Laser-Textured Socket Surfaces for Easier Fastener Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for an improved method and device to mitigate slippage between the pulley and the belt in a supercharger, which is often caused by the small diameter of the pulley leading to inefficiencies and noise.
Innovation Solution
A pulley assembly with a shaft mount and a body attached by bolts, featuring tight tolerancing and laser-induced friction lines on the outer surface to increase frictional forces, and a fastening tool with laser-induced friction surfaces to facilitate easy gripping and separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the pulley diameter is increased to reduce slippage, then friction between pulley and belt is improved, but the supercharger size and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies friction lines only to the specific region where the belt contacts the pulley (the groove area), rather than increasing the entire pulley size. This localized modification increases friction exactly where needed while maintaining the original pulley dimensions, thus resolving the contradiction between slippage resistance and pulley size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface friction parameter by creating friction lines through material removal or deformation. This modifies the coefficient of friction between the pulley and belt without changing the pulley's physical dimensions, thereby improving slippage resistance while maintaining compact size.
2Reliability
If friction lines are created by material removal, then surface friction is increased, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical machining operations with a laser-based process to create friction lines. The laser can precisely remove or deform material to create the desired friction surface pattern without requiring multiple machining steps, tool changes, or complex fixtures, thereby simplifying manufacturing while achieving the required friction coefficient.
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 effectively reduces slippage and noise by enhancing friction between the pulley and belt, improving the efficiency and ease of assembly and disassembly of the pulley system.
Implementation Method 1
The heat may be generated by a laser beam that traces a desired pattern of friction lines
Implementation Method 2
fusing the applied particulate matter to the outer surface by heating the outer surface and the particulate matter
Implementation Method 3
The outer surface of the body of the pulley assembly has a pattern of friction lines for increasing the frictional forces between the outer surface of the body of the pulley assembly and the belt driving the pulley
Data Source
AI summary
A fastening tool having a socket and a socket wrench with laser induced friction surfaces or lines on the outer surface of the socket is described herein. The laser induced friction surfaces may have a plurality of kerfs with recast material to increase the coefficient of friction on the outer surface of the socket. As a result, the user of the fastening tool may pull the socket off a head of a fastener with his or her hands instead of having to dislodge the socket first with a blunt object, such as a hammer. It is contemplated that the socket wrench may have laser induced friction surfaces or lines also.