US3895828A - Gripping device for accommodating either male or female components - Google Patents

Abstract

A gripping device which includes an outer housing defining a chamber having an open end into which a plurality of coaxial sleeves centered about a center member is telescopically fitted. The center member and each sleeve are individually spring biased so as to have an end portion which protrudes from the housing chamber open end. The center member and each sleeve are shiftable relative to each other along the axis of the center member between extended and retracted positions to engage various sized protruding and socket type components.

Description

United States Patent Bitantis 1 51 July 22, 1975 [54] GRIPPING DEVICE FOR 3,127,797 4/1964 Rogers 81/185 X ACCOMMODATING EITHER MALE 3,127,798 4/1964 G01 81/185 X OR FEMALE COMPONENTS 3,331,619 7/1967 Muelling 280/503 X 3,624,811 11/1971 Brackett 280/503 X Inventor: Edward Bitantis, 1639 Howard,

Niles, Mich. 49120 Filed: July 22, 1974 Appl. No.: 490,678

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 396,766, Sept. 13.

1973, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. 280/493; 280/460; 280/503; 81/185 [51] Int. Cl. B60D H14 [58] Field of Search 280/493, 503; 180/14 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,287,955 6/1942 Zunino 280/503 X 2,424,095 7/1947 Horton... 280/503 UX 2,735,325 2/1956 Rudd 81/71 Primary ExaminerLeo Friaglia Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Oltsch & Knoblock ABSTRACT 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures GRIPPING DEVICE FOR ACCOMODATING EITHER MALE OR FEMALE COMPONENTS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is a continuation-in-part of Application Ser. No. 396,766, filed Sept. 13, 1973. and now abandoned SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a gripping device which is usable to engage various sized protruding and socket type components.

Such a gripping device includes an outer housing having a side wall defining a chamber having an open end. A center member having a plurality of sleeves telescopically fitted thereover is located within the housing chamber. The center member and sleeves protrude outwardly from the open end of the chamber. Biasing means serve to urge the center member and each sleeve into an extended position with each of the center member and sleeves being shiftable relative to the others into a retracted position to accommodate the male or female component.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device for gripping multiple sized male and female components.

Another object of this invention is to provide a self contained device for turning multiple sized bolts or screws.

Another object of this invention is to provide a tow bar for aircraft incorporating a pair of gripping devices which can accommodate both male and female grip components carried by the aircraft.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the inventions description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the gripping device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line,3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gripping device shown in FIG. 1 engaging a socket head screw.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of the gripping device of FIG. 1 engaging a hex head bolt.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the gripping device of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a view of the gripping device of FIG. 6 connected to an aircraft landing gear.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 88 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The preferred embodiments illustrated are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. They are chosen and described in order to explain the principles of the invention and its application and practical use to thereby enable oth ers skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

The gripping device illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 is of the wrench type and includes an outer housing 10 having a side wall 12 and an end wall 14 which define a cham ber 16 having an open end oppositely located from end wall 14. Housing side wall 12 is shown as being multiple sided to facilitate engagement with a gripping or leverage member for turning the device. In other construction of this invention, it is to be understood that housing 10 may be constructed so as to fit a socket wrench or have a handle, such as that shown in US. Pat. No. 3,262,338, attached thereto to facilitate its turning.

A post or center member 18 and a plurality of sleeves 20 are located within housing chamber 16. Sleeves 20 fit telescopically over center member 18 and are coaxial therewith. The cross sectional configuration of each sleeve 20 and center member 18 is non-circular, such as the hexagonal shape illustrated, so as to facilitate engagement, as will be later described, of the center member and sleeves with a fastening member. The inner surface of housing side wall 12 is also preferably configured to complementally receive sleeves 20. Center member 18 and each sleeve 20 are shiftable relative to each other within chamber 16 along the direction of the longitudinal axis of the center member.

