CLAMPING FORCE MEASURING INSTRUMENTS AND MODULES THEREOF

Abstract

A clamping force measuring instrument for a radial clamping device having at least one force sensor for detecting a clamping force of the clamping device and an evaluation device for evaluating sensor data of the force sensor. The clamping force measuring instrument is embodied as a modular clamping force measuring instrument, having an evaluation module a sensor module. The sensor module includes at least one measurement surface and the force sensor. The evaluation module has a radio interface, a memory and/or a display device. The sensor module and the evaluation module are configured for coupling to one another by a coupling device and each has a data connection device. The data connection devices are connected to one another to produce a data connection in the event of the sensor module being coupled to the evaluation module.

Claims

1. A clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means having the following features: a. the clamping force measuring instrument has at least one force sensor for detecting a clamping force applied to at least one measurement surface of the clamping force measuring instrument by a clamping means in a radial direction outward or in a radial direction inward relative to a center axis, and b. the clamping force measuring instrument has an evaluation device for evaluating sensor data of the at least one force sensor, and c. the evaluation device comprises: a radio interface for communicating data to a receiver and/or a memory for storing data for the purpose of later read-out via a cable connection or a radio connection and/or a display device for displaying data, d. the clamping force measuring instrument is embodied as a modular clamping force measuring instrument and comprises at least two modules, namely an evaluation module and a sensor module, and e. the sensor module comprises at least said one measurement surface and the force sensor, and f. the evaluation module has the radio interface, the memory and/or the display device, and g. the sensor module and the evaluation module are configured for coupling to one another by means of a coupling device and each have a data connection device, wherein the two data connection devices can be connected to one another in order to produce a data connection in the event of the sensor module being coupled to the evaluation module.

2. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 having the following additional feature: a. the evaluation module comprises at least one additional sensor, in particular a sensor for detecting the rotational speed and/or a sensor for detecting a temperature.

3. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 or 2 having the following additional feature: a. the evaluation module comprises at least one measurement amplifier.

4. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 having at least one of the following additional features: a. the evaluation module has a radio interface according to the Bluetooth standard, in particular of the Bluetooth Low Energy type and/or b. the evaluation module has a USB interface for the purpose of charging an energy store of the clamping force measuring instrument and/or for the purpose of communicating stored measurement data to a computer.

5. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 having the following additional feature: a. the sensor module has a memory, in which at least one of the following items of information is stored: data concerning the model of the sensor module and/or a unique identification of the sensor module, and/or calibration data regarding one or a plurality of sensors of the sensor module, and/or data regarding factory calibrations which have been carried out or are to be carried out in the future.

6. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 having the following additional feature: a. one of the modules has an energy store in the form of a battery or a rechargeable battery and is configured to supply electronic components of the other module with energy during operation.

7. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 having one of the following additional features: a. the coupling device has a plurality of screws, preferably a maximum of four screws, by means of which the evaluation module is able to be fixedly screwed to the sensor module, or b. the coupling device is embodied as a coupling device that is couplable in a toolless manner, in particular as a bayonet coupling device.

8. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 having the following additional features: a. the data connection device has contact pads on the side of one of the modules, and b. the data connection device has, on the side of the other module, spring-force-loaded contact elements for bearing against the contact pads, preferably having one of the following additional features: c. the contact pads and the contact elements are configured for bearing in one or two relative rotational positions of the modules with respect to one another and an orientation aid is provided, which allows the modules to be coupled only in this one or these two orientations, or d. the contact pads are embodied as concentric ring-shaped contact pads for bearing against the contact elements independently of the relative rotational positions of the modules with respect to one another.

9. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 having the following additional features: a. the data connection devices are embodied as a combined analogue and digital data connection device.

10. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 having the following additional features: a. the evaluation module is configured to read out at least one of the following items of information via the data connection in addition to sensor data of the at least one force sensor and optionally further sensors of the sensor module and to store, to communicate or to display said information together with the sensor data: data concerning the model of the sensor module and/or the unique identification of the sensor module, and/or b. the evaluation module is configured to read out calibration data regarding one or a plurality of sensors of the sensor module via the data connection in addition to sensor data of the at least one force sensor and optionally further sensors of the sensor module and to use said calibration data for correcting the sensor data and/or to write calibration data to a memory of the sensor module and/or c. the evaluation module is configured to read out data regarding factory calibrations that have been carried out, or are to be carried out in the future, via the data connection in addition to sensor data of the at least one force sensor and optionally further sensors of the sensor module and to carry out a signaling in the event of a need for action in this regard.

11. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 having at least one of the following additional features: a. the modules are configured for communication via the data connection according to the IEEE 1451 standard, wherein provision is preferably made for the sensor module to have in the memory a TEDS according to said standard, and/or b. the evaluation module comprises at least one status display for displaying the status of an energy store and/or for displaying the status of a data connection to the sensor module and/or for displaying the status of a radio-based connection, and/or c. the evaluation module is configured to activate the radio interface for communicating sensor data to a central station only at times, in particular in accordance with a predefined time schedule or in reaction to the detection of data by a sensor module, and/or d. the at least one force sensor of the sensor unit is embodied as a strain gauge.

