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US 12,434,340 B2Granted
Concentrated longitudinal acoustical/ultrasonic energy fastener design and manipulation system having at least one or a plurality of flexible ultrasonic joints
OwnerGary Lee Wardinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method and fastening tool that utilizes ultrasonic or acoustic energy and a horn that focuses the energy into the fastener at a predetermined location in order to facilitate tightening or loosening the fastener. The system, method and fastening tool comprise at least one flexible ultrasonic joint that permits a horn in the fastener tool to pivot in at least one or a plurality of planes and at least partially about at least one or a plurality of axes. The at least one flexible ultrasonic joint is adapted to facilitate transfer and focus of the ultrasonic energy through the tool and toward the fastener utilizing specially designed surfaces and a “dry” or “wet” environment.
Claims102
A fastener tool for loosening or tightening a fastener mounted on a structure, said fastener tool comprising:
- a tool body;
- a horn adapted and sized to apply an acoustic or ultrasonic energy into said fastener;
- and
- an acoustic/ultrasonic generator for generating said acoustic or ultrasonic energy that passes through said horn and into said fastener to facilitate fastening or loosening said fastener;
- and
- a flexible ultrasonic joint that couples said tool body to said horn, said flexible ultrasonic joint permitting said horn to pivot about at least one predetermined axis, said flexible ultrasonic joint being adapted to transmit a rotational torque to said horn and permitting said horn to pivot relative to said body so that an axis of said horn is not coaxial with an axis of said tool body while transmitting said acoustic or ultrasonic energy to said fastener;
- wherein said fastener comprises an end that is directly or indirectly engaged by said horn during loosening or fastening when said acoustic or ultrasonic energy is applied thereto, said acoustic/ultrasonic generator generating said ultrasonic or acoustic energy that travels through said horn and into said fastener and becomes concentrated or focused at a predetermined target location in said fastener;
- said predetermined target location being along a length of said fastener so that a friction between threads of said fasteners and threads of the structures is at least partly reduced during loosening or tightening.
5 more elements
A fastener tool for loosening or tightening a fastener mounted on a structure, said fastener tool comprising;
- a tool body;
- a horn adapted and sized to apply an acoustic or ultrasonic energy into said fastener;
- and
- an acoustic/ultrasonic generator for generating said acoustic or ultrasonic energy that passes through said horn and into said fastener to facilitate fastening or loosening said fastener;
- and
- a flexible ultrasonic joint that couples said tool body to said horn, said flexible ultrasonic joint permitting said horn to pivot about at least one predetermined axis, said flexible ultrasonic joint being adapted to transmit a rotational torque to said horn and permitting said horn to pivot so that an axis of said horn is not coaxial with an axis of said tool body while transmitting said acoustic or ultrasonic energy to said fastener;
- wherein said fastening tool comprises a sleeve for covering said flexible ultrasonic joint and for defining a fluid storage area about said flexible ultrasonic joint for storing a fluid, said fluid facilitating a transfer of said acoustic or ultrasonic energy through said horn and into said fastener to facilitate fastening or loosening said fastener.
4 more elements
A system for rotating a fastener that is fastened to a structure;
- said system comprising:
- an acoustic/ultrasonic wave generator for generating an acoustic/ultrasonic signal that passes longitudinally through said fastener to elongate said fastener and to introduce a cyclic strain and heating within said fastener to reduce a frictional force between threads on said fastener and mating threads on said structure;
- a tool having a horn for transmitting said acoustic/ultrasonic signal into said fastener;
- and
- a flexible ultrasonic joint that couples said tool body to said horn, said flexible ultrasonic joint permitting said horn to pivot about at least one predetermined axis, said flexible ultrasonic joint being adapted to transmit a rotational torque to said horn and permitting said horn to pivot relative to said tool body so that an axis of said horn is not coaxial with an axis of said tool body while transmitting said acoustic or ultrasonic energy to said fastener;
- wherein said acoustic/ultrasonic wave generator and said horn cooperate to focus or apply said acoustic/ultrasonic signal to a predetermined distance into said fastener in order to reduce a coefficient of friction between said fastener and said structure when said horn is in operative relationship with fastener and said acoustic/ultrasonic signal is applied thereto;
- wherein said fastener comprises an end that is directly or indirectly engaged by said horn during loosening or fastening when said acoustic or ultrasonic energy is applied thereto, said acoustic/ultrasonic generator generating said ultrasonic or acoustic energy that travels through said horn and into said fastener and becomes concentrated or focused at a predetermined target location in said fastener;
- said predetermined target location being along a length of said fastener so that a friction between threads of said fastener and threads of a structure is at least partly reduced during loosening or tightening.
