Arcuate Socket Engaging Structure for High Torque Without Screw Wear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional socket structures have issues with increased outer diameter due to protruding stops ribs, insufficient torque, and wear on screw heads caused by sharp stops ribs, leading to serration.
Innovation Solution
An engaging structure with drive portions featuring a second arcuate face that protrudes slightly from first arcuate faces, and receiving portions with a concave shape that are not tangent to the first arcuate faces, allowing for a reduced distance between them, preventing wear on screw corners and maintaining a smaller outer diameter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If stops ribs protrude in the engaging hole to keep rotation force, then the rotation torque is improved, but the outer diameter of the socket is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional sharp pointed stops ribs with arcuate (curved) drive portions and receiving portions. The arcuate shape allows the engagement surfaces to be curved rather than linear, enabling the drive portions to engage the screw head corners effectively while reducing the need for excessive protrusion. This curvature reduces the outer diameter while maintaining sufficient engagement depth for torque transmission.
2Reliability
If stops ribs have a sharp pointed shape to engage the screw head, then the engagement is secure, but the screw head is easily worn out or chamfered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces sharp pointed stops ribs with arcuate drive portions and receiving portions. The curved surfaces distribute the contact pressure over a larger area and reduce stress concentration at sharp points. This prevents the screw head corners from being worn out or chamfered while maintaining secure engagement through the curved geometry that guides and holds the screw head corners.
3Productivity
If stops ribs engage the screw head successively during rotation, then the screw head is driven, but serration is easily caused on the screw head
Solution Approach 1:
The arcuate drive portions and receiving portions create smooth curved engagement surfaces that guide the screw head corners through rotation. The curved geometry ensures continuous, smooth contact rather than successive discrete engagement points, eliminating the jerky motion that causes serration. The receiving portions with arcuate concave shapes cradle the screw head corners throughout the rotation cycle.
4Force
If the socket has determined thickness to keep rotation force, then the torque is sufficient, but the outer diameter is increased due to projection
Solution Approach 1:
The arcuate drive portions and receiving portions are arranged in a curved pattern around the socket center, allowing the engagement surfaces to follow a circular path. This curved arrangement maximizes the torque arm length within the available thickness, generating sufficient rotation force without requiring excessive protrusion that would increase the outer diameter. The curved geometry efficiently converts the applied force into rotational moment.
Data Source
AI summary
An engaging structure for a hand tool includes a main body provided with a mounting element, six drive portions, six receiving portions, two first arcuate faces, a second arcuate face, a first radius, a second radius, a first distance, and a second distance. Each of the six receiving portions has an arcuate concave shape and is arranged between one of the two first arcuate faces of one of the six drive portions and one of the two first arcuate faces of another one of the six drive portions. Each of the six receiving portions forms a first circle and a third radius. The mounting element has a center forming a second circle forming a first hexagon having six sides. The center is served as an axis defining a second hexagon. The second hexagon is less than the first hexagon.