The invention relates to holding a nut or a bolt after unscrewing or before screwing, preferably when this process is automated and, more particularly, to structure and methods for securely holding a nut or bolt within a socket by friction or by vacuum.
When using a socket wrench to install or remove a nut or bolt, there is a tendency for the nut or bolt to fall out of the socket when it is not engaged. When the nut or bolt is engaged, the retaining force on the nut or bolt is much greater than the holding force on the socket. Therefore, the wrenching tool, including the socket, can be retracted off of the nut or bolt.
Using a socket that holds the nut or bolt is useful in manual operation, but is particularly useful when the wrenching operation is automated, since there may not be an operator near the wrench to replace the nut or bolt if it falls from the socket.
Magnets have been used to hold a nut or bolt in a socket. However, there is a possibility that foreign, ferrous material may be attracted by the magnet and enter the socket, requiring an operator to remove the foreign material.
Thus, there is a need to provide a structure for holding a nut or bolt in a socket by friction or by a vacuum.
An objective of the invention is to fulfill the need referred to above. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is obtained by providing a socket for removing or installing a fastener having a hexagonal shaped portion. The socket includes a body having a longitudinal axis and opposing first and second ends. First surfaces define a tool-receiving portion at the first end. The tool-receiving portion is constructed and arranged to receive a portion of a tool. Second surfaces define a socket portion at the second end. The socket portion is constructed and arranged to receive and engage the portion of the fastener therein. Holding structure is associated with the socket portion and is constructed and arranged to non-magnetically hold the portion of the fastener in the socket portion so as to not fall out of the socket portion, without providing torque to the fastener when the socket is rotated during installation or removal of the fastener.
In accordance with another aspect, a method of holding a fastener with respect to a socket provides a socket having surfaces defining a socket portion. The socket is placed over a portion of a fastener so that the portion of the fastener is received in the socket portion. Holding structure, associated with the socket portion, is utilized to non-magnetically hold the portion of the fastener in the socket portion so as to not fall out of the socket portion, without providing torque to the fastener when the socket is rotated during installation or removal of the fastener.
Other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and the functions of the related elements of the structure, the combination of parts and economics of manufacture will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification.
The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which:
With reference to
The socket 10 includes at least one holding structure, generally indicated at 20. Each holding structure 20 includes a rigid tooth 24, preferably of metal, and a spring member 26, engaged with a back end 29 of the tooth 24. Each tooth 24 and associated spring member 26 is received in an opening 28 through the wall 30 of the body 12. The openings 28 extend perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis X and communicate with the socket portion 19 so that the tooth 24 extends into the socket portion 19. With reference to
The spring member 26 provides the associated tooth 24 with resilience, allowing the tooth 24 to compress when the socket 10 engages the fastener. In the embodiment, each spring member 26 is an elastic member such as a rubber pad, or an array of rubber material such as rubber balls. Alternatively, each spring member 26 can be a spring such as a coil, leaf, or other type of small spring applying a spring force to the rigid tooth 24. As best shown
The teeth 24 provide a sufficient friction force on the head of the fastener to securely grasp it and keep it from falling out of the socket portion 19. When three teeth 24 are provided, the teeth 24 also provide sufficient force on the fastener head to keep fastener aligned concentrically with the socket portion 19. This will allow the fastener to rotate concentrically with the socket portion 19 making the fastening process easier. The teeth 24 are strictly intended to retain the fastener and do not exert torque on the fastener for fastening or unfastening purposes when the socket 10 is rotated. The teeth 24 are intentionally located on the flat surfaces 18 of the socket portion 19 rather than on the corners to retain the torque transmission capabilities of the socket portion 19.
As shown in
Returning to
Instead of providing the holding structures 20 as in the embodiment of
The holding structure 20′ further includes a collar 60 disposed about the drive shaft 50 so as to cover the ports 58. The tube 48 is connected with a port 62 through the collar 60 and port 62 communicates with ports 58. A bushing or bearing 64 is provided between the collar 60 and the drive shaft 50 permitting the drive shaft 50 and socket 10″ therein to rotate with respect to the stationary collar 60. The bushing or bearing 64 also serves as a seal between the collar 60 and the drive shaft 50. Alternatively, separate seals may be used to seal the gap between the collar 60 and drive shaft 50. A vacuum, provided by the vacuum source 46, draws air through the tool receiving-portion 17 of the socket 10″, through ports 58 and 62 and tube 48. Since tool-receiving portion 17 and the socket portion 19 of the socket 10″ communicate with each other, due to the vacuum, the portion of a fastener in the socket portion 19 is held within the socket portion 19.
The cap 65 and drive shaft 50 can be considered to be vacuum port structure. The vacuum can be reversed to blow air through the socket 10 to remove debris.
Thus, disclosed embodiments non-magnetically hold a portion of a fastener to keep it from falling out of the socket portion 19 since friction or vacuum is employed. Since no magnetic forces are required, the embodiments eliminate the possibility of foreign, ferrous material being attracted to the socket and enter the socket portion 19. Another advantage of the socket is that an outside diameter thereof is similar to that of conventional sockets. Thus, the socket can engage fasteners that are close to obstructions or close to neighboring fasteners.
The foregoing preferred embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the structural and functional principles of the present invention, as well as illustrating the methods of employing the preferred embodiments and are subject to change without departing from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit of the following claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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1585338 | Fisher et al. | May 1926 | A |
3005367 | Vose | Oct 1961 | A |
4593583 | Singleton | Jun 1986 | A |
5309798 | Markwart et al. | May 1994 | A |
6382053 | Macor | May 2002 | B1 |
6925914 | Hsien | Aug 2005 | B2 |
7162938 | Peters | Jan 2007 | B1 |
7246540 | Rillera | Jul 2007 | B2 |
7752946 | Wang | Jul 2010 | B2 |
Entry |
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Grip-Tite(TM) Super Socket Sets found at http://www.bt-andf.com/index.php, accessed on Sep. 28, 2012, copyright 2006. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20140116203 A1 | May 2014 | US |