Driving mechanism

Abstract

To provide a driving mechanism, particularly a driving mechanism applicable to an impact wrench.SOLUTION: The present disclosure provides a driving mechanism, which includes a driving shaft, a sleeve, a plurality of guiding members, an impact bulk and an output shaft. The sleeve is sleeved on the driving shaft and has a plurality of guiding grooves for accommodating the guiding members. The impact bulk is sleeved on the outside of the sleeve. Some guiding members are linearly immovable relative to the driving shaft, meanwhile, other guiding members are linearly immovable relative to the impact bulk. By means of design of the guiding grooves, torque input into the driving shaft is converted into impact torque applied on the output shaft.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive mechanism, and more particularly to a drive mechanism applicable to an impact wrench. [Background technology]

[0002] An impact driver is a tool that can apply high torque. A typical impact driver has a movable drive shaft, an impact part, an output shaft, a ball, and an elastic member. Both the drive shaft and the impact part have guide grooves. The impact part is sleeve-mounted on the drive shaft, and the ball is disposed in the guide groove. The elastic member provides tension between the drive shaft and the impact part. In the design of the guide grooves of the drive shaft and the impact part, the ball moves in the guide groove, so that the rotating drive shaft rotates the impact part and moves it axially at the same time. The surface of the impact part that the output shaft abuts has a number of protruding blocks, and the rotating impact part automatically moves backward when it reaches a critical point, so that the protruding block abuts against the output shaft. At this time, the elastic member is compressed and stores a larger tension. When the impact part continues to rotate so that the surface that the output shaft abuts against exceeds the surface of the protruding block, the tension stored in the elastic member is applied to the impact part, causing an instantaneous forward impact. At this time, the movement of the ball is restricted within the guide groove, so that the impact is converted into a torque applied to the impact section, whereby the protruding block of the impact section applies a circumferential impact to the output shaft, causing the output shaft to generate an instantaneous torque, thereby achieving the purpose of tightening or loosening the screw.

[0003] However, forming the guide groove in the drive shaft and the impact part requires precision machining technology, which increases not only the machining time but also the cost. Furthermore, since the guide groove is disposed in the drive shaft and the impact part, although the drive shaft and the impact part can each have a design that matches the shape of the guide groove, the shape of the guide groove cannot be easily changed to suit different applications. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a drive mechanism including a drive shaft, a sleeve, an impact portion, a first guide member, and a second guide member. The sleeve is sleeve-like mounted on the drive shaft and has a first guide groove and a second guide groove. The impact portion is sleeve-like mounted on the sleeve. The first guide member is movable within the first guide groove and configured to have no linear movement with respect to the drive shaft. The second guide member is movable within the second guide groove and configured to have no linear movement with respect to the impact portion. Movement of the first guide member in the first guide groove and movement of the second guide member in the second guide groove allows the sleeve to move axially with respect to the drive shaft and the impact portion.

[0005] In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a drive mechanism comprising an input mechanism, a sleeve, an impactor, and an elastic member. The sleeve is sleeve-mounted on the input mechanism. The impactor is sleeve-mounted on the sleeve. The elastic member is configured to apply tension to the impactor in an axial direction relative to the input mechanism. A force-torque conversion mechanism converts the tension applied to the impactor into torque applied to the output mechanism.

[0006] The above content generally describes the technical features of the present disclosure, and the details of the present disclosure will be better understood from the following description. Other technical features that constitute the subject matter of the claims of the present disclosure are described in the following content. By utilizing the concept or specific embodiments, a person skilled in the art of the present disclosure can easily modify or design other structures or manufacturing processes, thereby achieving the same purpose of the present disclosure. A person with general knowledge in the field of the present disclosure should understand that equivalent structures may not depart from the spirit and scope defined in the claims.

