Patent Application
20140060254
Aspects of the invention generally relate to (but are not limited to) an apparatus including a powered tool configured to fasten a fastener to an assembly.
A powered tool is a tool that is actuated by an additional power source and mechanism other than the solely manual labor used with hand tools. The most common types of powered tools use electric motors. Internal combustion engines and compressed air are also commonly used. Other power sources include steam engines, direct burning of fuels and propellants or even natural power sources like wind or moving water. Powered tools are used in industry, in construction and/or manufacturing for purposes of, for example, driving fasteners, drilling, cutting, shaping, sanding, grinding, routing, polishing, painting, heating and more. Powered tools are classified as either stationary or portable, where portable means hand-held. Portable powered tools have advantages in mobility. Stationary power tools however often have advantages in speed and accuracy and some stationary powered tools can produce objects that cannot be made in any other way. A drill is a type of powered tool fitted with a cutting tool attachment or driving tool attachment, usually a drill bit or driver bit, used for drilling holes in various materials or for fastening various materials together with the use of fasteners.
A fastener is a hardware device that mechanically joins or affixes two or more objects together. A screw, or bolt, is a type of fastener characterized by a helical ridge, known as an external thread or just thread, wrapped around a cylinder. Some screw threads are designed to mate with a complementary thread, known as an internal thread, often in the form of a nut or an object that has the internal thread formed into it. Other screw threads are designed to cut a helical groove in a softer material as the screw is inserted. The most common uses of screws are to hold objects together and to position objects.
During manufacturing of an assembly, the operator (also known as a manufacturing technician) may inadvertently use a known powered tool to incorrectly apply a fastening force (a tightening force) to the wrong fastener that should not receive the fastening force (the magnitude of the fastening force is not the required amount for instance), and so there is a possibility to undesirably manufacture many instances of incorrectly-manufactured assemblies.
The problem with known powered tools is that there is no control for which fasteners are to receive an appropriate fastening force so as to correctly tighten the fasteners, and which fasteners are not to receive an inappropriate fastening force.
Therefore, in order to mitigate (at least in part) the foregoing problem(s), an apparatus has been developed that includes a powered tool configured to fasten a fastener to an assembly. The powered tool includes a fastener-driving assembly configured to selectively operatively engage the fastener. The fastener-driving assembly is also configured to selectively transmit a fastening force to the fastener. The powered tool also includes a fastener-engagement assembly configured to permit operative engageable access between the fastener-driving assembly and the fastener. For a case where the fastener-engagement assembly permits operative engageable access between the fastener-driving assembly and the fastener, the fastener-driving assembly may operatively engage the fastener, and the fastener-driving assembly may transmit the fastening force to the fastener
In addition, in order to mitigate (at least in part) the foregoing problem(s), a method of using an apparatus has been developed that includes a powered tool configured to fasten a fastener to an assembly. The method includes: (A) using a fastener-engagement assembly to permit operative engageable access between a fastener-driving assembly and the fastener, (B) in response to operative engageable access being permitted by the fastener-engagement assembly, using the fastener-driving assembly to operatively engage the fastener between the fastener-driving assembly and the fastener, and (C) using the fastener-driving assembly to transmit a fastening force to the fastener.
Other aspects and features of the non-limiting embodiments (examples) may now become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments with the accompanying drawings.
The non-limiting embodiments may be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details not necessary for an understanding of the embodiments (and/or details that render other details difficult to perceive) may have been omitted.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the examples as oriented in the drawings. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments (examples) aspects and/or concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.
Generally speaking, the powered tool 10 includes (but is not limited to) a fastener-driving assembly 18, and a fastener-engagement assembly 20. The fastener-driving assembly 18 is configured to operatively engage the fastener. The fastener-driving assembly 18 is also configured to selectively transmit a fastening force to the fastener. To selectively transmit means that the fastener-driving assembly 18 waits on standby for a signal indicating to begin application of the fastening force to the fastener, such as the user pressing a trigger button for example. The fastener-engagement assembly 20 is configured to permit operative engageable access between the fastener-driving assembly 18 and the fastener. Engageable means able to be engaged. The meaning of “operative engageable access” is that the fastener-driving assembly 18 and the fastener are engageable with each other so as to permit effective transmission of the fastening force from the fastener-driving assembly 18 to the fastener.
In accordance with a variation (not depicted), the mating feature 106 may be positioned on the first fastener 104 if so desired and/or warranted for a desired implementation. For the case where the mating feature 106 is positioned on the first fastener 104, the fastener-engagement assembly 20 and the fastener-driving assembly 18 may be positioned coaxially relative to each other in order to facilitate positing of the mating feature 106 on (or in) the first fastener 104.
