Nut Socket Unit With Freely Rotating Maneuver Sleeve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing nut socket units pose safety risks due to the co-rotation of the maneuver sleeve with the nut socket, which can cause operator injuries, and the protruding front part may entangle with gloves or objects, leading to potential harm during tightening operations.

Innovation Solution

A nut socket unit design featuring a rotatable nut socket body with an external maneuver sleeve that is freely rotatable relative to the socket body, combined with a protective sleeve at the front end to prevent tangling and injury, and an arresting mechanism that includes balls or a lock pin for secure attachment to a power wrench output shaft.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the maneuver sleeve is fixed to co-rotate with the nut socket, then the locking mechanism is simple and reliable, but operator safety is compromised due to injury risks from co-rotation and glove entanglement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking reliabilityVSAvoidoperator injury risk
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into two independently rotatable components: the nut socket body and the outer sleeve. This segmentation allows the outer sleeve to be freely rotatable relative to the nut socket body, preventing force transmission to the operator's hand while maintaining the locking function through the arresting mechanism. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by isolating the harmful rotational force from the operator.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The freely rotatable outer sleeve acts as an intermediary between the operator's hand and the locking mechanism. It allows the operator to manipulate the maneuver sleeve for locking/unlocking operations without being subjected to the rotational forces generated during tightening, thus mediating between operational control and safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the front part of the nut socket protrudes to engage screw joints, then the tightening function is effective, but glove entanglement and injury risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetightening effectivenessVSAvoidglove entanglement risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The front protective sleeve is segmented as a separate component that covers the protruding front part of the nut socket. This protective sleeve can be freely rotated relative to the nut socket body, allowing the protruding engagement surfaces to perform their tightening function while the protective sleeve prevents glove entanglement by providing a smooth, non-catchable outer surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If the maneuver sleeve is made accessible for easy manipulation, then ease of operation is improved, but exposure to rotational forces and injury risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemaneuver sleeve accessibilityVSAvoidoperator exposure to rotational forces
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The outer sleeve is designed with dynamic freedom to rotate independently on the nut socket body. This dynamic characteristic allows the operator to easily manipulate the maneuver sleeve for locking and unlocking operations, while during the actual tightening process, the independent rotation capability prevents the transmission of rotational forces to the operator's hand, thus protecting against injury.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3307485B1Nut socket unit for power wrenches
Publication Date: 2020.12.16 ATLAS COPCO IND TECHNIQUE AB INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
  • EP3307485B1 patent drawingFigure 1~6

AI summary

A nut socket unit for power wrenches, comprising a tubular socket body (10;50) with a front end portion (13;53) adapted for engagement with a screw joint, and a rear end portion (11;51) adapted for connection to a power wrench output shaft, and an arresting mechanism (15;55) for locking the socket body (10;50) to a power wrench output shaft, wherein the arresting mechanism (15;59) includes an axially displaceable maneuver sleeve (19;59), wherein the maneuver sleeve (19;59) is freely rotatable relative to the socket body (10;50). At the front end portion (13;53) of the socket body (10;50) there is also provided a freely rotatable protective sleeve (30;70) for operator protective purposes.