Link Attachment for Torque Tools with Ratcheting Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing link attachments for torque power tools often require multiple movable components and struggle to efficiently engage and tighten or loosen inaccessible fasteners, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A link attachment system with a drive extension that includes an outer reaction assembly and an inner drive assembly, which connects to a torque tool without a reaction pawl, allowing for oscillating turning forces to be transmitted to a fastener through a ratcheting mechanism with a spring-loaded drive plate, enabling efficient engagement and tightening or loosening of fasteners without rotating the tool housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing link attachments use multiple movable components to engage fasteners, then the ability to tighten or loosen fasteners is maintained, but the device complexity increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reaction pawl component from the torque tool, transferring the ratcheting function entirely to the link attachment. This extraction simplifies the torque tool while maintaining the tightening function through the link attachment's ratcheting mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The link attachment serves as an intermediary device that receives intermittent turning force from the torque tool and converts it into unidirectional fastener tightening through its ratcheting mechanism. The spring-loaded drive plate acts as a mediator to transfer force while preventing reverse motion.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the torque tool housing rotates during fastener engagement, then the fastener can be tightened, but the tool cannot engage inaccessible fasteners and requires more movable components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ratcheting function from the torque tool housing and places it in the link attachment instead. This allows the tool housing to remain stationary while the link attachment performs the tightening action, enabling access to inaccessible fasteners.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimension of motion from tool housing rotation to link attachment oscillation. The link attachment oscillates in forward and backward directions while the housing remains stationary, allowing access to fasteners in confined spaces.
3Reliability
If a reaction pawl is included in the torque tool, then the tool can maintain reaction force during tightening, but the device complexity increases and movable components are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the reaction pawl from the torque tool and relocates the ratcheting function to the link attachment. This simplifies the tool structure while maintaining reliable reaction force through the link attachment's ratcheting mechanism.
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 system reduces the need for movable components, allows access to inaccessible fasteners, and effectively magnifies and transfers intermittent turning force to the fastener, enabling efficient tightening or loosening operations.
Implementation Method 1
a ratcheting mechanism with a spring-loaded drive plate, enabling efficient engagement and tightening or loosening of fasteners
Implementation Method 2
a ratcheting mechanism with a spring-loaded drive plate
Data Source
Figure 1A~3
Figure 4A~5B
AI summary
A link attachment 100 for use with a device 300 for effecting an intermittent turning force 360 which oscillates in a forward and a backward direction 361 and 371 for tightening or loosening a fastener including:- a link housing 1 15; a link drive input 131 operatively connectable with device 300; a link drive lever 102 operatively connected with link drive input 131; a link drive plate 101 operatively connected to link drive lever 1 02 at a pivot point 125 by a link drive pin 1 05; a link ratcheting mechanism 103 operatively connected to link drive lever 102 by a drive pawl 104; a link attachment drive output 130 operatively connected with link ratcheting mechanism 103 and operatively connectable with the fastener; and link attachment 100 being operatively connectable to device 300 to provide intermittent turning force 360 to turn the fastener. Advantageously link attachment 100: is operatively connectable to device 300 either by itself or via a drive extension 200; limits the need for movable components in device 100; engages inaccessible fasteners; and magnifies and transfers intermittent turning force 360 to the fastener.