Part illumination status lights

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10926368-B2
Application number	US-201715717695-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 27, 2017
Priority date	Sep 27, 2017
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

A power tool is provided. The tool has a housing containing an internal drive system that drives an output member that engages a workpiece and exerts mechanical force thereupon. A force sensor and a positional sensor are operatively connected to the drive system to sense characteristic variables of the drive system during engagement of the workpiece. A light unit is positioned on a front end and a top portion of the housing so as to be able to direct light of various colors onto the workpiece. A control unit is operatively connected to the drive system and the light unit so as to control the light unit based on the characteristic variables of the drive system measured by the sensors. The light unit may illuminate a colored light on the workpiece depending on whether or not the workpiece was determined to be fastened according to predetermined specifications.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power tool comprising:
a housing containing an internal drive system that drives an output member;
a work element coupled for rotation with the output member, the work element being configured to engage a workpiece and exert mechanical force thereupon;
a sensor operatively connected to the internal drive system to sense a characteristic variable of the internal drive system;
an illumination light unit positioned on a front end of the housing and configured to direct light to the workpiece and provide illumination to the workpiece; and
a control unit operatively connected to the internal drive system and the illumination light unit, the control unit configured to control the illumination light unit based on the characteristic variable of the internal drive system measured by the sensor, the projection of light from the illumination light a result of the control unit controlling the illumination light on the basis of the characteristic value;
wherein a reflective light emanates from the workpiece when the light is directed to the workpiece as a result of the control unit controlling the illumination light, the reflective light being at a level sufficient to be detected by a user of the power tool such that the user can determine the control unit is controlling the illumination light on the basis of the characteristic value when the illumination light is positioned such that the user cannot directly view the illumination light.

2. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a force sensor and the characteristic variable is a torque value of the internal drive system.

3. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a positional sensor and the characteristic variable is a rotational value of the drive system.

4. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the illumination light unit is positioned on a top portion of the housing.

5. The power tool of claim 1 , wherein the illumination light unit exhibits light of varying color.

6. The power tool of claim 1 , further comprising a power source and an actuator that transitions between an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein in the engaged state the internal drive system is coupled to the power source for powered operation of the tool, and wherein in the disengaged state the internal drive system is decoupled from the power source.

7. The power tool of claim 6 , wherein in the engaged state the illumination light unit exhibits light of a first color.

8. The power tool of claim 7 , wherein the control unit receives the characteristic variable from the sensor and calculates a difference between the characteristic variable and a predetermined value, and wherein if the difference is within a first range the control unit directs the illumination light unit to exhibit light of a second color, if the difference is within a second range the control unit directs the illumination light unit to exhibit light of a third color, and if the difference is within a third range the control unit directs the illumination light unit to exhibit light of a fourth color.

9. The power tool of claim 7 , wherein the control unit receives the characteristic variable from the sensor and calculates a difference between the characteristic variable and a predetermined value, and wherein if the difference is within a predetermined tolerance the control unit directs the illumination light unit to exhibit light of a second color, and wherein if the difference is outside the predetermined tolerance the control unit directs the illumination light unit to exhibit light of a third color.

10. The power tool of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined value is one of a required torque value or a number of rotations of the drive system.

11. The power tool of claim 9 , wherein the predetermined value is one of a required torque value or a number of rotations of the drive system.

12. A power tool comprising:
a housing containing an internal drive system that drives an output member;
a work element coupled for rotation with the output member, the work element being configured to engage a workpiece and exert mechanical force thereupon;
a first sensor operatively connected to the internal drive system to sense a first characteristic variable of the internal drive system during engagement of the workpiece;
a second sensor operatively connected to the internal drive system to sense a second characteristic variable of the internal drive system during engagement of the workpiece;
an illumination light unit positioned on a front end and a top portion of the housing and configured to direct light of a first color to the workpiece so as to provide illumination to the workpiece; and
a control unit operatively connected to the internal drive system and the illumination light unit, the control unit configured to control the illumination light unit based on the characteristic variable of the internal drive system measured by the sensors, the projection of light from the illumination light a result of the control unit controlling the illumination light on the basis of the characteristic value;
wherein a reflective light emanates from the workpiece when the light of a first color is directed to the workpiece as a result of the control unit controlling the illumination light, the reflective light being at a level sufficient to be detected by a user of the power tool such that the user can determine the control unit is controlling the illumination light on the basis of the characteristic value without need of the user to directly view the illumination light.

13. The power tool of claim 12 , wherein the first sensor is a force sensor and the first characteristic variable is a torque value of the drive system, and wherein the second sensor is a positional sensor and the second characteristic variable is a number of rotations of the internal drive system.

14. The power tool of claim 13 , wherein the control unit receives the characteristic variables from the sensors and calculates a difference between each of the characteristic variables and a corresponding predetermined value, and wherein if both of the differences are within a predetermined tolerance the control unit directs the illumination light unit to exhibit light of a second color, and wherein if either of the differences is outside the predetermined tolerance the control unit directs the illumination light unit to exhibit light of a third color.

15. The power tool of claim 14 , further comprising a power source and an actuator that transitions between an engaged state and a disengaged state, wherein in the engaged state the internal drive system is coupled to the power source for powered operation of the tool, and wherein in the disengaged state the internal drive system is decoupled from the power source, and wherein the control unit calculates the difference and directs the illumination light unit at a transition from the engaged state to the disengaged state.

Assignees

• Ingersoll Rand Ind U S Inc

Inventors

• Chellew Justin T

Classifications

• B23Q17/2452 Primary

  for measuring features or for detecting a condition of machine parts, tools or workpieces (B23Q17/2428, B23Q17/2433 take precedence) · CPC title

• H05B47/115 Primary

  by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings · CPC title

• Y02B20/40

  Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection · CPC title

• F21V33/008

  Leisure, hobby or sport articles, e.g. toys, games or first-aid kits; Hand tools; Toolboxes · CPC title

• B25F5/02

  Construction of casings, bodies or handles {(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)} · CPC title