In accordance with another option (not depicted), the fastener-engagement assembly 20 includes (several) instances of the rod assembly 24, in which each instance of the rod assembly 24 has or includes a unique shape (profile) configured to mate with a corresponding mating feature. Each instance of the rod assembly 24 may be configured to move (be enabled to move) in response to actuation of a corresponding actuator connected with the instance of the rod assembly 24. In this way, two or more different sets or types of fasteners may be uniquely accessed by the fastener-driving assembly 18, as selectively required. For example, for the case where some fasteners are expected to receive a first amount of fastening force, a first mating feature may be assigned to those fasteners that are expected to receive the first amount of fastening force. For the case where other fasteners are expected to receive a second amount of fastening force, a second mating feature may be assigned to those fasteners that are expected to receive the second amount of fastening force (and so on). The corresponding mating features (and their associated instance of the rod assembly 24) may be positioned set apart (offset) relative to each other. In accordance with an alternative example (not depicted), the mating features (and their corresponding instance of the rod assembly 24) may be positioned coaxially relative to each other, if so desired.
Generally speaking, the fastener-engagement assembly 20 is further configured to move between: (A) a first operation position (as depicted in
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The fastener-engagement assembly 20 is attached to a top side of the powered tool 10. According to a specific example, the fastener-engagement assembly 20 includes a frame assembly 22 extending (upwardly) from the powered tool 10. A rod assembly 24 is supported by (and extends from) the frame assembly 22. The rod assembly 24 is movable between the first position (depicted in
Generally speaking, in accordance with an option, the apparatus 2 further includes (and is not limited to): a controller assembly 120 configured to control the powered tool 10 via I/O (input/output) interface of the controller assembly 120. The controller assembly 120 is operatively interfaced with the fastener-driving assembly 18 and/or with the fastener-engagement assembly 20 so as to implement control logic as may be required. For example, the fastener-driving assembly 18 is configured to apply an amount of fastening force in response to receiving a force-control signal from the controller assembly 120. As well, the fastener-engagement assembly 20 is configured to selectively move between the first position and the second position in response to receiving a movement-control signal from the controller assembly 120. An instance of the controller assembly 120 may be implemented using computer-coded instructions (software) or using hardware dedicated circuits or a combination of both.
According to a specific example, the controller assembly 120 is configured to: (A) read a work-piece identifier associated with the assembly 100, and (B) set the amount of fastening force, to be applied by the fastener-driving assembly 18, based on the work-piece identifier. An example of the work-piece identifier includes a vehicle identification number (VIN). As well, the controller assembly 120 is configured to: (A) read the work-piece identifier associated with the assembly 100, and (B) set a position of the fastener-engagement assembly 20 between any one of (i) the first position and (ii) the second position, and the position is set based on the work-piece identifier. Actuation of the rod actuator 26 and the rod assembly 24 may occur by using a scanning assembly (such as a laser scanning device, not depicted and known) configured to scan the VIN associated with the assembly 100 of interest, and the scanning assembly passes the information to the controller assembly 120. The work-piece identifier may be used in conjunction with software stored in the memory assembly of the controller assembly 120 which, in turn, extends or retracts the rod assembly 24 accordingly as required.
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However, it will be appreciated that the operator may inadvertently forget to use the powered tool 10 in the correct and expected way (as depicted in
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A way to mitigate the misusage or misapplication of the powered tool 10 in the second operating mode (as depicted in
An operation (A) includes having the controller assembly 120 read the amount of the second fastening force (torque) from a memory assembly of the controller assembly 120. The amount of the second fastening force is to be applied by the powered tool 10 to the second fastener 114. Once the operation (A) is completed, the next operation (B) may begin.
An operation (B) includes having the controller assembly 120 wait for the operator to apply the second fastening force to the first fastener 104. Once the operation (B) is completed, the next operation (C) may begin.
An operation (C) includes having the controller assembly 120 read (measure) the fastening force (torque) applied by the powered tool 10 to the first fastener 104. Once the operation (C) is completed, the next operation (D) may begin.
An operation (D) includes having the controller assembly 120 compare the measured fastening force to an expected fastening force as retrieved from the memory assembly of the controller assembly 120. Once the operation (D) is completed, the next operation (E) may begin.
An operation (E) includes having the controller assembly 120 provide an indication of whether the measured fastening force and the expected fastening force are not equal (within a given tolerance). Once the operation (E) is completed, the next operation (F) may begin.
