Nut Removal Tool With Canted Coil Spring and Three-Lobed Cam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing nut removal tools face challenges with damaged or large nuts, including stripping, rounding, and safety issues due to manual tools, and existing devices are prone to breakage and imperfect conformance, leading to inefficient and dangerous removal processes.
Innovation Solution
A nut removal tool featuring a housing with a canted coil spring and a three-lobed cam system that allows for adjustable torque application and secure grip, using a single-piece jaw design with a shock-absorbing mechanism to prevent damage and improve safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual wrenches or nut removers are used to remove damaged nuts, then the operator can attempt removal, but the process becomes very difficult and time consuming with high risk of injury
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical wrenches with a power-actuated nut removal tool that uses an air impact mechanism to deliver controlled rotational forces. This substitution eliminates the need for operators to manually apply torque to damaged nuts, significantly improving safety while maintaining removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specialized removal tool as an intermediary between the operator and the damaged nut. This tool includes a cartridge assembly with gripping jaws that interface with the nut, allowing the operator to safely apply removal forces without direct contact with the hazardous damaged fastener.
2Power
If air impact tools with multiple small parts are used to remove large nuts, then torque can be applied for removal, but the cartridge parts such as helical springs, studs and screws are prone to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple small cartridge components into a single integrated cartridge assembly. The cartridge includes the cage, gripping jaws, helical spring, and retaining ring as unified components that work together, eliminating the failure points associated with multiple separate small parts while maintaining the necessary torque application capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates a helical spring within the cartridge assembly that acts as a shock-absorbing element. This spring cushions the impact forces generated by the air impact tool, preventing excessive stress from transmitting to the cartridge components and reducing the likelihood of breakage during nut removal operations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a retaining ring or clip is used to hold the cartridge within the housing, then the cartridge is secured, but the retaining ring or clip is prone to breakage resulting in a damaged and useless tool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the retaining ring as an inherent component of the cartridge assembly rather than a separate fastening element. The retaining ring is formed as part of the cartridge structure itself, eliminating the need for separate retaining components that could fail and ensuring the cartridge remains securely held within the housing during operation.
4Device complexity
If a single nut removal tool design is used, then the device is simple, but it is limited in the size of nuts which can be removed with a single tool
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable elements within the cartridge assembly that allow the tool to adapt to different nut sizes. The cage and gripping jaws can be positioned at different radii from the center, enabling the same tool design to effectively remove nuts of varying dimensions while maintaining structural simplicity.
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 tool effectively removes nuts of various sizes with reduced risk of damage and injury, maintaining a secure grip and minimizing tool breakage, while providing adjustable torque for efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
a shock-absorbing mechanism to prevent damage and improve safety
Implementation Method 2
The canted coil spring is received within a groove in the interior sidewall and a groove in the cage
Data Source
AI summary
A tool for removing a nut includes a housing, a cage, and a canted coil spring. An interior sidewall of the housing defines an orifice that extends from top surface of the housing to a lip. The interior sidewall includes a three-lobed cam and a groove. Each lobe has a lobe center line, a counterclockwise cam inner surface on one side of the lobe center line, and a clockwise cam inner surface on the opposite side of the lobe center line. The canted coil spring is received by the groove of the interior sidewall and the groove of the cage. The canted coil spring rotatably couples the cage to the housing. During nut removal, the housing rotates counterclockwise relative to the cage, causing the jaws of the cage to interface with the interior sidewall.