[0007] When reading this disclosure together with the accompanying drawings, the configuration of the present disclosure can be better understood by the following embodiments: It should be noted that, in order to clearly describe the contents of the present disclosure, features may be drawn without reflecting the scale, and the dimensions of features may be enlarged or reduced. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a drive mechanism according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 2] 2A and 2B are a side view and a cross-sectional view showing the drive mechanism of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the drive mechanism of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a drive mechanism according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the drive mechanism of FIG. [Figure 6] 1A-1D are perspective views illustrating a drive mechanism at different rotation angles according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view corresponding to the transparent view of the drive mechanism in FIG. 6.

[0009] In the drawings and embodiments of the present disclosure, the same or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drive mechanism 1 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 is a side view and a cross-sectional view of the drive mechanism of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an exploded view of the drive mechanism of Figure 1. In some embodiments, Figure 4 is a perspective view of a drive mechanism according to another embodiment, and Figure 5 is an exploded view of the drive mechanism shown in Figure 4.

[0011] In some embodiments, the drive mechanism 1 mainly comprises a drive shaft 11, a sleeve 12, an impact portion 13 (shown in dashed lines in Figures 1 and 4), an elastic member 15, an output shaft 14, a number of guide members 16, a rolling member 17, and an annular gasket 18.

[0012] In some embodiments, the drive mechanism 11 has a proximal end 111 close to the user and a distal end 112 far from the user. In some embodiments, the drive shaft 11 has an annular projection 113 at its proximal end 111. In some embodiments, the sleeve 12 is sleeved onto the drive shaft 11 from the distal end 112 of the drive shaft 11, and the impact part 13 is sleeved onto the outer circumferential wall of the sleeve 12. In some embodiments, the impact part 13 is a generally hollow cylinder having an annular groove 134 with a U-shaped cross section, in which an annular gasket 18 and a plurality of rolling members 17 are housed. In some embodiments, the output shaft 14 is an output mechanism having a notch at one end thereof. The notch can be sleeved onto a portion of the distal end 112 of the drive shaft 11, thereby abutting the distal end 112 of the drive shaft 11. In some embodiments, the output shaft 14 abuts in the longitudinal direction against the outer wall 121 of the sleeve 12. In some embodiments, the elastic member 15 is sleeve-like mounted on the drive shaft 11. In some embodiments, one end of the elastic member 15 abuts against the annular protrusion 113 of the drive shaft 11 and the other end of the elastic member 15 abuts against the annular gasket 18 of the impact part 13. When the elastic member 15 is compressed, it applies tension between the drive shaft 11 and the impact part 13.

[0013] 3, in some embodiments, the drive shaft 11 defines an axial direction and has a through hole 114 through which the guide member 16 is disposed. The through hole 114 passes through the drive shaft 11 in the radial direction of the drive shaft 11. In some embodiments, the guide member 16 is a pin that passes through the through hole 114 and has two ends that protrude from the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11.

[0014] 5, in some embodiments, the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11 has a plurality of recesses 114' for disposing the guide members 16. In some embodiments, the recesses 114' are disposed on radially opposite sides of the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11. In some embodiments, the guide members 16 are balls (e.g., iron balls) that are partially housed in the recesses 114' of the drive shaft 11 and may partially protrude from the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11.

[0015] In some embodiments, the inner peripheral wall of the impact portion 13 also has a recess 131 for locating the guide member 16. In some embodiments, the recesses 131 are generally located on radially opposite sides of the inner peripheral wall of the impact portion 13. In some embodiments, the guide member 16 is a ball (e.g., an iron ball) that is partially received in the recess 131 of the impact portion 13 and may partially protrude from the inner peripheral wall of the impact portion 13.

