Drive sockets

Abstract

Modular Three Drive Element Socket The fastener engagement end (201) containing, specifically three drive elements (300), rotatable in a first or second drive direction F,S, having drive element arcuate outer surfaces (304) configured to move with minimum friction within respective drive element housing scalloped recesses (203) provided within a drive element housing (202) within the socket body (200) and locked by assembly roll pins (600) upon a separate drive engagement body element (400) having a known square drive spigot recess (401). When a near sized hexagonal fastener head (701) is inserted within said drive element housing (202), the drive elements (300), using triangulated grip operating profiled (313), drive element planar contact faces (302) are urged into robust total engagement upon the fastener (700) driven half faces (703) in order to operate the same: Any slight variances in fastener across the flanks size (706) manufacturing tolerances or worn or damaged fastener drive faces (705) being automatically compensated for in the same manner as a three legged stool compensates for an uneven floor.

Description

[0001] Drive Sockets

[0002] Field of Disclosure

[0003] The invention relates to drive sockets and particularly, but not exclusively to drive sockets usable with an impact wrench.

[0004] More generally, this disclosure relates in general to a hand tool used for the operation of predominantly hexagonal nuts, bolts and fasteners, in particular relating to box or ring wrenches or sockets. In one iteration, being capable of being used to remove or replace worn, damaged or undersized vehicle wheel nuts or lug nuts. The socket body having rotatable drive elements within a tool body, one for each second drive flank and comer point of the worked hexagonal nut. In this iteration the totally equalized three drive elements, automatically constricts upon, then exert, equalized torque to each drive contact face of the fastener flanks, in particular, the area of the fastener flanks nearest the hexagonal fastener corner points of the fastener driven half faces, as this is the area of greatest possible leverage.

[0005] In particular the modular three drive element socket or wrench is designed to work on overly tight, metric, inch, undersized, or worn fasteners, with little chance of slippage through the use of three equidistant, individual, torque tightening application points incorporated within equidistantly spaced, three jaw chuck like spaced drive elements; each drive element robustly gripping in a total manner, every second driven half face of the worked hexagonal fastener head, bolt or nut.

[0006] Background to the Invention

[0007] Hex bolts, nuts, screws, and other similar threaded devices, hereinafter termed fasteners, are used to secure and hold multiple parts together. As only the leading half of the hexagonal fastener head facing in the operated direction can be usefully levered in the chosen drive direction, the fastener can typically only be operated by the leading flank halves, hereafter termed fastener driven half faces, of its hexagonal fastener drive flats. It is also subject to the maximum lever arm force (up to 12% difference) at or near to the fastener corner points of said fastener driven half faces during operation of the corresponding tool torque application points. Closed sockets, box or ring type wrenches are preferable to open jaw type wrenches because the torque arm force applied to the socket is transmitted to the fastener via a much larger contact area. The closed ring head of the socket or wrench is inherently stronger and therefore can transmit a far greater torque with less harmful distortion of the fastener head and less chance of the socket or wrench head damaging or slipping off the fastener. In order to transmit torque without damage to either the fastener head or the operating wrench head, the jaw surfaces need to be an extremely snug fit on the fastener hex flats. This means that only properly sized metric or imperial drive sockets are used on the correspondingly sized fastener heads when any reasonable amount of torque level is applied. As a reasonable socket or wrench operating face to fastener operating face clearance is required to allow the socket or wrench to be quickly and easily fitted for operation, this in itself is a fundamental problem of conventional wrenches or sockets, if high operating torque is required.

[0008] One of the most common problems in operating hexagonal headed fasteners using typical sockets or box wrenches, whether on nuts or bolts, is the socket or wrench head slipping on the operated fastener head. This can be caused by: a worn fastener, using an improperly sized socket or wrench, corrosion, previous over tightening or previous damage to the operated fastener head, or socket, wrench head inner drive profile.

[0009] Most prior art sockets and box wrenches suffer in the lack of a snug fit between their plethora of drive face types and the fastener drive surfaces. A certain amount of “play” is required between the fastener driven half faces and the socket or wrench drive profiles in order to allow ease of initial fitment of the tool head onto the hexagonal fastener head. This play enables the fastener to rotate slightly within the socket or wrench head. In operations in which medium to high torque, this can lead to damage of the fastener and or the socket or wrench head.

[0010] In order to lessen the occurrence of slippage, there are several prior art designs which have similar results but differing execution, wherein the fastener actual driven half face is usefully levered or driven, only on the fastener drive flanks.

[0011] It is known that the most efficient operation or leverage of the fastener drive by any socket or wrench profile, is to apply the operating torque as close as possible to the corners or points of the fastener hexagonal drive profile. However, the closeness of the applied torque application points to these said corners can be problematic. This is because fastener comer points are easily rounded off, especially if the socket or wrench has jaw surfaces have a less than a snug fit against the fastener comer points.

[0012] As only the driven half face of the hexagonal fastener drive flanks in the chosen applied drive torque direction can be utilized to actually operate the worked fastener in the chosen drive direction, any socket or wrench head drive face abutting the non-driven half face of the same operated hexagonal fastener drive flanks, when operated in the same chosen drive direction, cannot be utilized to operate the fastener. Several prior art wrenches and sockets have been designed with the object of remedying this problem. Serrated one-way cams, as disclosed in US 2580247 which, because of their fixed swivel points and arced drive faces, seldom engage their socket or wrench torque application point, drive faces close to the fastener corner points, but contact the fasteners inferior drive flanks, requiring greater applied drive torque, as the true torque application points are now nearer the centre of the worked hexagonal fastener head, resulting in up to 12% less leverage. The stud-gripping socket disclosed by US4611513 is a prime example, utilizing three circular cams to drive the fastener drive flanks. The increased amount of applied torque required exacerbates the problem and can further damage the flanks and corners of the operated hexagonal or other polygonal fastener by severely indenting the flanks of the fastener. US4947712 discloses a socket that has three generally equidistant spikes within its housing inner profile. A hammer is required to drive the spikes into the fastener drive flanks. US2009151520 discloses a socket that utilizes a definite stepped size change pre-set by the operator, which is designed to engage the least effective centre of the fastener flanks.

[0013] Several other manually or automatically size changing wrenches with three outwardly curved sprung or un-sprung cams have been designed, all of which require large width heads, rendering them all but useless when the fastener to be worked is situated next to an obstruction.

