Interchangable extension tool for performing operations in limited space work areas
OwnerNick C. Kravitchinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shaft has a driving end and a driven end. A plurality of driving adaptors with various handles are releasably connected to the shaft driving end. A plurality of driven adaptors with various tools for performing operations within a limited space work area, such as an inaccessible space, a confined space, or keyhole excavation, are releasably connected to the shaft driven end. The driving adaptors are positioned outside of the limited space work area. The driven adaptors are positioned within the limited space work area. The handle is manipulated at the shaft driving end to transmit selected rotational and translational movements through the shaft to the tool to perform operations in the limited space work area.
Claims25
An interchangeable extension tool for operating in a confined space comprising:
- a shaft having a driven end positioned within the confined space and a driving end positioned outside of the confined space,
- a driven adaptor positioned adjacent to said shaft driven end within the confined space with a tool portion extending therefrom,
- a releasable locking mechanism rigidly connecting said shaft to said driven adaptor for quick disconnect of said shaft from said driven adaptor, and
- said releasable locking mechanism preventing movement of said shaft relative to said driven adaptor to facilitate transmission of selected rotational and translational movements from said shaft to said driven adaptor tool portion to perform operations in the confined space.
An operator comprising:
- an elongated member having a driven end, a driving end, and a hole positioned at said driven end,
- a driving adaptor having means for releasably connecting said elongated member driving end to a manipulating mechanism,
- a driven adaptor having a hole aligned with said elongated member hole positioned at one end and a tool positioned at the opposite end,
- a detent assembly having a detent and a spring for releasably locking said driven adaptor to said elongated member,
- said spring moving said detent through said driven adaptor hole and said elongated member hole to provide a quick disconnect connection between said driven adaptor and said elongated member, and
- said detent assembly preventing said elongated member from moving relative to said driven adapter so that said elongated member transmits translational movement and rotational movement to said driven adaptor to perform operations in a confined space with said tool.
A method for performing operations in a confined space comprising the steps of:
- releasably connecting one end of a shaft to a driven adaptor having a yoke assembly and a ratchet assembly with a releasable locking mechanism to prevent relative movement between the shaft and the driven adaptor,
- inserting the one end of the shaft into the confined space to position the driven adaptor yoke assembly and ratchet assembly within the confined space,
- extending a second end of the shaft out of the confined space,
- selectively extending and retracting the shaft in a reciprocating manner within the confined space to transmit reciprocal linear motion to the yoke assembly, and
- reciprocating the yoke assembly to generate rotation of the ratchet assembly in the confined space.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.