency drive (VFD);
- selecting a target frequency for the power the VFD provides the tool with a controller;
- monitoring the power the VFD provides the tool with the controller;
- sending signals to the controller with a microprocessor;
- programming the microprocessor with a target torque for the tool;
- calculating the torque the tool is providing;
- and
- turning off the power the VFD is providing the tool when the calculated torque reaches the target torque.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.