Fortified high torque device
AssigneeECA Medical Instruments
InventorsJohn Nino, David Ivinson, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A torque-limiting device which may include a shaft extending axially through a clutch assembly and a spring to connect to a nut. The upper and lower shanks may be under a force from the spring and further configured to selectively engage within a predetermined torque limit and disengage at above the predetermined torque limit. Accordingly, the shaft may receive torque up to the predetermined limit as provided by a user operating a handle of the torque-limiting device. The torque-limiting device may be disposable, reusable, economical, and have high torque capabilities.
Claims22
A torque-limiting driver comprising:
- a body (6) having a handle (101);
- a lower cylindrical shank (200) having a drive socket (9) and a plurality of catches, and affixed to a first gear ring (300) via mating between the plurality of catches and a corresponding plurality latches on the first gear ring;
- an upper cylindrical shank (400) having a plurality of catches, and affixed to a second gear ring (350) via mating between the plurality of catches and a corresponding plurality of latches on the second gear ring;
- a nut (25);
- a coil spring (22) between the upper cylindrical shank and the nut, wherein the spring is configured to apply a force across the upper cylindrical shank and the lower cylindrical shank;
- a shaft (14) having a workpiece-engaging tip (12) and a drive connection engaged within the drive socket (15) of the lower cylindrical shank, the shaft extending axially through the lower cylindrical shank, the first gear ring, the second gear ring, the upper cylindrical shank, and the spring and connected to the nut;
- and,
- wherein the first gear ring and second gear ring engage for relative rotation, and wherein the gear rings disengage when a predetermined torque limit is exceeded.
A torque-limiting driver comprising:
- a body having a handle;
- a lower plastic cylindrical shank with a first hardened gear ring affixed to a front side (307) and having a drive socket (9) through the nose (8) at the opposite side;
- an upper plastic cylindrical shank with a second hardened gear ring affixed to the bottom face (402) and having a front facing side (403);
- a nut (25);
- a spring (22) between the front facing end of the upper cylindrical shank and the nut, wherein the spring is configured to apply a force across the gear rings;
- a shaft having a workpiece-engaging tip and a drive connection engaged within the drive socket of the lower cylindrical shank, the shaft extending axially through the lower cylindrical shank, the hardened first gear ring, the second hardened gear ring, the upper cylindrical shank and the spring and connected to the nut;
- and,
- wherein the hardened gear ring of the upper cylindrical shank and the hardened gear ring of the lower cylindrical shank engage for relative rotation, and wherein the gear rings disengage when a predetermined torque limit is exceeded.
The torque-limiting driver of claim 21 wherein the engaged gear rings will provide a predetermined torque of at least 12 Newton-meters (Nm) of force over at least 50 actuations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.