TORQUE WRENCH WITH FORCE INDICATION

Abstract

Provided is a torque wrench, or Mechanical Torque Limiting Device (MTLD), that is configured to accurately indicate the torque applied thereby on the object (or vice versa). The measurement of the torque is carried out by incorporating a pressure sensitive material in a gripping portion that is associated with the body of the torque wrench. The pressure sensitive material is configured to exhibit a signal upon application of force thereof. The signal can be an electric-based, color-based, motion-based (vibrations) or audio-based indication.

Claims

1. A torque wrench comprising: an elongated body extending between a proximal end and a distal end; a wrench head unit disposed at the distal end; at least one pressure sensing unit associated with the elongated body and configured with at least one user interface gripping portion, each of the gripping portions comprises a pressure sensitive material configured to exhibit a signal upon application of a pressure thereon, wherein said signal is indicative of torque applied to the wrench head unit.

2. The torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the signal is indicative of a nominal value of torque applied by the wrench head unit.

3. The torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing unit is detachably attachable with the elongated body.

4. The torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing unit is integral with the elongated body.

5. The torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive material is configured to exhibit visual signal.

6. The torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive material is configured to produce electric current, or to produce sound upon application of a predetermined threshold thereon.

7.-10. (canceled)

11. The torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensing unit is configured to be coupled to a plurality of coupling locations on the elongated body, each coupling location is at a different distance from the wrench head unit.

12. The torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the gripping portion comprises a plurality of gripping locations, each is indicative of a predetermined torque value that is applied by the wrench head unit when gripping from the corresponding gripping point.

13. The torque wrench of claim 12, wherein each gripping point comprises a corresponding marking indicative of a nominal torque.

14. The torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive material is selected from a group consisting of piezochromic material, piezoelectric material, single use rupturable material or any combinations thereof.

15. The torque wrench of claim 1, comprising an alerting unit configured to identify said signal and generate an alert signal indicative of a nominal torque.

16. The torque wrench of claim 1, wherein the pressure sensitive material comprises a piezochromic material and a piezoelectric material such that the signal is a dual signal formed of electric-based signal and visual signal.

17. (canceled)

18. The torque wrench of claim 1 being a medical torque wrench.

19. A pressure sensing unit comprising: a coupling arrangement configured for association with a body of a torque wrench; at least one user interface gripping portion, each of the at least one user interface gripping portion comprises a pressure sensitive material configured to exhibit a signal upon application of a pressure thereon.

20. The pressure sensing unit of claim 19, wherein the pressure sensitive material is configured to exhibit visual signal.

21. The pressure sensing unit of claim 19, wherein the gripping portion comprises a plurality of gripping locations.

22. The pressure sensing unit of claim 21, wherein each gripping point comprises a corresponding marking.

23. The pressure sensing unit of claim 19, wherein the pressure sensitive material is selected from a group consisting of piezochromic material, piezoelectric material or combination thereof.

24. (canceled)

25. A kit comprising a pressure sensing unit of claim 19 and an elongated body of a torque wrench that is configured for coupling with a wrench head unit and at least one of said pressure sensing unit.

26. (canceled)

27. The kit of claim 25, wherein the elongated body comprises a plurality of coupling locations, each coupling location is at a different portion of the elongated body.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] In order to better understand the subject matter that is disclosed herein and to exemplify how it may be carried out in practice, embodiments will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0055] FIGS. 1A-1B are schematic illustrations of non-limiting example of an embodiment of a torque wrench according to the present disclosure. FIG. 1A is a bottom view; and FIG. 1B is a side view of the torque wrench.

[0056] FIG. 2 is a side view of schematic illustration of non-limiting example of the torque wrench of the present disclosure having a plurality of gripping portions.

[0057] FIG. 3 is a side view of a schematic illustration of a non-limiting example of a torque wrench coupled with a detachable pressure sensitive unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0058] FIG. 4 is a side view of a schematic illustration of a non-limiting example of a torque wrench coupled with a detachable pressure sensitive unit having two gripping portions, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0059] The following figures are provided to exemplify embodiments and realization of the invention of the present disclosure.

[0060] Reference is first made to FIGS. 1A-1B, which is are schematic illustrations of an embodiment of a torque wrench according to the present disclosure, wherein FIG. 1A is bottom view and FIG. 1B is a side view. The torque wrench 100 includes an elongated body 102, extending between a proximal end 104 and a distal end 106. A wrench head unit 108 is coupled to the distal end 106 of the elongated body 102 such that the wrench head unit 108 and the elongated body 102 constitute the torque wrench 100. The wrench head unit 108 may be integral with the elongated body 102 or detachably coupled therewith. The wrench head unit 108 includes a fastening portion 110 that is configured to be coupled with a screwing element (not shown) that is configured to engage with an object to be fastened, and fasten it upon application of torque thereon. In some embodiments, the fastening portion 110 is configured to engage with an object (not shown) to be fastened directly, and fasten it upon application of torque thereon.

