Torsion and force sensing device and electric screwdriver utilizing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10823628-B2
Application number	US-201916352196-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 13, 2019
Priority date	Jan 2, 2019
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A device to sense degree of twist in a screwdriver and the magnitude of force applied includes a contacting portion, a deformation portion, a sensing portion, and a processor. The contacting portion receives a grip and twist pressure through the deformation portion which is tiltedly fixed to the contacting portion. The deformation portion carries the sensing portion and elastically deforms under the force and/or the torsion. The sensing portion detects a deformation of the deformation portion and generates a corresponding electrical signal. The processor receives the signal and determines the values of the twist caused and the force applied.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torsion and force sensing device comprising:
a contacting portion to receive a force and/or a twist, wherein the contacting portion is substantially a plate body and comprises four side surfaces connected sequentially, the contacting portion defines four receiving holes extending through the plate body, and each of the four side surfaces defines a first pin hole;
a deformation portion fixed to the contacting portion and tilted to the contacting portion with a preset angle, wherein the deformation portion generates an elastic deformation under the force and/or the twist;
a sensing portion fixed on the deformation portion, the sensing portion being adapted for detecting a deformation variable of the deformation portion and generating a corresponding electrical signal; and
a processor electrically connected to the sensing portion and determined values of twist and/or values of the force applied on the contacting portion based on the electrical signal.

2. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 1 , wherein the torsion and force sensing device comprises two contacting portions, the two contacting portions face toward and space apart each other.

3. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 2 , wherein the torsion and force sensing device comprises four deformation portions, and the four deformation portions are fixed between the two contacting portions.

4. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 3 , wherein the four deformation portions are successively supported and enclosed to form a cavity.

5. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 4 , wherein the contacting portion is made of a metal alloy material.

6. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 5 , wherein the deformation portion is made of stainless steel material.

7. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 6 , wherein a tilt angle between the contacting portion and the deformation portion is in a range from 45 degrees to 90 degrees.

8. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 7 , wherein the torque and force sensing device comprises four sensing portions, each of the four sensing portions is attached to each side surface of a deformation portion and locates outside of the cavity.

9. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 8 , wherein the sensing portion is a strain gauge.

10. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 9 , wherein each of the first pin hole communicates with each of the receiving holes, and each of the receiving holes corresponds to each of the four side surfaces of the contacting portion.

11. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 10 , wherein two opposite ends of the deformation portion project to form a projecting portion, a size of the projecting portion is matched with a size of the receiving holes and accommodated in the receiving hole, each projecting portion is provided with a second pin hole, and each of the second pin holes is aligned with each of the first pin holes.

12. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 11 , wherein the projecting portions at opposite ends of each of the deformation portions extend in a direction opposite to each other, and the projecting portions at both ends is not coplanar with a middle portion between the projecting portions of the deformation portion.

13. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 12 , wherein a direction extending along a short side of the contacting portion defines a x-axis, a direction of a long side of the contacting portion defines a y-axis, an intersection point between the x-axis and y-axis is an origin point, and a direction perpendicular to the x-axis and y-axis is defined as z-axis, x-axis and y-axis together define a bottom surface, x-axis and z-axis together defined a first surface, y-axis and z-axis together defined a second surface, an angle is formed between the side surface of the deformation portion and the second surface.

14. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 13 , wherein an angle is formed between the side surface of the deformation portion and the first surface.

15. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 14 , wherein an angle is formed between the side surface of the deformation portion and the bottom surface.

16. The torsion and force sensing device of claim 11 , wherein the torsion and force sensing device further comprises eight pins, each of the eight pin passes through a group of the first pin hole and a second pin hole to fix the contacting portions and the deformation portion.

17. An electric screwdriver comprising:
a housing; and
a torsion and force sensing device received in the housing, wherein the torsion and force sensing device comprising:
a contacting portion to receive a force and/or a torsion;
a deformation portion fixed to the contacting portion and tilted to the contacting portion with a preset angle, wherein the deformation portion generates an elastic deformation under the force and/or the torsion;
a sensing portion fixed on the deformation portion, the sensing portion being adapted to detect a deformation variable of the deformation portion and generate a corresponding electrical signal; and
a processor electrically connected to the sensing portion and determined values of twist and/or values of the force applied on the contacting portion based on the electrical signal.

18. The electric screwdriver of claim 17 , wherein further comprising a display unit fixed on the housing for displaying torque values and force values sensed by the torsion and force sensing device.

19. The electric screwdriver of claim 17 , wherein the contacting portion is substantially a plate body and comprises four side surfaces connected sequentially, the contacting portion defines four receiving holes extending through the plate body, and each of the four side surfaces defines a first pin hole.

20. The electric screwdriver of claim 19 , wherein each of the first pin hole communicates with each of the receiving holes, and each of the receiving holes corresponds to one of the four side surfaces of the contacting portion.

Assignees

• Hongfujin Prec Elect Zhengzhou Co Ltd
• Hon Hai Prec Ind Co Ltd

Inventors

• Liu Eddy
• Su Po-Lin
• Kang Jie-Peng
• Deng Xue-Rui
• Zhang liu-ming
• Hao Wei-Wei
• Li su-min
• Wang guang-xing
• Li Rui
• Lai Jie

Classifications

• G01L5/161

  using variations in ohmic resistance · CPC title

• B25B23/147

  specially adapted for electrically operated wrenches or screwdrivers · CPC title

• G01L3/14 Primary

  wherein the torque-transmitting element is other than a torsionally-flexible shaft · 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

• G01L1/048

  of torsionally deformable elements · CPC title