Tap sleeve apparatus and method of use
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsKenneth Terpo, Brian Graaf
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tap sleeve for accepting one of a variety of different tap tools for use to repair thread damage to an item being assembled on an assembly line. The tap sleeve is configured with a handle portion configured to be held by the worker, and a base portion for securing the tap tool and limiting the depth in which the tap tool can be inserted, while avoiding damaging the surface of the item being worked and while preventing the hand of the user from slipping toward the tap tool. Optionally, a removable head can be used to adapt the tap sleeve for use with another tool, such as a wrench, to provide additional torque.
Claims20
A tap sleeve comprising:
- a base portion having a receptacle for receiving a tap tool;
- a handle portion adapted for being held by a hand of a person using the tap sleeve, and having one end connecting to said base portion forming a ridge having a diameter larger than a diameter of the handle portion;
- and
- a stop sleeve extending from said base portion receptacle, said stop sleeve being adapted to control a maximum depth of insertion of the tap tool into a receptacle being tapped using the tap sleeve with the tap tool, wherein
- said tap sleeve is configured to receive any one of a plurality of differently sized tap tools.
A tap sleeve comprising:
- a base portion having a receptacle for receiving a tap tool and also having a threaded receptacle for receiving a set screw for securing the tap tool in the receptacle;
- and
- a handle portion adapted for being held by a hand of a person using the tap sleeve, and having one end co-axially connecting to said base portion forming a ridge at the point of connection, said ridge having a diameter larger than a diameter of the handle portion, said ridge being configured to help prevent the hand of the person from slipping toward the tap tool, wherein
- the base portion is configured to control a maximum depth of insertion of the tap tool into a receptacle being tapped using the tap sleeve with the tap tool, and wherein
- said tap sleeve is configured to receive any one of a plurality of differently sized tap tools.
A tapping system for repairing a threaded receptacle of a workpiece, said tapping system comprising:
- a tap tool;
- and
- a tap sleeve comprising:
- a base portion having a receptacle for receiving a tap tool and also having a threaded receptacle for receiving a set screw for securing the tap tool in the receptacle, wherein said base portion is configured to control a maximum depth of insertion of the tap tool;
- a handle portion adapted for being held by a hand of a person using the tap sleeve, and having one end co-axially connecting to said base portion forming a ridge at the point of connection, said ridge having a diameter larger than a diameter of the handle portion, said ridge being configured to help prevent the hand of the person from slipping toward the tap tool, and
- a head portion having a head configured to receive a tool for providing a rotational torque to the tap sleeve;
- wherein said base portion and said handle portion are arranged co-axially and comprised of a strong and hard material, and
- wherein said base portion is also comprised of a relatively soft portion adapted to avoid over-insertion of the tap tool in the receptacle of the workpiece, and
- wherein said tap sleeve is configured to receive said tap tools in the base portion with the tap tool being set securely in place using said set screw.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.