[0014] Any known static socket operated by known means, including impact wrenches, is always trying to cause more surface contact, regardless of the internal configuration. Since normal socket sizes are fixed, the housing inner profile must necessarily be larger than the fastener head to be operated for ease of fitment. Because of this fitment gap and inspired by the operation of the impact wrench which wants to follow the “hit and release” motion of the impact wrench. The result is “chatter”, or the dissipation of energy combined with the accelerated wear of the fastener flank faces and the socket drive contact faces instead of the maximum directed torque being applied to work the operated fastener.

[0015] US2022063003 discloses the only commercially available torque tightening socket with a socket body width low enough to be sensibly utilized on over-tight, slightly undersized or worn lug nuts / wheel nuts in recessed areas such as vehicle alloy road wheels. This socket is a six-cam drive element socket, which therefore has one cam for each drive flank of a nut. The six cams have single curved outer surfaces interacting with similarly curved surfaces recessed within the socket body. Similar sockets are disclosed by US4611513 and US 4724730. In use, as an appropriately sized fastener is engaged within the socket body central cavity by the six cams, the cams swivel within the curved surfaces recessed within the socket body until they align with the fastener drive flanks. As in all six-drive face contact wrenches or sockets, any size discrepancy in manufacture or previous wear of the fastener or socket / wrench drive faces, whether by the comers or flanks, causes unequal drive contact. This is fine for medium tight fasteners, but greatly reduces the effectiveness of the wrench or socket drive when used on exceptionally tight fasteners. US 2022063003 claims are based around a method of trying to keep the cams aligned relative to one another, whereby the cams are retained by incorporating a contoured foot extending inwards at their base into a separate retainer press fit held within the appropriately machined deep socket cavity. Unfortunately, this only adds to the considerable surface upon surface friction between the cams and the respective recessed curved surfaces, even without any ambient endured detritus, increasing the intermittent reluctance of the cams to adequately rotate within curved recesses. Furthermore, the one-piece socket design and interference fit of the cams’ retainer does not allow dismantling for servicing or cleaning. Due to the very precise manufacturing requirements and one-piece socket design of the socket, it is exceedingly expensive to produce, even when produced in reasonable numbers.

[0016] Summary of the Invention

[0017] Aspects of the present invention teach certain benefits in construction and use which give rise to the exemplary advantages described below.

[0018] Throughout the following description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding to persons skilled in the art. However, well known elements may not have been shown or described in detail to avoid unnecessary obscuring of the disclosure. Accordingly, the description and drawings are to be regarded as illustrative, rather than in a restrictive sense.

[0019] It is an object of the present invention to provide a lower cost tool specifically comprising a modular three drive element socket or torque tightening wrench with an extremely high torque capability (over three times the ASME standard for sockets), in which the main body specifically comprises of two main parts which now can be low cost, precision manufactured. The socket body is in best practice manufactured by extremely precise metal injection moulding MIM; the other much heavier main drive engagement body element drive engagement body element, by low-cost forging / machining from industry standard steels. This tool is capable of several useful functions in one unique, extremely robust, torque tightening socket or wrench, specifically utilizing three circuitously rotatable, torque constricting drive elements within a two-part socket or further wrench head portion design. The first embodiment is a modular three drive element socket or wrench, wherein the elongate drive elements outer surfaces comprise specifically of three, segment shaped, equidistant drive elements, configured to engage with minimum surface to surface friction within three equidistant similarly curved drive element housing recesses provided within a generally circular, drive element housing within a cylindrically shaped socket body. Characterised wherein, when the modular three drive element socket or wrench is operated in the chosen first or second drive torque direction and the drive elements drive faces even lightly engage a suitably sized, worked fastener driven half faces, the abutting drive element arcuate outer surface act against the respective drive element housing scalloped recesses provided within the generally circular drive element housing, propelling said elongate drive elements inwards in an askew manner in order to grip and drive the worked, fastener driven half faces and thereby applying operating torque to, not just the flanks, but as close as possible to the corners or points of the hexagonal fastener head. This specifically three drive element, torque tightening action results in an extremely robust and equalized grip upon the fastener driven half faces, whether full sized, slightly undersized or worn, even those with singular or multiple damaged fastener undulations. The more torque required to operate the worked fastener within its size range, the more grip is equally applied to the said fastener drive flanks and associated corner points.

[0020] The second embodiment is a modular three drive element socket or torque tightening wrench wherein a triangulated, elongate, drive element operating profile and head portion design provides engagement profiles which are characterised in robustly gripping, in the drive torque direction of use, a correspondingly near sized worked hexagonal fastener head by a triangulated grip operating profile, hereinafter termed equidistant torque application points, one engaging each second corresponding hexagonal fastener head or nut driven half face in the drive torque direction of applied drive torque application; the occurring projected force simultaneously self-targeting upon the optimum point of the worked fastener driven half faces; any slight variances in fastener drive flat to flat sizes, manufacturing tolerances or worn or damaged fastener drive flats being automatically adjusted and compensated for in the same manner as a three legged stool compensates for an uneven floor. The normally exacting manufacturing tolerances of a six-cam socket being dispensed with, the said three drive element torque tightening sockets manufacturing tolerances can now be somewhat relaxed as the use of three equidistant torque application points compensates for any such minor discrepancies. Furthermore, it allows substantial reduction of the overall socket body or wrench head width, whilst considerably increasing the strength and torque capability of the socket body or wrench head portion structure. The third embodiment of the modular three drive element socket is characterised by having a triangulated grip operating profile within its drive element drive face in order to concentrate any projected force in the chosen first or second drive torque direction applied to the corresponding worked fastener head driven half faces by the use of three separate, generally equidistant torque application points. In order to minimize the socket body circumference and damage to the driven hexagonal fastener head driven half faces or corner points, the three drive element drive faces comprising every second face of a generally hexagonal shape, said torque application points can comprise inner drive element planar drive faces, indented drive element hexagonal corner drive faces or inwardly or outwardly curved drive profiles (not shown). The fastener driven half faces can further differ in shape from those illustrated, as many differing fastener or workpiece profiles exist, all of which further profiled torque application point types (not shown) could be incorporated according to the operator’s requirements or manufacturer’s needs whilst not deviating from the basis of the modular three drive element socket or torque tightening wrench.

[0021] The fourth embodiment of the modular three drive element socket, wherein in order to keep problematic surface to surface friction incurred during any drive element rotational action to a minimum, the drive element arcuate outer surface comprises of a series of curved indentations, the outer radii of which form the complementary arc to that of the smooth, drive element housing scalloped recess. This further enhances the ease of movement of the drive element whilst giving a depository for any detritus wiped from the surface of the smooth, drive element housing scalloped recesses.