An operation (F) includes having the controller assembly 120 proceed with operation in a first operation position for the case where the indication of operation (E) is false (that is the forces are equal). Once the operation (E) is completed, the next operation (F) may begin.
An operation (G) includes having the controller assembly 120 proceed to issue an alarm for the case where the indication of operation (E) is true (that is, the forces are not equal). Once the operation (G) is completed, the next operation (H) may begin.
An operation (H) includes having the controller assembly 120 disable operation of the powered tool 10 for the case where the indication of operation (E) is true (the forces are not equal). Once the operation (H) is completed, the next operation (I) may begin.
An operation (I) includes having the controller assembly 120 wait to receive a reset signal indicating to continue at the operation (A), likely because the error has been corrected going forward (the assembly 100 is reworked, or set aside, etc.).
A way to prevent the second case from occurring is that the operator must pay attention to the fact that the mating feature 106 is not interfaced with (engaged with) the fastener-engagement assembly 20 of the powered tool 10. The fastener-engagement assembly 20 is available or is present for the benefit of the operator of the powered tool 10, so that the operator knows that the first fastener 104 is connected to the powered tool 10 in order that the powered tool 10 may provide the first fastening force to the first fastener 104. As will be appreciated, for the case where the fastener-engagement assembly 20 does not interface with the mating feature 106, the fastener-engagement assembly 20 may inadvertently apply the incorrect fastening force to the first fastener 104 (as depicted in
In view of the above, for the case where the fastener-engagement assembly 20 is extended: (A) for a first fastener 104 located along a portion of the assembly 100 that includes the mating feature 106 configured for interfacing with (receiving) the fastener-engagement assembly 20, the first fastener 104 may be operatively engaged by the fastener-driving assembly 18, and (B) for a second fastener 114 that does not include mating feature 106 for interfacing with the fastener-engagement assembly 20, the fastener-engagement assembly 20 contacts (abuts) the assembly 100 and thus prevents operative engagement between the fastener-driving assembly 18 and the second fastener 114. In this manner, it may be ensured that only specific and desired fasteners may receive the desired amount of fastening force from the powered tool 10.
In view of the above description, in general terms, there is provided a method for operating the apparatus 2. The method includes: (A) using a fastener-engagement assembly 20 to permit operative engageable access between a fastener-driving assembly 18 and the fastener, (B) using the fastener-driving assembly 18 to operatively engage the fastener in response to operative engageable access being permitted (by the fastener-engagement assembly 20) between the fastener-driving assembly 18 and the fastener, and (C) using the fastener-driving assembly 18 to transmit the fastening force to the fastener.
The following provides additional (potential) implementation details regarding the controller assembly 120: according to one option, the controller assembly 120 includes controller-executable instructions configured to operate the controller assembly 120 in accordance with the description provided above. The controller assembly 120 may use computer software, or just software, which is a collection of computer programs (controller-executable instructions) and related data that provide the instructions for instructing the controller assembly 120 what to do and how to do it. In other words, software is a conceptual entity that is a set of computer programs, procedures, and associated documentation concerned with the operation of a controller assembly 120, also called a data-processing system. Software refers to one or more computer programs and data held in a storage assembly (a memory module) of the controller assembly 120 for some purposes. In other words, software is a set of programs, procedures, algorithms and its documentation. Program software performs the function of the program it implements, either by directly providing instructions to computer hardware or by serving as input to another piece of software. In computing, an executable file (executable instructions) causes the controller assembly 120 to perform indicated tasks according to encoded instructions, as opposed to a data file that must be parsed by a program to be meaningful. These instructions are machine-code instructions for a physical central processing unit. However, in a more general sense, a file containing instructions (such as bytecode) for a software interpreter may also be considered executable; even a scripting language source file may therefore be considered executable in this sense. While an executable file can be hand-coded in machine language, it is far more usual to develop software as source code in a high-level language understood by humans, or in some cases, an assembly language more complex for humans but more closely associated with machine code instructions. The high-level language is compiled into either an executable machine code file or a non-executable machine-code object file; the equivalent process on assembly language source code is called assembly. Several object files are linked to create the executable. The same source code can be compiled to run under different operating systems, usually with minor operating-system-dependent features inserted in the source code to modify compilation according to the target. Conversion of existing source code for a different platform is called porting. Assembly-language source code and executable programs are not transportable in this way. An executable comprises machine code for a particular processor or family of processors. Machine-code instructions for different processors are completely different and executables are totally incompatible. Some dependence on the particular hardware, such as a particular graphics card may be coded into the executable. It is usual as far as possible to remove such dependencies from executable programs designed to run on a variety of different hardware, instead installing hardware-dependent device drivers on the controller assembly 120, which the program interacts with in a standardized way. Some operating systems designate executable files by filename extension (such as .exe) or noted alongside the file in its metadata (such as by marking an execute permission in Unix-like operating systems). Most also check that the file has a valid executable file format to safeguard against random bit sequences inadvertently being run as instructions. Modern operating systems retain control over the resources of the controller assembly 120, requiring that individual programs make system calls to access privileged resources. Since each operating system family features its own system call architecture, executable files are generally tied to specific operating systems, or families of operating systems. There are many tools available that make executable files made for one operating system work on another one by implementing a similar or compatible application binary interface. When the binary interface of the hardware the executable was compiled for differs from the binary interface on which the executable is run, the program that does this translation is called an emulator. Different files that can execute but do not necessarily conform to a specific hardware binary interface, or instruction set, can be represented either in bytecode for Just-in-time compilation, or in source code for use in a scripting language.
