Socket Mounting Hole Segmentation for Damaged Bolt Engagement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sockets struggle to effectively engage and rotate rusted or damaged bolt heads due to their inability to properly mount to the bolt head, often resulting in deformation or failure to rotate.

Innovation Solution

The socket features a mounting hole with multiple recesses and sides, where each recess has a rounded corner and each side has a triangular groove, allowing for effective engagement and rotation of both normal and severely damaged bolt heads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional socket is used to rotate rusted or damaged bolts, then the socket cannot properly mount to the bolt head, but the socket rotates independently relative to the bolt without effective engagement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveengagement reliabilityVSAvoidoperation effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting hole is segmented into multiple recesses and sides with different geometric features (rounded corners and triangular grooves). Each segment serves a specific engagement function: rounded corners for normal bolt heads and triangular grooves for severely damaged bolt heads, allowing the socket to adapt to various bolt conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the mounting hole inner periphery are given different local qualities - some areas have rounded corners for accommodating intact bolt corners, while other areas have triangular grooves for engaging damaged bolt heads. This local differentiation enables the socket to effectively engage both normal and severely damaged bolts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If conventional hand tools are used to remove rusted or damaged bolts, then the bolts cannot be easily unscrewed and removed, but the bolts may be deformed when clamped and rotated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebolt removal easeVSAvoidbolt integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The socket achieves multi-functionality by incorporating both rounded corners and triangular grooves in the mounting hole, enabling it to handle both normal bolts (using rounded corners) and severely damaged bolts (using triangular grooves). This universal design eliminates the need for different tools for different bolt conditions, preventing bolt deformation while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12337441B2Socket structure

Publication Date: 2025.06.24 CHEN YI FU

AI summary

A socket includes a first section and a second section. The first section is to be connected with a tool. The second section includes an outer face, and a mounting hole is axially defined through the second section and communicates through the first section. The mounting hole includes multiple recesses and multiple sides defined in the inner periphery thereof. The multiple recesses and the multiple sides are located alternatively with each other. Each recess includes a rounded corner formed radially in the inner portion thereof. A triangular groove is formed axially and centrally in each side. The angle between two insides of each groove is smaller than 90 degrees. A rusted or damaged bolt head is engaged with either the rounded corners or the grooves so as to be effectively rotated.