Search

KR-102962484-B1 - Method and apparatus for computer-implemented and supervised bolt tightening processes using a tightening system

KR102962484B1KR 102962484 B1KR102962484 B1KR 102962484B1KR-102962484-B1

Abstract

A method for supervising a bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system (100), wherein the tightening system comprises: a tightening tool (10) operated by a person including an actuator (11) for turning a bolt; and a processing unit (20). The tightening tool (10) includes a user interface (30), and is configured to be switchable between a first operating mode in which the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) is operable in at least one tightening sequence and a second operating mode in which the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) is operable in a loosening sequence, and each of the tightening sequence and the loosening sequence includes predetermined operating parameters for the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10), and the tightening tool (10) further includes a sensor unit (12) for determining at least one parameter (P1, P2) of the bolted connection during and/or after the completion of the tightening sequence, each of the at least one parameter (P1, P2) represents a quality measurement of the bolted connection; A processing unit (20) is configured to process at least one parameter (P1, P2) received from a sensor unit (12) and to determine the state (ST) of a bolted connection based on at least one parameter (P1, P2), wherein the state (ST) includes a first state indicating a correct bolted connection and a second state indicating a defective bolted connection; and a user interface (30) outputs connection information for a bolted connection, and the method comprises: a) receiving at least one parameter (P1, P2) of a bolted connection from a tightening tool (10) by means of an interface (21) during and/or after the completion of a tightening sequence in a first operating mode; b) determining the state (ST) of a bolted connection at and/or after the completion of a bolted connection; c) switching the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) from the first operating mode to the second operating mode if the state (ST) corresponds to the second state; and d) a method comprising the step of switching the tightening tool (10) from the second operating mode to the first tightening sequence among at least one tightening sequence of the first operating mode to re-tighten the bolt (51, 52, 53).

Inventors

  • 로즈, 펠릭스

Assignees

  • 지멘스 가메사 리뉴어블 에너지 아/에스

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20220608
Priority Date
20210622

Claims (15)

