GB2450078A

GB2450078A - A system and method for controlling the vibration of a tool

Info

Publication number: GB2450078A
Application number: GB0710622A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Glendenning; David Stephenson
Original assignee: VIBRATION SERVICES Ltd
Current assignee: VIBRATION SERVICES Ltd
Priority date: 2007-06-04
Filing date: 2007-06-04
Publication date: 2008-12-17
Also published as: GB0710622D0

Abstract

The invention related to a system and method provided to allow for remote calculation and local use of tool control parameters. The tool control parameters are based on measurement data such as vibration measurements, sound level measurements or dust level measurements of a tool under measurement. The measured data is uploaded to a remote data handling unit for remote calculation. The calculated tool control parameters are then sent to a location adjacent the measured tool to prevent the tool from being used beyond safe working limits. A plurality of data can be measured and uploaded to the remote data handling unit simultaneously, with corresponding calculated tool control parameters being returned.

Description

A TOOL MEASUREMENT ND CONTROL SYSTEM ND METHOD THEREFOR

The invention relates generally to a tool measurement and control system and method therefor. Specifically, the invention relates to measurement of vibration and the control of associated exposure risks.

Recent developments in safety legislation have increased the need to closely control vibration risks in the workplace. In Europe for example, the Physical Agents (Vibration) Directive (2002/44/EC) was recently introduced. This directive has been implemented in the UK by The Control of Vibrations at Work Regulations 2005.

Under this legislation employers are required to limit vibration exposure of employees to within an exposure action value (EAV) and/or an exposure limit value (ELV).

Tool vibration magnitude measurements which form the basis of the EAV or ELV are determined in accordance with International Standards Organisation ISO 5349 Parts I & II. Similar requirements are anticipated elsewhere.

An aim of the invention is to provide an automated system and method for achieving the aforesaid. In particular, the invention aims to provide an efficient and flexible system and method.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus and method as set forth in the appended claims. Preferred features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.

A system and method are provided to allow for remote calculation and local use of tool control parameters. The tool control parameters are based on measurement data such as vibration measurements, sound level measurements or dust level measurements of a tool under measurement. The measured data is uploaded to a remote data handling unit for remote calculation. The calculated tool control parameters are then sent to a location adjacent the measured tool to prevent the tool from being used beyond safe working limits. A plurality of data can be measured and uploaded to the remote data handling unit simultaneously, with corresponding calculated tool control parameters being returned.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure]. is a schematic view of a tool measuring system 10 according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of one branch of the tool measuring system 10 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic view of a tool measuring device 20 of the tool measuring system 10 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic view of a remote data handling apparatus 40 of the tool measuring system 10 of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a flowchart outlining method steps corresponding to a first mode of operation according to the invention; Figure 6 is a flowchart outlining method steps corresponding to second and third modes of operation according to the invention.

In detail, Figure 1 shows a tool measuring system 10 for measuring a plurality of tools 12 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The tool measuring system 10 comprises a plurality of measurement devices 20, a plurality of relay devices 30, a remote data handling apparatus 40 and a plurality of control devices 50.

Figure 2 shows a single exemplary branch of the system 10.

Referring to Figure 2, a plurality of tools 12 are located on site. The term "on site" is used to refer to any typical site in which tools 12 may be found, such as a storage room, a work site or a tool hire depot. The term "off site" is used to refer to a location remote from the tools, that is, a location inaccessible over a typical local communication link such as "Bluetooth or Wi-Fl".

The measurement device 20 is located on site close to the plurality of tools so that at least one measurement of the tool may be taken by the measurement device 20. A relay device 30 is also located on site and is used to relay information to/from the off site or remote data handling apparatus 40 over a wide area network 32. The relay device is configured to send information received from the remote data handling apparatus 40 to the output control device 50.

The measurement device 20 is shown in more detail in Figure 3.

The measurement device 20 can be any measurement device suitable for measuring a performance characteristic of a tool 12, such as vibration, dust or noise. In this embodiment vibration is measured. Alternatively, noise or dust could be measured, or any combination of vibration, noise and dust.

Referring to Figure 3, the measurement device comprises an accelerometer 22 and a vibration meter 24. A suitable accelerometer is provided by PCB Piezotronics under the model no. 356I68. A suitable vibration meter is provided by Larson Davis, Inc under the model no. HVM100.

