US3398612A

US3398612A - Drivers for setting fasteners

Info

Publication number: US3398612A
Application number: US613698A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald W Batten
Original assignee: Hi Shear Corp
Current assignee: Hi Shear Corp
Priority date: 1966-12-27
Filing date: 1966-12-27
Publication date: 1968-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1985-08-27

Description

Aug. 27, 1968 w, BATTEN 3,398,612

DRIVERS FOR SETTING FASTENERS Filed Dec. 27, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 4 ii oz/mve co/vmr/o/v l3 ovmewwma comm/01v LEI/ER HANDLE 02 mm Fan usvsz BACK-OFF 43 $3 I l HIH. I. g g w 1765 I I l l 47 46 /3 44 $4 i L l /5 33 4/ \I/ l /0 4o INVENTOR.

RONALD W BATTEN ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 27, 1968 R. w. BATTEN DRIVERS FOR SETTINGFASTENERS Filed Dec;

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Ron A10 M 8477'! BY United States Patent 3,398,612 DRIVERS FOR SETTING FASTENERS Ronald W. Batten, Torrance, 'Calif., assignor to Hi- Shear Corporation, Torrance, Calif., a corporation of California Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 587,320, Oct. 17, 1966. This application Dec. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 613,698

3 Claims. (Cl. 81-54) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to drivers for setting fasteners, such as threaded screws and nuts. A driver, according to the present invention, includes an overrunning clutch adapted to rotate a fastener-engaging tool member in one direction, thereby driving an engaged fastener in the one direction, and further adapted to be rotated in an opposite, or back-01f direction, whereby the tool member is de-coupled from rotational movement with the clutch. The clutch is preferably an overrunning roller clutch. The driver may be backed off and driven with infinitely variable incremental movements.

The invention additionally relates to a pulsating power means for the wrench.

This application is a continuation-in-part of patent application, Ser. No. 587,320, filed Oct. 17, 1966, now abandoned, for Drivers for Setting Fasteners, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

This invention relates to drivers for setting fasteners, such as threaded screws and nuts. Wrenches and screw drivers are well known examples of such drivers.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a driver for setting fasteners with a fastener-engaging tool member and an overrunning clutch for engaging the fastener-engaging tool member so as to rotate with the driver in one direction and for disengaging the tool member when the driver rotates in an opposite direction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a driver for driving a tool member, which driver has a back-off and a drive movement, and which driver is capable of small and infinitely variable incremental backoif and drive movements. With such an arrangement, a mechanic is no longer constrained by surrounding structure to backing off a driver through a specific number of degrees before taking another bite on the work. Instead, he may make as many small bites as he wishes, and back off through any number of degrees to achieve the desired results.

' An optional and desirable object of the present invention is to provide a driver for driving a tool member, which driver is operated by a motor, and which can operate incrementally to take advantage of the smallincrement feature of the driver itself.

According to the present invention, a driver is provided for rotating a fastener tool. The driver comprises an overrunning clutch adapted to rotate a fastener-engaging tool member in one direction, thereby causing the tool member to rotate an engaged fastener in the one direction. The driver is further adapted to be rotated in the opposite, or back-off direction, thereby decoupling the tool member from rotational movement with said overrunning clutch.

An optional feature of the present invention resides in the use of a roller type of overrunning, or one-way clutch assembly having cam-bearing surfaces on an outer member connected to a driver of a fastening tool. A roller-retaining means contains a plurality of rollers which are adapted to engage the tool member to rotational movement with said cam-bearing outer. member when the driver is rotated in the driving direction, and the rollers are further adapted to release the tool memher from rotational movement when the driver is rotated in the back-off direction. The clutch thereby allows incremental back-ofl. and drive movement of the driver through angles of any size.