Center member 18 and sleeves 20 each have an elongated slot 22 formed therein. A transverse pin 24 extends through slots 22 in the center member and sleeves and is anchored at each end to housing side wall 12. A plurality of springs 26 or similar biasing means are housed within chamber 16 and extend between housing end wall 14 and sleeves 20 and shoulder 28 of center member 18 so as to contact and urge the sleeves and center member outwardly into extended positions against pin 24 in which the outer end portions of the sleeves and center member protrude from the open end of housing chamber 16, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, with the exposed end edges 21 thereof being coplanar. Center member 18 and each sleeve 20 is biased so as to be individually shiftable relative to housing 10 from the extended position shown in FIGS. 1-3 into a retracted position in which pin 24 contacts the front edge 30 of the slot 22 therein, such as illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a description of the method of operation of the gripping device above described will now follow. In FIG. 4 the device is shown making engagement with a multiple sided socket 32 formed in the head 34 of a socket head screw. Center member 18 and perhaps one or more sleeves 20, depending upon thesize of socket 32, will be caused to enter the socket as end edges 21 of the sleeves are pushed into contact with screw head 34. The sleeves 20 which have a transverse dimension across the outer surfaces thereof exceeding the transverse dimension of socket 32 will engage the outer face 35 of head 34 and be retracted or pushed rearwardly into chamber 16 of housing 10, causing compression of those springs 26 associated with the retracted sleeves. The outer surface of the outermost sleeve 20 which protrudes into socket 32 will complementally engage the inner surface of the socket to turn the fastening means upon rotation of housing 10.

In FIG. 5, the gripping device is shown making contact with the head 36 of a hex head bolt 38. When engaging bolt head 36 or a similar protrusion, center member 18 and perhaps one or more sleeves 20, depending upon the size of the head or protrusion, will be urged from their extended positions into retracted positions, allowing the remaining sleeves to fit over and make engagement with the head or protrusion. Again, springs 26 allow the center member 18 and those sleeves having a transverse dimension across the inner surfaces thereof not exceeding the transverse dimension of bolt heat 36 to shift from their extended into their retracted positions relative to the remaining sleeves.

In tightening a nut upon a bolt, it is common for the threaded end of the bolt to extend beyond the nut. Thus, when the gripping device described in FIGS. l5

is utilized to tighten a nut onto a bolt, one or more sleeves will slide over the nut while one or more of the other sleeves of the device will slide over the protruding threaded end of the bolt and abut the outer face of the nut, thus permitting tightening of the nut with the center member 18 and sleeves 20 forming a twostepped orientation relative to each other. To add guiding stability to center member 18 and sleeves 20, the center member may be formed with a coaxial guide part 40 which extends rearwardly from shoulder 28 of the center member. Guide part 40 may fit slidably into an opening 42 in the end wall 14 of housing with springs 26 concentrically positioned about the guide part.

In FIGS. 6-8 the gripping device of this invention is shown incorporated into a tow bar for aircraft. The tow bar 50 illustrated includes rod parts 52 which are hinged together at one end. The opposite end of rod parts 52 carry gripping devices 54 which are of the construction of the gripping device shown in FIGS. 1-5 and which has a plurality of telescopically interfitting spring biased coaxial sleeves 55 seated within an open ended housing 53 which is secured to rod parts 52. The sleeves 55 of gripping devices 54 are preferably circular in cross section and not multiple sided as shown in the previously described figures. The relative movement between center member 51, sleeves 55 and outer housing 53 of gripping devices 54 is of the same manner and for a similar purpose as that described for the gripping device in FIGS. 1-5. The open end of the outer housings 53 of gripping devices 54 are oppositely disposed and normally positioned in a juxtaposed relationship as that shown in FIG. 6 through the operation of a spring biased link member 56 which connects rod parts 52 between gripping devices 54 and the hinged ends of the rod parts. Spring 57 in link member 56 serves to normally urge rod parts 52 together. An opening 58 is formed in the hinged ends of rod parts 52 so as to enable a clevis or hook from a towing vehicle to be connected to the tow bar.

Most aircraft have a pair of oppositely positioned sockets 60 or protruding lugs 61 which form a part of or are secured to its landing gear or similar accessible structural component of the aircraft and to which the tow bar of this invention can be connected. In FIG. 6 the landing gear 62 of the aircraft is shown for illustrative purposes both with sockets 60 (only one shown) being formed in the hub of the wheel at the axis thereof and with protrusions or lugs 61 located above the wheel. To connect tow bar 50 to the aircraft, rod parts 52 of the tow bar are manually spread apart, causing an extension of biased link member 56. Each gripping device 54 has its open end placed over a socket 60. Upon the release of rod parts 52, the spring 57 within link member 56 will cause gripping devices 54 to be urged toward one another with those sleeves 55 having transverse dimensions not exceeding the transverse dimen sion of sockets 60 fitting into the socket and those sleeves 55 having a transverse dimension exceeding the diameter of sockets 60 being shifted from their extended into their retracted positions within the outer housing 53 of the gripping devices 54. With a portion of each gripping device 54 extending into a socket 60 in the landing gear 62 of the aircraft, a towing means can be connected to the opposite end of the tow bar at opening 58 and the aircraft towed or pushed to a desired location. When utilizing tow bar 50 with aircraft having oppositely extending lugs 61 instead of sockets 60, the sleeves of the gripping devices 54 will slide over the protruding lugs in much the same fashion as the sleeves of the gripping device shown in FIG. 5 slip over the head 36 of bolt 38. In this manner tow bar 50 is adapted to accommodate various types of cooperating lugs and sockets upon aircraft for the purpose of securing the tow bar to the aircraft in preparation for towing. It is to be understood that in some constructions of the tow bar of this invention. a single rod part may be utilized in conjunction with a shiftable leg member with both the rod part and leg member carrying a gripping device 54. I

