Stud gripper socket

A gripper socket comprising:

• a shell having at least one cam surface on its inner surface, said cam surface having a broad central portion and two end portions;
• a roller pin for one said cam surface disposed for rolling motion about said broad portion of said cam surface, said roller pin having a circumferential retainer groove;
• and
• a retainer insert mounted in said shell, spaced from said inner surface of said shell, and having a varying thickness circumferential bead for engaging with said groove of said pin, said bead having a curved contour, which for the portion of said curved contour opposite said broad portion of said cam surface, mirrors said broad portion of said cam surface, and which, for the portion of said curved contour opposite said end portions of said cam surface, defines a narrow gap for said space between said bead and said cam surface, said gap smaller than the diameter of said pin less the depth of said groove of said pin to pinch said pin as it rolls proximate said end portions of said cam surface thereby preventing it from escaping its associated cam surface.

A gripper socket comprising:

• a shell having a plurality of cam surfaces on its inner surface, each said cam surface having a broad central portion and two end portions;
• a plurality of roller pins, one for each said cam surface and each disposed for rolling motion about said broad portion of each said cam surface, each said roller pin having a circumferential retainer groove;
• and
• a retainer insert mounted in said shell, spaced from said inner surface of said shell, and having a varying thickness circumferential bead for engaging with said groove of said pins, said bead having a curved contour, which for the portion of said curved contour opposite said broad portion of each said cam surface, mirrors said broad portion of each said cam surface, and which, for the portion of said curved contour opposite said end portions of each said cam surface, defines a narrow gap for said space between said bead and each said cam surface, said gap smaller than the diameter of said pin less the depth of said groove of said pins to pinch said pins as they roll proximate said end portions of each said cam thereby preventing the pins from escaping their associated cam surfaces.

A stud gripper socket comprising:

• A shell having a plurality of cam surfaces on its inner surface;
• A retainer insert mounted in said shell and spaced from said inner surface of said shell;
• A plurality of roller pins disposed for rolling motion in each said cam surface between said cam surface and said retainer insert, each said roller pin including a circumferential retainer groove;
• A circumferential varying thickness bead on said insert for engaging said grooves on said pins, said bead having a curved contour associated with each said cam surface, said curved contour varying thickness bead defining a gap between said bead and ends of each said cam surface less than the depth of the circumferential retainer groove of each said pin to prevent each said pin from rolling beyond the ends of its associated cam surface.