[0022] The fifth embodiment of the modular three drive element socket wherein in order to keep problematic surface to surface friction incurred during any drive element camming action to a minimum, the drive element housing scalloped recess comprises of a series of curved indentations the outer radii of which form the complementary arc to that of the smooth drive element arcuate outer surface whilst giving a depository for any detritus wiped from the surface of the drive element housing scalloped recesses. Any gathered detritus then being capable of removal by appropriate washing or airline use.

[0023] The sixth embodiment of the modular three drive element socket wherein the drive element outer tip edges are chamfered such that the fastener outer profile can be engaged more quickly and easily even when the drive elements are not completely positioned back against their corresponding drive element housing scalloped recesses. The seventh embodiment of the modular three drive element socket is characterized wherein, the manufacturing times and costs are drastically reduced by 70-80% of existing prior art, by the use of a modular construction. The highly tensile, relatively light, cylindrically shaped socket body, with its complex internal, drive element housing scalloped recesses, is manufactured separately by metal injection moulding, MIM or similar. The fact that metal injection mouldings have virtually no grain flow, gives a useful increase in strength. Furthermore, the one-degree moulding draft angle required is used as an aid to the initial engagement upon the operated fastener. The socket body could further be machined then broached although this method produces a socket body with less strength and is fundamentally more expensive. The separate, far heavier, drive engagement body element can be made from less expensive but suitable metal grades and manufactured using far less expensive known methods; said drive engagement body element attached to the socket body in best practice by roll pins or by known screws, pins, or further known methods; the intricate elongate drive elements in best practice, being manufactured at very low cost by metal injection moulding MIM or similar using low cost open and shut tooling.

[0024] The eighth embodiment of the modular three drive element socket, is further characterized wherein the socket utilizes a roll pin or pins, which are also known as coiled spring pins or slotted spring pins within appropriate retaining holes as the attachment method of the socket body to the drive engagement body element. The use of these roll pins overcomes any problems of screws or solid pins being slackened, even when locking solutions are utilized, by the harmonics created when the said torque tightening socket is operated by known” impact guns”.

[0025] The ninth embodiment of the modular three drive element socket wherein the socket drive connection portion of the drive engagement body element is interconnected within the socket body connection profile. The drive engagement body element further incorporates a deep drive element flange in order to retain and keep the elongate drive elements as upright as possible; said deep drive element flange acting within the complementary elongate, drive element base portion outwardly extending, drive element retaining groove, to retain as much as possible the centrically moveable, elongate, drive element in an upright position within the drive element housing; said elongate drive element retaining grooves engaging onto the socket drive, deep, drive element flange. Said elongate drive elements retaining grooves being engaged onto the socket drive, drive element flange prior to the assembly of the drive engagement body element to the socket body, wherein their retention is then ensured by the said socket drive, drive element flange. As this results in very little actual metal to metal contact, there is therefore, greatly reduced, any possible surface to surface friction or chance of problematic jamming between the base of the drive elements and the drive element flange.

[0026] The tenth embodiment of the modular three drive element socket, wherein in an even further example of the present invention, the socket drive flange rim, contains a resilient portion within a resilient portion channel; said resilient portion being capable of radial movement within said resilient portion channel. In best practice, said resilient portion comprises a generally circular, flat or round wire loop, the outer radii of which is in constant resilient contact with the drive element groove inside face, in order to purposefully propel said drive element outwards, both radially and erect, within the drive element housing scalloped recess when the modular three drive element socket is at rest, in order to ensure maximum drive element retraction before the fastener head outer profile to be worked is inserted into the drive element housing.

[0027] The eleventh embodiment of the modular three drive element socket, wherein the drive element base portion side profiles act as stop faces against the drive element flange in order to constrain the amount of circular travel of said elongate drive elements within said drive element housing.

[0028] The twelfth embodiment of the modular three drive element socket, comprising, in an even further iteration of the present invention, a torque tightening socket which can be dismantled for servicing or drive element replacement purposes by the use of removable assembly screws or in best practice roll pins.

[0029] The thirteenth embodiment of the modular three drive element socket, whereas the socket body is replaced by a similarly functioning torque tightening wrench, comprising wrench head portions and a wrench handle; the drive elements further utilising a resilient portion within a generally central, drive element retaining groove; said resilient portion being capable of radial movement within said drive element retaining groove. In best practice, said resilient portion comprises a generally circular flat or round wire loop, the outer radii of which is in constant resilient contact with the drive element retaining groove inside face, in order to purposefully propel said drive element outwards, both radially and erect within the housing drive element scalloped recesses when said torque tightening wrench is at rest, in order to ensure maximum drive elements retraction of the fastener outer profile to be worked before it is inserted into the drive element housing. The wrench head drive elements are furthermore, adequately retained and generally sealed by known wrench head closure covers and their inwardly profiled, restraining, wrench head closure cover lips interacting within corresponding drive element outer tip profiles in order to retain and generally seal said wrench head drive elements within said wrench head drive element housing.

[0030] The fourteenth embodiment of the modular three drive element socket or torque tightening wrench, comprises, in an even further example of the present invention, the implementation of a three elongate drive element configuration within the drive element housing of which can comprise of known toothed, serrated or generally roughened gripping profiles (not shown); in best practice, the equidistant torque application points thereby being further capable of automatically optionally locating upon and equally operating, at full force applied drive torque, upon any worn / damaged fastener undulations still remaining, comprising the worked fastener driven half faces.

[0031] The fifteenth embodiment of the modular three drive element socket or torque tightening wrench, comprises, in an even further example of the present invention, the implementation of either a three elongate drive element configuration or six elongate drive element configuration within the drive element housing; the constricting drive element contact faces, being capable of robustly operating 7.5% undersized or near undersized inch / metric fasteners across the flanks sizes.

[0032] While one or more preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it should have been understood that any and all equivalent realisations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. The embodiments depicted are presented by way of example only and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. Thus, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in this art, that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments since modifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the scope of appended claims.

[0033] A Marshalling of Reference Numerals Utilized in the Drawings

[0034] Following is a listing of the components used in the best mode preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments. For the ready reference of the reader the reference numerals have been arranged in ascending numerical order.

[0035] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0036] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0037] Fig. l is a perspective view of a modular three drive element socket, said socket shown in the two piece iteration with the fastener engagement portion upmost.

