Guided Socket Sleeve Structure for Fast Drive Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sleeves lack a complete guiding structure, making it inconvenient to align and connect socket drive elements in narrow spaces.
Innovation Solution
A sleeve design featuring a plugging structure with inclined tapering grooves and a stopping structure, allowing for quick alignment and insertion of the socket drive element, along with a driven structure that includes inner and outer teeth portions for enhanced grip and torque application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional sleeve without guiding structure is used, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in aligning and connecting socket drive elements
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined tapering groove is pre-formed in the plugging body to guide the socket drive element during insertion. This preliminary guiding structure eliminates the need for manual alignment by the user, as the groove automatically directs the element into the correct position and orientation during the connection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined tapering groove acts as an intermediary guiding feature between the socket drive element and the plugging hole. It mediates the connection process by providing a physical path that facilitates smooth insertion and proper alignment, reducing the operational difficulty without requiring complex alignment procedures.
2Productivity
If manual alignment is required for connecting socket drive element and sleeve, then the structure remains simple, but the time consumption increases during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding groove is pre-formed in the plugging body to automatically direct the socket drive element during insertion. This eliminates the need for manual alignment procedures, allowing the element to be inserted directly along the groove's path without time-consuming alignment adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined tapering groove enables the connection process to be self-guiding. The groove's geometry automatically directs the socket drive element into the correct position and orientation during insertion, eliminating the need for user intervention in the alignment process and reducing operational time.
3Ease of operation
If the plugging hole is a simple square hole, then the manufacturing is simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to lack of guiding functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The inclined tapering groove is pre-formed in the plugging body during manufacturing to provide guiding functionality. This preliminary structure facilitates easy alignment and insertion of the socket drive element while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing processes, balancing operational convenience with manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The guiding groove is localized to specific regions where it is most needed for alignment and insertion. By adding the groove only in the critical areas of the plugging body rather than redesigning the entire component, the patent achieves improved ease of operation while minimizing the increase in manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A sleeve includes a plugging structure, a stopping structure and a driven structure. The plugging structure includes a plugging body, a plugging hole and at least one inclined tapering groove. An end of the plugging body has a plugging hole periphery. The plugging hole is extended through the plugging body. The at least one inclined tapering groove is disposed to the plugging body. The stopping structure is disposed to the other end of the plugging body. The driven structure is disposed to an end of the stopping structure. The at least one inclined tapering groove is extended from the plugging hole periphery to the stopping structure. The plugging hole is a square hole, and the plugging body has four corners, each of the four corners has a plugging groove, the plugging groove is extended from the plugging hole periphery to the stopping structure.