12. The clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means as claimed in claim 1 having the following additional feature: a. the clamping force measuring instrument is embodied as a special clamping force measuring instrument and is configured with at least one of the following special features: the sensor module has a plurality of force sensors arranged in different planes offset relative to one another in the direction of the center axis, and/or the sensor module has a plurality of force sensors arranged in a common plane, but in a manner offset tangentially in relation to one another, relative to the center axis, preferably having the following additional feature: b. a multi-channel measurement amplifier for evaluating the sensor data is provided or a plurality of measurement amplifiers for separately amplifying the sensor data of different force sensors are provided.

13. A sensor module for a clamping force measuring instrument having the following features: a. the sensor module has at least one force sensor for detecting a clamping force applied to measurement surfaces of the sensor module by a clamping means in a radial direction outward or in a radial direction inward relative to a center axis, b. the sensor module has a coupling device for coupling to an evaluation module and a data communication device for transmitting sensor data to the evaluation module, the evaluation module having a coupling device for coupling to the sensor module and a data communication device for transmitting sensor data from the evaluation module, the evaluation module further including a radio interface for communicating data to a receiver, and/or a memory for storing data for the purpose of later read-out via a cable connection or a radio connection, and/or a display device for displaying data.

14. An evaluation module for a clamping force measuring instrument having the following features: a. the evaluation module has a coupling device for coupling to a sensor module and a data communication device for transmitting sensor data from the evaluation module, the sensor module having at least one force sensor for detecting a clamping force applied to measurement surfaces of the sensor module by a clamping means in a radial direction outward or in a radial direction inward relative to a center axis, the sensor module having a coupling device for coupling to the evaluation module and a data communication device for transmitting sensor data to the evaluation module, and b. the evaluation module has: a radio interface for communicating data to a receiver and/or a memory for storing data for the purpose of later read-out via a cable connection or a radio connection and/or a display device for displaying data.

15. A set for a modular clamping force measuring instrument for radial clamping means having the following features: a. the set has an evaluation module, the evaluation module having a coupling device for coupling to a sensor module and a data communication device for transmitting sensor data from the evaluation module, the evaluation module further including a radio interface for communicating data to a receiver, and/or a memory for storing data for the purpose of later read-out via a cable connection or a radio connection, and/or a display device for displaying data, and b. the set has a plurality of sensor modules, each sensor module having at least one force sensor for detecting a clamping force applied to measurement surfaces of the sensor module by a clamping means in a radial direction outward or in a radial direction inward relative to a center axis, and each sensor module has a coupling device for coupling to the evaluation module and a data communication device for transmitting sensor data to the evaluation module.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] Further advantages and aspects of the invention are evident from the claims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are explained below with reference to the figures.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a clamping force measuring instrument according to the invention in its modular configuration having two individuals modules.

[0053] FIG. 2 shows by way of example the use of the clamping force measuring instrument from FIG. 1.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows, in a separate illustration, a first variant of a sensor module for the clamping force measuring instrument.

[0055] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a second variant of a sensor module for the clamping force measuring instrument.

[0056] FIGS. 5A and 5B show the evaluation module of the clamping force measuring instrument in two perspectives.

[0057] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the coupling process by means of which the respective sensor module and the evaluation module are joined together to form a unit for the purpose of the subsequent use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0058] FIG. 1 initially shows very generally the basic concept of a clamping force measuring instrument 10 according to the invention. Said clamping force measuring instrument 10 has two modules, namely an evaluation module 60 and a sensor module 20, which can be coupled to one another on a case-by-case basis by means of a coupling device 80. A further type of a sensor module 40 is likewise illustrated in the subsequent figures.

[0059] In the joined-together state, which is evident from FIG. 2, for example, the two modules 20, 60 jointly form the clamping force measuring instrument 10. The modular configuration makes it possible to use the same evaluation module 60 not only with the sensor module illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, but also with the alternative sensor module illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The overall functionality of the clamping force measuring instrument is distributed between the two modules 20, 60, as will be explained in even greater detail hereinafter.

[0060] FIG. 2 shows how the clamping force measuring instrument 10 composed of the two individual module 20 or 40 and 60 is inserted into a clamping means 100 in the form of a jaw chuck. It should already be pointed out at this juncture that the clamping force measuring instrument 10 has measurement surfaces 24, which, after the clamping force measuring instrument 60 has been inserted into the clamping means 100, are subjected to force by a clamping of the clamping means 100. The deflection is detected at least at one of said measurement surfaces in order thereby indirectly to measure the force applied by the clamping means 100 for the purpose of subsequent further processing.

[0061] In principle, for subdividing the functionality of the clamping force measuring instrument between the sensor modules 20, 40, on the one hand, and the evaluation module 60, on the other hand, it should be stated that is expedient, for the purpose of a simple configuration and accordingly a low price, to fashion the sensor modules 20, 40 comparatively simply and to provide the comparatively expensive partial componentsas far as possiblein the evaluation module 60.