[0061] The elongated body 102 includes a pressure sensing unit 109 that is configured with a gripping portion 112. The gripping portion 112 is configured to be gripped by a user utilizing the torque wrench 100. In this specific non-limiting example, the gripping portion comprises a groove or depression that is configured for accommodating one or more fingers of a user, e.g. a pointing finger, upon utilizing the torque wrench 100. The gripping portion 112 is formed at the proximal end 104 half portion of the elongated body 102 and includes a pressure sensitive material 114, e.g. a piezochromic, piezoelectric material, a sound-producing material or any combination thereof, that is configured to exhibit a signal upon application of pressure thereon. The pressure sensitive material 114 is formed within the depression such that a user utilizing the torque wrench 100 by gripping the gripping portion 112 exerts pressure on the pressure on the pressure sensitive material 114 that is indicative of the torque applied by the wrench head unit 108. The pressure sensitive material 114 is configured to exhibit signal that is indicative of the torque applied by the wrench head unit 108 such that the user may monitor the application of torque to accurately fasten the object to the desired torque value.

[0062] In the figures throughout the application, like elements of different figures were given similar reference numerals shifted by the number of hundreds corresponding to the number of the figures. For example, element 202 in FIG. 2 the same function as element 102 in FIGS. 1A-1B.

[0063] FIG. 2 is a side view of schematic illustration of non-limiting example of the torque wrench of the present disclosure having a plurality of gripping portions. In this exemplary embodiment, the pressure sensing unit 209 of the torque wrench 200 includes three gripping portions 212A, 212B and 212C, each having its own pressure sensitive material 214A, 214B and 214C. Each of the pressure sensitive materials may have different properties or they can be similar such that they exhibit the same signal upon application of similar force thereon. For example, in the pressure sensitive materials may be piezochromic and configured to exhibit a color change upon application of similar force thereon. Therefore, by using the torque wrench from each of the gripping portions, the color change indicates a different torque that is applied by the wrench head unit 208. Markings 216A, 216B and 216C mark the location for gripping the gripping portion and each indicates the nominal torque value that is applied by the wrench head unit 208 upon color changing of the corresponding pressure sensitive material. In other words, the torque value that is indicated by a signal that is exhibited by the pressure sensitive material, is determined by the combination of the properties of the pressure sensitive material and the location thereof along the elongated body.

[0064] FIG. 3 is a side view of a schematic illustration of a non-limiting example of a torque wrench coupled with a detachable pressure sensitive unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The pressure sensing unit 309 comprises a coupling arrangement 318 that is configured with arms 320A and 320B for tight association with the elongated body 302 of the torque wrench 300. The arms 320 may be configured for sliding engagement with the elongated body 302 such that the pressure sensing unit 309 is configured to slide along the elongated body between a plurality of coupling locations 322. By sliding the pressure sensing unit 309 the exhibited signal may be tuned for the desired torque. By sliding the pressure sensing unit 309 in the direction of arrow Y, the pressure sensing unit 309 is tuned to exhibit signal that is indicative of a lower torque value that is applied by the wrench head unit 308. For example, the signal exhibited by a piezochromic material upon coupling the pressure sensing unit 309 to a coupling location 322A, is indicative of a lower torque than if the pressure sensing unit 309 is coupled to a coupling location 322B.

[0065] The torque wrench 300 includes an alerting unit 324 that is configured to detect the signal that is exhibited by the pressure sensitive material 314 and to provide an alert upon detection of the signal. In some embodiments, the alerting unit 324 is configured to transmit the signal to an external device (not shown) such as monitor or mobile device for displaying the torque value that is currently applied by the wrench head unit 308.

[0066] The alerting unit 324 may include one or more sensors, such as optical or electrical sensitive sensors for that are configured to sense the signal and generate signal data indicative thereof. The alerting unit 324 receives the signal data and provide an output based thereon.

[0067] For example, the pressure sensitive material 314 may be a piezoelectric material that is electrically coupled to the alerting unit 324. The alerting unit 324 can exhibit a signal, e.g. by displaying a color or outputting a sound alert, according to the amount of pressure that is applied on the piezoelectric material. The alerting unit 324 may exhibit one or more signals upon detecting an electric current that corresponds to a certain predetermined torque value. For example, upon detecting a current value that corresponds to a first torque value, the alerting unit 324 exhibits a first signal, upon detecting a current value that corresponds to a second torque value, the alerting unit 324 exhibits a second signal and so on. It is to be noted that the alerting unit 324 may be pre-set, namely calibrated, according to the specific coupling location of the pressure sensing unit 309. That ensures that the its translation of the current reading to the torque value is accurate.

[0068] In another example, the pressure sensitive material 314 may be a combination of piezochromic and piezoelectric material. The pressure sensitive material is configured for (i) change its color and (ii) produce electricity to an alerting unit sufficient for producing an alerting signal upon application of a certain force/pressure thereon, typically the alerting signal is by sound noticeable to the user.

[0069] FIG. 4 is a side view of a schematic illustration of a non-limiting example of a torque wrench coupled with a detachable pressure sensitive unit having two gripping portions, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The torque wrench 400 is coupled to the pressure sensing unit 409 in a detachable manner. The pressure sensing unit 409 is tunable between a plurality of coupling locations 422 and is configured with two gripping portions 412A and 412B, separated by a spacer 426. The pressure sensitive materials 414A and 414B may have similar or different properties to exhibit similar or different signal, respectively, upon application of similar pressure thereon.