[0016] In some embodiments, a plurality of rolling members 17 (e.g., balls) are disposed between the annular gasket 18 and the annular groove 134 of the impact portion 13. In some embodiments, the plurality of rolling members 17 is preferably 28 balls. With reference to FIG. 2, the annular groove 134 of the impact portion 13 extends in a longitudinal direction, the distance being less than the height from the outer surface of one end of the impact portion 13. That is, the annular groove 134 does not penetrate the impact portion 13. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, in some embodiments, the outer surface of the other end of the impact portion 13 forms an annular concave surface 132, and a portion of the area of ​​this annular concave surface 132 forms a protruding block 133 having a trapezoidal longitudinal section. In some embodiments, the annular concave surface 132 has two opposing protruding blocks 133 having an outer surface that is substantially coplanar with the outer surface of the impact portion 13.

[0017] In some embodiments, the tension of the elastic member 15 is transferred to the impact portion 13 via annular gasket 18 and rolling members 17. The location of the rolling members 17 can minimize friction between the rotating impact portion 13 and annular gasket 18.

[0018] In some embodiments, the sleeve 12 has a hollow cylindrical shape and has a plurality of guide grooves 122 for the guide member 16 to move within. With reference to FIGS. 3 and 5, in some embodiments, the guide grooves 122 pass through the sleeve 12. In some embodiments, the guide grooves 122 closer to the distal end 112 of the drive shaft 11 do not pass through the sleeve 12. In some embodiments, the guide grooves 122 that do not pass through the sleeve 12 are formed on the outer circumferential wall of the sleeve 12. In some embodiments, the guide grooves 122 of the sleeve 12 that are relatively closer to the proximal end 111 of the drive shaft 11 pass through the sleeve 12, and the guide grooves 122 of the sleeve 12 that are relatively closer to the distal end 112 of the drive shaft 11 do not pass through the sleeve 12. In some embodiments, the sleeve 12 has a pair (two) of guide grooves 122 on one side or end in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve 12, and also has a pair (two) of guide grooves 122 on the other side or end in the longitudinal direction of the sleeve 12. The two guide grooves 122 of each pair of guide grooves 122 are disposed on opposite sides of the sleeve 12 in the radial direction. In some embodiments, both of the two pairs of guide grooves 122 may penetrate the sleeve 12. In some embodiments, the two guide grooves 122 relatively close to the distal end 112 of the drive shaft 11 are formed from the outer circumferential wall of the sleeve 12 but do not penetrate the sleeve 12. In some embodiments, each of the guide grooves 122 is approximately V-shaped. In some embodiments, one pair of the two pairs of guide grooves 122 is disposed in an inverse shape to the other pair of guide grooves 122. That is, the guide groove 122 close to the proximal end 111 of the drive shaft 11 is V-shaped, and the guide groove 122 close to the distal end 112 of the drive shaft 11 is inverted V-shaped. In some embodiments, each of the guide grooves 122 has a distance d from the proximal end to the distal end in the longitudinal direction. Referring to FIG. 6, in some embodiments, the V-shaped guide groove 122 has a particular distance between its proximal and distal ends in the longitudinal direction such that the guide member 16 moves a distance d in the longitudinal direction (i.e., axial direction) in the course of moving from the bottom end to the top end of the V-shape of the guide groove 122.

[0019] 5, in some embodiments, the guide member 16 is a ball, which is partially received in a recess 114' in the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11 and partially protrudes from the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11. The portion of the guide member 16 protruding from the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11 can move within a guide groove 122 of the sleeve 12. In some embodiments, the guide member 16 in the recess 114' in the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11 does not move linearly with respect to the drive shaft 11 because it is restrained by the recess 114'. Thus, a force or torque applied to the drive shaft 11 can be transmitted to the sleeve 12 via the guide member 16, and vice versa.

[0020] 1 and 3, in some embodiments, when the drive shaft 11 has a through hole 114, the guide member 16 is a pin and is disposed in the through hole 114. Two ends of the pin protrude outward from the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11. The protruding portion of the pin can move in the guide groove 122 of the sleeve 12, but the pin does not move linearly with respect to the drive shaft 11. By using the pin as the guide member 16, the structural strength between the guide member 16 and the drive shaft 11 is increased, so that a large force or torque applied to the drive shaft 11 can be efficiently transmitted to the sleeve 12 via the pin.

