JP2007111801A - Torque equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide torque equipment such as a torque wrench, which is operated over many hours, even if a small and light battery is used, by saving on power. <P>SOLUTION: This torque equipment is provided with a display part for driving: at least a torque detection means; a display device; and an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the whole of an electric system by the battery. The arithmetic processing unit generates a torque value measuring interval t2 to intermittently apply voltage to the torque detection means. When a measured value measured at the torque value measuring interval t2 exceeds a torque threshold value set in advance, a torque continuous measuring period t1 to finish the torque value measuring interval t2 and continuously apply voltage to the torque detection means is generated. A torque value is measured in the torque continuous measuring period t1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a torque device such as a torque wrench and a torque driver provided with a processing unit that electrically measures torque and displays the measured torque, and more particularly to a torque device that achieves power saving.

  In a torque device such as a torque wrench or a torque driver, an inspection torque wrench for inspecting whether a bolt, a nut, or the like is tightened with a predetermined torque value has been proposed. In such a torque wrench for inspection, a display unit for displaying a detected torque value as an inspection result is provided in the torque wrench body (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

The torque wrench for inspection as a torque device shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2 includes a memory for storing the inspection result, and can display the inspection result on the display unit later.
JP 2002-120162 A JP 2005-265433 A

  In such a digital torque wrench having a display unit, a battery is used as an electric power source. Therefore, when the load on the display unit is large, the battery is consumed, and is continuously used in, for example, the manufacturing process of an automobile. When using the battery, the battery may run out during the inspection. Therefore, it is conceivable to increase the capacity of the battery, but not only the torque wrench is increased in size, but also the weight is increased and the operability for a long time is decreased.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point of view, and aims to provide a torque device such as a torque wrench that can save power and can be operated for a long time even when a small and lightweight battery is used. It is what.

  It is another object of the present invention to provide a torque device that can appropriately display measurement information during torque measurement while saving power.

  According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a torque device comprising a display unit for driving at least a torque detection unit, a display, and an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire electric system by a battery. In the torque device, the arithmetic processing unit generates a torque measurement interval for intermittently applying a voltage to the torque detection means, and a measured value measured at the torque value measurement interval is a preset torque threshold value. Exceeding the torque value measurement interval, a torque continuous measurement period in which a voltage is continuously applied to the torque detection means is generated, and the torque value is measured in the torque continuous measurement period.

  In the configuration described above, the arithmetic processing unit is characterized in that the clock speed is set to a maximum speed during the torque continuous measurement period, and the clock speed is decreased during the torque value measurement interval.

  In the configuration described above, the arithmetic processing unit has a period in which the luminance of the display unit is set to the maximum luminance in the torque continuous measurement period and the luminance is decreased in the torque value measurement interval.

  In the above configuration, the arithmetic processing unit is characterized in that it supplies power to an external data input / output unit that performs data input / output with the outside only during communication.

  According to the present invention, it is not necessary to constantly apply a voltage to a torque detecting means such as a strain gauge, so that power can be saved, the battery can be reduced, the cost can be reduced, and the torque wrench body can be reduced in weight and size. .

  Further, when the luminance of the display device is increased, a large amount of power consumption is required. However, since such adjustment is limited to the actual measurement, power saving can be achieved from this point.

  Furthermore, when an operation for performing data communication is performed, power is supplied to the communication unit in order to enable data communication with the outside, so that power can be saved from this point.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. The torque wrench of the present embodiment can be exemplified by an inspection torque wrench, for example, a tightening inspection torque wrench, but can also be applied to those that measure the torque value at which the bolt is actually tightened. .

  As a configuration of the torque wrench main body, a socket or the like that is an engaging portion that engages with a driving portion (for example, a bolt head or a nut) of a fastening component is provided at the front portion of a lever member formed of a rigid pipe member. A head to be mounted is attached in a replaceable manner, and a grip member is mounted on the rear portion of the lever member. The torque wrench body is provided with a display unit provided with the arithmetic processing unit 10 having the circuit configuration shown in FIG. 1 so as to be rotatable about its axis relative to the lever member.

  In FIG. 1, for example, a strain gauge portion 20 is disposed inside the lever member, and the pressure from the rear end portion of the head inserted into the lever member acts on the strain gauge portion 20. Then, a signal for torque detection is output, and this signal is input to the arithmetic processing unit 10 via the analog amplifier circuit 21, the signal processing unit 22, and the A / D converter 23.

  As described above, the torque wrench provided with the arithmetic processing unit 10 in the torque wrench main body 1 is rotated clockwise, for example, by an operator holding the grip member in a state where the socket is engaged with a bolt head, for example. By doing so, the bolt is tightened, and the torque value at that time is displayed on the display unit 24.