The above and other features of this invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partly in cutaway crosssection which illustrates a hand wrench according to a preferred form of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are cutaway views partly in cutaway cross-section taken along lines 22 and 3--3 respectively, in FIG. 1 showing different operating conditions of the wrench of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation, partly in cutaway crosssection, of another embodiment of a wrench according to the present invention using a tool element which is directly insertable in the overrunning clutch;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation, partly in cutaway crosssection, of still another form of the invention showing a screw driver using the principles of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of still another embodiment of a wrench according to the present invention characterized in the use of an extendable, reversible adapter for providing the capacity of driving both counterclockwise and clockwise;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a power-driven wrench according to still another form of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top elevation of the wrench illustrated in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a cutaway top elevation of another form of a power-driven wrench according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred form of a wrench according to the present invention having a body 10 (sometimes called a driver member) and a lever handle 11 attached thereto. A cylindrical passage 12 extends through body 10. An overrunning roller clutch 13 is located within passage 12 and is integrally connected to body 10. A coupler 14 has a cylindrical shaft 15 set within roller clutch 13. Body 10, roller clutch 13 and shaft 15 are co-axially aligned about a common axis. Annular shoulders 16 and 17 on coupler 14 are located at each end of shaft 15 and abut the ends of the roller clutch to retain shaft 15 within the roller clutch, thereby retaining coupler 14 to roller clutch 15. When so assembled, passage 12, roller clutch 13 and shaft 15 are axially aligned so that handle 11 may be rotated about the axis to drive or back-off the wrench.

Adapters

18 and 19 project from annular shoulders 16 and 17 of coupler 14 opposite shaft 15 and carry

ball detents

20 and 21, respectively.

Adapters

18 and 19 are adapted to receive suitable tool elements or socket members as are indicated by

numbers

22 and 23.

Ball detents

20 and 21 provide suitable locating and retaining means for attaching

tool elements

22 and 23 to adapters 18 and 19.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate an overrunning roller clutch 13 within wrench housing 10. One convenient example of a clutch 13 is available from the Torrington Company, Torrington, Conn., as Model Number RC-l62ll0. Clutch 13 comprises a one-piece retaining and actuating cage 24 fixed to housing 10. Located between the two end surfaces 24a on cage 24 are a plurality of peripheral teeth 25 forming sloping wedge-shaped cam-bearing surfaces 30. Longitudinal bars 26 extend between the ends of cage 24, and an integral roller-retaining step 27 is located on the inner edge of each bar. An integral bifurcated leaf spring 28 projects from the mid point (not shown) of the front face of each bar 26. Rollers 29 are retained in the space between cam surfaces 30, steps 37 and leaf springs 28.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, when body o-fthe wrench is rotated in a clockwise direction (such as when tightening right hand bolt threads), rollers 29 are: urged toward steps 27 due to springs 28 and become wedged between cam-bearing surfaces 30 and cylindrical shaft 15. The wedging of rollers 29 between cam-bearing surface 30 and shaft prevents the rollers from rotating. Shaft 15 thus rotates with body 10 due to the wedging action of rollers 29 against shaft 15 and cam-bearing surfaces 30.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, when body 10 of the wrench is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, (such as when backing oif lever handle 11) rollers 29 are urged against springs 28 due to friction between the surface of cylindrical shaft 15 and rollers 29. Since rollers 29 are free from contact with cam-bearing surfaces 30, rollers 29 are permitted to rotate about their own axis as cage 24 urges rollers 29 in a counterclockwise path around cylindrical shaft 15. Shaft 15 thus remains stationary while body 10 and rollers 29 rotate about it.

In practice, a suitable tool, such as illustrated at 22, is attached to adapter 18- or 19 in a manner hereinbefore described. The assembled tool element and coupler 14 (sometimes called tool member) are rotated by rotational movement of handle 11 and body 10; The tool element is attached to a suitable nut or stud (not shown) which may be tightened by providing a motion to lever handle 11 similar to that which would be applied to a ratchet wrench.

In the driving condition as illustrated in FIG. 2, the positive action of the rollers against cam-bearing surfaces 30 and the surface of shaft 15 will cause shaft 15 to rotate through an angle by locking onto the shaft. In the backotf condition as illustrated in FIG. 3, handle 11 may be backed-01f through any incremental angle, and the rollers will release from their wedged position to allow clutch 24 to overrun through a similar incremental angle.

To loosen a nut or stud, a suitable tool element or socket such as illustrated at 23, is attached to adapter 19. Tool element 23 is engaged to the nut or stud to be loosened, and lever handle 11 is provided with a motion similar to the well known motion given to ratchet wrenches. Again, the motion may be imparted through any incremental angle. The driving direction is reversed by using the opposite end of the shaft for driving.