The accelerometer 22 is arranged to measure the vibration of the tool 12 in the X, Y and Z directions.

The vibration meter 24 is arranged to calculate a vibration magnitude of a tool 12 under measurement based on the vibration measurements in accordance with International Standards Organisation ISO 5349 Parts I & II, the teaching of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The vibration meter 24 comprises a visual display unit 28 on which is displayed the vibration magnitude. The vibration meter 24 comprises a local link interface or output unit (not shown) which in use allows transfer of the vibration magnitude to the relay device 30 via a local link 28 such as a serial link or a wireless link (e.g. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth). However, it is envisaged that the vibration magnitude may be transferred to the relay device manually.

The relay device 30 is a personal digital assistant (FDA) configured in use to access both a plurality of local links 28, 34 and the wide area network 32 such as, for example, the Internet. A suitable PDA is provided by Intermec Technologies Corporation under the model number CN3 Mobile Computer. The relay device 30 is arranged to transmit and receive data on the local links and to access the remote data handling apparatus 40 to upload and download data. The relay device 30 also includes a barcode reader 36 configured in use to read a barcode attached to a tool 12.

The relay device 30 also comprises a user I/O interface and a web browser (both not shown) for accessing the remote data handling apparatus 40.

Figure 4 shows the remote data handling apparatus 40.

The remote data handling apparatus 40 is an internet server comprising an If 0 interface (not shown), a data storage means 42, an identifier generator 44 and a calculation unit 46. The data storage means 42 is arranged to store information relating to each tool 12.

The identifier generator 44 is arranged to generate a unique tool identifier used to identify each tool 12. The calculation unit 46 is arranged to calculate at least one tool control parameter based on a performance characteristic of the tool 12 under measurement. The at least one tool control parameter may include vibration points per hour, vibration points per half hour, vibration points per 15 minutes, vibration points per day, a duration to exposure action value (EAV), a duration to exposure limit value (ELy), and/or a maximum daily usage The control device 50 comprises an input unit (not shown) configured to receive data from the relay device 30 over the local link 34. The data includes the at least one tool control parameter, and in one embodiment also the generated unique tool identifier. The control device 50 has an output unit (not shown) arranged to output one or both of the tool control parameter and the unique tool identifier.

In one embodiment, the control device 50 is located on the tool 12 and outputs the at least one tool control parameter and/or the unique tool identifier while attached to the tool. In another embodiment, the control device is an interlocking mechanism which prevents, in use, operation of the tool 12 based on the at least one tool control parameter. In an alternative embodiment, the control device is a printer able to print labels comprising the at least one tool control parameter for attachment to the tool 12. The control device 50 is able to output the unique tool identifier as a barcode. A suitable printer is a serial and wireless portable thermal printer provided by O'Neil Product Development, Inc under the model no. microFlash 4t.

The local links 28, 34 may be any suitable local communication link such as an internal data bus, a serial link, a parallel link or a wireless link (e.g. Wi-Fi or Bluetooth).

In use, the tool measuring system 10 operates as follows in a first mode of operation, wherein the tool 12 is being measured for the first time using the system 10.

See Figure 5.

Firstly, the measurement device 20 measures the vibration magnitude of the tool 12 in accordance with International Standards Organisation ISO 5349 Parts I & II. The vibration magnitude is calculated in units of acceleration, i.e. mis2' and a single value is outputted for each tool 12. The vibration magnitude is transferred to the relay device 30 via the local link 26.

Alternatively, the vibration magnitude is manually inputted to the relay device 30 via the user I/O interface.

Secondly, the relay device 30 connects via the wide area network 32 to the remote data handling device 40 thereby allowing the vibration magnitude for the measured tool to be submitted.

Thirdly, the relay device 30 uploads the vibration magnitude to the remote data handling apparatus 40 via the The remote data handing apparatus 40 receives the vibration magnitude. The calculation unit 46 then performs at least one calculation using the vibration magnitude to create at least one tool control parameter for the measured tool 12.

The data handing apparatus 40 returns at least one of the one or more tool control parameters on request to the relay device 30. The relay device 30 then sends the at least one tool control parameter to the output control device 50 for output. In a preferred embodiment, the tool control parameters outputted are exposure points per hour, exposure points per 15 minutes and maximum daily use.

