Electric Pulse Tool Rotor Speed Control for Defined Torque Pulses

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric pulse tools lack well-defined pulses, leading to variability in the number of pulses required to achieve a target torque, which affects the efficiency and consistency of tightening operations.

Innovation Solution

The electric pulse tool controls the speed of the rotor until a play in the gear arrangement is closed, allowing for a known kinetic energy to be achieved in each pulse, by using a processor to manage current pulses and position sensors to determine the position change of the rotor, ensuring consistent torque delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If pulsed current is fed to the electric motor to reduce reaction force, then the reaction force on the operator is reduced, but the pulses become undefined and variable in number

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction forceVSAvoidpulse definition
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the control parameter from simple pulsed current application to speed-controlled pulsing. By controlling the rotor speed to reach a predetermined value before each pulse and maintaining specific speed ranges during pulse delivery, the system achieves well-defined pulses with consistent kinetic energy while still delivering pulsed torque to reduce reaction force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring the rotor speed and adjusting the current pulses accordingly. The control circuit receives speed information and uses it to determine when to apply current pulses and when to stop them, ensuring that each pulse delivers the intended kinetic energy and that pulses are properly defined and consistent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If simple pulsed current control is used, then the device complexity is low, but the manufacturing precision of torque delivery is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol systemVSAvoidtorque consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces simple electrical pulsed control with a speed-based control system. Instead of relying solely on current pulse timing, the system uses speed monitoring and control to define pulse delivery, which provides more precise control over the kinetic energy delivered in each pulse and ensures consistent torque delivery.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If pulsed operation is used to reduce reaction force, then operator ergonomics improve, but the number of pulses required to reach target torque varies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperator ergonomicsVSAvoidtightening efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by ensuring the rotor reaches a predetermined speed before each pulse is delivered. This pre-conditioning of the rotor speed ensures that each pulse starts from the same kinetic energy baseline, making the number of pulses required to reach target torque consistent and predictable, thereby improving productivity while maintaining ergonomic benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach results in more defined pulses, reducing the reaction force on the operator and improving the ergonomic and productivity aspects of handheld tools by achieving a consistent kinetic energy for each pulse, thereby enhancing the precision and efficiency of tightening operations.

Implementation Method 1

a position sensor arranged to determine the position change of the rotor and whereby the speed is determined based on the determined position change of the rotor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPosition sensing:

Implementation Method 2

an electric motor with a rotor and a gear arrangement adapted to drive the output shaft

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3624994B1Electric pulse tool
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 ATLAS COPCO IND TECHNIQUE AB INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
  • EP3624994B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an electric pulse tool (10) and a method in an electric pulse tool (10) to achieve well defined pulses. This object is obtained by an electric pulse tool (10), where torque is delivered in pulses on an output shaft (14) of the electric pulse tool (10). The electric pulse tool (10) comprises an electric motor (11) with a rotor (12) and a gear arrangement (13) adapted to drive the output shaft (14). Whereby the electrical pulse tool (10) for each period is operative to control the speed of the rotor (12) until a play in the gear arrangement (13) is determined to be closed and the gear arrangement starts to move the output shaft