[0038] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the modular three drive element socket, said socket shown in the two part iteration with the socket drive engagement portion upmost. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the modular three drive element socket, said socket shown in the two part iteration with the fastener engagement portion upmost. Said socket shown in section illustrating the inner workings of the modular three drive element socket.

[0039] Fig. 4 is a close up top down view of the modular three drive element socket at rest, with the fastener engagement portion upmost showing the inner operating profile of the head portion, further illustrating the triangular grip operating profile of the equidistant torque application points upon a full sized fastener’s drive flanks and corners.

[0040] Fig. 5 is a further close up top down view of the modular three drive element socket, with the fastener engagement portion upmost, showing the inner operating profile of the head portion. Further illustrating operation in the first drive torque direction with the drive elements askew in order to fully engage said drive element’s contact faces upon an undersized fastener’s driven half faces and adjoining comer points in order to operate in the denoted first drive torque direction said worked fastener.

[0041] Fig. 6 is a further close up top down view of the modular three drive element socket with the fastener engagement portion upmost, showing the inner operating profile of the head portion. Further illustrating the drive elements swivelled in order to fully engage said drive element contact faces upon an undersized fastener’s driven half faces and adjoining corner points in order to operate in the denoted second drive torque direction said worked fastener.

[0042] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the torque tightening socket, dismantled into its constituent parts for display purposes.

[0043] Fig.8 is a perspective view of the modular three drive element socket, socket drive element.

[0044] Fig. 9 is a close-up top view of the modular three drive element socket at rest, viewed from the fastener engagement end. Said fastener engagement end, having a suitably sized notional hexagonal shape illustrated within its drive element housing; the drive element flange shown in section through its spring groove in order to show the resilient contact of the resilient portion against the drive element groove inside face.

[0045] Fig. 10 is a close-up top view of the modular three drive element socket operated in the first drive torque direction, viewed from the fastener engagement end. Said fastener engagement end, having a suitably sized notional hexagonal shape within its drive element housing; the drive element flange shown in section through its spring groove in order to illustrate the resilient contact of the resilient portion against the drive element groove inside face.

[0046] Fig. 11 is a close-up top view of the modular three drive element socket operated in the second drive torque direction, viewed from the fastener engagement end. Said fastener engagement end, having a suitably sized notional hexagonal shape within its drive element housing; the drive element flange shown in section through its spring groove in order to illustrate the resilient contact of the resilient portion against the drive element groove inside face.

[0047] Fig 12 is a perspective view of the modular three drive element socket illustrated as a wrench having two head portions, one on each end of the wrench handle. For display purposes, the wrench first end having a three drive element configuration and the second end having a six drive element configuration. Fig.13 is a perspective view of the modular three drive element socket illustrated as a wrench having two head portions one on each end of the wrench handle. For display purposes, the wrench first end having a three drive element configuration and the second end having a six drive element configuration. Said wrench dismantled into its constituent parts for display purposes.

[0048] Fig 14 denotes an example of a prior art socket with six cams, “for engaging each drive flank of a nut”, using a foot attached to the base of the six cams in order to rotate in unison said six cams.

[0049] Detailed Description

[0050] As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as being limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention.

[0051] Referring to Figs. 1 to 11, the overall shape of a drive socket of the invention, which may be a modular three drive element socket 1, may correspond to that of known conventional sockets used in conjunction with known square drive hand tools (not shown). Thus, the drive socket may be comprise a generally cylindrical body.

[0052] As depicted in Figs. 1 tol 1 the modular three drive element socket 1 is utilized for the tightening or slackening of known hexagonal headed nuts, bolts, or fasteners and especially wheel nut or lug nuts, hereinafter termed fasteners 700, comprising: a modular three drive element socket 1 wherein the open, fastener engagement end 201 is characterized in having drive elements 300, rotatable by a limited amount in the first or second torque drive direction F,S, comprising drive element arcuate outer surfaces 304 configured to engage within respective drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 provided within a drive element housing 202 within the cylindrically shaped socket body element 200 and a known square drive spigot recess 401 for engagement with known socket drives’ correspondingly sized and shaped drive spigots (not shown) within the drive engagement body element 400, wherein the arrangement is such that, when in use upon a suitably sized hexagonal fastener head 701 and an applied drive force D in the first or second drive torque direction F, S is applied to the square drive spigot recess 401, the said drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 engage with the respective drive element arcuate outer surfaces 304 to urge the elongate, drive element planar contact faces 302 into locking engagement with the suitably sized, engaged fastener driven half faces 703. In operation, when the drive elements planar contact faces 302 even lightly engage the suitably sized worked fastener driven half faces 703, the drive element arcuate outer surfaces 304, acting against the respective drive element housing scalloped recess 203 provided within the generally circular, drive element housing 202, propel said elongate drive elements 300 askew, in order to fully grip the worked, fastener driven half faces 703 encompassing both the fastener drive flanks 702 and the fastener head corner points 707. This torque tightening action results in an extremely robust and equalized grip on the fastener driven half faces 703, whether the fastener 700 has full sized or slightly undersized fastener across the flanks sizes 706, or worn or even damaged fastener faces 705. The more applied drive force D required to operate the worked fastener head outer profile 708, the more grip applied to the fastener driven half faces 703.

[0053] Figs. 1 and 2 in particular further illustrate the modular three drive element socket 1 shown in the two-section iteration, held together in the example shown, by assembly roll pins 600 within the socket body connection pin bores 205. Fig. 1 denotes the fastener engagement end 201, upmost, displaying the drive elements 300 and housing inner profile 204. Fig. 2 denotes the drive engagement body element 400 with its square drive spigot recess 401 upmost.

[0054] Fig. 3 in particular further illustrates the modular three drive element socket 1, shown in the two component iteration, with the fastener engagement end 201 upmost. Said modular three drive element socket 1 shown in, section illustrating the inner workings of a three elongate, drive element 300 operating version, further showing the socket body connection profile 206 engaged upon the socket drive connection portion 404 and secured by assembly roll pins 600. The socket drive, drive element flange 403 incorporates a socket drive, spring retaining groove 408 for a resilient portion 601 which acts against the drive element groove inside face 310, utilized to urge the said drive elements 300 back into retraction within their corresponding drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 in an upright manner within the housing inner profile 204 when the modular three drive element socket 1 is at rest.