  1. A method of computer-implemented and supervising the tightening process of a bolt using a tightening system (100), The above tightening system is, A tightening tool (10) operated by a person, including an actuator (11) for turning a bolt; processing unit (20); and It includes a user interface (30), The above tightening tool (10) is, A first operating mode in which the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) is capable of operating in at least one tightening sequence, and The actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) is configured to be switchable between a second operating mode that can operate in a loosening sequence, and Each of the above tightening sequence and the above loosening sequence includes predetermined operating parameters for the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10), and The tightening tool (10) further includes a sensor unit (12) for determining at least one parameter (P1, P2) of the bolted connection during and/or after the completion of the tightening sequence, and Each of the above at least one parameter (P1, P2) represents a quality measurement of the above bolted connection; The processing unit (20) is configured to process at least one parameter (P1, P2) received from the sensor unit (12), and the processing unit (20) is configured to determine the state (ST) of the bolted connection based on the at least one parameter (P1, P2). The above state (ST) includes a first state indicating a correct bolted connection and a second state indicating a defective bolted connection; and The above user interface (30) is for outputting connection information for the above bolted connection; The above method is, a) receiving at least one parameter (P1, P2) of the bolted connection from the tightening tool (10) via the interface (21) during and/or after the completion of the tightening sequence in the first operating mode; b) a step of determining the state (ST) of the bolted connection upon and/or after completion of the bolted connection; c) a step of switching the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) from the first operating mode to the second operating mode when the above state (ST) corresponds to the second state; and d) including the step of switching the tightening tool (10) from the second operating mode to the first tightening sequence among at least one tightening sequence of the first operating mode to re-tighten the bolts (51, 52, 53), and The above tightening system further includes a positioning unit configured to determine the position of the tightening tool (10) when performing a tightening or loosening process of the bolts (51, 52, 53) with respect to a reference point of the product to be bolted, and The above processing unit (20) is, e1) A step of determining the position of the tightening tool (10) when performing the tightening process of the bolts (51, 52, 53); e2) a step of storing the position of the tightening tool (10) as the first position when the state of the bolted connection corresponds to the second state; and e3) configured to perform the step of releasing the tightening tool (10) to loosen the bolts (51, 52, 53) associated with the second state only when the current position of the tightening tool (10) corresponds to the first position, A method for supervising the bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system.
  2. In Article 1, The above method is, e) further comprising the step of controlling the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) from the first tightening sequence of the first operating mode to at least one subsequent tightening sequence to re-tighten the bolts (51, 52, 53) according to the order of predetermined tightening sequences, A method for supervising the bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system.
  3. In Article 1, The step of switching the tightening tool (10) from the first operating mode to the second operating mode and/or the step of switching the tightening tool (10) from the second operating mode to one of the subsequent tightening sequences of the first operating mode or the first tightening sequence is performed under the automatic control of the processing unit (20). A method for supervising the bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system.
  4. In Article 1, The above user interface (30) outputs at least one parameter (P1, P2) representing the status (ST) of the bolted connection and/or the quality measurement of the bolted connection as connection information on a display (31). A method for supervising the bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system.
  5. In Paragraph 4, The above connection information is output in real time, A method for supervising the bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system.
  6. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 5, Step d) is, c1) receiving at least one parameter of the bolted connection from the tightening tool (10) during and/or after the completion of the loosening sequence in the second operating mode; and c2) Initiated after the step of determining whether the above bolted connection has been completely loosened is performed, A method for supervising the bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system.
  7. In Article 6, The above user interface (30) suppresses the connection indication of the bolted connection immediately after step c2) is completed, A method for supervising the bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system.
  8. In any one of paragraphs 1 to 5, When the state of the bolted connection corresponds to the second state, a counter associated with each bolted connection is incremented by 1, wherein the counter starts from a predetermined starting value when the state of the bolted connection first corresponds to the second state, and then starts from the last stored value every time the state of the bolted connection thereafter corresponds to the second state. A method for supervising the bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system.
  9. In Article 8, If the actual value of the above counter exceeds a predetermined threshold, an indication to use a new bolt (51, 52, 53) is output to the user interface (30). A method for supervising the bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system.
  10. A device for supervising the tightening process of bolts (51, 52, 53) by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system, The above tightening system is, A tightening tool (10) operated by a person, comprising an actuator (11) for turning the above bolt; Processing unit (20); and It includes a user interface (30), The tightening tool (10) is configured to be switchable between a first operating mode in which the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) is operable in at least one tightening sequence and a second operating mode in which the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) is operable in a loosening sequence, wherein each of the tightening sequence and the loosening sequence includes predetermined operating parameters for the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10), and the tightening tool (10) has a sensor unit for determining at least one parameter of a bolted connection during and/or after the completion of the tightening sequence, wherein each of the at least one parameter represents a quality measurement of the bolted connection; The processing unit (20) is configured to process at least one parameter received from the sensor unit, and the processing unit is configured to determine the state of the bolted connection based on the at least one parameter, and the state includes a first state indicating a correct bolted connection and a second state indicating a defective bolted connection; and The above user interface (30) is for outputting connection information for the above bolted connection, and The above processing unit (20) is, a) receiving at least one parameter of a bolted connection from the tightening tool (10) during and/or after the completion of the tightening sequence in the first operating mode; b) a step of determining the state of the bolted connection upon and/or after the completion of the bolted connection; c) a step of switching the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) from the first operating mode to the second operating mode when the above state corresponds to the second state; and d) configured to switch the tightening tool (10) from the second operating mode to the first tightening sequence among at least one tightening sequence of the first operating mode to perform the step of tightening the bolts (51, 52, 53) again, and The above tightening system further includes a positioning unit configured to determine the position of the tightening tool (10) when performing a tightening or loosening process of the bolts (51, 52, 53) with respect to a reference point of the product to be bolted, and The above processing unit (20) is, e1) A step of determining the position of the tightening tool (10) when performing the tightening process of the bolts (51, 52, 53); e2) a step of storing the position of the tightening tool (10) as the first position when the state of the bolted connection corresponds to the second state; and e3) configured to perform the step of releasing the tightening tool (10) to loosen the bolts (51, 52, 53) associated with the second state only when the current position of the tightening tool (10) corresponds to the first position, A device that uses a tightening system to implement and supervise the bolt tightening process using a computer.
  11. A device for supervising the tightening process of bolts (51, 52, 53) by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system, The above tightening system is, A tightening tool (10) operated by a person, comprising an actuator (11) for turning the above bolt; Processing unit (20); and It includes a user interface (30), The tightening tool (10) is configured to be switchable between a first operating mode in which the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) is operable in at least one tightening sequence and a second operating mode in which the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) is operable in a loosening sequence, wherein each of the tightening sequence and the loosening sequence includes predetermined operating parameters for the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10), and the tightening tool (10) has a sensor unit for determining at least one parameter of a bolted connection during and/or after the completion of the tightening sequence, wherein each of the at least one parameter represents a quality measurement of the bolted connection; The processing unit (20) is configured to process at least one parameter received from the sensor unit, and the processing unit is configured to determine the state of the bolted connection based on the at least one parameter, and the state includes a first state indicating a correct bolted connection and a second state indicating a defective bolted connection; and The above user interface (30) is for outputting connection information for the above bolted connection, and The above processing unit (20) is, a) receiving at least one parameter of a bolted connection from the tightening tool (10) during and/or after the completion of the tightening sequence in the first operating mode; b) a step of determining the state of the bolted connection upon and/or after the completion of the bolted connection; c) a step of switching the actuator (11) of the tightening tool (10) from the first operating mode to the second operating mode when the above state corresponds to the second state; and d) configured to switch the tightening tool (10) from the second operating mode to the first tightening sequence among at least one tightening sequence of the first operating mode to perform the step of tightening the bolts (51, 52, 53) again, and The above tightening system further includes a positioning unit configured to determine the position of the tightening tool (10) when performing a tightening or loosening process of the bolts (51, 52, 53) with respect to a reference point of the product to be bolted, and The above processing unit (20) is, e1) A step of determining the position of the tightening tool (10) when performing the tightening process of the bolts (51, 52, 53); e2) a step of storing the position of the tightening tool (10) as the first position when the state of the bolted connection corresponds to the second state; and e3) configured to perform the step of releasing the tightening tool (10) to loosen the bolts (51, 52, 53) associated with the second state only when the current position of the tightening tool (10) corresponds to the first position, and The above device is configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, A device that uses a tightening system to implement and supervise the bolt tightening process using a computer.
  12. When program code is executed on a computer, to execute a method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, stored in a non-transitory machine-readable carrier, A computer program product having program code.
  13. As a wind turbine, The wind turbine comprises a bolted connection including at least three bolts (51, 52, 53) and a device according to claim 10. wind turbine.
  14. delete
  15. delete

