Fortified Plastic Torque Driver with Buttressing Ribs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disposable torque drivers are inadequate for applications requiring higher torque levels, as they often fail to maintain precision and durability in surgical and industrial settings, particularly in orthopedic surgery and construction, where torque values exceed standard ranges.
Innovation Solution
A fortified plastic connector mount with a torque-limiting assembly, featuring a handle, body, and work-piece engaging tip, incorporating a spring-loaded mechanism with spiral teeth and force buttressing ribs to manage and distribute rotational forces, allowing the driver to withstand torque ranges from 85 to 155 Newton meters without failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If standard plastic disposable torque drivers are used for low torque applications (4-20 inch-ounces), then they can be discarded after use, but they fail to withstand higher torque levels required for larger applications
Solution Approach 1:
The driver is constructed using composite materials, specifically a plastic body reinforced with fiber reinforcement (such as glass, carbon, or aramid fibers) embedded in a polymer matrix. This composite structure enables the disposable driver to withstand higher torque levels (85-155 Newton meters) while maintaining the precision and reliability required for surgical applications, resolving the contradiction between strength and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If reusable torque drivers are used, then they can be recalibrated for precise torque control, but they require constant recalibration which is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a disposable torque driver with pre-set factory calibration that eliminates the need for recalibration. The driver is designed to be used once and then discarded, ensuring precise torque control without the cumbersome recalibration process required by reusable drivers. This approach maintains measurement precision while dramatically improving ease of operation.
3Strength
If the connector mount is fortified with additional structural elements, then it can withstand higher torque forces, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector mount incorporates local reinforcements such as ribs, gussets, or thicker wall sections specifically at high-stress areas where torque forces are concentrated. Rather than uniformly strengthening the entire structure, this targeted approach provides the necessary torque resistance (85-155 Newton meters) while minimizing overall device complexity and material usage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the driver to maintain structural integrity and apply precise torque within the specified range, preventing distortion or breakage, thus ensuring reliable performance in applications requiring higher torque levels.
Implementation Method 1
There is a spring for applying pressure across the upper cylindrical shank and the lower cylindrical shank
Implementation Method 2
The teeth of the upper cylindrical shank and the lower cylindrical shank engage for relative rotation when the handle is turned
Implementation Method 3
The teeth have a vertical face, an inclined face, and a substantially flat peak. The inclined face is defined by a first radius of curvature that transitions to the substantially flat peak.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A fortified plastic disposable driver having a plastic generally conical nose with a top and bottom, the bottom formed as part of or affixed to the flat top of a body and the top of the nose having a square channel guide with corners, is disclosed. The channel accepts a tool or shaft. At 90 degree orientation from each other are four pairs of force buttressing ribs wherein they have a bottom affixed at said flat top, and each has a support edge affixed to an annular outer wall of the nose. The four pairs of ribs, each pair being positioned along one of the four sides of the square channel. In some instances, each rib further comprises an interior edge and an outer edge, and each outer edge is aligned with a corner. A body and/or handle are used therewith to impart torque for use.