  The display unit 24 includes a first display unit 24A made up of liquid crystal display means and a second display unit 24B made up of 7-segment LED display means.

  The arithmetic processing unit 10 receives switch signals from a plurality of types of switches, and these switches are operated by the key operation unit 25.

  A voltage is applied to the strain gauge unit 20 by the applied voltage unit 26, the detection signal that is analog data from the strain gauge unit 20 is amplified by the analog amplification unit 21, and the detection signal amplified by the analog amplification unit 21 is amplified. The detection signal processed by the signal processing unit 22 and processed by the signal processing unit 22 is digitally converted by the A / D converter 23 and input to the arithmetic unit 10A of the arithmetic processing unit (CPU unit) 10.

  In addition, the voltage of the battery unit 27 is distributed to each circuit by the power supply circuit unit 28.

  In the present embodiment, the applied voltage unit 26 has an applied voltage control unit 29 that controls the applied voltage for power saving.

  The arithmetic processing unit 10 is configured by a CPU unit that controls the entire electrical system, and a detection signal from the A / D converter 23 is input to the arithmetic unit 10A to execute various calculations. Then, calculation results and the like are stored in a memory (not shown).

  In the arithmetic processing apparatus 10, the display control unit 10B controls display on the first display unit 24A that is an LCD display unit and the second display unit 24B that is a 7-segment LED display unit.

  The arithmetic processing unit 10 according to the present embodiment enables transmission / reception of data to / from the external data input / output unit 30 via the communication data processing unit 10D by infrared communication or wired communication. In addition, the external data input / output unit 30 is controlled to be energized by a power source via a power source control unit 31 in order to save power in response to a signal from the communication data processing unit 10D. Further, the clock means 33 is driven by the backup battery 32, and the calendar and time data of the clock means 33 are taken into the arithmetic processing unit 10, stored together with the torque detection data in the memory, and displayed on the first display unit 24A. The In addition, a buzzer (not shown) for warning and key operation is notified by a beep sound.

  Then, the calculation unit 10A of the calculation processing device 10 determines that the torque value at the time of starting the bolt movement is the tightening inspection torque value, and displays this torque value on the first display unit 24A. In the calculation unit 10A, if the inspection torque value (actually measured value) is within a predetermined range with respect to the torque value set for the bolt to be inspected, the calculation unit 10A determines that the test is acceptable, and is out of the predetermined range. Judged as rejected. For example, when the measured value is determined to be the tightening inspection torque value, if this inspection torque value is acceptable, the beep sound is made long, and if it is unacceptable, the beep sound is short and discontinuous. Informs pass / fail judgment instantly

  As a method for determining the tightening inspection torque, for example, the methods disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 described above are exemplified.

  The first display section 24A for the liquid crystal display adopts a reflective liquid crystal display system, and is divided into two upper and lower stages as shown in FIG. The unit of torque (N.m) is displayed on the left side, and the time display and counter (newly saved data and management number of already saved data) are displayed on the left side of the battery remaining amount display portion with small point numbers, letters, etc. Display used), mode display, etc. as appropriate.

  In addition, the torque value is displayed on the 7-segment second display unit 24B.

  In the present embodiment, the applied voltage control unit 29 is controlled by the torque value determining unit 10C of the arithmetic processing device 10, but the processing for the applied voltage control unit 29 and the like by the arithmetic processing device 10 is shown in the timing chart of FIG. This will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the torque value measurement process, a torque threshold value is set in advance, a voltage is intermittently applied from the applied voltage unit 26 to the strain gauge unit 20, and the intermittently measured torque value exceeds the torque threshold value. A torque measurement period T in which a voltage is continuously applied to the strain gauge unit 20 from the applied voltage unit 26 to continuously obtain a torque value waveform. When the torque peak value is reached, the torque measurement period T from the start of measurement is ended, and the torque measurement pause period T1 until the next torque measurement is started.

  The torque measurement process will be described based on the flowchart shown in FIG.

  In the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, it is determined whether or not the time is within the torque measurement interval t2 (S1). When the elapsed time has elapsed, the applied voltage control unit 29 is instructed to turn on the applied voltage power source, A voltage is applied during the torque measurement period t3 (S2). Then, the applied voltage control unit 29 turns off the applied voltage (S4).

  On the other hand, if it is within the time of the torque measurement interval t2 in S1, the process proceeds to S4.

  In S4, the applied voltage control unit 29 is instructed to turn ON, the strain gauge unit 26 is energized, and the process proceeds to S5 to perform a measurement for comparison with the torque threshold (referred to as torque threshold measurement). This torque threshold measurement is performed during ON of one pulse in the torque threshold measurement period t4 in FIG.

