EP0328799A2 - Werkzeug mit variablem Drehmoment-Antrieb - Google Patents

Werkzeug mit variablem Drehmoment-Antrieb Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0328799A2
EP0328799A2 EP88300825A EP88300825A EP0328799A2 EP 0328799 A2 EP0328799 A2 EP 0328799A2 EP 88300825 A EP88300825 A EP 88300825A EP 88300825 A EP88300825 A EP 88300825A EP 0328799 A2 EP0328799 A2 EP 0328799A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lever
torque
slider
squeeze
tool
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP88300825A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0328799A3 (en
EP0328799B1 (de
Inventor
Joel S. Marks
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WorkTools Inc
Original Assignee
WorkTools Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to US06/923,897 priority Critical patent/US4739838A/en
Application filed by WorkTools Inc filed Critical WorkTools Inc
Priority to EP88300825A priority patent/EP0328799B1/de
Priority to AT88300825T priority patent/ATE92828T1/de
Priority to DE88300825T priority patent/DE3883203T2/de
Publication of EP0328799A2 publication Critical patent/EP0328799A2/de
Publication of EP0328799A3 publication Critical patent/EP0328799A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0328799B1 publication Critical patent/EP0328799B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B23/00—Details of, or accessories for, spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers
    • B25B23/16—Handles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B13/00—Spanners; Wrenches
    • B25B13/46—Spanners; Wrenches of the ratchet type, for providing a free return stroke of the handle
    • B25B13/461—Spanners; Wrenches of the ratchet type, for providing a free return stroke of the handle with concentric driving and driven member
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B15/00—Screwdrivers
    • B25B15/02—Screwdrivers operated by rotating the handle
    • B25B15/04—Screwdrivers operated by rotating the handle with ratchet action
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
    • B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
    • B25B15/00—Screwdrivers
    • B25B15/06—Screwdrivers operated by axial movement of the handle

