Concentric Socket Unit Phase Alignment for Tightening Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tightening machines face inefficiencies in aligning phases between reaction washers and nuts, leading to misalignment issues that require repetitive inching operations, reducing operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates an inner socket with clearance in its rotation direction, allowing the inner socket to rotate relative to the outer socket, enabling phase alignment between the reaction washer and the outer socket without the need for inching, by providing a concentric socket unit with an inner and outer socket holder that can rotate in opposite directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the inner socket is fitted tightly to the inner socket holder without clearance, then the structural stability and precision are improved, but the ability to adjust phase alignment is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different clearance characteristics to different components: the inner socket has clearance with the inner socket holder to enable phase adjustment, while the outer socket has no clearance with the outer socket holder for precise force transmission. This local differentiation of clearance quality resolves the contradiction between stability and adjustability.
2Device complexity
If the socket unit is designed with fixed phase relationship between inner and outer sockets, then the structural simplicity is improved, but the ability to handle phase misalignment between nut and reaction washer is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adjustability by allowing the inner socket to rotate relative to the inner socket holder through clearance, enabling the phase relationship between inner and outer sockets to be adjusted dynamically to match the phase between nut and reaction washer, while maintaining overall structural simplicity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If repetitive inching operations are performed to align phases, then the adaptability to phase misalignment is improved, but the operational efficiency and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary phase adjustment by allowing the inner socket to be rotated to the correct phase position before the tightening operation begins. This preliminary alignment eliminates the need for repetitive inching operations during the tightening process, thereby improving productivity while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A tightening machine has a socket unit which tightens a reaction washer and a nut to each other. The socket unit includes an inner socket whose tip end can engage with the nut, and an outer socket formed concentrically with the inner socket. A tip end of the outer socket can engage with the reaction washer. The socket unit concentrically includes an inner socket holder and an outer socket holder. The inner socket holder and the outer socket holder can rotate in opposite directions from each other, and the outer socket holder is formed around an outer periphery of the inner socket holder. The inner socket is detachably engaged with the inner socket holder, and the outer socket is detachably engaged with the outer socket holder. The inner socket is engaged with the inner socket holder with clearance in its circumferential direction.