[0021] 3 and 5, in some embodiments, the guide member 16 is a ball and is partially received in a recess 131 in the inner peripheral wall of the impact portion 13. The portion of the guide member 16 that protrudes from the inner peripheral wall of the impact portion 13 can move within a guide groove 122 of the sleeve 12. In some embodiments, the guide member 16 in the recess 131 in the inner peripheral wall of the impact portion 13 does not move linearly with respect to the impact portion 13 because it is constrained by the recess 131. Thus, a force or torque applied to the impact portion 13 can be transmitted to the sleeve 12 via the guide member 16, and vice versa.

[0022] According to the above, the transmission of force and torque between the drive shaft 11 and the impact part 13 is achieved by the sleeve 12 and the guide member 16. In particular, the guide member 16 disposed on the drive shaft 11 does not move linearly with respect to the drive shaft 11, and the guide member 16 disposed on the impact part 13 does not move linearly with respect to the impact part 13, so that the movement of the drive shaft 11 and the impact part 13 can be controlled by the movement of the guide member 16 in the guide groove 122 of the sleeve 12, so that the purpose of transmitting force and energy can be achieved. Furthermore, referring to FIG. 6, through the design of the shape of the guide groove 122, the torque input to the drive shaft 11 can be converted into an axial force that can move the sleeve 12 and the impact part 13 back and forth.

[0023] In some embodiments, the drive shaft of the drive mechanism 11 is the input mechanism and provides an input end that rotates with power provided by a motor. In one embodiment, the impact portion 13 has a generally hollow cylindrical shape and has an annular concave surface 132 at one end. In one embodiment, the output shaft 14 abuts the annular concave surface 132 of the impact portion 13. Referring to Figures 3 and 5, in one embodiment, the end of the output shaft 14 that abuts the drive shaft 11 has a generally cuboid shaped protruding block 141 that abuts the annular concave surface 132 of the impact portion 13 and has a circular notch 142 in the center of the protruding block 141 for sleeve-like mounting on the drive shaft 11.

[0024] 6 and 7, the middle part of the figure shows the drive mechanism 1 in a fully extended state, with the guide member 16 at the axially furthest position of the two pairs of guide grooves 122. When used, the drive mechanism 1 rotates clockwise or counterclockwise according to the fixing, tightening or loosening requirements during operation, so that the sleeve 12 moves the impact part 13 axially (back and forth) by the guide groove 112 and the guide member 16. Referring to the illustration of the exemplary drive mechanism 1 in the upper part of FIG. 6 and 7, when the impact part 13 moves back toward the user, the protruding block 141 of the output shaft 14 (still rotating) moves from the annular concave surface 132 of the impact part 13 onto the protruding block 133 of the impact part 13. At this time, the retracted impact part 13 compresses the elastic member 15, thereby creating tension between the drive shaft 11 and the impact part 13. This tension pushes the impact part 13 toward the output shaft 14. Here, the output shaft 14 continues to rotate relative to the impact portion 13. When the protrusion block 133 of the impact portion 13 further rotates and passes the outer surface of the protrusion block 141 of the output shaft 14 with which it abuts, the tension of the elastic portion 15 pushes the impact portion 13 forward, causing the protrusion block 141 of the output shaft 14 to return to the annular concave surface 132 of the impact portion 13.

