Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02572701 2006-12-29
SUPPORT ASSEMBLY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the coupling of fasteners and to methods
and/or devices therefor.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
The manufacture and assembly of most articles requires the successful securing
in place of various and
assorted fasteners, such as nuts and bolts. Examples maybe found in US patents
3,8125,211, 6,189,416
and US 4,688,416.
There are certain circumstances, however, where the proper tightening of a
bolt on a nut is complicated by
the tendency for the bolt to twist under the torque exerted on the nut. A
common approach to this task is
to secure the bolt with one wrench while tightening the nut with another. This
may be done effectively if
the head of the bolt is accessible for receiving the wrench. In some cases,
the bolt may not have a head,
requiring an effective grip on the shaft of the bolt while turning the nut.
Similar situations may also exist
with other fasteners.
It would be desirable to provide a novel approach to this task.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one embodiment, there is provided a socket wrench, comprising a drive
member to receive a socket for
engaging a target nut, a lever arm operatively attached to the drive member
for delivering a torque thereto
about a first axis, the drive member having a passage parallel with the first
axis, a torque arrest member
extending through the passage, the torque arrest member having a first end for
positively engaging a target
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bolt, the torque arrest member being operable independent of the drive member
to control movement of the
target bolt during tightening of the target nut thereon.
In an alternative embodiment, the torque arrest member has a three-, four-,
five-, six-, seven- or eight-sided
cross section.
In an alternative embodiment, the first end of the torque arrest member has a
triangular, square, rectangular,
pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal or octagonal cross section, to engage a
complementary recess formed in
an exposed end region of the target bolt.
In an alternative embodiment, the torque arrest member has a second end with a
handle portion mounted
thereon, and a shaft portion extending between the first and second end.
In an alternative embodiment, the handle portion is mounted transverse to the
first axis.
An alternative embodiment further comprises the socket, the socket being
removably attached to the drive
member.
An alternative embodiment further comprises the socket, the socket being fixed
to the drive member.
In an alternative embodiment, the socket and drive member has aligned
passages, a lock member
threadably engaged with the aligned passages.
An alternative embodiment further comprises the socket, the socket having an
inner passage with a first
diameter to engage the target nut, the socket including a throat region with a
second diameter, the throat
region being arranged to guide the torque arrest member.
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An alternative embodiment further comprises a collar mounted on the shaft, the
collar having a lateral
dimension greater than the passage for retaining the arrest member therein.
An alternative embodiment further comprises a ratchet assembly for
interconnecting the lever member with
the drive member.
In an alternative embodiment, the lever member is pivotally attached to the
drive member.
Another alternative embodiment provides a wrench device, comprising a drive
member to receive a socket
for engaging a target nut, a drive motor unit operatively coupled to the drive
member for delivering a
torque thereto about a first axis, the drive member having a passage parallel
with the first axis, a control
member extending through the passage, the control member having a first end
for positively engaging a
target bolt, the control member being operable independent of the drive member
to control movement of
the target bolt during tightening of the target nut thereon.
In an alternative embodiment, the drive motor unit includes an electrical,
pneumatic, hydraulic and/or
internal combustion motor.
An alternative embodiment further comprises an anchor portion for removably
anchoring the control
member to the housing.
In an alternative embodiment, the control member has a second end with a
handle portion mounted thereon,
Still another alternative embodiment provides a method of fastening a nut on a
bolt, comprising providing a
socket drive unit with a socket-receiving drive member, providing a socket on
the drive member to fit a
target nut, providing a passage through the drive member, providing an anchor
key in the passage and in a
condition to engage a complementary formation of the bolt, manipulating the
anchor key to engage the
bolt to anchor the bolt against relative rotational movement of the nut
thereon, directing the socket drive
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unit to rotate the nut against the bolt for tightening the nut thereon, while
maintaining engagement of the
bolt with the anchor key.
An alternative embodiment further comprises threading the nut on the bolt
before engaging the socket with
the nut.
An alternative embodiment further comprises coupling a lever member with the
drive member, the
directing of the socket drive unit including manually torquing the lever
member.