According to another option, the controller assembly 120 includes application-specific integrated circuits configured to operate the powered tool 10 in accordance with the description provided above. It may be appreciated that an alternative to using software (controller-executable instructions) in the controller assembly 120 is to use an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which is an integrated circuit (IC) customized for a particular use, rather than intended for general-purpose use. For example, a chip designed solely to run a cell phone is an ASIC. Some ASICs include entire 32-bit processors, memory blocks including ROM, RAM, EEPROM, Flash and other large building blocks. Such an ASIC is often termed a SoC (system-on-chip). Designers of digital ASICs use a hardware description language (HDL) to describe the functionality of ASICs. Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA) are used for building a breadboard or prototype from standard parts; programmable logic blocks and programmable interconnects allow the same FPGA to be used in many different applications. For smaller designs and/or lower production volumes, FPGAs may be more cost effective than an ASIC design. A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) is an integrated circuit designed to be configured by the customer or designer after manufacturing—hence field-programmable. The FPGA configuration is generally specified using a hardware description language (HDL), similar to that used for an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) (circuit diagrams were previously used to specify the configuration, as they were for ASICs, but this is increasingly rare). FPGAs can be used to implement any logical function that an ASIC could perform. The ability to update the functionality after shipping, partial re-configuration of the portion of the design and the low non-recurring engineering costs relative to an ASIC design offer advantages for many applications. FPGAs contain programmable logic components called logic blocks, and a hierarchy of reconfigurable interconnects that allow the blocks to be wired together—somewhat like many (changeable) logic gates that can be inter-wired in (many) different configurations. Logic blocks can be configured to perform complex combinational functions, or merely simple logic gates like AND and XOR. In most FPGAs, the logic blocks also include memory elements, which may be simple flip-flops or more complete blocks of memory. In addition to digital functions, some FPGAs have analog features. The most common analog feature is programmable slew rate and drive strength on each output pin, allowing the engineer to set slow rates on lightly loaded pins that would otherwise ring unacceptably, and to set stronger, faster rates on heavily loaded pins on high-speed channels that would otherwise run too slow. Another relatively common analog feature is differential comparators on input pins designed to be connected to differential signaling channels. A few “mixed signal FPGAs” have integrated peripheral Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) and Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs) with analog signal conditioning blocks allowing them to operate as a system-on-a-chip. Such devices blur the line between an FPGA, which carries digital ones and zeros on its internal programmable interconnect fabric, and field-programmable analog array (FPAA), which carries analog values on its internal programmable interconnect fabric.
It may be appreciated that the assemblies and modules described above may be connected with each other as may be required to perform desired functions and tasks that are within the scope of persons of skill in the art to make such combinations and permutations without having to describe each and every one of them in explicit terms. There is no particular assembly, components, or software code that is superior to any of the equivalents available to the art. There is no particular mode of practicing the disclosed subject matter that is superior to others, so long as the functions may be performed. It is believed that all the crucial aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been provided in this document. It is understood that the scope of the present invention is limited to the scope provided by the independent claim(s), and it is also understood that the scope of the present invention is not limited to: (i) the dependent claims, (ii) the detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments, (iii) the summary, (iv) the abstract, and/or (v) description provided outside of this document (that is, outside of the instant application as filed, as prosecuted, and/or as granted). It is understood, for the purposes of this document, the phrase “includes (and is not limited to)” is equivalent to the word “comprising.” It is noted that the foregoing has outlined the non-limiting embodiments (examples). The description is made for particular non-limiting embodiments (examples). It is understood that the non-limiting embodiments are merely illustrative as examples.
