Claims
- 1. A torque indicator, comprising:
an upper member including an upper member extension, the upper member extension displaying an upper member contact surface; a lower member with a lower member extension, the lower member extension displaying a lower member contact surface; and a compression member, configured to be disposed between the upper member and the lower member, the upper member, the lower member and the compression member accommodating a threaded connector therethrough, the upper member and lower member matable, wherein the upper member contact surface slidingly contacts the lower member contact surface, the upper member contact surface displaced relative to the lower member contact surface and the upper member extension biased outwardly when the connector is rotated, the upper member contact surface displaced past the lower member contact surface thereby generating a sound and the upper member extensions returning to an unbiased position when the connector has been rotated to a predetermined torque level.
- 2. The torque indicator of claim 1, the upper member including a plurality of upper member extensions.
- 3. The torque indicator of claim 1, the upper member including at least three upper member extensions.
- 4. The torque indicator of claim 1, the upper member including a generally cylindrical element and a lower element disposed within the cylindrical element, the lower member extension depending from the cylindrical element.
- 5. The torque indicator of claim 1,
the upper member including a plurality of upper member extensions, each upper member extension displaying an upper member locking surface, the lower member displaying a lower member locking surface, the upper member locking surface and the lower member locking surface lockingly contacting when the connector has been rotated to the predetermined torque level.
- 6. The torque indicator of claim 5, the upper member defining an upper member recess, the lower member defining a lower member recess, the upper member recess and the lower member recess configured to accommodate the compression member therebetween.
- 7. The torque indicator of claim 6, in which the lower element disposed within the cylindrical element contacting the connector when the connector is rotated.
- 8. The torque indicator of claim 6, in which the lower element disposed within the cylindrical element is substantially planar.
- 9. The torque indicator of claim 1, the lower member further comprising a contact element, the contact element emitting a sound when impacted by the upper member extension when the upper member extension returns to the unbiased position.
- 10. The torque indicator of claim 9, the contact element disposed proximate a lower periphery of the lower member.
- 11. The torque indicator of claim 1, further comprising a cap, the cap matable to the upper member or the lower member.
- 12. A torque indicator, comprising:
an upper member including a generally cylindrical element and a plurality of upper member extensions depending from the cylindrical element, each of the plurality of upper member extensions with an angled upper member contact surface; a lower member with a peripheral angled lower member contact surface, the lower member contact surface contacting the upper member contact surfaces when the upper member and the lower member are mated; and a compression ring operably disposable between the upper member and lower member, the upper member, the compression ring, and the lower member axially accommodating a connector therethrough.
- 13. The torque indicator of claim 12, further comprising a cap matable to one of the upper member or the lower member.
- 14. The torque indicator of claim 12, further comprising a cap, the cap irreversibly matable to the upper member.
- 15. The torque indicator of claim 12, further comprising a cap, the cap irreversibly matable to the lower member.
- 16. A process of exerting a predetermined torque level on a connector, comprising:
providing a torque indicator with a first member, a second member and a compression ring disposed between the first member and second member, the first member having a plurality of first member extensions, each first member extension displaying an angled contact surface, the second member displaying an angled, substantially peripheral contact surface contacting each first member contact surface; axially extending the connector through the first member, compression ring, and second member; threading the connector into a threaded opening; exerting a first torque level on the connector, thereby sliding each first member contact surface against the second member contact surface, and outwardly biasing each first member extension; exerting the predetermined torque level on the connector, thereby sliding each first contact member contact surface past the second member contact surface and moving each first member extension into a locking position, thereby generating a sound and interlocking the first and second members.
- 17. The process of claim 16, in which the connector is threaded into an oil pan.
- 18. The process of claim 16, further comprising connecting a cap to the first member or the second member.
- 19. The process of claim 17, further comprising interlocking a cap to the first member or the second member.
- 20. The process of claim 17, further comprising cementing a cap to the first member or the second member.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 (e) to, and hereby incorporates by reference in its entirety, U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/227,892, filed Aug. 25, 2000.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60227892 |
Aug 2000 |
US |