[0055] Figs 4, 5 and 6 depict the modular three drive element socket 1 interacting with a generally, hexagonal fastener head 701. Figs 4 in particular, is a close-up top view of the modular three drive element socket 1 at rest with the fastener engagement end 201 upmost, showing the housing inner profile 204 of the drive element housing 202, with the drive element 300 further comprising drive element arcuate curved indentations 305 within smooth corresponding drive element housing scalloped recess 203. Fig. 4 further illustrating the triangulated grip operating profile 313 of the equidistant torque application points 314 upon a full sized hexagonal fastener head 701 drive flanks 702 and fastener head corner points 707 of the fastener head outer profile 708 in order to concentrate any projected force PF in the chosen first or second drive torque direction F, S applied to the corresponding worked fastener driven half faces 703 by the use of three separate, generally, equidistant torque application points 314; said torque application points 314 can comprise: inner drive element planar drive faces 302 as depicted in Figs 4 and 6, a drive element gripping contact face 303 as illustrated in Fig.5, indented, drive element hexagonal comer contact faces 301 or other known drive profiles (not shown).

[0056] Fig. 5 in particular is a further close up top view with the fastener engagement end 201 upmost. Further illustrating the use of drive element drive gripping contact faces 303 to drive in the denoted first drive torque direction F, a 7% size reduction from that shown in Fig.4, of the fastener across the flanks size 706. Even further illustrated is the drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 having curved indentations 207 against the corresponding smooth, drive element arcuate outer surface 304, the resilient portion 601 is further shown.

[0057] Fig. 6 in particular, is a further close up top view of the modular three drive element socket 1 with the fastener engagement end 201 upmost, showing the socket body element 200 smooth, drive element housing scalloped recesses 203, with abutting drive element 300 arcuate outer surface’s 304, curved indentations 305. Further illustrating with the socket drive element flange 403 in section and the drive element planar contact faces 302 engaged upon a notional hexagonal shape 312, in order to drive in the denoted second drive torque direction S a hexagonal fastener head 701 with a 7.5% reduction of fastener of the across the flanks size 706 from that previously denoted in Fig.4. The socket drive, drive element flange 403, rim 405 illustrated, further acting against the drive element side profiles 308 stop faces, preventing undue rotational travel of the drive elements 300 within their corresponding drive element housing scalloped recesses 203.

[0058] Fig.7 and 8 illustrates the modular three drive element socket 1, dismantled into its constituent parts for display purposes, wherein the manufacturing times and costs are reduced by the use of a modular construction. The high tensile, relatively light, cylindrically shaped, socket body element 200, housing inner profile 204 with its internal, drive element housing scalloped recesses 203, is manufactured separately by metal injection moulding MIM or machined then broached; the separate, heavier drive engagement body element 400 can be made from less expensive but suitable metal grades and manufactured using less expensive known methods; said drive engagement body element 400 attached to the socket body element 200 in best practice by assembly roll pins 600, or further known methods; the elongate drive elements 300, in best practice, being manufactured by metal injection moulding MIM, using low cost open and shut tooling. Further shown are: the socket body element 200, fastener engagement end 201, drive element housing 202, drive element housing scalloped recesses 203, socket body connection pin bores 205 and the socket drive connection portion 404 with its corresponding socket drive connection pin bore 402. The socket drive element flange 403, when assembled into the drive element retaining groove 309, retains the elongate drive elements 300 in place, whilst allowing any required rotational or inward / outward movement of said elongate drive elements 300, when the socket body element 200 is assembled upon the socket drive connection portion 404. Even further shown are the elongate drive element 300 drive element planar contact faces 302, drive element arcurate outer surface 304, drive element arcurate curved indentations 305, drive element outer tips 306, drive element outer tip chamfer 307, drive element side profiles 308, drive element groove inside face 310, drive element base portion 311 and resilient portion 601. Fig. 8 in particular shows the drive engagement body element 400 incorporating an innermost deep, drive element flange 403 in order to retain and keep the elongate drive elements 300 as upright as possible; the deep retaining, socket drive element flange 403 acting within the elongate, drive elements 300 inwardly extending, drive element retaining groove 309 in order to maintain as much as possible that the centrically moveable elongate drive elements 300 are retained in an upright within the drive element housing 202; said elongate drive elements 300 outwardly extending, drive element retaining groove 309, being placed into the socket drive, drive element flange 403 prior to the assembly of the drive engagement body element 400 to the socket body element 200 where their retention is then ensured by the said socket, drive element flange 403 when said modular three drive element socket 1 is fully assembled. The socket, drive element flange 403 is further augmented by socket drive, spring retainer protrusions 407, in best practice restraining a resilient portion 601 capable of radial movement within said resilient portion channel 406. In best practice said resilient portion 601 comprises a generally circular flat or round wire loop, the outer radii of which is in constant resilient contact with the drive element groove inside faces 310, in order to purposefully propel said drive elements 300, outwards into a basically, radially central and erect, withdrawn position within the drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 when said modular three drive element socket 1 is at rest, in order to ensure maximum, drive element 300 retraction prior to the insertion of the fastener outer profile 708 to be worked inserted into the drive element housing 202.

[0059] Fig. 9 is a close-up top view of the modular three drive element socket 1 at rest, viewed from the fastener engagement end 201, having a notional hexagonal shape 312 within its drive element housing 202; the socket drive element flange 403 shown in section through its socket drive, spring retaining groove 408 in order to illustrate the sprung contact of the resilient portion 601 against the drive element groove inside face 310; the socket drive spring retainer protrusions 407 further shown.

[0060] Fig. 10 is a close up top view of the modular three drive element socket 1 viewed from the socket fastener engagement end 201, operated in the first drive torque direction F against a notional hexagonal shape 312 within its drive element housing 202; the socket drive element flange 403 shown in section through its socket drive, spring retaining groove 408 in order to illustrate the resilient contact of the resilient portion 601 against the drive element groove inside face 310, the socket drive spring retainer protrusions 407 further shown. The drive elements 300 shown askew in said first drive torque direction F within the corresponding drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 in order to drive, in said first drive torque direction F, the illustrated drive element planar contact faces 302 against the fastener driven half faces 703; the fastener non-driven half faces 704; as illustrated in all examples being all but redundant.

