IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,293,469
Granted Patent B2
US 10,293,469 · App. 15/315,442 · Granted May 21, 2019

Method for operating a power tool

Inventor: Chi Hoe Leong (Penang, MY)
Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
B25B23/1475B25B21/002B25B21/02B25B21/026B25B23/147B25B23/14B25F5/001B25F5/02
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,293,469
App. No.
15/315,442
Filed
Dec 1, 2016
Granted
May 21, 2019
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3731
USPC
173/5
Abstract

A method for operating a power tool for screwing a screw into a workpiece. After an activation of the power tool, an electric motor is driven in order to screw the screw into the workpiece. The rotation speed of the electric motor while the screw is being screwed in is ascertained during a predefined initial time of an impact operating mode of the power tool. A rotation speed of the electric motor is ascertained after the initial time. A torque of the electric motor is at least reduced if the ascertained rotation speed of the electric motor exceeds a predefined rotation speed limit.

Claims (30)

1. A method for operating a power tool for screwing a screw into a workpiece, comprising:

after an activation of the power tool, driving an electric motor to screw the screw into the workpiece;

ascertaining a rotation speed of the electric motor, while the screw is being screwed in, during a predefined initial time of an impact operating mode of the power tool;

ascertaining a rotation speed of the electric motor after the initial time; and

at least reducing a torque of the electric motor if the ascertained rotation speed of the electric motor exceeds a predefined rotation speed limit.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

ascertaining the rotation speed limit as a function of the rotation speed ascertained during the initial time of the impact operating mode;

ascertaining a rotation speed of the electric motor after the initial time; and

at least reducing a torque of the electric motor if the ascertained rotation speed of the electric motor exceeds the ascertained rotation speed limit.

3. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein a maximum rotation speed of the electric motor is ascertained during the initial time as a rotation speed; and wherein the rotation speed limit is ascertained as a function of the ascertained maximum rotation speed.

4. The method as recited in claim 2 , wherein a predefined rotation speed value is additionally being taken into consideration in the context of ascertaining the rotation speed limit.

5. The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the initial time during the impact operating mode is recognized if, during a starting time after activation of the power tool, the rotation speed is less than a third comparison value and a current through the electric motor is greater than a fourth comparison value.

6. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the initial time during the impact operating mode being recognized if additionally a measured time interval between two impacts of the impact operating mode is less than a first comparison value.

7. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein the initial time during the impact operating mode is recognized if additionally a standard deviation of the ascertained rotation speed of the electric motor during the initial time is less than a second comparison value.

8. The method as recited in claim 5 , wherein a workpiece having a predefined minimum thickness is recognized if, during the starting time after activation of the power tool, the rotation speed is less than the third comparison value and the current through the electric motor is greater than the fourth comparison value; and a presence of a workpiece having the minimum thickness being indicated by the power tool.

9. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the torque of the electric motor is at least reduced after the initial time if a predefined first time span has elapsed.

10. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein a second method is carried out if, during the starting time after activation of the power tool, the current through the electric motor is less than a fifth comparison value, wherein in the second method, an impact operating mode of the power tool being terminated after a predefined second time span.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 , wherein the second method is carried out if, during the starting time after activation of the power tool, at least one of: i) a change in the ascertained rotation speed lies outside a predefined range, and ii) or a change in the ascertained current lies outside a second range.

12. The method as recited in claim 10 , after the initial time a torque of the electric motor being at least reduced if at least one of: i) a change in the ascertained rotation speed of the electric motor lies outside a predefined rotation speed range, and ii) a change in the ascertained current lies outside a predefined current range.

13. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is driven by a battery, the ascertainment of the rotation speed limit taking into account a voltage of the battery.

14. A control device for operating a power tool for screwing a screw into a workpiece, the control device designed to:

after an activation of the power tool, drive an electric motor to screw the screw into the workpiece;

ascertain a rotation speed of the electric motor, while the screw is being screwed in, during a predefined initial time of an impact operating mode of the power tool;

ascertain a rotation speed of the electric motor after the initial time; and

at least reduce a torque of the electric motor if the ascertained rotation speed of the electric motor exceeds a predefined rotation speed limit.

15. A power tool having a control device, the control device for operating the power tool for screwing a screw into a workpiece, the control device designed to:

after an activation of the power tool, drive an electric motor to screw the screw into the workpiece;

ascertain a rotation speed of the electric motor, while the screw is being screwed in, during a predefined initial time of an impact operating mode of the power tool;

ascertain a rotation speed of the electric motor after the initial time; and

at least reduce a torque of the electric motor if the ascertained rotation speed of the electric motor exceeds a predefined rotation speed limit.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 14, 2017
From: LEONG, CHI HOE
To: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
Reel/Frame 041249/0987 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2014 211 891 · Jun 20, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180200872A1 · Jul 19, 2018
Cited By (3)
US 12,212,264 US 12,240,084 US 12,726,150