[0025] The force-torque conversion mechanism of the present disclosure is described in detail below. In the above process, the drive shaft 11 transmits rotational kinetic energy to the sleeve 12 through the guide member 16 arranged on the drive shaft 11. The movement trajectory of the guide member 16 can be limited by the design of the V-shaped guide groove 122 so that the sleeve moves axially and rotates at the same time. With the movement of the sleeve 12, the kinetic energy is further transmitted to the guide member 16 arranged on the impact part 13, so that the impact part 13 moves axially and rotates at the same time. At the time when the tension of the elastic member 15 pushes the impact part 13 forward, causing the protruding block 141 of the output shaft 14 to return to the annular concave surface 132 of the impact part 13, the guide member 16 corresponding to the impact part 13 can convert the axial force applied to the impact part 13 into torque due to the design of the shape of the guide groove 16 of the sleeve 12. This torque causes the side of the protruding block to hit the side of the protruding block 141 of the output shaft 14, so that the torque is transmitted to the output shaft 14. The entire movement process described above is repeated as the drive shaft 11 constantly rotates so that as the drive shaft 14 works (e.g. tightening or loosening a screw), the output shaft repeatedly applies an impact torque to the screw, thereby providing a power saving effect.

[0026] The detailed movement of the guide groove 122 of the sleeve 12 and the guide member 16 during the operation of the drive mechanism 1 of the present invention will be further described below. The middle diagram of the exemplary drive mechanism 1 in Figs. 6 and 7 shows the sleeve 12 fully extended relative to the drive shaft 11. Referring to the middle and lower diagrams of the exemplary drive mechanism 1 in Figs. 6 and 7, when the drive shaft 11 rotates clockwise (as seen by the user), the guide member 16 closer to the proximal end 111 approaches the right end of the guide groove 122 from the lowest position of the V-shape (i.e., the center of the V-shape) so that the sleeve 12 rotates and moves backward toward the user by a distance d. At this time, the retracted sleeve 12 simultaneously causes the guide member 16 in the other guide groove 122 of the inverted V-shape closer to the distal end 112 to approach the right end of the corresponding guide groove 122 so that the impact portion 13 moves backward toward the user by an additional distance d. Thus, in the above process, the impact portion 13 moves axially toward the user by a total distance 2d.

[0027] Referring to the middle and top views of the exemplary drive mechanism 1 in FIGS. 6 and 7, similarly, when the drive shaft 11 rotates counterclockwise (from the user's perspective): The guide member 16 approaches the left end of the guide groove 122 from the lowest position (the center of the V) of the V-shaped guide groove so that the sleeve 12 rotates and moves backward by a distance d toward the user. At this time, the retracted sleeve 12 simultaneously causes the guide member 16 in the other inverted V-shaped guide groove 122 to approach the left end of the corresponding guide groove 122 so that the impact portion 13 moves backward by a further distance d toward the user. Therefore, in the above process, the impact portion 13 moves (moves backward) by a total distance 2d toward the user.

[0028] When the impact part 13 moves backward, the protrusion block 141 of the output shaft 14 moves from the annular concave surface 132 of the impact part 13 to the outer surface of the protrusion block 133, and the elastic member 15 generates tension to push the impact part 13 toward the output shaft 14. When the impact part 13 further rotates in the circumferential direction so that the protrusion block 133 passes the protrusion block 141 of the output shaft 14, the tension of the elastic member 15 pushes the impact part 13 toward the output shaft 14, so that the impact part 13 moves forward and the protrusion block 141 of the output shaft 14 is returned to the annular concave surface 132 of the impact part 13. When the impact part 13 is pushed forward by the tension of the elastic member 15, the impact part 13 is simultaneously rotated by the guide member 16 arranged due to the design of the guide groove 122, and as a result, the axial tension is converted into a torque applied to the impact part 13. The torque is transmitted to the output shaft 14 as the protruding block 133 of the rotating impact portion 13 further abuts against the protruding block 141 of the output shaft 14 .