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a squeeze tool of the same general type as that disclosed in US-A-4524650 (the earlier Patent), which is in the name of the present inventor.
  • the squeeze tool described in the earlier patent serves to convert squeezing motion into rotary motion on a variable torque basis, and serves to transmit the rotary motion to a screw, bolt, or other fastener, which is being tightened or loosened.
  • the tool described in the earlier patent incorporates a pull lever and a varying force transmitting lever which operate in conujunction with a squeeze handle to provide a traveling fulcrum, so that when the squeeze handle is squeezed maximum torque and minimum speed are generated at the beginning of the stroke, and an increasing speed and a reducing torque are realized for the remainder of the stroke.
  • the principal objective of the squeeze tool is to overcome limitations inherent in prior art tools, such s ratchet wrenches. These limitations occur because the prior art ratchet wrenches exert a uniform torque on the bolt being turned, and, accordingly, when such a ratchet wrench is designed to exert sufficient torque initially to loosen a bolt, that torque continues when the bolt is being loosened and when it is not needed. This means that the prior art ratchet wrenches must be designed to incorporate more handle motion than is actually required for a particular operation, and this is especially troublesome when space and/or accessibility are limited.
  • the tool described in the earlier patent as well as the tool of the present invention, automatically match the available torque with the torque required for a particular operation, and this is achieved by varying the torque.
  • the net result is that a particular operation may be performed with maximum speed and yet with a generation of the required torque.
  • the tool of the present invention is intended to provide a capability which has been unavailable with the previous manual, spiral ratchet, or motorized drivers, as mentioned briefly above.
  • Manual drivers provide accurate control of a driving operation, but they are limited in speed to that at which the operator can rotate the tool.
  • the wrist twisting motion required by a manual driver can become unnecessarily tiresome when used for light to medium duty applications.
  • Spiral ratchet drivers provide poor control over the axial force applied to a driven element, since the turning torque is entirely dependent upon this axial force.
  • spiral ratchet drivers are especially limited in their ability to remove threaded fasteners, and have limited power when the operator cannot place his body directly behind the axis of the force application.
  • Motorized drivers provide poor control of the rotation speed and torque applied to the driven element.
  • the operator controls a switch, which in turn controls a motor, which finally powers the driven element.
  • the user accordingly, has little direct control over the events occurring at the driven element. In many instances, this lack of "feel" by the operator causes damage to the driven element and/or to its surroundings, especially in medium and light duty applications.
  • the addition of a torque-limiting clutch in such a motorized tool is only a partial solution to the problem since it cannot account for the variables encountered in non-production type operations.
  • the motorized tool is confined during use or storage by the need to be attached to a power supply line or battery charger.
  • the driver tool described in the earlier patent and the driver tool of the present invention allow for relatively high speed driving, while the operator maintains direct control over the axial force, torque, and turning rate applied to the driven element.
  • the operator's hand is limited both in ultimate squeezing force and total possible squeezing motion. Therefore, to use the power created in the squeeze of the hand efficiently, the mechanism of the tool described in the earlier patent, and the tool of the present invention, allow the operator to amplify either his squeezing force or his squeezing motion. Through the action of further components within the driver, this variable force amplification is translated into a variable torque upon an output shaft. In this manner, the tool described in the earlier patent and the tool of the invention can accommodate a wide range of different driving conditions, constrained only by the total power available through the operator's hand.
  • a limitation of the tool described in the earlier patent is that when the operator applies a squeeze force, the fulcrum travels evenly along its path of travel to provide an even variation in the torque.
  • a hand-powered variable torque driver tool comprising a body; a drive shaft rotatably mounted in the body; a slider movable along the drive shaft to produce rotational motion of the drive shaft; and a drive mechanism for the slider comprising first and second levers respectively pivotally coupled to the body and to the slider and positioned to contact one another at a variable fulcrum as the first lever is pivotally displaced about its pivot point whereby the effective lever arm of the second lever is a function of the angular displacement of the first lever; (as disclosed in the earlier patent) is characterised in that the levers are so shaped that, upon steady angular pivotal displacement of the first lever, the fulcrum dwells adjacent to a first position throughout an initial displacement range of the first lever and adjacent to second position which is spaced from the first fulcrum position throughout a subsequent displacement range of the first lever, the fulcrum moving comparatively rapidly between the first and second positions.
  • the first and second fulcrum positions may be such that a relatively lower torque and higher rotational velocity is applied to the shaft during the initial range, and vice versa during the subsequent range.
  • a relatively higher torque and lower rotational velocity is applied to the shaft during the initial range, and vice versa during the subsequent range.
  • a unique feature of the tool of the present invention is that is provides two distinct operating zones as the operating handle is squeezed, so that during the one portion of the squeeze stroke the torque generated by the drive shaft is a maximum and the rotational velocity of the drive shaft is a minimum, whereas during the another portion of the squeeze stroke the torque is a minimum and the velocity is a maximum.
