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US RE41,185 E1Granted
Error proofing system for portable tools
OwnerCurt D. Gilmore, Michael L. Ritcheyinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for controlling and monitoring portable tools at a particular work cell remotely by R-F communication to provide error proofing of various parameters including that the correct tool is to be used at a work cell, the tool is properly calibrated for the operation to be performed, that it is being used a proper number of times per part being assembled or inspected, and that the tool has been calibrated within a selected service interval. The tools will be made actuable only by R-F communication with specific factory apparatus whereby theft of such portable tools will be inhibited.
Claims47
An error proofing system for portable tools comprising:
- a portable, electrically operated tool for applying torque to set a threaded fastener on a workpiece at a work cell,
- said tool having a tool monitor-controller operable for controlling the operation of said tool,
- said tool being pre-set to provide an output torque of a desired magnitude,
- said tool monitor-controller having a radio frequency tool transceiver for communication with selected devices,
- one of said devices being a work cell supervisor located at the work cell to monitor and control said tool,
- said work cell supervisor having a radio frequency supervisor transceiver for communicating with said tool through said tool transceiver when said tool is in the work cell,
- said tool having a torque sensor for sensing the magnitude of torque applied to each threaded fastener in installation and with the torque magnitude noted in said tool monitor-controller ,
- said tool providing a torque signal to said work cell supervisor by radio frequency communication between said tool transceiver and said supervisor transceiver when the applied torque of the desired magnitude is reached in setting the threaded fastener whereby the work cell supervisor can count the number of proper installation torque cycles , where the torque signal is indicative of the sensed magnitude of torque applied to a given fastener,
- said tool monitor-controller having preset information regarding the desired magnitude of setting torque on said tool and other information as to certain parameters necessary for said tool to be actuated ,
- said work cell supervisor being preset as to the desired magnitude of setting torque and other information necessary for said tool to be activated and if such information is correct said work cell supervisor will then provide a signal to said monitor-controller by communication between said tool transceiver and said supervisor transceiver to permit said tool to be activated for installing fasteners in the work cell but if the desired magnitude of setting torque is not correct or one of the other parameters is not correct then said tool will not be activated by said work cell supervisor.
7 more elements
An error proofing system for portable tools comprising:
- a portable, electrically operated tool for applying torque to set a threaded fastener on a workpiece at a work cell,
- said tool having a tool monitor-controller operable for controlling the operation of said tool,
- said tool being pre-set to provide an output torque of a desired magnitude,
- said tool monitor-controller having a radio frequency tool transceiver for communication,
- a work cell supervisor located at the work cell to monitor and control said tool and having a radio frequency supervisor transceiver for communicating with said tool through said tool transceiver when said tool is in the work cell,
- said tool having a torque sensor for sensing the magnitude of torque applied to each threaded fastener in installation and with the torque magnitude noted in said tool monitor-controller,
- said tool providing a torque signal to said work cell supervisor by radio frequency communication between said tool transceiver and said supervisor transceiver when the applied torque of the desired magnitude is reached in setting the threaded fastener whereby the work cell supervisor can count the number of proper installation torque cycles,
- said tool monitor-controller having preset information regarding the desired magnitude of setting torque on said tool,
- said work cell supervisor being preset as to the desired magnitude of setting torque for said tool to be activated and if such information is correct said work cell supervisor will then provide a signal to said monitor-controller by communication between said tool transceiver and said supervisor transceiver to permit said tool to be activated for installing fasteners in the work cell but if the desired magnitude of setting torque is not correct then said tool will not be activated by said work cell supervisor.
6 more elements
An error proofing system for portable tools comprising:
- a portable, electrically operated tool for applying torque to set a threaded fastener on a workpiece at a work cell,
- said tool having a tool monitor-controller operable for controlling the operation of said tool,
- said tool being pre-set to provide an output torque of a desired magnitude,
- said tool monitor-controller having a radio frequency tool transceiver for communication,
- a work cell supervisor located at the work cell to monitor and control said tool and having a radio frequency supervisor transceiver for communicating with said tool through said tool transceiver when said tool is in the work cell,
- said tool having a torque sensor for sensing the magnitude of torque applied to each threaded fastener in installation and with the torque magnitude noted in said tool monitor-controller,
- said tool monitor-controller having preset information regarding the desired magnitude of setting torque on said tool,
- said work cell supervisor being preset as to the desired magnitude of setting torque for said tool to be activated and if the magnitude of setting torque is correct said work cell supervisor will then provide a signal to said monitor-controller by communication between said tool transceiver and said supervisor transceiver to permit said tool to be activated for installing fasteners in the work cell but if the desired magnitude of setting torque is not correct then said tool will not be activated by said work cell supervisor.
