JPH08323634A - Composite socket tool - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain structural strength equal to a metal-made one, nonconductivity, nonsparking property and corrosion resistance by providing a metal insert arranged at one opening of a nonmetallic elongated body, electrically insulated from the other opening and having an opening for receiving one corresponding element of related driven and driving elements by male-female connection. SOLUTION: A composite socket tool 10 comprises an elongaged body 11 and a metal insert 30 insert-molded in the body 11. The elongaged body 11 comprises a cylindrical driven end part 12 and a cylindrical driving end part 13 having a cross section diameter slightly larger than the driven end part 12. The driven end part 12 has a metal insert receiving opening 15 having an internal flat base part face 16 for closing the inner end of the inner peripheral surface 17 of circular cross section. The driving end part 13 has a fastener receiving opening 18 with a flat, circular base part face 19 and a side wall surface 20. The side wall 20 of the opening 18 includes an internal cylinder part 23 and an external fastener receiving part 24.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to socket wrench tools and the like, and more particularly to a composite socket wrench tool made almost entirely of glass reinforced composite material.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Traditionally, socket wrench tools and similar wrench tools have been made of steel, due to their strength and durability requirements.
Made of steel, or other material. Metal tools are manufactured using mechanical finishing and / or casting or forging processes. A significant disadvantage of metal tools is cost, both from a manufacturing and material standpoint. Furthermore, metal tools are not suitable for use in many applications, especially when there is a risk of impact. The use of metal tools for non-metal fasteners such as non-metal nuts and bolts is also undesirable because such fasteners are often damaged or damaged by the hardness of the metal tool.

Although insulated socket tools have been provided that include both metal and plastic, the plastic generally forms the exterior of the socket tool. An insulating tool is simply a standard conductive metal tool covered with an insulating layer or coating. This insulating layer can be easily damaged or degraded and can jeopardize the safety of the user if the tool's insulation is severely compromised. The ability to provide a socket tool with inherent or "intrinsic" insulation would be a major advance in the art.
Such tools are safer to use in or near live circuits, yet better protect the electrical components themselves.

Methods for making composite tools from glass fiber reinforced molding materials are well known. US Pat. No. 5,27
No. 1,300 discloses a fully non-metallic hand tool made entirely of composite material that is inexpensive to manufacture and meets the strength requirements of metal tools of comparable size. More specifically, the wrench tool is non-metallic and is therefore made of glass fiber reinforced plastic material that is non-magnetic, non-conductive, and non-sparking. Each end of the wrench box optionally features preformed inserts compression molded into the composite wrench body during the molding process. It would be advantageous to provide an insulating socket having the strength and size of a metal tool of comparable size.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a general object of the present invention to provide a socket tool made of composite material and including a metal insert molded therein.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a socket tool made of a non-conductive, non-sparking, corrosion resistant material that has dimensions and structural strengths that are about the same as similarly sized metal sockets. is there.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These and other features of the invention provide a socket tool including an elongated body having a driven end opening and a drive end opening defined by an outer surface and an associated inner surface. It is achieved by Further included is a metal insert disposed in the one opening, electrically isolated from the other opening, and having a cavity for receiving one of the corresponding one of the associated drive and driven elements in a hermaphroditic connection.

The invention consists of novel features and combinations of parts that are fully explained below, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims, in which various changes in detail depart from the spirit of the invention. It is understood that it can be done without doing so, or without compromising its advantages.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there is shown a composite socket tool 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention and embodying features of the present invention. Socket tool 10
Consists of an elongated body 11 and a metal insert 30 insert-molded into the body 11. Elongated body 11
Includes a cylindrical driven end portion 12 and a driving end portion 13 which is also cylindrical but has a cross-sectional diameter slightly larger than the driven end portion 12. The outer surface of the driven end portion 12 has serrations 14 that provide a convenient grip surface.
including.

The driven end portion 12 comprises a metal insert receiving opening 15, which is of circular cross-section inner peripheral surface 1.
7 has an inner flat base surface 16 which closes the inner end (see FIG. 2). The drive end portion 13 has a flat circular base surface 19
And fastener receiving opening 18 having side wall surface 20
including. The nut receiving opening 18 and the metal insert receiving opening 15 do not communicate and are separated by a wall 21.

The side wall surface 20 of the opening 18 is formed by the inner cylindrical portion 2
3 and an external fastener receiving portion 24. The portion 24 may have a polygonal shape but may receive a hexagonal fastening member so that the male and female coupling members can be coupled thereto to provide a rotational driving force.
The cross-sectional dimensions are used. The axial length of the fastener receiving portion 24 should be such that it accommodates a variety of fasteners of varying lengths, and may be of various axial lengths if desired.

Both ends of the elongated body 11 define a drive end 25 and a driven end 26 which are slightly chamfered at their periphery to reduce scratches and prevent surface damage by the socket tool 10. Has been done. The fastening member receiving portion 24 of the opening 18 is also chamfered at its outer end.