[0061] Fig. 11 is a close up top view of the modular three drive element socket 1 viewed from the socket fastener engagement end 201, operated in the second drive torque direction S against a notional hexagonal shape 312 within its socket body 200, drive element housing 202; the socket drive element flange 403 shown in section through its socket drive, spring retaining groove 408 in order to illustrate the resilient contact of the resilient portion 601 against the drive element groove inside face 310, the socket drive spring retainer protrusions 407 further shown. The drive elements 300 shown askew in said second drive torque direction S within the corresponding drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 in order to drive, in said second drive torque direction S, the illustrated drive element planar contact faces 302 against the fastener driven half faces 703; the fastener non-driven half faces 704 being all but redundant.

[0062] Fig.12 is a perspective view of the modular three drive element socket 1 illustrated as a torque tightening wrench 500 having first and second wrench head ends 507, 508 with one wrench head portion 502 on each end of the wrench handle 501. For display purposes, the wrench first end 507 having a three-drive element configuration 509 and the wrench second end 508 having a six drive element configuration 510. Further shown are: the wrench head portions 502, drive element housings 503, the wrench drive elements 504, wrench head, closure covers 505, wrench head closure cover lips 506 within the drive element tip profiles 511 and the drive element spring groove 512 with its incumbent resilient portion 601. Fig 13 is a perspective view of the modular three drive element socket 1 illustrated as a torque tightening wrench 500 having two wrench head portions 502 one on each end of the wrench handle 501. For display purposes, the wrench first end 507, having a three-drive element configuration 509 and the second end 508, having a six drive element configuration 510. Further illustrated is the wrench head drive element housing 503 containing the wrench head drive elements 504 which are retained by the wrench head closure cover 505 lips 506 within the drive element outer tip profiles 511. The wrench head drive elements 504 when at rest, are withdrawn by the resilient portion 601 within the drive element spring groove 512; said torque tightening wrench 500 dismantled into its constituent parts for display purposes.

[0063] Fig 14 shows an example of a prior art socket with six cams 801, “for engaging each drive flank of a nut”, as disclosed by US2022063003 using an extended foot profile 802 attached to the base of the six cams 801 to rotate said six cams in unison. Said six cams 801 held in position by an interference fit cam retainer 803.

[0064] Embodiments of the invention may comprise a drive socket 1 comprising a two-piece socket body comprising a socket body element 200 and a drive engagement body element 400, a plurality of drive elements 300 and at least one fastener 600 securing a first end of the socket body element 200 to a first end of the drive engagement body element. The drive engagement body element 400 has a second end that is provided with a drive receiving aperture 401 or projection configured to be connected to an input driver, such as an impulse wrench. The socket body element 200 has a longitudinal axis and comprises a wall defining a fastener receiving recess that extends inwardly in a lengthways direction of the socket body element along the longitudinal axis from a second end of the socket body element towards the first end of the socket body element and respective drive element receiving recesses 207 defined in an inwardly facing side 204 of the wall to receive said drive elements 300. The drive elements 300 have a curved rear surface 304 and the drive element receiving recesses 207 have a curved bearing surface that faces the curved rear surface 304 of the respective drive element such that, in use, when a torque is applied to the drive socket 1 via driven engagement body element aperture 401 or projection, limited rotation of the drive elements 300 and socket body element 200 about the longitudinal axis is permitted to enable the drive elements 300 to engage respective drive faces 702 of a polygonal fastener element 700 received in the fastener receiving recess. In the illustrated embodiment, the socket body element 200 is a tubular element and the first end of the drive engagement body element 400 is configured to be received in the first end of the socket body element 200. The drive engagement body element 400 may be secured to the socket body element 200 by a plurality of rivet pins. However, it is advantageous that the drive engagement body element 400 is be secured to the socket body element 200 by a plurality of roll pins 600. Using roll pins 600 makes the drive socket 1 easy to disassemble for cleaning and roll pins are well suited to resisting loosening of the connection between the drive engagement body element 400 and the socket body element due to vibrations that occur when if the drive socket 1 is used with an impulse wrench.

[0065] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types above. Whilst the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of a three or six drive element configuration 509, 510 torque tightening socket or wrench 1, 500, accordingly, it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

Claims1. A drive socket comprising: a two-piece socket body comprising a socket body element and a drive engagement body element; a plurality of drive elements; and at least one fastener securing a first end of said socket body element to a first end of said drive engagement body element, wherein said drive engagement body element has a second end that is provided with a drive receiving aperture or projection configured to be connected to an input driver, wherein said socket body element has a longitudinal axis and comprises a wall defining a fastener receiving recess that extends inwardly in a lengthways direction of said socket body element along said longitudinal axis from a second end of said socket body element towards said first end of said socket body element and respective drive element receiving recesses defined in an inwardly facing side of said wall to receive said drive elements, and wherein said drive elements have a curved rear surface and said drive element receiving recesses have a curved bearing surface that faces the curved rear surface of the respective drive element such that, in use, when a torque is applied to the drive socket via said driven engagement body element aperture or projection, limited rotation of said drive elements and socket body element about said longitudinal axis is permitted to enable said drive elements to engage respective drive faces of a polygonal fastener element received in said fastener receiving recess.

2. A drive socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one fastener comprises a rivet or a roll pin.

3. A drive socket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said socket body element is a tubular element.

4. A drive socket as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said first end of said drive engagement body element is configured to be received in said first end of said socket body element.

5. A drive socket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each said drive element has a widthways extending groove extending from a first side of the respective drive element to a second side of the drive element and said first end of said drive engagement bodydefines a flange that engages in the respective grooves to at least limit movement of said drive elements in said lengthways direction.

6. A drive socket as claimed in claim 5, wherein said flange comprises respective groove engaging lobes that engage in said widthways extending grooves.

7. A drive socket as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein said flange is recessed to house at least one resilient member configured to act against at least one said drive element to press the drive element radially outwardly with respect to said longitudinal axis into engagement with the respect drive element receiving recess.

8. A drive socket as claimed in claim 7, wherein said flange is recessed to define a circumferentially extending groove and said at least one resilient member comprises a circular wire spring housed in said groove and acting against each said drive element.

8. A drive socket as claimed in claim 8, wherein said flange comprises a plurality of resilient member retaining lobes, each said lobe facing said inwardly facing surface of said wall intermediate said drive element receiving recesses.

9. A drive socket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said curved rear surface or said curved bearing surface is provided with a plurality of spaced apart grooves that extend in said lengthways direction.

10. A drive socket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each said drive element has a fastener engaging face and said fastener engaging face is provided with a plurality of spaced apart grooves that extend in said lengthways direction.

11. A drive socket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said socket body element is a metal injection moulded part.