[0029] Compared with the guide grooves formed on the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11 and the inner peripheral wall of the impact part 13, the sleeve 12 having the guide groove 122 of the present invention can reduce the resistance to the movement of the guide member 16, so that the transmission efficiency of the kinetic energy can be improved (i.e., the power consumption of the tool used can be saved). Furthermore, since the guide groove 122 of the present invention is formed on the sleeve 12, the high-precision manufacturing process of forming the guide grooves on the outer peripheral wall of the drive shaft 11 and the inner peripheral wall of the impact part 13 can be avoided. In addition, the present invention can meet different usage requirements by replacing the sleeve 12 having the guide groove 122 of different designs. Furthermore, the sleeve 12 of the present invention can increase the time (period) during which the impact part 13 impacts the output shaft 14 and reduce the operating stroke of the drive mechanism 1.

[0030] The terms "substantially," "essentially," and "about" in context are used to indicate small variations. When used in conjunction with an event or condition, they may refer to the exact condition of an event or condition, or a condition that closely resembles an event or condition.

[0031] Indefinite and definite articles indicating the singular in the context may include the designated plural unless clearly defined otherwise. In the description of some embodiments, an assembly part being disposed "on" or "on" another assembly part may include a situation in which the former assembly part is disposed directly on (i.e., in physical contact with) the latter assembly part, as well as a situation in which one or more assembly parts are sandwiched between the former assembly part and the latter assembly part.

[0032] Although the present disclosure has been described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments, these descriptions and illustrations are not intended to limit the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art of the present disclosure will clearly understand that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined in the appended claims, and that equivalent assemblies can be substituted in the embodiments. The drawings may not be drawn to actual scale and proportion. Due to variations in manufacturing processes and the like, there may be differences between the technology in the present disclosure and the actual devices. There may be other embodiments of the present disclosure, although not explicitly disclosed. The specification and drawings should be regarded as illustrative and not limiting. Changes may be made to adapt practical conditions, materials, compositions of matter, methods or processes to the objective, spirit and scope of the present disclosure. All such modifications are within the scope of the appended claims. Although the methods disclosed in the content are described with specific operations performed in a specific order, it will be understood that equivalent methods may be formed by combining, dividing, or rearranging the operations without departing from the teachings of the present disclosure. As such, the order and grouping of the operations is not limiting of the present disclosure unless specifically indicated in the context.

Claims

1. A drive shaft that defines the axial direction, A sleeve is mounted on the drive shaft in a sleeve-like manner and has a first guide groove and a second guide groove, The impact part is attached to the aforementioned sleeve in a sleeve-like manner, A first guide member that is movable within the first guide groove and does not move linearly with respect to the drive shaft, A drive mechanism comprising: a second guide member that is movable within the second guide groove and does not move linearly with respect to the impact portion, The first guide groove and the second guide groove are configured such that when the first guide member moves within the first guide groove and the second guide member moves within the second guide groove, the sleeve moves axially with respect to the drive shaft and the impact portion. The drive mechanism further comprises an elastic member that applies tension to the impact portion of the drive shaft in the axial direction, and an output shaft located on the opposite side of the drive shaft in the drive mechanism. The first guide groove and the second guide groove are spaced apart in the axial direction of the sleeve and spaced apart at an angle in the radial direction of the sleeve, the first guide groove is closer to the drive shaft in the axial direction than the second guide groove, and the first guide groove penetrates the sleeve. The sleeve further has a third guide groove and a fourth guide groove, the third guide groove being located on the opposite side of the first guide groove and the fourth guide groove being located on the opposite side of the second guide groove, and the drive mechanism further has a third guide member configured to move within the third guide groove but not linearly with respect to the drive shaft, and a fourth guide member configured to move within the fourth guide groove but not linearly with respect to the drive shaft. Drive mechanism.

2. The drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the drive shaft has a through hole for housing the first guide member, and the impact portion has a recess for housing the second guide member.

3. The drive mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the first guide member is a pin and the second guide member is a ball.

4. The drive mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the drive shaft has through holes for accommodating the first guide member and the third guide member, and the impact portion has a recess for accommodating the second guide member.

5. The drive mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the first guide member and the third guide member are two ends of a pin housed in a through hole of the drive shaft, and the second guide member is a ball.

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