Also, additional information regarding the tool 12 and the circumstances of the tool measurement may be uploaded to the remote data handling device 40 by the relay device 30, either before or after the vibration magnitude is uploaded. The additional information may be an engineer number, a client site number, a client tool reference number, description text, manufacturer information, a model number and date and time information. This data may be pre-stored or generated on the relay device 30 prior to connection with the remote data handling device 40, downloaded form an external source over the or another local or wide area network or manually entered onto the relay device 30 via the user I/O interface. The additional data comprises alphanumerical characters or numerical characters and may be entered by selecting from a number of pre-stored options, such as from a drop down menu.

When additional information is uploaded, the unique identifier generator 44 creates a unique tool identifier for the tool 12 based on the additional information. In particular, the unique tool identifier is based on the engineer number, the client tool reference number and/or the client site number.

The additional information, unique tool identifier, vibration magnitude and one or more calculated tool control parameters are stored on the data storage device 42 so that either the unique tool identifier or any one of the additional information data can be used to retrieve at least one of the vibration magnitude and the one or more calculated tool control parameters of the tool 12.

The unique identifier is sent with at least one tool control parameter to the control device 50 via the relay device 30 as described above. The control device 50 outputs the tool control parameters to control operation of the tool, and outputs the unique identifier as a barcode.

A second mode of operation is described with reference to Figure 6, wherein the tool 12 has been previously measured by the system 10 and has been allocated a unique tool identifier. In this situation, the unique tool identifier is inputted to the relay device prior to or after the vibration magnitude has been uploaded to the remote data handling apparatus 40. In the preferred embodiment, the unique tool identifier is scanned by the barcode reader 36 and is sent to the remote data handling apparatus 40. The unique tool identifier is used to locate the previously stored data and measurement results relating to the tool which are returned to the relay device 30 for display on the user I/O interface 26.

In this way, it is not necessary to repeatedly enter the same data thus saving time. Also, an engineer will immediately be able to determine whether or not the performance of the tool 12 is improving or degrading with time, and will be able to determine the rate of change of the performance improvement/degradation.

The calculation unit 46 then performs calculations on the latest received vibration magnitude to update the one or more tool control parameters, which are in turn sent to the tool control device 50 in the above described way for output. The one or more updated tool control parameters replace or supplement the one or more previously stored tool control parameters in the data storage device 42.

A third mode of operation is now described, again with reference to Figure 6, wherein the tool 12 has been previously measured by the system 10 and has been allocated a unique tool identifier. In this situation, the unique tool identifier is inputted to the relay device via the barcode reader 36 and is sent to the remote data handling apparatus 40. The unique identifier is used to locate previously stored data and measurement results relating to the tool which are returned to the relay device 30 for display on the user I/O interface 26.

In this way, previously stored data relating to a measured tool 12 can be quickly and easily accessed.

A fourth mode of operation is now described wherein the tool 12 has been previously measured by the system 10 and has been allocated a unique tool identifier. In this situation, the remote data handling apparatus 40 is accessed via any suitable device (not shown) having access to the wide area network 32. Identification data for the tool is uploaded to the remote data handling apparatus 40 and previously stored data and measurement results relating to the tool are returned to the wide area network device. The previously stored data and measurement results are then output on a user I/O interface or are stored in computer memory.

In this way, information relating to each measured tool 12 can be accessed from a plurality of locations via a plurality of devices.

As briefly mentioned above, the invention is not limited to the measurement of vibration. Another embodiment is envisaged wherein a sound level emitted by a tool or a dust level is measured in accordance with international standards and at least one tool control parameter is calculated in accordance with the invention.

The sound and/or dust measurement is in addition to or to replace the vibration measurement of the preferred embodiment.

Also, other information may be stored with the unique tool identifier to allow users to gather more data on the tool and its usage. For example, the other information may include whether or not to wear hearing protection, an electrical test result, a maintenance check result, a local exhaust ventilation check result or general notes.