It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details above given but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A gripping device for towing aircraft, said aircraft having a tow connection including either oppositely extending protrusions or oppositely located outwardly opened socket parts, said gripping device comprising an elongated bar means adapted at one end for connection to a tow means and having its other end defining a pair of opposed grip means shiftable toward and away from another, each grip means having an outer housing, said housing including (a) a side wall defining a chamber within said housing with said chamber having an open end and (b) a center member having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface, and (c) a plurality of sleeves telescopically fitted about said center member and being coaxial therewith with said center member and sleeves fitting within said housing chamber and protruding from said chamber at the open end thereof into extended positions and (d) means securing said sleeves and center member to said housing within the chamber thereof with said securement means permitting relative shiftable movement between said sleeves and center member and (e) biasing means individually urging said sleeves and center member into said extended positions with each sleeve having inner and outer surfaces, the outer surfaces of each sleeve and center member forming a socket part engaging surface, the inner surface of each sleeve forming a protrusion engaging surface, said sleeves and said center member being shiftable relative to each other along the axis of the center member between retracted positions wherein said sleeves and center members are shifted further into said housing chambers and said extended positions to engage various sized socket parts and protrusions, said pair of grip means for engaging either said socket parts or protrusions of the aircraft tow connection when shifted toward one another enable said tow means when connected to said bar means to tow said aircraft.

2. The gripping device of claim 1 wherein said bar means includes two rod parts hinged together at one end, said hinged ends including means for connection to said tow means, the opposite end of each rod part carrying said grip means, the open ends of said housing chambers of the grip means being opposed, said grip means being shiftable towardand away from one another upon movement of said rod parts about their hinged ends, biasing means normally urging said grip means toward one another.

3. The gripping device of claim 2 wherein said biasing means includes spring means engaging said rod parts between each of its hinged ends and gripmeans.

Claims (3)

1. A gripping device for towing aircraft, said aircraft having a tow connection including either oppositely extending protrusions or oppositely located outwardly opened socket parts, said gripping device comprising an elongated bar means adapted at one end for connection to a tow means and having its other end defining a pair of opposed grip means shiftable toward and away from another, each grip means having an outer housing, said housing including (a) a side wall defining a chamber within said housing with said chamber having an open end and (b) a center member having a longitudinal axis and an outer surface, and (c) a plurality of sleeves telescopically fitted about said center member and being coaxial therewith with said center member and sleeves fitting within said housing chamber and protruding from said chamber at the open end thereof into extended positions and (d) means securing said sleeves and center member to said housing within the chamber thereof with said securement means permitting relative shiftable movement between said sleeves and center member and (e) biasing means individually urging said sleeves and center member into said extended positions with each sleeve having inner and outer surfaces, the outer surfaces of each sleeve and center member forming a socket part engaging surface, the inner surface of each sleeve forming a protrusion engaging surface, said sleeves and said center member being shiftable relative to each other along the axis of the center member between retracted positions wherein said sleeves and center members are shifted further into said housing chambers and said extended positions to engage various sized socket parts and protrusions, said pair of grip means for engaging either said socket parts or protrusions of the aircraft tow connection when shifted toward one another enable said tow means when connected to said bar means to tow said aircraft.

2. The gripping device of claim 1 wherein said bar means includes two rod parts hinged together at one end, said hinged ends including means for connection to said tow means, the opposite end of each rod part carrying said grip means, the open ends of said housing chambers of the grip means being opposed, said grip means being shiftable toward and away from one another upon movement of said rod parts about their hinged ends, biasing means normally urging said grip means toward one another.

3. The gripping device of claim 2 wherein said biasing means includes spring means engaging said rod parts between each of its hinged ends and grip means.

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