  • This enables the operator intuitively to take advantage of the variable torque feature of the invention, since the provision of a high torque region and a low torque region allows the operator to anticipate what torque magnification will occur as the control handle is squeezed. This is advantageous over a continuously varying torque where the torque capability of the tool as the operating handle is squeezed is less predictable.
  • the tool of the invention may be used to remove or install threaded fasteners, such as screws. It finds particular utility when a fastener requires light-to-medium turning torques for the major part of its travel in and out of a receiving hole, with maximum torque requirements occurring only during the initial loosening or final tightening of the fastener.
  • the operator uses the high torque zone of the squeeze stroke only for initial loosening or final tightening of the fastener; and the rest of the driving operation is accomplished using the low torque high speed zone of the squeeze stroke, where a minimum of hand motion is required.
  • the tool of the present invention is also simpler and less complex than the tool described in the earlier patent, it may be manufactured more efficiently and on a more economical basis, and it includes innovations which make it more functional.
  • the tool of the invention is preferably constructed for convenient and comforatable one-handed operation through the shape and contour of its handles. It may be used as a conventional ratchet driver in which the operator rotates the entire body of the tool back and forth about its driving axis to produce a net rotation of the driving tip and when used in this manner, prolonged high torque driving may be accomplished.
  • the operator's hands are not in the region of the driving axis as they must be when using a conventional screwdriver, and fasteners may therefore be driven in corners, where the driving axis often closely parallels a wall or other obstructions, when the tool of the invention is used.
  • Standard one-quarter inch hexagonal shaft driven bits may be used with the tool of the invention, providing the largest possible variety of available bits and accessories. Because the tool requires no motor or batteries, it is light weight, which facilitates its use and storage.
  • the tool of the invention finds utility in various applications, including the removal and installation of panels and fixtures in automobile, electronic and telecommunication apparatus, aircraft, spacecraft, industrial equipment, cabinets and doors. Moreover, the tool of the invention may conveniently be used in the disassembly or re-assembly of furniture, in the installation of plumbing hose clamps, and for general household use.
  • the driver tool of the invention provides an intimate control of the driving operations, since it is hand powered rather than motor powered, and this minimizes the occurrence of damage to fasteners and/or assemblies in which they are used.
  • the tool of the invention is entirely portable, both in use and in storage, since it requires no power supply line or batteries.
  • the tool is particularly advantageous, as men­tioned above, in that it may be inexpensively produced by con­ventional mass production means. Moreover, it has a pleasing overall configuration and appearance.
  • the driver tool of the invention includes a two-part molded plastic housing 10, of which one-half has been removed in FIGURE 3.
  • the two halves of the housing 10 are positioned relative to one another by tongue-and-grooves 12, and are joined together by screws received in holes 13.
  • the assembled housing includes an octagonal forward section 11 which may be inserted into accessories to prevent them from rotating rela­tive to the housing.
  • a double spiral-cut torque transmitting shaft 14 (FIGURE 3) is attached to a bit retaining tip 15.
  • the tip and shaft assembly is rotatably mounted in a front bearing 20 and in a rear bearing 21 in a tubular section 10D of the body.
  • the forward end of tip 15 is hollow to form a cavity which receives a screwdriver bit 16.
  • the tip cavity and bit each has a hexangonal cross-section. This standard format permits the tip to receive a wide variety of standard bits.
  • the tip cavity contains a spring which serves to hold the bit 16 in place by frictional engagement.
  • a slider 19 which may be similar to the operating mechanism of a conventional spiral ratchet screwdriver, is mounted on shaft 14 for movement along the length of the shaft.
  • the slider 19 is moved along the shaft by the action of a squeeze lever 41, as will be explained, and the slider is so moved from a first position on shaft 14 corresponding to the squeeze lever 41 in position A (FIGURES 2 and 3), to a second position on the shaft corresponding to the squeeze lever in position C.
  • a conventional directional controller 17 (FIGURES 3 and 4) is provided on slider 19 to cause the shaft 14 to turn in one direction or the other when the slider is drawn along the shaft from its first to its second position towards the rear end of housing 10.
  • Spiral shaft 14 has two parallel helical grooves cut in each direction for a total of four helical grooves, as typically contained in the conventional spiral ratchet screwdriver.
  • a return spring assembly including a spring 67 (FIGURES 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8) is provided to return the slider to its first position and to return squeeze lever 41 to position A.
  • Squeeze lever 41 may be formed from sheet steel.
  • the squeeze lever is fitted with a molded vinyl cover 43 over its side and forward exterior surfaces, and with a low friction material 42 along its forward interior surface.
  • the squeeze lever is pivotally coupled to housing 10 at its upper end by a pin 61.
  • a curved lever 53 is pivotally connected at its upper end to slider 19, and at its lower end to a pivot member 62 of a shape shown in FIGURE 9.
  • Lever 53 is also connected to return spring 67.
  • Lever 53 may also be formed by sheet steel.
  • Squeeze lever 41, curved lever 53, and the lower pivot member 62 act together to provide a variable force on slider 19 by the creation of a traveling fulcrum, which will be described.
  • This variable force is in turn converted into a variable torque by the conventional action of slider 19 on shaft 14.
  • the fulcrum is the tangency or contact point bet­ween squeeze lever 41 and curved lever 53, which is encircled in FIGURE 3 for position A and for position C.
  • the torque profile describes the position of the tangency point, or fulcrum, between levers 41 and 53 as a function of the position of squeeze lever 41.
  • the torque pro­file is determined by the position and radii of the bends in levers 41 and 53.