Regarding the material structure of the socket tool 10,
The elongated body 11 is formed by compression molding by conventional composite molding techniques using a high strength E-glass reinforced (60-65% weight random fiber approximately 1 inch long random fiber) sheet molding compound. Prior to the molding process, the metal insert 30 is first placed in the mold cavity and the body 11 is molded around the insert 30. The metal insert 30 has a generally flat base 32 and a square cross section 33.
It has an axial cavity 31 defined by and. A portion of the outer surface of the metal insert 30 is knurled to prevent rotation within the opening 17. The part 33 is
It is dimensioned to receive a drive stud of a drive tool (not shown) for mating engagement. The outer end portion 33 may be chamfered at 35.

The metal insert 30 is used in the socket tool 1.
It is electrically isolated from all exterior walls and fastener receiving openings 18 in elongated body 11 so as not to compromise the insulation (non-conducting) and non-spark properties of zero. The composite socket tool 10 has strength and dimensions approaching that of a conventional metal socket. Because the insert 30 is made of metal, it is much better suited to bear high contact stresses from the drive stud than all non-metal composite socket tools.

The socket tool 10 of FIGS. 1 to 3 has three
It is intended to replace similar metal / steel sockets, such as square drive sockets such as / 8 inch and 1/2 inch, and standard steel sockets with an insulating or plastic coating.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, there is shown a socket tool 10 'constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention and having an elongated body 11' and more particularly a drive end portion 13 '. Since it is used for a large-sized hexagonal fastening member, its dimensions are different from those of the socket tool 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In the illustrated embodiment, the socket tool 10 '
Is a 7/8 inch hex socket tool with a 3/8 inch square drive metal insert 30. It will be appreciated that reference numbers similar to those used in the socket tool 10 of FIGS. 1-3 are used to indicate similar elements. Socket tool 10 'is constructed similarly to that described in connection with socket tool 10 and is molded into the shape shown in the drawings (FIGS. 4-6).

The socket tool 10 'includes a drive end portion 1
3 ', the outer wall portion of which is tapered to expand radially and has a first cylindrical portion 23a and a second cylindrical portion 23b separated by a frustoconical surface portion 23c. A fastener receiving opening 18 'is provided. The fastener receiving portion, designated by reference numeral 24 ', has a cross-sectional shape similar to that of the portion 24 of the socket tool 10 of FIG. Has been sized.

In testing a 7/8 inch molded composite socket tool 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention, its average ultimate torque strength was found to be A for comparable sized steel sockets.
It exceeded the NSI minimum requirements and was shown to save 37% in weight. It has also been found that the molded serrations 14 provide an excellent gripping capability for steel sockets, allowing for easier manual operation and turning the socket with fingers.

While we have shown and described specific embodiments and some specific forms of the tool of the present invention, additional changes and modifications can be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects. What can be done will be recognized by experts in the field. Therefore, the purpose in the claims is to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the spirit of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined in the following claims when considered in their proper perspective based on the prior art.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a side elevational view in partial section of a socket tool constructed in accordance with the invention and embodying features of the invention; FIG.

2 is a left end elevational view of the socket tool of FIG. 1 showing the square drive end of the socket.

3 is a right end elevation view of the socket tool of FIG. 1 showing the hexagonal drive end of the socket.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a socket tool according to a second preferred embodiment.

5 is a left end elevational view of the socket tool of FIG. 4 showing the square drive end of the socket.

6 is a right end elevation view of the socket tool of FIG. 4 showing the hexagonal drive end of the socket.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── of the front page continued (72) inventor George Urikusu United States Michigan Guraddowi down, Siesta 1039 (72) inventor Marco e. Debequis 2610 (72) Olive Street, Racine, Wisconsin, USA Inventor Dean Jay. Iwinsky Ranong Drive W 171 S 8170, Muskego, Wisconsin, USA

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A non-metallic elongate body having a driven end opening and a drive end opening defined by a socket tool, an outer surface, and an associated inner surface, respectively, and one opening disposed in the other opening. Is a socket tool that includes a metal insert that is electrically isolated and that has an opening for receiving a corresponding one of the associated driven and drive elements in a hermaphroditic connection. 2. The socket tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated body is made of a plastic material. 3. The socket tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated body is made of glass fiber reinforced composite material. 4. The elongated body is compression molded high strength E.
The socket tool of claim 1, wherein the socket tool is made of glass reinforced vinyl ester material. 5. The socket tool of claim 1, wherein the elongated body is made of a non-conductive, non-sparking, corrosion resistant material. 6. The socket tool of claim 1, wherein the outer wall surface includes a knurled surface portion that provides a convenient grip surface. 7. The socket tool of claim 1, wherein the metal insert is located within the driven end opening. 8. The socket tool of claim 7, wherein the metal insert is insert molded within the elongated body. 9. The socket tool of claim 8, wherein the driven end opening encloses the entire length of the insert-molded metal insert. 10. The socket tool of claim 1, wherein the driven end opening and the drive end opening are separated by a transversely extending wall of the body.