Electric Torque Wrench Ring Gear Extension Arm Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric torque wrenches face issues with precision and manufacturing complexity due to the attachment of strain gauges, which can lead to deformation and reduced accuracy, and increased costs, especially when trying to detect manual operating torque effectively.

Innovation Solution

An electric torque wrench design featuring a ring gear member with extension arms and torque sensing units that measure deformation caused by manual force, allowing precise torque detection without complex additional processing steps and maintaining internal component precision through pre-heat-treated components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If strain gauge is attached onto transducer assembly using heating and baking processes, then manual torque detection capability is achieved, but internal components may generate deformation due to temperature effect, reducing precision

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual torque detection precisionVSAvoidinternal component precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-heating and pre-baking the transducer assembly before attaching the strain gauge. This ensures that the bonding process occurs when the assembly is already at the required temperature, preventing thermal deformation of internal components during bonding and ensuring accurate torque detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If strain gauge is attached onto transducer assembly, then manual torque detection is enabled, but additional processing steps and manufacturing cost are increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual torque detection capabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the transducer assembly with the ring gear structure by integrating the strain gauge attachment directly onto the ring gear's extension arm. This eliminates the need for a separate transducer assembly component, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining torque detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If transducer assembly is designed with strain gauge attachment, then torque sensing is achieved, but overall length of output assembly increases, causing crankshaft to bend under manual rotation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetorque sensing capabilityVSAvoidoutput assembly length

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the torque sensing function directly into the ring gear structure by attaching the strain gauge to the extension arm of the ring gear. This integration eliminates the need for a separate transducer assembly, maintaining a compact output assembly length while achieving accurate torque sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Device complexity

If crankshaft is designed as single shaft, then structure is simple, but it may generate deformation during manual rotation and absorb force, leading to insufficient detection value

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrankshaft structure simplicityVSAvoidtorque detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the torque sensing function from the crankshaft by attaching strain gauges to the ring gear's extension arm instead. This allows the crankshaft to remain a simple single-shaft design while the separate sensing system accurately measures torque without being affected by crankshaft deformation or force absorption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

Enables precise manual torque measurement and reduced manufacturing complexity by using a ring gear member with extension arms and torque sensing units, preventing deformation and maintaining component precision, thus improving assembly yield and reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

a ring gear member (42) with at least one extension arm (421) having at least one sensing plane (422) formed on the extension arm (421); at least one torque sensing unit (50) arranged on the sensing plane (422)... measure deformation caused by manual force

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDeformation: Deformation

Data Source

PatentUS11484998B2Electric torque wrench capable of sensing manual operating torque

Publication Date: 2022.11.01 TECHWAY INDAL

AI summary

An electric torque wrench capable of sensing a manual operating torque includes: an outer housing having an accommodating space at an internal thereof, a motor and a reduction device arranged therein; the reduction device having a reduction gear assembly with a hollow ring gear member; a front end of the ring gear member having at least one extension arm and at least one sensing plane formed thereon; a torque sensing unit arranged on the sensing plane; a driving device installed at the front end of the outer housing and having a working head arranged at the front end thereof; the extension arm of the ring gear member secured and attached onto the driving device. With the torque sensing unit installed on the extension arm, the electric torque wrench can be rotated manually with hand and is able to measure the torque value.