  Here, the torque measurement period t3 in S2 is always executed at the start of the torque measurement interval t2, whereas the torque threshold measurement period t4 for performing the torque threshold measurement in S4 executed thereafter is in the middle. It may be censored.

  In S6, it is determined whether or not the measured value (referred to as a comparative measurement value) in the torque threshold measurement in S5 exceeds a preset torque threshold level. If not, the process proceeds to S7 and applied. Instructs the voltage control unit 29 to turn OFF. Then, the process returns to S1.

  If it is determined in S6 that the comparative measurement value exceeds the preset threshold level, in S8, the application voltage control unit 29 is instructed to continue the application voltage ON, and the torque measurement interval t2 is stopped. The torque continuous measurement interval t1 is started. And the torque peak value in the meantime is displayed on the 2nd display part 24B. The processes of S8 and S9 are performed until the comparative measurement value becomes equal to or lower than the torque threshold level (S10). When the comparative measurement value becomes equal to or lower than the torque threshold level, the process proceeds to S11 and is applied to the applied voltage control unit 29. The voltage OFF is instructed, the process returns to S1 and the torque measurement interval t2 is started again.

  As described above, when the applied voltage is intermittently supplied to the strain gauge unit 20 and it is determined that the torque measurement is actually being executed, the torque measurement interval t2 is terminated and the process proceeds to the torque continuous measurement interval t1. Since the torque value is continuously measured, the applied voltage time to the strain gauge unit 20 is reduced, the power can be saved, and the amplifier 21, the processing unit 22, and the A / D converter 23 that perform torque measurement are used. The power consumption can be reduced at the same time.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the CPU clock speed is set to the maximum clock at the continuous torque measurement interval t1, and is set to the middle speed clock until the middle of the torque measurement interval t2 following the continuous torque measurement interval t1, and thereafter the torque continuous. Processing is performed with a low-speed clock until the measurement interval t1 is started.

  Therefore, the power consumption of the CPU 10 can be reduced, and the clock speed is maximized when actually required for torque measurement, so that the torque value can be measured with high accuracy.

  Further, the brightness of the 7-segment LED display of the second display unit 24B can be adjusted so that the brightness is maximized at the maximum and medium clock speeds of the CPU 10 and halved at the low clock speed. Yes. For this reason, although the torque display value at the time of torque measurement is displayed brightly, since it is not always high luminance display, power saving can be achieved.

  Since the power control unit 31 is controlled so as to supply power only when data communication is performed by detecting a communication state with respect to the external data input / output unit 30 by automatically detecting a key operation and connection of a connection cord. The current consumption of the data communication input / output unit is reduced, and power can be saved.

  In the electric system of the torque wrench according to the present embodiment for achieving such power saving, as shown in FIG. 2, the total current is 70% when the maximum clock is 100% and the low speed is low when the maximum clock is 100%. 50% when clocked.

The circuit block diagram of the display part of the torque wrench which shows embodiment of this invention. 2 is a timing chart of the circuit of FIG. Flowchart showing the processing operation of the circuit of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10. Arithmetic processing unit (CPU)
10A Calculation unit 10B Display control unit 10C Torque value determination unit 10D Communication data processing unit 20 Strain gauge unit 21 Analog amplification unit 22 Signal processing unit 23 A / D converter 24 Display unit 24A First display unit 24B Second display unit 25 Key Operation unit 26 Applied voltage unit 27 Battery unit 28 Power supply circuit unit 29 Applied voltage control unit 30 External data input / output unit 31 Power supply control unit 32 Backup battery 33 Clock IC

Claims (4)

In a torque device including a display unit that drives at least a torque detection means, a display, and an arithmetic processing device that controls the entire electrical system by a battery,
The arithmetic processing unit generates a torque measurement interval in which a voltage is intermittently applied to the torque detection means, and when a measurement value measured at the torque value measurement interval exceeds a preset torque threshold, A torque device characterized by generating a torque continuous measurement period in which a torque value measurement interval ends and a voltage is continuously applied to the torque detection means, and the torque value is measured in the torque continuous measurement period.   2. The torque device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic processing unit sets a clock speed to a maximum speed during the torque continuous measurement period, and reduces the clock speed at the torque value measurement interval.   3. The torque device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic processing unit has a period in which the luminance of the display unit is set to a maximum luminance in the torque continuous measurement period and the luminance is decreased in the torque value measurement interval. . 4. The torque device according to claim 1, wherein the arithmetic processing unit supplies power to an external data input / output unit that performs data input / output with the outside only during communication.

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