Co-centric Pin Spanner Torque Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pin spanners face challenges in applying torque to mechanical components located in inaccessible areas, where the torque applied is often magnified due to non-90 degree angles, leading to instability and the risk of over-tightening or under-tightening, and the tools tend to slip due to lever action, requiring complex calculations and compromising stability.
Innovation Solution
A pin spanner design with co-centric drive and pivot alignment, where the center of axis of rotation of the drive is aligned with the center of axis of rotation of the pivot of the arms, ensuring equal torque application without magnification and minimizing pin lift, maintaining stability and eliminating the need for torque recalculations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the drive mechanism is placed away from the pivot center to extend reach to inaccessible components, then the tool can access harder-to-reach areas, but the torque is magnified due to non-90 degree angles, leading to over-tightening risk and requiring complex torque calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the drive mechanism along the vertical axis (dimensional change) so that it aligns with the pivot center, creating a co-centric arrangement. This allows the torque application axis to be perpendicular to the arm, ensuring that torque is transmitted directly without magnification, thus resolving the contradiction between reach extension and torque accuracy.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the drive mechanism is placed in the arm (diagonal direction) to reduce lever arm, then pin lift is reduced, but the tool becomes less stable and may tilt during torque application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the drive mechanism co-centric with the pivot, creating a balanced configuration where the drive force is applied directly through the pivot center. This counteracts the lever arm effect that causes pin lift, while simultaneously maintaining tool stability by eliminating the diagonal force component that causes tilting.
3Ease of operation
If the torque wrench is engaged at a non-90 degree angle to achieve access, then the wrench can reach the component, but the applied torque is magnified according to the angle, requiring torque recalculation
Solution Approach 1:
The co-centric design creates an equipotential condition where the torque application is independent of the engagement angle. By aligning the drive mechanism with the pivot center, the system ensures that torque is transmitted equally in all directions, eliminating the need for angle-dependent torque calculations and maintaining precision regardless of engagement orientation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A pin spanner tool for use with a driver having a center of rotation, the pin spanner having a driven arm (48), a floating arm (49), and a bolt (9) connecting the driven arm and the floating arm, where the bolt has a center of rotation which is co-centric with the center of rotation of the driver.