Portable Flange Torque Guidance Device for Industrial Bolting
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of multiple flanges with bolts on large industrial sites is time and cost-intensive due to the need for sufficient torque application in a specific pattern, and existing systems are impractical for large sites, requiring significant resources and infrastructure like cameras and network bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
A guidance device and method that communicates with a torque wrench and worker via a user interface to provide and record torque values for each bolt, allowing for efficient and accurate torque application, with the ability to transmit records remotely for audits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera and visual designator system is used to guide the bolting process, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential guidance function from the complex camera-based system and implements it through a simple portable device with display that shows torque patterns and application status. This removes unnecessary complexity while retaining the core functionality of guiding precise torque application.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex camera imaging and visual projection systems, the patent creates a simplified copy of the guidance information through a portable device that displays torque patterns and status indicators. This copy provides the same guidance function without requiring expensive cameras and network infrastructure.
2Measurement precision
If image capture and processing is used to verify torque application, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time and productivity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The portable device provides preliminary guidance by displaying the torque pattern and indicating which bolts need to be torqued before the actual torque application. This prevents workers from having to stop and check requirements, reducing delays while maintaining verification accuracy through the simplified display interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent skips the time-consuming steps of image capture, transmission, and processing by using a portable device that provides immediate visual feedback. The worker can quickly verify torque application status without waiting for image analysis, significantly reducing cycle time while maintaining measurement precision.
3Reliability
If an inspector is present to witness the bolting process, then reliability and quality control are improved, but loss of time and productivity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The portable guidance device enables the worker to perform self-verification of torque application through the displayed patterns and status indicators. This self-service capability maintains quality assurance and reliability without requiring an inspector to be present, eliminating the delay caused by inspector availability while ensuring proper torque application through the visual guidance system.
4Loss of information
If significant network bandwidth is allocated for transmitting image data, then measurement precision and record completeness are improved, but loss of time and infrastructure cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential torque application data from the complex image data transmission process. The portable device captures and stores only the necessary torque values and pattern information locally, eliminating the need for extensive network bandwidth while maintaining complete and accurate torque records for quality assurance.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a guidance device for guiding a worker through a process of installing flanges by fastening a plurality of bolts with a torque wrench. The guidance device is arranged to communicate with the torque wrench and the worker via a user interface. The guidance device is arranged toa) obtain flange information about a flange to be installed, the flange information comprising a required torqueing pattern of the bolts to be fastened and required torque values,b) output via the user interface of an indication of a first bolt of the required torqueing pattern,c) receive an applied torque value from the torque wrench,d) output via the user interface of an indication of a next bolt of the required torqueing pattern,repeat c) and d) until a last applied torque value is received ande) transmit a torque record to a remote computer or data storage.