5 more elements
A system for rotating a fastener that is fastened to a structure;
- said system comprising:
- an acoustic/ultrasonic wave generator for generating an acoustic/ultrasonic signal that passes longitudinally through said fastener to elongate said fastener and to introduce a cyclic strain and heating within said fastener to reduce a frictional force between threads on said fastener and mating threads on said structure;
- a tool having a horn for transmitting said acoustic/ultrasonic signal into said fastener;
- and
- a flexible ultrasonic joint that couples said tool body to said horn, said flexible ultrasonic joint permitting said horn to pivot about at least one predetermined axis, said flexible ultrasonic joint being adapted to transmit a rotational torque to said horn and permitting said horn to pivot so that an axis of said horn is not coaxial with an axis of said tool body while transmitting said acoustic or ultrasonic energy to said fastener;
- wherein said acoustic/ultrasonic wave generator and said horn cooperate to focus or apply said acoustic/ultrasonic signal to a predetermined distance into said fastener in order to reduce a coefficient of friction between said fastener and said structure when said horns is in operative relationship with said fastener and said acoustic/ultrasonic signal is applied thereto;
- wherein said fastening tool comprises a sleeve for covering said flexible ultrasonic joint and for defining a storage area about said flexible ultrasonic joint for storing a fluid, said fluid facilitating a transfer of said acoustic or ultrasonic energy through said horn and into said fastener to facilitate fastening or loosening said fastener.
4 more elements
An ultrasonic fastener tool for loosening or tightening a fastener, said ultrasonic fastener tool comprising:
- a horn body adapted to receive ultrasonic or acoustic energy from an ultrasonic generator and transmit acoustic or ultrasonic energy into the fastener;
- a horn end also adapted to transmit said acoustic or ultrasonic energy, said horn end being sized and adapted to receive at least a portion of said fastener so that said acoustic or ultrasonic energy may be applied to the fastener;
- and
- a flexible ultrasonic joint coupling the horn body to the horn end and permitting said horn end to pivot in at least one plane and at least partially about one pivot axis;
- a flexible ultrasonic joint that couples said tool body to said horn, said flexible ultrasonic joint permitting said horn to pivot about at least one predetermined axis, said flexible ultrasonic joint being adapted to transmit a rotational torque to said horn and permitting said horn to pivot so that an axis of said horn is not coaxial with an axis of said tool body while transmitting said acoustic or ultrasonic energy to said fastener;
- wherein said fastener comprises an end that is directly or indirectly engaged by said horn during loosening or fastening when said acoustic or ultrasonic energy is applied by thereto;
- said ultrasonic generator generating said ultrasonic or acoustic energy that travels through said horn and into said fastener and becomes concentrated or focused at a predetermined target location in said fastener;
- said predetermined target location being along a length of said fastener so that a friction between threads of said fastener and threads of a structure is at least partly reduced during loosening or tightening;
- said predetermined target location of concentrated or focused energy being along a length of said fastener between a head and/or nut and an opposite end of said fastener, thereby facilitating reducing a breaking force necessary to loosen said fastener or a tightening force for tightening said fastener.