Description

Method and apparatus for computer-implemented and supervised bolt tightening processes using a tightening system The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for implementing and supervising a bolt tightening process using a computer with a tightening system. Workpieces of large plant structures, such as wind turbines, are connected using bolts. Since bolts must withstand harsh conditions for over 25 years, they serve as a key indicator of quality. If a bolted connection fails, the entire structure could collapse. Therefore, quality control regarding the tightening process of bolted connections is critical. For record-keeping purposes, every step of the bolt tightening process must be monitored and stored in a monitoring system. Currently, operators must manually verify information regarding the tightening stage. Information on technical parameters must be checked across different software systems, which is time-consuming and provides only post-processing manual quality control. There are existing software tools for monitoring the tightening process of bolts used in the automotive industry. These tools guide operators through the tightening process. Sometimes, these software tools are combined with positioning systems that verify whether operators are performing process steps at the correct location. Assembly line production ensures that products always reach the same point on the station. Therefore, it is easy to pre-define the positions of the product bolts, allowing for the easy integration of positioning systems for quality control. These existing software tools cannot be used in large plant structures due to differing working environments. In large plant structures, products or workpieces are not always in the same position at a station because they are moved from one station to another or transported via cranes. Furthermore, it is difficult to utilize existing software tools from the automotive industry because many workers remain around the products for extended periods once they enter a station. The objective of the present invention is to provide a method for easily monitoring the bolt tightening process using a tightening system. This objective is addressed by independent patent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in dependent claims. The present invention provides a method for supervising a bolt tightening process by implementing it on a computer using a tightening system. The tightening system comprises a human-operated tightening tool including an actuator for turning a bolt, and the tightening tool is configured to be switchable between a first operating mode in which the actuator of the tightening tool is operable to at least one tightening sequence and a second operating mode in which the actuator of the tightening tool is operable to a loosening sequence. Each of the tightening sequence and the loosening sequence includes predetermined operating parameters for the actuator of the tightening tool. Additionally, the tightening tool comprises a sensor unit for determining at least one parameter of the bolted connection during and/or after the completion of the tightening sequence. Each of the at least one parameter represents a quality measurement of the bolted connection. Additionally, the tightening system includes a processing unit for processing at least one parameter received from a sensor unit, the processing unit is configured to determine the state of a bolted connection based on at least one parameter, wherein the state includes a first state indicating a correct bolted connection and a second state indicating a defective bolted connection. In addition, the tightening system includes a user interface for outputting connection information for bolted connections. The output connection information can be used to guide the operator through the tightening process or to provide feedback to the operator. According to the method of the present invention, the following steps are performed during the operation of the tightening system. In step a), at least one parameter of the bolted connection is received by the interface from the tightening tool during and/or after the completion of the tightening sequence in the first operating mode. In step b), the state of the bolted connection is determined at the time of completion and/or after completion of the bolted connection. In step c), if the state of the bolted connection corresponds to the second state, that is, if a defective bolted connection is indicated, the actuator of the tightening tool switches from the first operating mode to the second operating mode. In step d), the tightening tool switches from the second operating mode to the first tightening sequence among at least one tightening sequence of the first operating mode to tighten the bolt again. The method of the present invention provides an easy and simple method for automatically supervising the bolt tightening process using a tightening system. In