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US 11,698,107 B2Granted
Self-clamping torque adapter
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorChristopher D. Remy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-clamping torque adapter comprises a tool base, a central hub, a plurality of clamps, and a cam actuator mechanism. The tool base has a central axis and the central hub is rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis. The central hub comprises a torque input member configured to receive a torque input. The plurality of clamps are slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis. The cam actuator mechanism couples each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub. Rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction.
Claims22
A self-clamping torque adapter comprising:
- a tool base having a central axis;
- a central hub rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis, the central hub comprising a torque input member configured to receive a torque input;
- a plurality of clamps slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis;
- a cam actuator mechanism coupling each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub, wherein rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction;
- and
- at least one biasing member biasing a clamp of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction.
3 more elements
A torqueing system comprising:
- an object to be torqued, the object having a torque receiving surface and an axis of rotation;
- and
- a self-clamping torque adapter comprising:
- a tool base having a central axis aligned with the axis of rotation;
- a central hub rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis, the central hub comprising a torque input member configured to receive a torque input;
- a plurality of clamps slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis to apply a clamping force to the torque receiving surface;
- a cam actuator mechanism coupling each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub, wherein rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction to provide a variable clamping force to the object to be torqued depending upon the travel of the plurality of clamps;
- and
- at least one biasing member biasing a clamp of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction.
6 more elements
A method of torqueing an object comprising:
- positioning a self-clamping torque adapter proximate an end of an object being torqued, the self-clamping torque adapter comprising:
- a tool base having a central axis aligned with an axis of rotation of the object being torqued;
- a central hub rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis, the central hub comprising a torque input member configured to receive a torque input;
- a plurality of clamps slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis;
- a cam actuator mechanism coupling each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub, wherein rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction to provide a variable clamping force to the object being torqued;
- and
- at least one biasing member biasing a clamp of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction;
- applying a torque to the torque input member to cause the central hub to rotate relative to the tool base and each of the plurality of clamps to move radially to apply a clamping force to the object being torqued.
5 more elements
A self-clamping torque adapter comprising:
- a tool base having a central axis;
- a central hub rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis, the central hub comprising a torque input member configured to receive a torque input;
- a plurality of clamps slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis;
- and
- a cam actuator mechanism coupling each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub, wherein rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction,
- wherein each of the plurality of clamps comprises a friction modifier configured to increase friction between a respective clamp and an object being clamped.
3 more elements
A self-clamping torque adapter comprising:
- a tool base having a central axis;
- a central hub rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis, the central hub comprising a torque input member configured to receive a torque input;
- a plurality of clamps slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis;
- and
- a cam actuator mechanism coupling each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub, wherein rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction,
- wherein the tool base comprises a plurality of linear slots extending in a radial direction and each of the plurality of clamps is slidably coupled to the tool base by at least one bolt extending through a linear slot of the plurality of linear slots.
3 more elements
A torqueing system comprising:
- an object to be torqued, the object having a torque receiving surface and an axis of rotation;
- and
- a self-clamping torque adapter comprising:
- a tool base having a central axis aligned with the axis of rotation;
- a central hub rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis, the central hub comprising a torque input member configured to receive a torque input;
- a plurality of clamps slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis to apply a clamping force to the torque receiving surface;
- a cam actuator mechanism coupling each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub, wherein rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction to provide a variable clamping force to the object to be torqued depending upon the travel of the plurality of clamps;
- and
- a friction modifier disposed between each of the clamps and the torque receiving surface.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.