6 more elements
An ultrasonic fastener tool for loosening or tightening a fastener, said ultrasonic fastener tool comprising;
- a horn body adapted to transmit acoustic or ultrasonic energy;
- a horn end also adapted to transmit said acoustic or ultrasonic energy, said horn end being sized and adapted to receive at least a portion of said fastener so that said acoustic or ultrasonic energy may be applied to said fastener;
- and
- a flexible ultrasonic joint coupling said horn body end and permitting said horn end to pivot in at least one plane and at least partially about one pivot axis;
- wherein said flexible ultrasonic joint comprises a plurality of parts having a plurality of engaging surfaces, respectively, each of said plurality of engaging surfaces comprising a fluid gap or spacing therebetween for receiving an ultrasonic fluid and defining or providing a “wet” joint so that said ultrasonic fluid facilitates transferring said acoustic or ultrasonic energy directly between said plurality of engaging surfaces in order to facilitate transfer of said acoustic or ultrasonic energy to said horn end and ultimately to said ultrasonic fastener when said ultrasonic fastener tool is used to loosen or tighten said fastener;
- wherein said ultrasonic fastener tool comprises a boot or sleeve that surrounds said flexible ultrasonic joint to retain said ultrasonic fluid about said flexible ultrasonic joint.
3 more elements
An ultrasonic fastener tool for loosening or tightening a fastener, said ultrasonic fastener tool comprising:
- a horn body adapted to transmit acoustic or ultrasonic energy;
- a horn end also adapted to transmit said acoustic or ultrasonic energy, said horn end being sized and adapted to receive at least a portion of said fastener so that said acoustic or ultrasonic energy may be applied to said fastener;
- and
- a flexible ultrasonic joint coupling said horn body to said horn end and permitting said horn end to pivot in at least one plane and at least partially about one pivot axis;
- wherein said flexible ultrasonic joint comprises a single pivot join that permits said horn end to pivot in a first predetermined plane and at least partially about a first predetermined axis;
- wherein said flexible ultrasonic joint comprises a plurality of parts having a plurality of engaging surfaces, respectively, each of said plurality of engaging surfaces comprising a fluid gap or spacing therebetween for receiving an ultrasonic fluid and defining or providing a “wet” joint so that said ultrasonic fluid facilitates transferring said acoustic or ultrasonic energy directly between said plurality of engaging surfaces in order to facilitate transfer of said acoustic or ultrasonic energy to said horn end and ultimately to said ultrasonic fastener when said ultrasonic fastener tool is used to loosen or tighten said fastener;
- wherein said ultrasonic fastener tool comprises a boot or sleeve that surrounds said flexible ultrasonic joint to retain said ultrasonic fluid about said flexible ultrasonic joint.
4 more elements
An ultrasonic fastener tool for loosening or tightening a fastener, said ultrasonic fastener tool comprising:
- a horn body adapted to transmit acoustic or ultrasonic energy;
- a horn end also adapted to transmit said acoustic or ultrasonic energy, said horn end being sized and adapted to receive at least a portion of said fastener so that said acoustic or ultrasonic energy may be applied to said fastener;
- and
- a flexible ultrasonic joint coupling said horn body to said horn end and permitting said horn end to pivot in at least one plane and at least partially about one pivot axis;
- wherein said flexible ultrasonic joint comprises a dual pivot join that permits said horn end to pivot in a first predetermined plane and a second predetermined plane an at least a partially about a second predetermined axis, respectively;
- wherein said flexible ultrasonic joint comprises a plurality of parts having a plurality of engaging surfaces, respectively, each of said plurality of engaging surfaces comprising a fluid gap or spacing therebetween for receiving an ultrasonic fluid and defining or providing a “wet” joint so that said ultrasonic fluid facilitates transferring said acoustic or ultrasonic energy directly between said plurality of engaging surfaces in order to facilitate transfer of the acoustic or ultrasonic energy to said horn end and ultimately to said ultrasonic fastener when said ultrasonic fastener tool is used to loosen or tighten said fastener;
- wherein said ultrasonic fastener tool comprises a boot or sleeve that surrounds said flexible ultrasonic joint to retain said ultrasonic fluid about said flexible ultrasonic joint.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.