Although a few preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications might be made without departing from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification

(including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features

disclosed in this specification (including any

accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

Claims: 1. A tool measurement and control system comprising: a

measurement device arranged to measure vibration of a tool in use and to calculate a vibration magnitude based on the measured vibration, the measurement device having an output unit arranged to output the vibration magnitude; a relay device comprising an input unit arranged to receive the vibration magnitude, and an input/output unit arranged to send the vibration magnitude over a wide area network; a remote data handling apparatus comprising an input unit arranged to receive the vibration magnitude from the relay device via the wide area network, a calculation unit arranged to calculate a tool control parameter based on the vibration magnitude, and an output unit arranged to send the tool control parameter to the relay device over the wide area network; and a control device comprising an input unit arranged to receive the tool control parameter from the relay device over a local communication link, and an output unit arranged to output the tool control parameter locally to the tool to control operation of the tool.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is arranged to output the vibration signal over a local link to the relay device.
3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the measuring device comprises an accelerometer and a vibration meter, and wherein the vibration meter is arranged to create the vibration magnitude from vibration measurement signals received from the accelerometer.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the vibration meter is arranged to output the vibration signal.
5. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the relay device is arranged to receive descriptive data representing the measured tool.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the relay device is arranged to send the descriptive data to the remote data handling apparatus.
7. The system of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the data about the measured tool includes one or more of an engineer number, a client site number, a client tool

reference number, description text, manufacturer

information, a model number, date information and time information.
8. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the relay device is arranged to access the remote data handling apparatus over the wide area network using a web browser.
9. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the relay device is a personal digital assistant.
10. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the relay device comprises a scanner arranged to read a unique tool identifier for identifying the measured tool, and wherein the scanner is arranged to output the unique tool identifier to the relay device over a local link.
11. The system of claim 10, wherein the scanner is a barcode reader and the unique tool identifier is recorded in a barcode format.
12. The system of claim 10 or claim 11, wherein the unique tool identifier is located on a label attached to the measured tool.
13. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the tool control parameter is sent to the relay device following a request by the relay device.
14. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the remote data handling apparatus comprises a data storage means.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the remote data handling apparatus comprises a tool identification generator arranged to generate a unique tool identifier corresponding to the measured tool.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the storage unit is arranged to store the unique tool identifier, the vibration magnitude and the tool control parameter so that at least one of the vibration magnitude and the tool control parameter are accessible with reference to the unique tool identifier.
17. The system of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the remote data handling apparatus is arranged to send the unique tool identifier to the control device, and the control device is arranged to output the unique tool identifier.
18. The system of any of claims 15, 16 or 17, wherein the unique tool identifier is generated based on descriptive data received from the relay device.
19. The system of claim 18, wherein the descriptive data is one or more of a serial number of the measured tool, a site location number and a number identifying a testing engineer.
20. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the calculation unit outputs one or more of vibration points per hour, vibration points per half hour, vibration points per 15 minutes, vibration points per day, a duration to exposure action value, a duration to exposure limit value, and a maximum daily use.
21. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the control device outputs the tool control parameter onto a label for attachment to the measured tool.
22. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the control device comprises a locking mechanism which, in use, prevents the measured tool from operating when the tool control parameter has been exceeded.
23. The system of any preceding claim, wherein there are a plurality of tools, a plurality of measurement devices, a plurality of relay devices, a plurality of control devices and a single remote data handling apparatus.
24. The system of any preceding claim, wherein the
25. A tool measurement and control system comprising: a measurement device arranged to measure a safety performance characteristic of a tool in use, the measurement device having an output unit arranged to output the safety performance characteristic; a relay device comprising an input unit arranged to receive the safety performance characteristic, and an input/output unit arranged to send the safety performance characteristic over a wide area network; a remote data handling apparatus comprising an input unit arranged to receive the safety performance characteristic from the relay device via the wide area network, a calculation unit arranged to calculate a tool control parameter based on the safety performance characteristic, and an output unit arranged to send the tool control parameter to the relay device over the wide area network; and a control device comprising an input unit arranged to receive the tool control parameter from the relay device over a local communication link, and an output unit arranged to output the tool control parameter locally to the tool to control operation of the tool.
26. The system of claim 25, wherein the safety performance characteristic relates to at least one of vibration, noise or dust levels of the tool.
27. A method for tool measurement and control, the method comprising: measuring and outputting a safety performance characteristic of a tool; obtaining the safety performance characteristic and sending the safety performance characteristic over a wide area network; receiving the safety performance characteristic via the wide area network, calculating a tool control parameter based on the safety performance characteristic, and outputting the tool control parameter over the wide area network; and receiving the tool control parameter over the wide area network, sending the tool control parameter over a local communication link, and outputting the tool control parameter locally to the tool to control operation of the tool.
28. A tool measurement and control system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1-4.
29. A method for tool measurement and control substantially as hereinbef ore described with reference to Figures 5 & 6.