Back to results
US 11,453,104 B2Granted
Torque wrench having self-adjusting adapter
AssigneeTym Labs L.L.C.
InventorAbraham Barzelay
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque wrench is disclosed for use in rotating a range of different sized fasteners. The torque wrench may include an input end configured to receive a torsional input, and a gear train operatively driven to rotate by the torsional input. The torque wrench may also include an adjustable adapter connected to the gear train at an output end and configured to adjustably engage the range of different sized fasteners, and a housing configured to enclose the gear train and the adjustable adapter.
Claims18
A torque wrench, comprising:
- an input end configured to receive a torsional input;
- an output end configured to deliver a torsional output;
- and
- a self-adjustable adapter at the output end, the self-adjustable adapter comprising:
- at least one clamp, the at least one clamp having a driver contacting surface at one end and a fastener contacting surface at another end;
- a driver having at least one sloped clamp contacting surface, and
- a guide having an open central region configured to receive a fastener, the guide also having at least one radially oriented channel extending radially outward from and in radial alignment with the open central region, the at least one radially oriented channel configured to slidingly receive the at least one clamp,
- wherein the at least one sloped clamp contacting surface of the driver engages the driver contacting surface of the at least one clamp to move the at least one clamp radially within the at least one radially oriented channel, wherein the at least one radially oriented channel is in radial alignment with the fastener received within the open central region so as to guide the at least one clamp toward the fastener received in the open central region, and wherein the self-adjustable adapter adjusts in size in response to the torsional input so that the self-adjustable adapter can engage a range of different sized fasteners that are receivable within the open central region.
5 more elements
A self-adjustable adapter module for use with a torque wrench, the self-adjustable adapter module comprising:
- a driver configured to receive a rotational input from the torque wrench;
- a plurality of clamps each disposed at least partially inside the driver and each radially moveable in response to rotation of the driver, and
- a guide having a plurality of radially-oriented channels, each of the plurality of radially-oriented channels being configured to guide a corresponding one of the plurality of clamps, and each of the plurality of radially-oriented channels being in radial alignment with an open central region of the guide,
- wherein the self-adjustable adapter module adjusts in size in response to the rotational input from the torque wrench so that the self-adjusting adapter module can engage a range of different sized fasteners that are received within the open central region of the guide, and
- wherein the driver includes a plurality of lobes, each lobe having:
- a leading end located radially further from an axis of rotation than a trailing end;
- and
- a surface connecting the leading and trailing ends, the surface being configured to engage a corresponding surface of the at least one clamp at an end opposite where the at least one clamp is adapted to engage the different sized fasteners.
5 more elements
A torque assembly comprising:
- a wrench;
- an adjustable adapter module, including:
- a driver configured to transmit a rotational input received from the wrench to at least one lobe having:
- a leading end;
- a trailing end located radially closer to an axis of rotation than the leading end;
- and
- a surface connecting the leading end and trailing end;
- at least one clamp disposed at least partially inside the driver and engaged with the surface of the at least one lobe, the at least one clamp being radially moveable in response to rotation of the driver, wherein the adjustable adapter module adjusts in size in response to the rotational input received from the wrench so that the adjustable adapter module can engage a range of different sized fasteners;
- and
- at least one spring configured to bias the at least one clamp radially outward and away from the different sized fasteners,
- wherein the adjustable adapter module further comprises a guide having a plurality of radially oriented channels configured to guide the plurality of clamps into engagement with the different sized fasteners, wherein the different sized fasteners are receivable within an open central region of the guide so that the plurality of radially oriented channels are in radial alignment with the different sized fasteners in open central region.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.