Adapters

18 and 19 preferably are of similar design so that the same tool element or socket member may be alternatively attached to either adapter so that the same tool element or socket member may be used for either tightening or loosening fasteners such as nuts and studs.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified wrench of the present invention using a tool element which is directly insertable within the overrunning roller clutch from either side. The wrench has a body 10 (sometimes called a driver member) and a lever handle 11 attached thereto. A cylindrical passage 12 passes through body 10 and an overrunning roller clutch 13 is integrally connected to body '10 in passage 12. Shaft 15 is connected to tool member 31 and is positioned within roller clutch 13 in the manner heretofore described. Integrally connected to tool member 31 is suitable socket portion or tool element 32 for engagement with a nut, stud or other fastener.

A radial groove 33 is located in shaft 15 at the end opposite from socket 32. Within groove 33 is set a suitable expansion spring or ball detent 34 for abutment against one end of roller clutch 13. Shoulder 35 of tool element 31 abuts the opposite end of roller clutch 13.

Shaft 15 is inserted within the clutch 13 by compressing spring or ball detent 34 into groove 33 and inserting shaft 15 into the cylindrical opening of clutch 13. Shaft 15 may be inserted within clutch 13 from either side so that tool member 31 may be alternatively used for either a clockwise or counterclockwise driving condition.

FIG. 6 illustrates another form of a wrench according to the present invention. Overrunning roller clutch 13 is integrally connected to body 10 of the wrench. Coupler 36 passes through passage 37 within roller clutch 13 and carries a pair of

annular shoulders

38 and 39. Ball detent 40 is located medial the two endsof coupler 36. Coupler 36 is constructed so that when shoulder 38 abuts one end of roller clutch 13, ball detent 40 extends beyond the surface of coupler 36 outside of passage 37 to retain the coupler in place. Ball detent 40 maybe released by compressing it into coupler 36 to allow the coupler to be moved to the position shown by dashed lines 36a. When the coupler is in the position shown by the dashed lines, shoulder 39 abuts the opposite end of roller clutch 13, while ball detent 40 retains thecoupler in a position by extending beyond the surfance of coupler 36 outside of passage 37.

A pair of.

adapters

41 and 42 are integrally formed within each end of coupler 36.

Adapters

41 and 42 are adapted toreceive suitable tool elements or sockets (not shown). One adapter is fittedwith a tool element for driving a fastener, while the other adapter is used for removing a fastener. The assembled tool element and coupler (sometimes called tool member) are rotated by rotational movement of the handle and body 10.

FIG. 5 illustrates a screw driver according to the present invention. Overrunning roller clutch 13 is integrally connected to handle 43 (sometimes called a driver member) of the screw driver. Coupler 44 carries an annular shoulder 45 for abutment against one end of overrunning clutch 13. Shaft 15 extends from shoulder 45 of the coupler through overrunning clutch 13 and carries a threaded portion 46 which mates with coupler 47. Coupler 47 has an end portion 48 which abuts the opposite end of roller clutch 13.

Suitable adapters

49 and 50 are formed at the opposite ends of couplers 44 and 47, respectively. Couplers 44 and 47 are adapted to axially rotate with shaft 15 in handle 43 of the screw driver. Suitable ball detent receiving means 51 and 52 are located in each of the

adapters

49 and 50 respectively. A suitable screw driving blade 53 is provided having a mating adapter 54. Adapter 54 carries a ball detent 55 and is mateable with either

adapter

49 or 50 so that ball detent 55 is received within ball detent receiving means 51 or 52, as illustrated. The assembled coupler and blade 53 (sometimes called a tool member) are rotated by rotational movement of handle 43.

The screw driver illustrated in FIG. 5 is useful for driving and removing screws, depending on which of the adapters the screw driving blade 53 is connected to. The screw driver is operated by imparting ratchet motion to handle 43 round the axis of the tool in a manner similar to that imparted to ratchet wrenches and screw drivers. Like the wrench illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, the screw driver may be backed off and then driven through any arbitrary angle.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a power-driven wrench according to the present invention. Overrunning clutch is mounted to driver member 61 and has a passage 62 formed about axis 63 for receiving a suitable fastener socket (not shown). The fastener socket assembly is preferably of the type described and illustrated in any of FIGS. 1-6. Integrally formed with driver member 61 is lever arm 64. Driver member 60 is journaled to housing 65 and is free to rotate about axis 63.

