A release mechanism for an electronically triggered torque tool to tighten a screw or a similar fastener triggers at a target torque. The release mechanism comprises a drive body and a main body, which rotate around a common axis to transfer a torque. A locking mechanism couples the drive body and the main body to transfer a torque. Measuring and evaluating means to measure and evaluate the torque transferred are provided, whereby a signaling device activates the locking mechanism to decouple the drive body from the main body upon reaching a target torque.

A portable torque power tool is disclosed herein and includes: a motor to generate a turning force; a drive to transfer the turning force; a turning force multiplication mechanism assembly to multiply the turning force; a shifter assembly to shift the tool between a lower speed/higher torque (LSHT) mode and a higher speed/lower torque (HSLT) mode; a torque transducer to measure torque output; wherein torque output is controlled by the torque transducer in LSHT mode; and wherein torque output is controlled by motor current in HSLT mode. In one embodiment of the present application, the torque transducer is a wireless torque transducer assembly formed at or near an output of a housing of the turning force multiplication assembly to improve measurement accuracy of torque output. Advantageously, simplified tool and system design and operation; reduced tool and system size; expanded functionality, greater durability and intuitive usability; and increased tool and system portability, efficiency, reliability and repeatability, all at low cost, are achieved. Further disclosed herein is an operation parameter regulation unit for use with a bolting system having a plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools described above for simultaneous tightening of industrial threaded fasteners. The operation parameter regulation unit includes: a processing unit; an output unit connected and/or integrated with the processing unit; an input unit connected and/or integrated with the processing unit; an activation unit connected and/or integrated with the processing unit for activating operation units of the plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools; and a control unit for controlling operation parameters of each of the plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools to maintain a difference between the operation parameters within a predetermined value. Advantageously, innovations disclosed in this application include operation parameter regulation units for bolting systems having a plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools for simultaneous tightening of industrial threaded fasteners. Indeed SIMULTORC® is achievable with a plurality of networked electrically powered torque tools and/or drive portions of torque tools, particularly those of the handheld and/or mobile variety.

A wheel nut engagement checking system for a vehicle delivered by a conveyor includes: a moving member disposed at one side of the conveyor; a wheel lifting apparatus disposed on the moving member, and lifting a wheel of the vehicle from the conveyor to a predetermined height; a wheel nut torque checking apparatus provided on an arm of a robot disposed on the moving member, engaging a nut runner to a wheel nut of the wheel, and checking an engage torque of the wheel nut by rotating the nut runner; and a controller controlling a speed of the moving member, lifting the wheel to the predetermined height using the wheel lifting apparatus, moving the wheel nut torque checking apparatus using the robot so as to engage the nut runner to the wheel nut, and detecting an engage torque of the wheel nut by rotating the nut runner.

Systems and methods are provided for designing a composite tool to manipulate a specific set of known fasteners in a product, the fastener(s) having a constrained access and specific torque requirements. The system comprises a display screen, a database, a means for scanning and a computing device executing at least an operating system configured to operate the display screen, the database and the means for scanning. The computing device is further configured to electronically select a virtual socket that is configured to properly engage the fastener at its driving end, virtually position at the fastener in a pre-secure and a post-secure position within a virtual constrained access, and electronically determine the existence of an interference condition at either or both of the pre-secure or post-secure position. When an interference condition exists, computing device electronically selects another socket with a different dimension and repeating the virtual positioning and electronically determine steps.

A method for tightening a screw for fastening a construction panel to a support of the construction panel, in which the fastening screw is screwed through the construction panel and then through at least part of the support, includes a monitoring of a change over time of a tightening torque of the fastening screw, with determination of a first maximum torque value and then of a second minimum torque value, and after determination of the second minimum torque value, a stoppage of the tightening of the fastening screw for a torque value, termed stoppage value, corresponding to a third maximum torque value or being determined after an occurrence of a third maximum torque value.

Provided is a screw length determination system capable of determining the length of a screw with a high degree of accuracy. A PLC (10) determines the length of a screw on the basis of the amount of rotation or the position in the axial direction of a driver during a period lasting from the time when the screw completes its descent until any time from among the time when provisional seating occurs, the time when the primary tightening period ends and the time when the period of holding for primary tightening ends.

A regulator for a power tool for tightening a fastener in order to unite two or more pieces into a joint. The regulator regulates the power tool when tightening the fastener such that the fastener is tightened to a predetermined target. The regulator calculates an output signal to the power tool, which output signal is based on the product of the torque exerted by the power tool on the fastener and the angle for turning the fastener about its axis. The output signal is used for tightening the fastener to the predetermined target. The regulator is also applicable to a power tool for a rivet joint.

A method of torque control and a torque control apparatus for a pneumatic torque tool are provided. The method includes: connecting a torque control apparatus between an air supply system and a pneumatic torque tool; under predetermined working and control conditions, driving the pneumatic torque tool at the first and second working air pressures to calibrate output torque, and to obtain maximum and minimum torque values; constructing correspondence curve between air pressure and torque value based on the first and second working air pressures and the maximum and minimum torque values obtained; entering any target torque value ranging from minimum torque value to maximum torque value of the correspondence curve to obtain a corresponding working air pressure value and drive the pneumatic torque tool; and verifying whether all working and control conditions are controlled within a predetermined range of variation to control the output torque.

Provided is a screw length determination system capable of determining the length of a screw with a high degree of accuracy. A PLC (10) determines the length of a screw on the basis of the amount of rotation or the position in the axial direction of a driver during a period lasting from the time when the screw completes its descent until any time from among the time when provisional seating occurs, the time when the primary tightening period ends and the time when the period of holding for primary tightening ends.

A method of alarm of a screw-locking error includes retrieving a confidence interval of screw-locking parameter data of different screw specifications, setting locking parameter data of a screw-locking process according to a range of the confidence intervals, acquiring locking parameter data in real time, collating the acquired locking parameter data, analyzing the collated locking parameter data to obtain normal locking parameter data and abnormal locking parameter data, and analyzing the abnormal locking parameter data to obtain an error type of each abnormal locking parameter data. The abnormal locking parameter data and the corresponding error type of the abnormal locking parameter data are reported.