Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Patent
1996-07-01
1999-12-21
Zimmerman, Brian
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
34082531, 340572, 3405724, 340636, 310 50, 320114, 429 96, H02J 1300, G08C 1700
Patent
active
060054891
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a hand-held electric power tool which comprises a device for alternatively disabling and enabling operation of the tool.
Electric power tools, for example rechargeable battery powered or mains-connected screwdrivers, are frequently used in, for example industrial assembly. Since these types of power tools are portable, they are occasionally removed from the workplace without permission and are never returned. This represents a costly loss for the owner.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to ensure, in the case of a portable power tool, that the tool can only be used in an authorised workplace.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, the above object is achieved in that the power tool comprises a receiver and an electronic control means which is arranged to receive a code signal, wherein the electronic control means switches the tool on to an operable mode upon receiving the code signal, and wherein upon disconnection from the electrical supply voltage or after a certain time or operation interval, the tool returns to an inoperable mode and remains therein until the code signal is again received.
A code signal transmitter is permanently installed in the vicinity of the authorized workplace.
By virtue of this device, upon disconnection from the supply voltage, i.e. by removing the accumulator in a rechargeable battery powered tool or disconnecting the mains plug in a mains-operated tool, or after a certain time or operation interval, the tool is switched into the inoperable mode and remains therein. If the tool is removed from the authorized workplace, in the case of a rechargeable battery powered tool, it can only be used until the charge runs out; in the case of a mains-operated tool, it can no longer be operated at all; in the case of time-interval or operation-interval switching, the tool can no longer be operated after such interval has expired. This gives the owner great protection against theft, because relevant personnel will know that the tool is only usable at the workplace in connection with the code signal transmitter.
The tool according to the present invention will only be switched to the operable mode when the tool receives the code signal after reconnection of a battery unit in the case of a rechargeable tool, or reconnection to the mains or after expiry of the time or operation interval.
By means of different codings, groups of machines can be allocated to one of a number of working areas or code signal transmitters. Thus, the respective tools can only be used in the allotted working area. For example, in this manner it is possible to allocate screwdrivers having a specified torque setting to an assembly line (working area) at which such working operations only are to be carried out which require that particular torque setting. It is thereby ensured that in this working area, work is always carried out at the correct torque setting. Due to the specific coding in this working area, screwdrivers which are set to a different torque or in which the output torque is not determined cannot be used, because these tools do not switch into the operable mode in such working area.
It is also possible to allocate other technical criteria to the coding. Furthermore, the coding can also be carried out according to administrative conditions; for example, the coding may be designed in such a manner that tools belonging to one cost center are only switched into the operable mode by a code signal within the working area of such cost center.
Various advantages embodiments of the invention will be obvious in view of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a code signal transmitter having a transmission section and a hand-held power tool being in the vicinity thereof,
FIG. 2 shows a block circuit diagram of the power tool, and
FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of the electronic control means of the power tool
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
A code signal tran
REFERENCES:
patent: 4032806 (1977-06-01), Seely
patent: 4347450 (1982-08-01), Colligan
patent: 4751452 (1988-06-01), Kilmer et al.
patent: 4835410 (1989-05-01), Bhagwat et al.
patent: 5021779 (1991-06-01), Bisak
patent: 5354215 (1994-10-01), Viracola
Hansson Gunnar Christer
Siegle Volker
Atlas Copco Tools AB
Wilson Jr. William H.
Zimmerman Brian
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