5 more elements
An error proofing system for portable tools comprising:
- a portable tool for performing a preselected task on a workpiece at a work cell,
- said tool having a tool monitor-controller operable for controlling the operation of said tool,
- said tool being pre-set to provide the task at a desired magnitude,
- said tool monitor-controller having a radio frequency tool transceiver for communication with selected devices,
- one of said devices being a work cell supervisor located at the work cell to monitor and control said tool,
- said work cell supervisor having a radio frequency supervisor transceiver for communicating with said tool through said tool transceiver when said tool is in the work cell,
- said tool having a sensor for sensing the magnitude of the task applied to the workpiece,
- said tool providing a task magnitude signal to said work cell supervisor by radio frequency communication between said tool transceiver and said supervisor transceiver when the applied task of the desired magnitude is reached whereby the work cell supervisor can monitor the operation of said tool,
- said tool monitor-controller having preset information regarding the desired magnitude of the setting of the task on said tool and other information as to certain parameters necessary for said tool to be actuated,
- said work cell supervisor being preset as to the desired magnitude of the task and other information necessary for said tool to be activated and if such information is correct said work cell supervisor will then provide a signal to said monitor-controller by communication between said tool transceiver and said supervisor transceiver to permit said tool to be activated to perform task in the work cell but if the desired magnitude of the task is not correct or one of the other parameters is not correct then a signal will be generated whereby said tool should not be activated.
7 more elements
An error proofing system for portable tools comprising:
- a portable, electrically operated tool for applying torque to set a threaded fastener on a workpiece at a work cell,
- said tool having a tool monitor-controller operable for controlling the operation of said tool,
- said tool being pre-set to provide an output torque of a desired magnitude,
- said tool monitor-controller having a radio frequency tool transceiver for communication,
- a work cell supervisor located at the work cell to monitor and control said tool and having a radio frequency supervisor transceiver for communicating with said tool through said tool transceiver when said tool is in the work cell,
- said tool having a torque sensor for sensing the magnitude of torque applied to each threaded fastener in installation and with the torque magnitude noted in said tool monitor-controller,
- said tool providing a torque signal to said work cell supervisor by radio frequency communication between said tool transceiver and said supervisor transceiver when the applied torque of the desired magnitude is reached in setting the threaded fastener whereby the work cell supervisor can count the number of proper installation torque cycles,
- said tool monitor-controller having preset information regarding the desired magnitude of setting torque on said tool,
- said work cell supervisor being preset as to the desired magnitude of setting torque for said tool to be activated and if such information is correct said work cell supervisor will then provide a signal to said monitor-controller by communication between said tool transceiver and said supervisor transceiver to permit said tool to be activated for installing fasteners in the work cell but if the desired magnitude of setting torque is not correct then said tool will not be activated by said work cell supervisor,
- said work cell supervisor capable of activating said tool by R-F communication with said tool monitor-controller to permit said tool to be activated to install fasteners outside of the R-F range of said supervisor transceiver for a preselected interval.
7 more elements
A method comprising:
- providing a tool having a tool monitor controller, the tool monitor controller having a first memory and a tool transceiver;
- presetting the tool such that a magnitude of an output of the tool is within a predetermined first set point range;
- loading a first set of data into the first memory, the first set of data including the magnitude of the output of the tool;
- providing a work cell supervisor having a supervisor transceiver;
- establishing wireless communication between the tool transceiver and the supervisor transceiver wherein the tool transceiver communicates the magnitude of the output of the tool to the supervisor transceiver;
- transmitting a command from the supervisor transceiver to the tool transceiver to wirelessly activate the tool if the magnitude of the output of the tool is within a predetermined second set point range, wherein activation of the tool permits the tool to be employed for a predetermined number of tool operation cycles prior to requiring reactivation.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.