An actuating level 66 is rotationally mounted by fulcrum means 67 to housing 65. The fulcrum means may, for example, be a bearing. An adjustment screw 68 is threaded through passage 69 in actuating lever 66 and is fixedly located by lock nut 70. End 71 of adjustment screw 68 is contiguous to one side of lever arm 64. Spring bias means 72, retained within retainer 73 in housing 65, is adapted to be contiguous to the opposite side of lever arm 64 from the adjustment screw 68. Spring bias means 72, which may, for example, be a coil spring, biases lever arm 64 against end 71 of the adjustment screw.

Motor means 74, which may, for example, be a compressed air motor, is mounted to housing 65 and is operated by lever 75 to rotate shaft 76. Cam 77 is amounted to shaft 76 and is placed contiguous to cam-follower 78, which in turn is mounted to actuating lever 66 by shaft 79. The motor and cam arrangement provide a source of pulsating power to lever arm 64. Other suitable sources of pulsating power may be used, such as poppets and other reciprocators.

In operation of the power driven wrench, when motor 74 is energized, it rotatoes cam 77 about axis 82. The camming motion against the contiguous cam follower 78 causes actuating arm 66 to reciprocate about fulcrum point 67 so as to reciprocate lever arm 64 about axis 63 as in a walking beam. Spring bias means 72 biases lever arm 64 against screw 68. A reciprocal motion is imparted to driver member 61, thereby driving the overrunning clutch in alternate clockwise and counterclockwise directions. The overrunning clutch controls the driving of the fastener in a manner hereinbefore described.

The projection of the adjustment screw from the actuating lever may be adjusted by turning the screw in threaded passage 69 and fixing the projection by action of lock nut 70. The adjustment screw thereby controls the angular position of lever arm 64. Furthermore, adjustment screw 68 may be positioned through other passages 80 along actuating lever 66 to thereby vary the tongue output on driver 61.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modification of the cam means used for reciprocating actuating lever 66 of the power driven wrench. Face cam 81 is connected to shaft 76 of the motor (not shown) and is placed contiguous to cam-follower 78 which is mounted to actuating lever 66 by shaft 79 in the manner hereinbefore described As shaft 76 rotates, face cam 81 causes actuating lever 66 to reciprocate about pivot point 67 in the manner hereinbefore described.

The present invention thus provides a driver which is quiet, efficient, inexpensive and requires little maintenance. The operation of the rollers on the wedging surface provides positive action on the driving tool and virtually eliminates backlash. The back-off and drive movements may be of any arbitrary incremental angle, as the roller clutch provides positive drive and back-off movements through any are.

The fastening tool is useful as a hand tool, and also as a power-driven tool where a source of driving movement is available.

This invention is not to be limited by the embodiments shown in the drawings and described in the description which are given by Way of example and not of limitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A driver adapted to rotate a fastener about an axis, said driver comprising: a tool member being adapted to engage a fastener for turning the same; a driver member having a first axis and adapted to rotate in either of two directions about said first axis; an overrunning clutch connected to one of said members and connectable to the other of said members, said overrunning clutch being adapted to rotate said tool member upon rotational movement of said driver in one of the said two directions; a housing; a lever arm connected to said driver member normal to said first axis and capable of rotating about said first axis relative to said housing, and actuating means mounted to said housing to pulsate said lever arm about said first axis relative to said housing, said actuating means comprising an actuating lever having a second axis about which it may pulsate, bias means for biasing said lever arm against said actuating lever at a first point remote from first and second axes, and pulsating means for pulsating said actuating lever.

2. A driver according to claim 1 wherein said pulsating means comprises cam means connected to said actuating lever at a second point remote from said first point and from said second axis, said cam means being adapted to be rotated to pulsate said actuating lever.

3. A driver according to claim 1 further including adjustment means mounted to said actuating lever, said bias means biasing said lever arm against said adjustment means, said adjustment means being capable of providing adjustment of the torque delivered to said driver member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,726,563 12/1955 Blackburn 8158.1 2,711,110 6/1955 Brame 8158.1 3,204,496 9/1965 Ingram 8159.1 3,256,758 6/1966 Medesha 74125.5 X 3,329,185 7/1967 Hettich et al 81-59.1 X

FOREIGN PATENTS 882,159 7/ 1953 Austria.

JAMES L. JONES, JR., Primary Examiner.