Wireless torque wrench with torque specifications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10792795-B2
Application number	US-201715601361-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 22, 2017
Priority date	May 22, 2017
Publication date	Oct 6, 2020
Grant date	Oct 6, 2020

Abstract

An interactive software application on a mobile computing device is used to configure an electronic torque wrench via a wireless connection. The software application obtains torque specifications for a vehicle from a remote database. When the torque specification require that work pieces be torqued in an ordered sequence, the software application guides the technician through the sequence, but accommodates changes when the technician departs from the sequence.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of configuring an electronic torque wrench for a torqueing operation, comprising:
querying, by a computing device, a first database to determine a fastening task associated with the torqueing operation;
receiving the fastening task;
determining a torque specification associated with the fastening task, wherein the torque specification includes a first sequence of respectively applying torques to work pieces;
displaying, on a display of the computing device, a representation of a first work piece to be torqued in accordance with the first sequence;
receiving a selection of a second work piece, the selection not comporting with the first sequence;
configuring the electronic torque wrench for a second torque specification corresponding to the second work piece in response to the selection of the second work piece;
determining a second sequence that includes a third work piece to be torqued after the second work piece; and
displaying, on the display, a representation of the third work piece to be torqued.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a graphic representing the work pieces of the fastening task, wherein the step of displaying a representation of a first work piece includes displaying the representation of the first work piece in the graphic, and the step of displaying a representation of a third work piece includes displaying the representation of the third work piece in the graphic.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining of the second sequence is based on one-or-more of:
a priority of the third work piece in the first sequence;
an amount of torque specified in the torque specification to be applied to the third work piece; and
a position of the third work piece relative to the first or second work pieces.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining of the torque specification associated with the fastening task further includes:
receiving the torque specification associated with the fastening task;
determining whether a first torque value associated with the second work piece is stored on a memory operably coupled to the computing device, wherein the first torque value is different than a second torque value associated with the second work piece and included in the torque specification; and
substituting the first torque value for the second torque value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining of a torque specification associated with the fastening task further includes:
receiving the torque specification, wherein the torque specification includes a first text string or first code identifying the second work piece; and
wherein the method further comprises determining whether a second text string stored on a memory operably coupled to the computing device is associated with the first text string or the first code, wherein the second text string was stored on the memory prior to the step of querying of the first database, and wherein the step of configuring of the electronic torque wrench for the torque specification corresponding to the second work piece includes providing the second text string to the electronic torque wrench.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computing device communicates with the electronic torque wrench via a wireless communication link.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
receiving torque data from the electronic wrench while torque is being applied to the second work piece.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the torqueing operation is for a vehicle, and the method further comprising:
receiving an image of an identifier relating to the vehicle; and
processing the image to identify the vehicle based on the identifier.

9. A system for applying torque with an electronic torque wrench adapted to apply respective amounts of torque to work pieces, comprising:
a computing device communicably coupled to the electronic torque wrench, the computing device including:
a processor;
a display; and
a memory adapted to store instructions to be executed by the processor to configure the processor to:
query a first database to determine a fastening task;
cause the fastening task to be displayed on the display;
determine a torque specification for the fastening task, wherein the torque specification includes a first sequence of respective torque applications to be applied to the work pieces;
display, on the display, a representation of a first work piece to be torqued in accordance with the first sequence;
receive a selection of a second work piece, wherein the second work piece does not comport with the first sequence;
configure the electronic torque wrench for a second torque specification corresponding to the second work piece in response to the selection of the second work piece;
determine a second sequence that includes a third work piece to be torqued after the second work piece; and
display, on the display, a representation of the third work piece to be torqued.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further configure the processor to:
receive a graphic representing the work pieces of the fastening task; and
cause the graphic to be displayed on the display, wherein the processor causes the display of respective representations of the first and third work pieces in the graphic.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further configure the processor to determine the second sequence based on one-or-more of:
a priority of the third work piece in the first sequence;
an amount of torque specified in the torque specification that is to be applied to the third work piece; and
a geometric position of the third work piece relative to the first or second work pieces.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further configure the processor to:
receive the torque specification for the fastening task;
determine that a first torque value associated with the second work piece is stored on the memory, wherein the first torque value is different than a second torque value associated with the second work piece and included in the torque specification; and
substitute the first torque value for the second torque value.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the instructions further configure the processor to:
receive the torque specification, wherein the torque specification includes a first text string or first code identifying the second work piece; and
determine whether a second text string stored on the memory is associated with the first text string or the first code, wherein the second text string was stored on the memory prior to the query of the first database, and wherein the instructions to configure the electronic torque wrench for the torque specification corresponding to the second work piece further configure the processor to provide the second text string to the electronic torque wrench.

14. The system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a radio transceiver, wherein the instructions further configure the processor to communicate with the electronic torque wrench via the radio transceiver.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further configure the processor to:
receive torque data from the electronic wrench while torque is being applied to the second work piece; and
cause the received torque data to be displayed on the display.

16. The system of claim 9 , further comprising a camera, wherein the instructions further configure the processor to:
receive an image of an identifier on a vehicle from the camera; and
process the image to identify the ve

Assignees

• Snap On Tools Corp

Inventors

• Lee Nathan J
• Lawton Christopher

Classifications

• B25B23/14

  Arrangement of torque limiters or torque indicators in wrenches or screwdrivers (couplings for transmitting rotation or clutches F16D; devices for measuring torque per se G01L) · CPC title

• G05B2219/2604

  Test of external equipment · CPC title

• G05B2219/23146

  Programmable, reconfigurable via microprocessor or coding switches · CPC title

• B25B23/147

  specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers · CPC title

• B25B21/00 Primary

  Portable power-driven screw or nut setting or loosening tools; (details or components, e.g. casings, bodies, of portable power-driven tools not particularly related to the operation performed B25F5/00; {for mounting or dismounting wheels B60B29/006}); Attachments for drilling apparatus serving the same purpose (machines B23P19/06) · CPC title