Torque-Limiting Hand Tool for Coaxial Cable Locknuts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wrenches used for fastening coaxial cable locknuts to electrical connectors in cable TV systems often apply excessive pressure, leading to damage and reduced durability as the locknut or socket wears, making it difficult to rotate the locknut positively.
Innovation Solution
A hand tool with a tool shaft and tool head featuring a socket, transmission shaft, and elastic member that automatically disengages when a predetermined torque value is reached, preventing excessive pressure and allowing for safe operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a conventional wrench is used to fasten the locknut, then the locknut can be tightened, but excessive pressure is applied causing locknut or socket damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an elastic member (spring) between the driving head and the socket that compresses when the socket reaches a predetermined torque value. This elastic member acts as a cushioning mechanism that automatically engages to prevent excessive pressure from damaging the locknut or socket, while still allowing the fastening operation to proceed effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member provides mechanical feedback when the predetermined torque is reached. As the socket rotates and approaches the target torque, the elastic member compresses and pushes back, creating a feedback force that signals the operator the locknut is sufficiently tightened, thereby preventing over-tightening and damage.
2Productivity
If the socket is rotated to tighten the locknut, then the locknut is fastened, but the socket wears and becomes unable to rotate the locknut positively
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member serves as a protective cushion that prevents the socket from wearing by limiting the maximum torque applied. When the predetermined torque is reached, the elastic member engages to prevent further excessive force from being transmitted to the socket, thereby maintaining the socket's ability to rotate the locknut positively throughout its service life.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is designed as a sacrificial component that can wear or fail before the socket or locknut. By placing the elastic member in direct contact with the driving head and socket, it acts as a replaceable protective element that absorbs the wear and damage, preserving the durability of the more critical socket and locknut components.
3Force
If the driving head is fixed to the transmission shaft, then torque is transmitted effectively, but the socket cannot be protected from excessive torque
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the torque transmission path by introducing the elastic member as a separate, movable component between the driving head and the socket. This segmentation allows the driving head to be fixed to the transmission shaft for effective torque transmission, while the elastic member provides independent protection against excessive torque by compressing and engaging at the predetermined torque value.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member introduces dynamic behavior to the otherwise rigid torque transmission system. As torque increases, the elastic member transitions from a compressed state to an engaged state, dynamically adjusting the force transmission to protect the socket from excessive torque while maintaining effective torque transmission for the fastening operation.
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 hand tool effectively prevents damage by disengaging at a predetermined torque, ensuring durability and maintaining positive rotation of the locknut, even when it starts to wear, and allows for adjustable angles and interchangeable components for different applications.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member stopped between the driving head and the socket such that when the socket reaches a predetermined torque value during operation, the driving head is moved axially away from the driven structure to compress the elastic member and to run idle
Data Source
AI summary
A hand tool includes a tool shaft having a shank and a handle pivotally coupled together, and a tool head, which includes a socket defining a socket hole attachable to a locknut at a coaxial cable for fastening or loosening the locknut and a side opening for the passing of the locknut into or out of the socket hole, a driven structure located on an inner side of a receiving hole at one side of the socket hole, a transmission shaft coupled to the shank of the tool shaft and having a driving head located on one end thereof for engagement with the driven structure of the socket, and an elastic member stopped between the driving head and the socket such that when the socket reaches a predetermined torque value during operation, the driving head is moved axially away from the driven structure to compress the elastic member and to run idle.