  • two rela­tively large sharp bends are present in the contact region of the two levers, one F1 being towards the upper end of lever 41 and the other F2 being at the lower center of lever 53. These bends are present at the encircled tangency points shown in FIGURE 3 for lever positions A and C. Between and illustrated contact regions, the levers have a relatively large contact radii which, in the case of squeeze lever 41, is infinite.
  • the torque available at tip 15 is maximum and rotational speed of the tip is a minimum between positions A and B of squeeze lever 41, while the torque is a minimum and rotational speed of tip 15 is a maximum for positions B through C of the squeeze lever, for a particular force and angular velocity of the squeeze lever.
  • pivot arm 62 rotates within bushings 22 in the handle portion of body 10, and the forward end of the pivot arm rotates within a bent tab at the lower end of curved lever 53.
  • the upper end of curved lever 53 has inwardly facing tabs 52 (FIGURE 3) which rotate within bushing 32 mounted in either side of slider 19.
  • pin 61 The location of pin 61 relative to squeeze lever 41 is such that the squeeze lever engages curved lever 53 by a sliding and rolling contact between squeeze lever positions A and B illustrated in FIGURE 2. However, between positions B and C, the two levers engage one another by a largely rolling contact, with minimal sliding.
  • the forces imparted upon the slider by curved lever 53 are essentially axial to the shaft, with minimal upward or downward components.
  • the length and relative position of pivot arm 62 and return spring assembly 23, 63 and 67, are such that the action of these components upon curved lever 53 counteract the non-axial forces imparted to the curved lever by squeeze lever 41.
  • the single bend at the upper end of squeeze lever 41 also serves to minimize non-axial forces. This cancellation of non-axial forces occurs for virtually any position of and force exerted upon lever 41, where the non-­axial forces consist of an upward or downward force on slider 19.
  • the performance of the return spring assembly 23, 63 and 67 has significant effect upon the usefulness of the tool of the invention.
  • the return spring assembly functions with other components of the tool to pre­vent friction through the cancellation of the non-axial for­ces, explained above.
  • the return spring assembly is constructed to provide a maximum return bias when it is extended in position A of the squeeze lever, while this return bias decreases or remains constant as the squeeze lever is moved towards position C.
  • F(a) is greater than or at least equal to F(c) in the illustrated assembly.
  • This is achieved by the torsion spring configuration of the return spring 67.
  • the force required to contract squeeze lever 41 from position A to position C is essentially constant even as the lever arm available through lever 53 to return bias lever 41 varies.
  • such an assembly allows a reliable return to the fully extended position, while excessive force is not required to achieve the retracted position, in which the ability of squeeze lever 41 to counteract the return spring action is at its lowest.
  • the operator normally grasps the downwardly extending grip handle portion 10A of body 10, such that his thumb rests horizontally in the concave region 10C at the upper end of the grip handle. His hand then wraps around the grip handle with his fingers around the squeeze lever 41. The index finger rests above the forward facing protrusion in vinyl cover 43 of the squeeze lever, while the remaining fingers are positioned below the protrusion. With the hand so positioned, the weight of the tool is comfortably supported by the flange 10B at the upper portion of the grip handle while the forward and back­ward tilt of the tool is controlled by the fingers positioned about the protrusion in vinyl cover 43.
  • the two distinct fulcrum regions are provided to facilitate control during operation of the tool.
  • the operator typically uses positions A through B of squeeze lever 41, which correspond to the upper fulcrum region and hence to the high torque/low driving speed zone of the squeeze stroke, for loosening or tightening threaded fasteners. He then uses positions B through C of squeeze lever 41, which correspond to the lower fulcrum region and hence to the low torque/high speed zone of the squeeze stroke, for driving the fastener once it has been loosened or until it is tightened.
  • the invention provides, therefore, a driving tool which is typically used rotatably to drive threaded fasteners into and out of appropriate receiving holes.
  • the tool of the invention is fully portable, both in storage and in use, since it requires no electrical or power source other than the operator's own hand.
  • the tool when used for light-to-medium duty applications, the tool provides driving speeds comparable with many motorized drivers, while enabling precise control of the fastener or other driven device.
  • Such precise control is possible with the tool of the invention through "torque feedback", wherein by a reaction to his squeezing effort, the operator instantly feels the effect of the torque being supplied to the driven fastener.
  • the tool of the invention is constructed to amplify within its internal components, either the force of the squeeze or the speed of the squeezing motion, through a varying lever arm mechanism.
  • the illustrated embodiment of the invention has been optimized conceptually and empirically, and it is intended to be asthetically pleasing and to provide efficient operation during actual use, while at the same time representing a simple design specifically intended for large-scale production using common mass production techniques.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Details Of Spanners, Wrenches, And Screw Drivers And Accessories (AREA)
  • Power Steering Mechanism (AREA)
  • Press Drives And Press Lines (AREA)
  • Surgical Instruments (AREA)
  • Portable Nailing Machines And Staplers (AREA)
EP88300825A 1986-10-28 1988-02-01 Werkzeug mit variablem Drehmoment-Antrieb Expired - Lifetime EP0328799B1 (de)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/923,897 US4739838A (en) 1986-10-28 1986-10-28 Hand-squeeze powered motorless driver
EP88300825A EP0328799B1 (de) 1988-02-01 1988-02-01 Werkzeug mit variablem Drehmoment-Antrieb
AT88300825T ATE92828T1 (de) 1988-02-01 1988-02-01 Werkzeug mit variablem drehmoment-antrieb.
DE88300825T DE3883203T2 (de) 1988-02-01 1988-02-01 Werkzeug mit variablem Drehmoment-Antrieb.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP88300825A EP0328799B1 (de) 1988-02-01 1988-02-01 Werkzeug mit variablem Drehmoment-Antrieb

