Method and apparatus for determining when a fastener is tightened to a predetermined tightness by a pulse output tightening tool, and a pulsed output tightening tool incorporating the apparatus

Abstract

An impact wrench () comprising an output shaft () for receiving a socket or other fastener engaging element for tightening a fastener is powered by a pneumatic motor (). Apparatus () for determining when the fastener has been tightened to a predetermined tightness comprises a body member () extending around the output shaft (), and an eccentrically disposed member () on the output shaft () located within a central bore () of the body member (). A pair of photo sensors () in light accommodating bores () receive light through the bores () from corresponding light emitting diodes (). The eccentrically disposed member () is located in the central bore () relative to the light accommodating bores (), so that as the output shaft () rotates, the eccentrically disposed member () extends into the bores () and alternates between a position where the bores () are almost completely occluded to a position where almost no occlusion of the bores () takes place, thereby varying the light intensity received by the photo sensors () from minimum light intensity to maximum light intensity. A monitoring circuit () reads the outputs from the photo sensors () for determining when the fastener is tightened to its snug point, and for determining when the fastener is tightened to the predetermined tightness by reading the outputs from the photo sensors () for determining when the output shaft () has been rotated through a predetermined angular displacement from the snug point corresponding to the predetermined tightness.