[0062] FIG. 3 and FIGS. 4A and 4B show the individual components of the sensor modules 20, 40. The sensor module 20 illustrated in FIG. 3 is a sensor module 20 for testing external clamping means, that is to say clamping means whose clamping surfaces or clamping jaws apply the clamping force by radial displacement inward in the direction of a center axis A. The housing of the sensor module 20 has an approximately cylindrical measurement region 22, on the outer side of which a total of three measurement surfaces 24 are provided in a manner distributed over the circumference, said measurement surfaces acting on measurement pins and force sensors 26 fitted thereto in a manner not illustrated in more specific detail. There are actually many possibilities for the arrangement and configuration of the force sensor 26, for example in radial or tangential orientation.

[0063] On that side of the sensor module 20 which faces away from the measurement region 22, said sensor module is provided with a part of a coupling device 80. Said coupling device has three threaded holes 32 and an orientation pin 34 for the purpose of mechanical coupling. The interaction of the evaluation module with this part of the coupling device 80 will additionally be explained hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B and also 6 and 7. In addition to the means for mechanical coupling, a data communication device 28 is provided on the side facing away from the measurement region. This involves a total of five contact pads provided in addition to a ground connection. The first contact pad 28A is provided for a digital data transfer, which will additionally be explained hereinafter. The other four contact pads are provided for an analogue transfer of the data of the force sensor 26. In addition, the sensor module 20 has a memory 30, in which various data can be stored, in particular in digital form the type of the sensor module 20 or the sensors 26 thereof, the time of the last or next factory calibration, the currently stored calibration data for correcting measurement data of the force sensor 26, and a unique serial number of the sensor module 20.

[0064] FIGS. 4A and 4B show, in a manner corresponding to FIG. 3, a second sensor module 40 embodied as a sensor module 40 for checking internal clamping means. For this purpose, the cylindrical measurement region 42 here is configured in the manner of a hollow cylinder, on the inner side of which the measurement surfaces 44 are provided and on the outer side of which the at least one force sensor 46 is provided. On the opposite side, illustrated in FIG. 4A, the conditions correspond almost identically to those of the sensor module from FIG. 3. Here, too, a mechanical coupling device is provided, having threaded holes 52 and an orientation pin 54. The data communication device 48, too, corresponds in terms of its construction to that data communication device 28 of the configuration from FIG. 3, together with the linking of a digital channel to the memory 50 and an analogue data connection to the force sensor 46.

[0065] FIGS. 5A and 5B show the evaluation module as a counterpart in relation to the two sensor modules 20, 40 from the previous figures. The evaluation module 60 has a housing 62, on which through holes with screws 72 and a hole 74 for receiving the orientation pin 34, 54 are provided in a manner corresponding to the coupling device 80 of the sensor modules 20, 40 and the data communication devices 28, 48 thereof. The data communication device is fashioned somewhat differently here since resiliently deflectable contact pins 68A to 68E are provided instead of contact pads 28A to 28E. Said contact pins bear as intended against the contact pads 28A to 28E or 48A to 48E when the evaluation module 60 is screwed to one of the sensor modules 20, 40 by means of the screws 72. A seal 76 is additionally provided, which during operation prevents contaminants from being able to pass into the region of the electrical contacting.

[0066] The evaluation module 60 comprises the main electronic components of the clamping force measuring instrument. Said components are clustered in an evaluation device 64, which is merely illustrated schematically. This involves a measurement amplifier 64A which conditions and digitizes the measurement data acquired via the data connection device 68. In this case, said measurement amplifier uses calibration data read out previously from the memory 30, 50 of the sensor module via the data line. A microprocessor 64B is provided for controlling this measurement force amplifier, said microprocessor accessing a memory 64C. The data acquired and conditioned by the measurement amplifier 64A can be stored here. In addition, the evaluation device 64 has a radio interface 64E, preferably of the Bluetooth LE standard, via which the data from the memory 64C can be communicated to a central entity, such as a personal computer, for example, in the factory building. Furthermore, the evaluation module 60 has a USB connection 66, which can be used for charging an energy store 70 of the evaluation module. In addition, data from the memory 64C can also be transferred to a personal computer or a tablet computer as necessary via said connection. As a display device, the evaluation module 60 comprises an LED 69, which can signal various essential status indications, thus for example the status of the radio connection of the radio interface 64E, a state of charge of the energy store 70 or alternatively the need to recalibrate the coupled sensor module, wherein this last can result from the calibration data from the memories 30, 50.

[0067] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the same evaluation module 60 can be coupled both to the sensor module 20 and to the sensor module 40. This affords a major advantage in practice. The expensive partial components of the evaluation module 60 do not have to be procured in the same numbers as sensor modules 20, 40. Instead, in principle as many sensor modules 20, 40 as desired can be connected to the same evaluation module in order to carry out a measurement process. Other sensor modules such as those for measuring an axial clamping force are also possible.