Crow's Foot Wrench Nested Output Socket Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing crow's feet tools are either too large for small nuts due to excessive thickness or require multiple sizes for different jaw widths, leading to inefficiency and insecure engagement with ratchets.
Innovation Solution
A versatile crow's foot design with adjustable drive mounts and an extended output socket for secure locking, allowing for various wrench sizes and materials like steel or plastic, with a ball recess for enhanced torque transmission and space-saving dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the shank thickness is increased to securely engage with the ratchet output, then the locking reliability improves, but the tool becomes oversized and unwieldy for small nuts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the output socket inside the shank structure, allowing the socket to be contained within the overall tool form factor. This enables the shank to maintain sufficient thickness for secure ratchet engagement while the nested output socket configuration prevents excessive external dimensions, solving the contradiction between locking reliability and tool size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent redistributes dimensions by making the output socket thickness correspond to ring socket wall thickness rather than maximizing shank thickness. This dimensional reconfiguration allows the tool to achieve adequate locking reliability through optimized socket geometry while maintaining a compact overall shape suitable for small nuts.
2Adaptability or versatility
If different crow's feet are used for each jaw size to ensure proper engagement, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity and tool inventory requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by designing the crow's foot with an output socket configured to correspond to ring socket wall thickness, creating a standardized interface that can securely engage with ratchets across different jaw sizes. This single standardized design replaces the need for multiple specialized crow's feet, maintaining adaptability while reducing device complexity and inventory requirements.
3Power
If the output socket thickness is increased to transmit maximum torque, then the power transmission improves, but the tool becomes too thick for small nuts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring the output socket with wall thickness corresponding to ring socket specifications, concentrating the torque transmission capability in the socket structure rather than requiring uniform thickness throughout the tool. This localized optimization enables maximum torque transmission through the socket interface while keeping the overall tool thickness appropriate for working on small nuts.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 1c
AI summary
Crowfoot (1) with a (first) drive receptacle (1A1) for receiving a screw head or the like, and a shaft (3) adjoining it with an output receptacle (5) for receiving an output (9A) of a ratchet (9), characterized in that a second drive receptacle (1A2) for receiving a screw head or the like is arranged on the shaft (3).