Transducerized rotary tool

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a variable speed tool useful for use with securing or removing industrial fasteners. The tool also includes a means to torque the fastener to a certain precise torque. The tool can be used with an associated controller that provides control commands to the tool.

1 . A rotary tool comprising: 
 a motor;    a chuck assembly operatively connectable to said motor;    a gearbox operatively disposed between said chuck assembly and said motor; and    a lubricant in the gearbox comprising about two parts gear oil and about one part of motor grease.    
   
   
       2 . The rotary tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a variable voltage device responsive to a magnetic field, wherein said motor is in operative communication with said variable voltage device and wherein selectively moving the chuck assembly varies the magnitude of the magnetic field applied to the variable voltage device and proportionally varies the power supplied to said motor and thereby variably alters the corresponding rotational speed of the chuck assembly.  
   
   
       3 . The rotary tool of  claim 1 , wherein the gearbox comprises components formed by heat treatment.  
   
   
       4 . The rotary tool of  claim 3 , wherein the heat treatment comprises nitriding.  
   
   
       5 . The rotary tool of  claim 1 , wherein the gearbox comprises a first stage and a second stage.  
   
   
       6 . The rotary tool of  claim 5 , wherein the gear ratio of the first stage and the second stage is selected from the list consisting of 4.285:1, 6.75:1, and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The rotary tool of  claim 1 , wherein the gear oil comprises oil having a weight of from 75W90 to about 75W140.  
   
   
       8 . The rotary tool of  claim 1 , wherein the motor grease comprises a calcium-based grease with an anti-wear rating.  
   
   
       9 . The rotary tool of  claim 2  further comprising plastic injection molded permanent magnet particles for creating the magnetic field.  
   
   
       10 . The rotary tool of  claim 9  wherein the permanent magnet particles comprise neodymium iron boron.  
   
   
       11 . The rotary tool of  claim 1  further comprising a transducer having a strain gage.  
   
   
       12 . The rotary tool of  claim 11  further comprising a flexure combined with said strain gage.  
   
   
       13 . The rotary tool of  claim 1 , wherein said tool is hand held.  
   
   
       14 . The rotary tool of  claim 11 , wherein said transducer provides real time feed back information of the magnitude torque of the torque applied by the tool.  
   
   
       15 . The rotary tool of  claim 11  further comprising a controller that communicates with the rotary tool.  
   
   
       16 . The rotary tool of  claim 15  wherein said transducer provides said real time feed back information to the controller.  
   
   
       17 . The rotary tool of  claim 1 , wherein said tool is capable of accurately applying a magnitude of torque to a fastener that ranges from about 1 in-pounds to about 50 in-pounds.  
   
   
       18 . The rotary tool of  claim 1 , wherein said tool is capable of accurately applying a magnitude of torque to a fastener that ranges from about 1 in-pounds to about 20 in-pounds.