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0328799A2 true EP0328799A2 (de) 1989-08-23
EP0328799A3 EP0328799A3 (en) 1990-01-10
EP0328799B1 EP0328799B1 (de) 1993-08-11

Family

ID=8199942

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88300825A Expired - Lifetime EP0328799B1 (de) 1986-10-28 1988-02-01 Werkzeug mit variablem Drehmoment-Antrieb

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0328799B1 (de)
AT (1) ATE92828T1 (de)
DE (1) DE3883203T2 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN114502329A (zh) * 2019-11-14 2022-05-13 喜利得股份公司 用于动力工具的手柄设备

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4524650A (en) * 1983-05-18 1985-06-25 Marks Joel S Squeeze-ratchet tool assembly
US4739838A (en) * 1986-10-28 1988-04-26 Goldmar Manufacturing Co. Hand-squeeze powered motorless driver

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4524650A (en) * 1983-05-18 1985-06-25 Marks Joel S Squeeze-ratchet tool assembly
US4739838A (en) * 1986-10-28 1988-04-26 Goldmar Manufacturing Co. Hand-squeeze powered motorless driver

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN114502329A (zh) * 2019-11-14 2022-05-13 喜利得股份公司 用于动力工具的手柄设备

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0328799A3 (en) 1990-01-10
ATE92828T1 (de) 1993-08-15
DE3883203D1 (de) 1993-09-16
EP0328799B1 (de) 1993-08-11
DE3883203T2 (de) 1994-03-17

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