Ergonomic electronic torque wrench
An electronic torque wrench has a tubular core with elongated apertures therein which respectively removably receive user interface assembly and power assembly modules, the modules being exposed through openings in a surrounding grip sheath. A workpiece-engaging head is coupled to a beam member which may received in a tapered opening in a shim member received in an end of the tube. A sensor on the beam member is connected by wires extending to the user interface assembly, which in turn has a display device producing a bar graph display indicating the proximity of a measured torque value to a preset torque level.
1. An electronic torque wrench comprising:
a housing assembly including
an inner generally tubular core having first and second elongated apertures formed therein,
a grip sleeve telescopically received over the core and having first and second openings therein respectively communicating with the first and second apertures,
a user interface assembly coupled to the core and also coupled to a torque measuring apparatus, said user interface assembly disposed in the first aperture and the first opening, and
a power assembly coupled to the core and disposed in the second aperture and the second opening and electrically connected to the user interface assembly;
a workpiece-engaging head carried by the core; and
sensing apparatus carried by the housing assembly and connected to the torque measuring apparatus.
2. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the user interface assembly includes a panel disposed in and closing the first aperture and the first opening, the power assembly including a panel disposed and enclosing the second aperture and the second opening.
3. The wrench of claim 2 , wherein the first and second openings are respectively substantially longer than the first and second apertures.
4. The wrench of claim 3 , and further comprising fasteners fixedly securing the panels to the tubular core.
5. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the user interface assembly includes a display and a keypad.
6. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the tubular core is oval in transverse cross section.
7. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the tubular core is circular in transverse cross section.
8. The wrench of claim 1 , wherein the sensing apparatus includes a beam member coupled between the head and the tubular core, and a strain gauge assembly carried by the beam member.