12. A drive socket element as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said socket body element is made of a first metal and said drive engagement body element is made of a second metal that is different to said first metal.

13. A method of manufacturing a drive socket comprising a two-piece socket body comprising a tubular socket body element and a drive engagement body element, and a plurality of drive elements housed in said socket body, said method comprising: assembling said drive elements to a first end of said drive engagement body element; inserting said first end of said drive engagement body element and the assembled drive elements into a first end of said socket body such that said drive elements are received in respective drive element receiving recesses defined by an inwardly facing surface of said tubular socket body which drive element receiving recesses define respective curved bearing surfaces that face a complementary curved rear surface of the respective drive elements; and securing said first end of said drive engagement body element to said first end of said socket body element by means of a plurality of fasteners.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plurality of fasteners comprise a plurality of roll pins or a plurality of rivets.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 or 14, comprising forming said socket body by metal injection moulding.

16. A method as claimed in claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein said socket body element is made of a first metal and said drive engagement body element is made of a second metal that is different to said first metal.

17. A method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, comprising providing each said drive element with a widthways extending groove extending from a first side of the drive element to a second side of the drive element that is disposed opposite said first side, providing said first end of said drive engagement body element with a flange that engages in said grooves and assembling said drive elements to said first end of said drive engagement body element comprises engaging said flange in said grooves.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, comprising providing said flange with respective groove engaging lobes that engage in said grooves.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17 or 18, further comprising providing said flange with a circumferentially extending groove and fitting a circular spring element in said circumferentiallyextending groove to apply a force against said drive elements that presses the drive elements into the respective drive element receiving recesses.

20. A modular three drive element socket 1 comprising: a three drive element 300, high torque, modular construction socket 1 characterized wherein, the manufacturing times and costs are drastically reduced by the use of a modular construction, the high tensile, relatively light, cylindrically shaped, socket body 200, with its complex, internal, drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 is in best practice manufactured separately from the drive engagement body element 400, utilizing extremely high precision metal injection moulding, MIM or similar; the fact that the moulded metal has virtually no grain, giving an inherent increase in strength; the increased width of the moulding draft angle being further used as an aid to the initial engagement of the socket body 200, open, fastener engagement end 201 upon the operated fastener 700; although not so strong and more expensive said socket body 200 could alternately be machined / broached; the separate, far heavier, drive engagement body element 400 can be made from less expensive but suitable metal grades and manufactured using far less expensive known methods; said drive engagement body element 400 attached to said socket body 200 by assembly roll pins 600; the intricate, elongate drive elements 300 in best practice, being manufactured separately by metal injection moulding MIM or similar, using low cost open and shut tooling.

21. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in claim 20, wherein the open, fastener engagement end 201 is characterized in containing rotatable in a first or second drive direction F,S, with a minimum of problematic surface to surface contact or possible friction, employing specifically three elongate drive elements 300 having drive element arcuate outer surfaces 304 configured to move easily within respective drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 provided within a generally circular, drive element housing 202 within the cylindrically shaped elongate, socket body 200 and locked by assembly roll pins 600 upon a separate drive engagement body element 400 having a known square drive spigot recess 401 for engagement with known correspondingly sized square drive spigots; wherein, when an appropriately sized hexagonal fastener head 701 is inserted within said drive element housing 202 and an applied drive torque D is directed in the chosen first or second drive torque direction F, S to said square drive spigot recess 401, said drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 engage with the respective drive element arcuate outer surfaces 304 so as to rotationally urge the drive element, corner, planar or gripping drive contact faces 301, 302 or 303 into locking engagement with the suitably sized engaged hexagonal fastener head 701 driven half faces 703 in order to operate the same; the torque constricting, drive element planar contact faces 302 further capable of robustlyoperating over 7% undersized or near undersized, imperial / metric, fasteners 700 fastener outer profiles 708 across the flanks sizes 706.

22. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in previous claim 20 or 21, wherein said drive elements arcuate outer surface 304 is configured to engage within respective drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 provided within the generally circular, drive element housing 202 within the cylindrically shaped, socket body 200; characterised wherein, any rotational movement of the drive elements 300 is not unduly constricted by prior art intricate positional springs etc nor positioned by further prior art type appendages with their frictional liabilities; In consequence, as the modular three drive element socket 1 is operated in the chosen first or second drive torque direction F, S, the drive elements 300 having drive element arcuate outer surfaces 304 specifically configured to move easily with minimum friction within their respective drive element housing scalloped recesses 203, provided within the generally circular, drive element housing 202. When the drive elements drive comer, planar or gripping contact faces 301,302 or 303 even lightly engage the suitably sized, worked fastener driven half faces 703, this contact propels askew, said elongate drive elements 300 resulting in the corresponding utilized contact faces 301, 302 or 303 fully abutting the worked fastener driven half faces 703; this torque tightening action results in an extremely robust and equalized grip of said fastener driven half faces 703, whether the hexagonal fastener head 701 is full sized, slightly undersized, worn or comprises damaged fastener undulations 705; the more torque required to operate the worked fastener 700 within its range, the more grip applied to said fastener corner points 707 and fastener drive flanks 702.

23. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in claim 22, wherein in order to keep any problematic surface to surface friction incurred during the drive element 300 rotational action to a minimum, the drive element arcuate outer surface 304 further comprises a series of drive element arcuate curved indentations 305, the outer radii of which form the complementary arc to that of the smooth, drive element housing scalloped recess 203, enhancing the ease of any required rotational movement of said drive elements 300 within said drive element housing scalloped recesses 203, whilst giving a depository for any detritus wiped from the surface of said drive element housing scalloped recesses 203; any gathered detritus then being further capable of service removal by appropriate washing or airline use.

24. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in claim 22, wherein in order to keep any problematic surface to surface friction incurred during drive element 300 rotational movementto a minimum, the drive element housing scalloped recess 203 comprises of a series of curved indentations 207, the outer circumference of which form a complementary arc to that of the smooth, drive element arcuate outer surface 304, whilst giving a depository for any detritus wiped from the surface of the complementary drive element arcuate outer surface 304; any gathered detritus then being further capable of service removal by appropriate washing or airline use.

25. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein the socket body connection profile 206 is robustly connected by assembly roll pins 600 to the socket drive connection portion 404 of the drive engagement body element 400 which further incorporates a known square drive spigot recess 401; said drive engagement body element 400 even further includes a deep, drive element flange 403 in order to retain and keep the elongate, drive elements 300 as upright as possible; said drive element flange 403 acting within the complementary elongate drive element base portion 311 outwardly extending drive element retaining grooves 309, to maintain the centrically moveable, elongate, drive elements 300 as much as possible in an upright position within the drive element housing 202; said drive elements retaining grooves 309 engaging onto the drive element flange 403; said elongate drive elements retaining grooves 309 furthermore being engaged onto said drive element flange 403 prior to the assembly of the socket drive connection portion 404 into the socket body connection profile 206, wherein the drive elements 300 retention is thereby ensured by the said socket drive, drive element flange 403; further noted, as there is now very little actual metal to metal contact, any possible unwanted surface to surface friction between the drive element base portion 311 and said drive element flange 403 is therefore greatly reduced.

26. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 25, wherein the drive element planar contact faces 302 robustly grip in the chosen first or second drive torque direction F, S the operated correspondingly near sized, hexagonal fastener head 701 drive half faces 703 by generally, equidistant torque application points 314; this triangulated grip operating profile 313 engages each second corresponding hexagonal fastener head 701 driven half face 703 in the chosen first or second drive torque direction F, S of application; the occurring projected force PF, simultaneously optimally locating and purposely automatically adjusting, is equally applied via said equidistant torque application points 314, to said worked fastener driven half faces 703; any slight variances in fastener across the flanks size 706, manufacturing tolerances or worn or damaged fastener undulations 705 being automatically compensated for in the same manner as a three legged stool compensates for an uneven floor (not shown).

27. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 26, characterised by having a triangulated grip operating profile 313 within its drive element contact face 302, in order to concentrate any projected force PF in the chosen first or second drive torque direction F, S applied to the corresponding worked hexagonal fastener head 701, driven half faces 703 by the use of three separate generally, equidistant torque application points 314; said torque application points 314 can comprise planar, drive element drive contact faces 302, indented, drive element comer drive faces 301, drive element gripping contact faces 303 or other known drive profiles (not shown); any type of said drive element drive contact faces 301, 302 or 303 creating a notionally hexagonal shape 312.

28. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 27, characterized wherein the manufacturing times and costs are reduced by the use of a modular construction; the high tensile, relatively light, cylindrically shaped, socket body 200, with its internal, drive element housing scalloped recesses 203, are manufactured separately by metal injection moulding MIM or machined then broached; the separate, heavier drive engagement body element 400 can now be made from less expensive but suitable metal grades and manufactured using less expensive known methods; the intricate, drive elements 300 in best practice being manufactured separately by metal injection moulding, MIM, using low cost open and shut tooling.

29. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 28, wherein the said socket 1 is specifically compatible with known electrically or pneumatically powered impact wrenches; said drive engagement body element 400 attached to the socket body 200, in best practice by assembly roll pins 600, within the socket body and socket drive connection pin bores 205, 402; if known pins or screws are used the transfer of any harmonic energy or spike effect caused during known electrically or pneumatically powered impact wrench use is transferred to the known screws or pins, causing them to become the path of least resistance and their slackening occurs even when locking fluids are used.

30. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 29, wherein the drive engagement body element 400 incorporates an innermost deep, drive element flange 403 in order to retain and keep the elongate drive elements 300 as upright as possible; said deep retaining, socket drive, drive element flange 403 acting with the elongate, drive elements 300 inward extending, drive element retaining groove 309 in order to establish that the centrically moveable elongate drive elements 300 are retained, as much as possible, upright within the drive element housing 202; said elongate drive elements 300 outwardly extending, drive elementretaining groove 309, being placed into the socket drive, drive element flange 403 prior to the assembly of the drive engagement body element 400 to the socket body 200 where their retention is then ensured by the said socket drive, drive element flange 403 when said modular three drive element socket 1 is fully assembled.

31. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 30, wherein the socket drive flange rim 405, contains a resilient portion 601 within a resilient portion channel 406, said resilient portion 601 being capable of radial movement within said resilient portion channel 406; in best practice said resilient portion 601 comprises a generally circular flat or round wire loop, the outer circumference of which is in constant resilient contact with the drive element groove inside face 310, in order to purposefully propel said drive elements 300, outwards into a basically, radially central and erect position within the drive element housing scalloped recesses 203 when said modular three drive element socket 1 is at rest, in order to ensure maximum, drive element 300 retraction before the insertion into the drive element housing 202 of the fastener head outer profile 708.

32. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 31, wherein the drive element 300 side profiles 308, when at maximum required rotational travel, further act against the socket drive flange rim 405 in order to constrain the amount of rotational travel of said drive elements 300 within the corresponding drive element housing scalloped recesses 203, precluding any chance of unwanted jamming between the drive element planar contact face 302 and the fastener driven half faces 703.

33. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 32, wherein the drive element outer tip 306 edges are chamfered 307 such that the fastener outer profile 708 can be more easily and quickly engaged even when said drive elements 300 are not held tightly against their corresponding drive element housing scalloped recesses 203.

34. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 33, wherein said modular three drive element socket 1, can be dismantled for servicing or drive element 300 replacement purposes, by the removal of the assembly roll pins 600 by known methods.

35. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 34, wherein the drive element planar or corner profiled drive faces 302, 301 for the operation of hexagonalfastener heads 701, are replaced by splines or teeth (not shown) for the engagement of known studs and the like (not shown) for the removal of the same.

36. A modular three drive element socket 1 or torque tightening wrench 500 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 35, comprising the implementation of either a three drive element configuration 509 or six drive element configuration 510 within the drive element housing 202.

37. A modular construction socket 1 or torque tightening wrench 500, as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 36, comprises, in an even further example of the present invention wherein the fastener driven half faces 703 can differ in shape from those illustrated, as many differing fastener 700 or workpiece profiles exist; all of which further profiled torque application point types (not shown) could be incorporated according to the operator’s requirements or manufacturer’s needs whilst not deviating from the basis of the present invention.

38. A modular three drive element socket 1 as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 37, wherein the socket body 200 is replaced by wrench head portions 502 and a wrench handle 501 in order to facilitate a torque tightening wrench 500; the wrench head drive elements 504 within the wrench head drive element housing 503 having a drive element spring groove 512 containing a resilient portion 601; said wrench head drive elements 504 are adequately retained and reasonably sealed by known wrench head closure covers 505 and their restraining, wrench head closure cover lips 506 interacting within corresponding drive element outer tip profiles 511 in order to retain and generally seal said wrench head drive elements 504 within said wrench head drive element housing 503.

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