An alternative embodiment further comprises providing a ratchet arrangement
between the lever member
and the drive member, the directing of the socket drive unit including
applying a force to the lever member
to deliver a torque the drive member.
An alternative embodiment further comprises selecting the socket and
assembling the socket on the drive
member.
An alternative embodiment further comprises providing a drive motor in an
operative coupling with the
socket drive unit, and switching the drive motor to deliver a torque to the
socket.
Still another alternative embodiment provides a kit comprising a wrench, the
wrench having a drive
member, at least one socket for coupling with the drive member and for
engaging a target nut, a lever arm
operatively attached to the drive member for delivering a torque thereto about
a first axis, the drive member
having a passage parallel with the first axis, at least one torque arrest
member to extend through the passage
and having a first end for positively engaging a target bolt, the torque
arrest member being operable
independent of the drive member to control movement of the target bolt during
tightening of the target nut
thereon.
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Still another alternative embodiment provides a device for threadably coupling
a first fastener with a
second fastener to form a connection therebetween, comprising a drive member
to receive a first coupler
for engaging a first fastener, a lever arm operatively attached to the drive
member for delivering a
connection force thereto relative to a first axis, the drive member having a
passage parallel with the first
axis, a second coupler extending through the passage, the second coupler being
arranged for positively
engaging a second target fastener, the second coupler being operable
independent of the first coupler to
control movement of the second fastener during tightening of the first
fastener thereon.
In an exemplary embodiment, there is provided a socket wrench comprising a
drive member to receive a
socket for engaging a target nut. The socket and the drive member have aligned
passages for threadably
receiving a lock member so as to reversibly couple the socket to the drive
member. A lever arm is
operatively attached to the drive member for delivering a torque thereto about
a first axis. The drive
member has a passage parallel with the first axis and a torque arrest member
extending through the
passage. The torque arrest member has a first end for positively engaging a
target bolt. The torque arrest
member is operable independent of the drive member to control movement of the
target bolt during
tightening of the target nut thereon.
In another exemplary embodiment, there is provided kit including a wrench, the
wrench having a drive
member, at least one socket for coupling with the drive member and for
engaging a target nut, the at least
one socket and the drive member being maintainable in communication via
aligned passages having a lock
member threadably engaged therein, a lever arm operatively attached to the
drive member for delivering a
torque thereto about a first axis, the drive member having a passage parallel
with the first axis, at least one
torque arrest member to extend through the passage and having a first end for
positively engaging a target
bolt, the torque arrest member being operable independent of the drive member
to control movement of the
target bolt during tightening of the target nut thereon.
5
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Several preferred embodiments of the present invention will be provided, by
way of examples only, with
reference to the appended drawings, wherein:
Figures I to 6 are fragmentary perspective or side views of a wrench device;
and
Figures 7 to 9 are perspective views of other wrench devices;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
It should be understood that the invention is not limited in its application
to the details of construction and
the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being
carried out in various ways.
Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein
is for the purpose of
description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including,"
"comprising," or "having" and
variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter
and equivalents thereof as well as
additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms "connected," "coupled,"
and "mounted," and
variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect
connections, couplings, and
mountings. In addition, the terms "connected" and "coupled" and variations
thereof are not restricted to
{
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physical or mechanical connections or couplings. Furthermore, and as described
in subsequent paragraphs,
the specific mechanical configurations illustrated in the drawings are
intended to exemplify embodiments
of the invention. However, other alternative mechanical configurations are
possible which are considered
to be within the teachings of the instant disclosure. Furthermore, unless
otherwise indicated, the term "or"
is to be considered inclusive.
Referring to figure 1, there is provided a device known as a socket wrench
shown generally at 10 having a
drive member 12 to receive a socket 14 for engaging a target nut 16, itself
selected to be threaded on to a
target bolt 17. A lever arm generally identified at 18 is operatively attached
to the drive member 12 for
delivering a torque thereto about a first axis 20. In this case, a ratchet
assembly shown schematically at 24
in figure 4 interconnects the lever arm 18 with the drive member 12, though
the lever arm 18 may, if
desired, be fixed to or pivotally coupled with the drive member 12.
