Dual torque and injection molding device
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorsChristopher William Coyne, Samuel Jeffrey Tomlinson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tool for driving a threaded fastener includes a driver head, a motor, and an injector. The driver head includes a spindle rotatable about an axis. A distal end of the spindle defines a plurality of drive surfaces configured to engage mating drive surfaces on the fastener to rotate the fastener about the axis. The driver head defines a fluid passage having an outlet proximate to the distal end of the spindle. The motor is drivingly coupled to the spindle to rotate the spindle about the axis. The injector is coupled to an inlet of the fluid passage and configured to feed a liquid insulator through the fluid passage.
Claims20
A tool for driving a threaded fastener, the tool comprising:
- an injection shaft disposed about an axis and defining a passageway having an outlet open through a distal end of the injection shaft, the passageway being in fluid communication with an injector configured to eject a liquid material through the outlet via the passageway;
- a driver head comprising a spindle disposed about the injection shaft and rotatable about the axis, a distal end portion of the spindle defining a plurality of drive surfaces configured to engage mating drive surfaces on the fastener to rotate the fastener about the axis;
- and
- a motor drivingly coupled to the spindle to rotate the spindle about the axis.
A tool for driving a threaded fastener, the tool comprising:
- an injection shaft disposed about an axis and defining a passageway having an outlet open through a distal end of the injection shaft, the passageway being in fluid communication with an injector configured to eject a liquid material through the outlet via the passageway;
- a driver head comprising a spindle disposed coaxially about the injection shaft and rotatable about the axis, a distal end portion of the spindle defining a plurality of drive surfaces configured to engage mating drive surfaces on the fastener to rotate the fastener about the axis, wherein the spindle is axially movable, relative to the injection shaft, between a driving position and a molding position, wherein in the driving position the injection shaft is retracted further within the spindle than when in the molding position;
- and
- a motor drivingly coupled to the spindle to rotate the spindle about the axis.
A method of installing a threaded fastener, the method comprising:
- aligning a spindle of a tool coaxially with the fastener while the spindle is in a driving position, wherein the tool comprises an injection shaft and the spindle, the spindle being disposed about the injection shaft and being axially slidable relative to the injection shaft between the driving position and a molding position, wherein in the driving position the injection shaft is retracted within the spindle further than when in the molding position;
- tightening the fastener by rotating the spindle about an axis to engage and rotate a tool engagement portion of the fastener until the fastener is in an installed state;
- moving the spindle axially relative to the injection shaft from the driving position to the molding position, wherein in the molding position the spindle and injection shaft are spaced apart from the fastener;
- and
- encapsulating the tool engagement portion of the fastener by ejecting an insulator from the injection shaft, and allowing the insulator to solidify and form an electrically insulating cap around the tool engagement portion of the fastener.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.