Socket With Inclined Protrusions For Worn Bolts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sockets fail to securely engage and effectively rotate rounded or severely deformed bolt heads due to insufficient gripping force, as the contact surfaces in current designs are not symmetrical and inclined, leading to slipping and reduced clamping force.
Innovation Solution
A socket design featuring a mounting hole with first and second protrusions having inclined angles and triangular notches, allowing for secure engagement with both normal and rounded bolt heads by utilizing vertex and slope contacts to maintain contact and generate clamping force, even on severely worn bolts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the mounting hole has standard polygonal faces for contact with bolt heads, then normal bolts can be engaged, but rounded or damaged bolt heads cannot be securely gripped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding protrusions with specific geometric features (inclined surfaces and vertices) at critical locations within the mounting hole. These localized structural modifications create enhanced contact points that can grip rounded bolt surfaces, while the rest of the polygonal faces maintain compatibility with standard bolts.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions feature asymmetric inclined surfaces with specific angles rather than symmetric flat faces. This asymmetry allows the vertices and inclined surfaces to dig into and grip rounded bolt heads effectively, while still maintaining engagement capability with standard polygonal bolt heads through the overall hexagonal configuration.
2Ease of manufacture
If the contact surfaces are flat and straight, then manufacturing is simple, but clamping force is insufficient on deformed bolts
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than making the entire contact surface complex, the patent introduces localized protrusions with inclined surfaces at specific positions. These localized features provide the necessary mechanical advantage for gripping deformed bolts, while the majority of the contact surfaces remain simple flat polygonal faces for easy manufacturing.
3Force
If the grooves are inclined with asymmetric sides, then gripping force on rounded bolts is improved, but the socket slips easily during rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asymmetric inclined surfaces on the protrusions with specific angle relationships. This asymmetry creates effective gripping force on rounded bolt surfaces while the overall symmetric hexagonal configuration of the mounting hole ensures balanced force distribution during rotation, preventing slipping.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact surface is segmented into multiple functional elements: flat polygonal faces for standard bolt engagement, and protrusions with inclined surfaces for rounded bolt gripping. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the overall rotational operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the mounting hole has only flat faces, then engagement with normal bolts is adequate, but severely worn bolts cannot be rotated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the mounting hole by adding localized protrusions with inclined surfaces and vertices at specific positions. These protrusions provide additional gripping points that can engage with severely worn or rounded bolt surfaces, enabling rotation of damaged fasteners while maintaining compatibility with standard bolts through the underlying polygonal structure.
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 socket effectively rotates normal, worn, and severely worn bolts by creating a strong clamping force through the use of inclined angles and notches, preventing damage to the socket and ensuring a tight engagement with the bolt, thus overcoming the limitations of existing socket designs.
Implementation Method 1
Each first slope and each second slope has an inclined angle... The first flat distal surface and two second flat distal surfaces form a clamped state with the worn bolt
Implementation Method 2
The first flat distal surface of the first protrusion and two second flat distal surfaces of the second protrusions form a clamped state with the worn bolt
Data Source
AI summary
A socket is portably and removably attached to a tool and includes a body with a mounting hole which includes multiple faces. Each face includes a first protrusion and two groups of second protrusions located on two sides of the first protrusion. The first protrusion of each face includes a first flat distal surface which has a certain length. Each second protrusion includes a second flat distal surface which is tilt relative to the first flat distal surface. The two respective slopes of the second flat distal surfaces of the two groups of the second protrusions are opposite to each other. A first imaginary plane is co-linear with the first flat distal surface. A second imaginary plane is co-linear with the second flat distal surfaces of each second protrusion. An angle is formed between the first and second imaginary planes. The socket can drive a normal or rounded bolt.