Referring to figure 1, the drive member 12 has a passage 12a which is parallel
with the first axis 20 and a
torque arrest member 26 extends through the passage 12a. The torque arrest
member 26 has a first end 26a
for positively engaging the target bolt 17. The torque arrest member 26 has a
second end 26b with a shaft
portion 26c. A handle portion 30 is mounted on the second end 26b and
transverse to the first axis 20,
though the handle may be provided in other orientations as desired. As will be
described, the torque arrest
member 26 is thus operable independent of the drive member 12 to control
movement of the target bolt 17
during tightening of the target nut 16 thereon.
The torque arrest member 26 may be provided in a number of different forms,
such as with a three-, four-,
five-, six-, seven- or eight-sided cross section. In other words, the torque
arrest member 26 may be
provided with a triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, hexagonal,
heptagonal or octagonal cross
section. In this present example, the torque arrest member 26 is provided in
the form of a tool known as an
"Allen key" and is operable to engage a complementary cavity or recess 17a
formed in an exposed end
region of the target bolt 17.
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The socket 14 is, in this case, fixed to the drive member 12. To achieve this,
the socket 14 and drive
member 12 have aligned passages 14a, 12b and a lock member 32 is threadably
engaged with the aligned
passages 14a, 12b. Alternatively, the socket 14 may be permanently attached
or, for that matter integrally
formed with, the drive member 12, or held thereon by a resilient coupling such
as a spring loaded ball
mounted in the drive member (not shown).
The socket 14 has an inner passage 34 with an outer region 34a and a throat
region 34b. The outer region
34a has a first diameter which is complementary in cross section with the
target nut 16. The throat region
34b has a second diameter which is selected so that the throat region 34b may
guide the torque arrest
member 26. In this case, the throat region 34b includes a sleeve 36 (figure 4)
firmly held within the socket
14 and positioned against an inner limit edge 14b thereof.
Mounted on the shaft portion 26c is a collar 38 with a lateral dimension
greater than the passage 12a, in the
drive member 12, for retaining the torque arrest member 26 therein.
For use, the socket wrench 10 is assembled with the torque arrest member 26 as
will be described.
Referring to figures 1 and 2, a prone bolt 17 is selected along with a
complementary target nut 16. In this
case, the prone bolt 17 is exposed to and/or accessible to the socket wrench
10 and is in a supported
position relative to a reference, such as an anchor frame 40. The term "prone"
in this instance is intended
to mean that the target bolt 17 is in a tentative position which governs the
need to use the torque arrest
feature of the socket wrench 10. In other words, the target bolt 17 is prone
to a change of orientation or
condition by the driving of the target nut 16 thereon, if not otherwise guided
against movement relative to
the reference by way of the torque arrest member 26.
The user selects a socket 14, which may, for instance, be provided from a
collection of sockets 14 as shown
at 42, to fit a target nut 16 for the target bolt 17. The user may use a
generic torque arrest member 26, in
the case where each of the target bolts has a complementary cavity 17a.
Alternatively, the user may select
one from a collection of torque arrest members 26 as shown at 44. In this
case, the appropriate torque
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arrest member 26 has a first end 26a which matches, or is complementary with,
a corresponding cavity 17a
located in the target bolt 17.
The user then passes the first end 26a of the torque arrest member 26 through
the passage 12a and
thereafter installs the collar member 38 on the shaft portion 26c. The user
then positions the socket 14,
with the sleeve 35 in place against the limit edge 14b, on the drive member 12
and aligns the passages 14a,
12b to receive the lock member 32, thus assembling the socket wrench 10, as
shown in figure 2.
Alternatively, the wrench 10 may be pre-assembled so that the user may be
provided with a pre-selected
torque arrest member 26 in position in the drive member, thus avoiding the
corresponding assembly steps
for the convenience of the user.
The user aligns the socket with the target nut 16 and then manipulates the
torque arrest member 26 to
engage the target bolt 17 to anchor the target bolt 17 against relative
rotational movement of the target nut
16 thereon. The user then directs the socket drive unit by grasping and
manipulating the lever arm 18 with,
for instance, the user's right hand and arm, to deliver a torque to the target
nut 16 against the target bolt 17,
(as represented by arrow "A" in figure 2) for deepening the threaded
engagement therebetween and/or for
tightening the interconnection between them, for example, to a prescribed
torque (as represented by arrow
`B"). During this step, the user manipulates the torque arrest member 26 with,
for instance, the user's left
hand and arm (as represented by Arrow "C"), to maintain engagement of the
torque arrest member with the
target bolt 17 in a stationary position, or otherwise in another operative
position for as long as is necessary
to tighten the threaded connection of the target nut 16 on the target bolt 17.
The device 10 is configured to provide a torque arrest member 26 which is
generic to a range of bolts 17 to
be used over an operating period. It follows that, once the torque arrest
member 26 is in place, it would be
beneficial to use the same torque arrest member for a range of bolts 17, each
having a common or a
substantially common cavity 17a. However, as mentioned above, the device may
also be configured to be
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provided with a number of different torque arrest members to be matched with
different bolts in much the
same or similar way to the selection of sockets for different nuts.
Referring to figure 7, a wrench device is provided at 50 with a housing 52
having a first housing portion
52a which supports a drive member 54 to receive a socket 56 for engaging a
target nut 58. The housing 52
has a second housing portion 52b which is configured to fit the hand of a
user, thus to function as a handle.
The housing encloses a drive motor unit shown in dashed lines at 60 which is
operatively coupled to the
drive member 54 for delivering a torque thereto about a first axis 55 and
which receives power via a cord
62. The housing 52 also supports a control switch unit 64 for controlling
operation of the device 50. As
before, the drive member 54 has a passage 66 parallel with the first axis. A
torque arrest member 70
extends through the passage 66 and has a first end 70a for positively engaging
a complementary cavity in
target bolt 72. As before, the torque arrest member 70 is operable independent
of the drive member 54 to
control movement of the target bolt during tightening of the target 58 nut
thereon.
In this case, the drive motor unit 60 includes an electrical motor, though it
may be provided in other forms,
such as pneumatic, hydraulic and/or internal combustion.
The wrench device is operated in a manner similar to the device 10, in which
the user selects a suitable
socket 56 and torque arrest member 70. The then user grasps the device 50 by
the handle provided by the
second housing portion 52b with one hand and orients the socket 56 into
position while, with the other
hand, manipulates the first end 70a of the torque arrest member 70 into a
corresponding cavity 72a in the
target bolt 72.
Still another device is shown at 80 in figure 8. Similar to device 50, the
device has an anchor portion 82
positioned on the housing for removably anchoring the torque arrest member 84
thereto. These
arrangements may be convenient in some cases to allow the bolt to be
controlled while freeing up one hand
for the user.
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Still another device is shown at 90 in figure 9, in which the torque arrest
member 92 is provided without a
collar of the type identified at 38 above or an equivalent device to restrain
its removal. In addition, the
device 90 is shown in use with a rear stabilizer ball stud 94, of the type
used in the assembly of vehicles,
among other bolts that may be utilized.
Thus, the target bolts 17 and 72 are each provided with a cavity which is
complementary with the first end
of the corresponding torque arrest members 26 and 70 to provide a coupling
between them to allow the
torque arrest members to hold the target bolts against movement under the
torque appearing at the interface
between the target nut and target bolt. There may for example be other ways to
provide this coupling
without necessarily having a cavity formed in the bolt. For instance, the bolt
may be provided with an
outer end with a cross sectional profile of a three-, four-, five-, six-,
seven- or eight sided cross section for
instance to fit within a cavity formed on the torque arrest member.
Alternatively, the torque arrest member
may threadably engage temporarily with the bolt in first few threads thereof.
While the devices herein
have been described with respect to bolts and nuts, one or more of the devices
may be utilized with other
fasteners requiring a connection force to be applied to a first of the
fasteners while a second fastener is
controlled. A number of nuts may be used, such as hexagonal, rectangular and
wing nuts.
While the present invention has been described for what are presently
considered the preferred
embodiments, the invention is not so limited. To the contrary, the invention
is intended to cover various
modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope
of the appended claims.
The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such
modifications and equivalent structures and functions.
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