ADJUSTABLE DISPOSABLE TORQUE LIMITING MOUNT AND DEVICE

Abstract

Disclosed are aspects of exemplars of torque-limiting devices, methods and mechanisms. Exemplary methods may include placing an actuator in a tool containment interface of a handle, the interface being fluidly connected to an adjustment interface and adjustable via a fixation fastener; movably mounting a tool portion with an actuation catch and a work piece engaging region (WER) in the interface; applying sufficient force to the movable mounting to the handle may be via pins, guides and slots. Said catch may be one of a body catch and a lever catch; and, the actuator terminates on one of a ball shaped end that forms an interface with the body catch and a force lever that forms an interface with the lever catch.

Claims

1. A disposable torque limiting device comprising: a handle with a tool containment interface; a first pin guide and a third pin guide formed through the handle; a containment with a closed end formed in the handle; an actuator with a movable ball end mounted in the containment; an adjustment interface fluidly connected to the containment; a tool portion configured to movable fit in at least part of the tool containment comprising: a work piece engaging region (WER); a second pin guide formed in the tool portion; a guide slot formed in the tool portion; a body catch forming an interface for a ball shaped end of the actuator; a first pin configured to fit snugly in the first pin guide; a second pin configured to fit loosely in the guide slot; a fixation fastener configured to mount in the adjustment interface; wherein when sufficient force is applied to the actuator the body catch disengages the ball end and the tool portion is released.

2. The torque limiting device of claim 1, further comprising: an adjustment interface fluidly connected to the containment; wherein the adjustment interface has a threaded portion; and, the fixation fastener is threaded.

3. The torque limiting device of claim 2, the actuator further comprising a generally cylindrical housing with an open end and an end portion closing off the cylinder; a spring (50) resting against the end portion; and, a ball (42) fitted into the housing and extending into the body catch.

4. The torque limiting device of claim 3, wherein the spring has a predetermined compressive force limit.

5. The torque limiting device of claim 2, wherein: the tool portion has a retention slot in place of the second pin guides; and, the tool portion may be removed from the tool containment by rotating it off the first and second pins.

6. The torque limiting device of claim 2, the actuator further comprising an actuation body and an elastomeric bushing configured to cause a ball shaped nose of the actuation body to apply a predetermined amount of force to the body catch.

7. The torque limiting device of claim 6, wherein the bushing has a diameter less than the diameter inside the containment.

8. The torque limiting device of claim 7, wherein the bushing fits into a well to configured to retain it and allowing volume around the bushing for expansion which will occur during compression by the application of force to the ball shaped nose.

9. The torque limiting device of claim 2, the actuator further comprising an actuation body and a elastomeric bushing configured to cause a ball shaped nose of the actuation body to apply a predetermined amount of force to the body catch.

10. The torque limiting device of claim 9, wherein the containment is an annular wall, and the containment has a bushing expansion region of the annular wall which is of a greater diameter inside the containment to allow volume around the bushing for bushing expansion which will occur during compression by the application of force to the ball shaped nose.

11. A disposable torque limiting device comprising: a handle with a tool containment interface formed on the front side of the handle; a first pin guide and a third pin guide formed through the handle; a containment with an annular wall and a closed end formed in the handle: an actuator with a force lever mounted in the containment; a tool portion configured to movable fit in at least part of the tool containment comprising; a work piece engaging region (WER); a second pin guide formed in the tool portion; a guide slot formed in the tool portion; a lever catch forming an interface with the force lever; a first pin configured to fit snugly in the first pin guide; a second pin configured to fit loosely in the guide slot; a fixation fastener configured to mount in the adjustment interface; and, wherein when sufficient force is applied to the actuator the body catch disengages the force lever from the lever catch and the tool portion is released.

12. The torque limiting device of claim 11 wherein the force lever is frangible.

13. A method of torque limiting, the method comprising: placing an actuator in a tool containment interface of a handle, wherein a movable mounting a tool portion with an actuation catch and a work piece engaging region (WER) are in the interface: adjusting the depth a fixation fastener is within an adjustment interface in the handle which is also fluidly connected to the containment; and, applying sufficient force to the actuator to disengage the tool portion when a torque limit is met.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the movable mounting to the handle is via pins, guides and slots.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein: the catch is one of a body catch and a lever catch; and, the actuator terminates on one of a ball shaped end that forms and interface with the body catch and a force lever that forms an interface with the lever catch.

16. A disposable torque limiting device comprising: a handle with a tool containment interface formed on the front side of the handle; a first pin guide formed through the handle; a containment with an annular wall and a closed end formed in the handle; an actuator with a movable ball end mounted in the containment; an adjustment interface fluidly connected to the containment; a tool portion configured to movably fit in at least part of the tool containment comprising: a work piece engaging region (WER); a second pin guide formed in the tool portion; a body catch forming an interface for a ball shaped end of the actuator; a first pin configured to fit snugly in the first pin guide; a fixation fastener configured to mount in the adjustment interface; and, wherein when sufficient force is applied to the actuator the body catch disengages the ball end and the tool portion is released.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0020] The above-mentioned features of the present disclosure will become more apparent with reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals denote like elements. In addition, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings:

[0021] FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C show external views of aspects of asymmetrical disposable torque limiting devices in unactuated and fully actuated positions.

[0022] FIG. 2A shows aspects of the assembly of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device with spring actuator.

[0023] FIGS. 2B and 2C show aspects of a cutaway and exploded partial cut away of the unactuated asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device of FIG. 2A.

[0024] FIG. 2D shows a cut away view of the FIG. 2A asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device in an actuated configuration.

[0025] FIGS. 3A and 3B show aspects of a removable tool exemplary for an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0026] FIGS. 4A and 4B show cut away views an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device in an unactuated and actuated configuration.

[0027] FIG. 4C shows aspects of a torque limiting lever actuator shown in FIG. 4A.

[0028] FIGS. 5A and 5B show an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device with bushing actuator configured to set a predetermined torque limit.

[0029] FIG. 6 shows aspects of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0030] FIG. 7A shows a top view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0031] FIG. 7B shows a left side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0032] FIG. 7C shows a bottom view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0033] FIG. 7D shows a right side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0034] FIG. 7E shows a front side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0035] FIG. 7F shows a back side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0036] FIG. 8 shows a cut-away presenting aspects of an adjustable side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0037] FIG. 9 shows a cut-away presenting aspects of an adjustable side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device with adjustable containment.

[0038] As shall be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, the figures are not to scale, and modifications to scale within a figure or across the figures are considered within the present disclosure. All callouts in Figures are hereby incorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein.

FURTHER DISCLOSURE

[0039] Aspects of asymmetrical disposable torque limiting devices are provided in exemplary implementations of this disclosure. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize small design variations that are within the scope of this disclosure. The identification of some aspects and not others shall not be considered limiting in the disclosure but may be limitations in claims.

[0040] FIGS. 1A-7F illustrate aspects of implementations of the asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device (ADTLD) which may support a plethora of tools such as drivers, wrenches, closed sockets, and the like.

[0041] FIGS. 1A through IC provide external views of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device (ADTLD) 10 which may also be referred to as a disposable asymmetrical torque limiting system (DATLS) wherein the tool portions may be swapped out and changed on demand. FIG. 2A illustrates assembly of an ADTLD or DATLS with an internal actuation means. FIG. 1A shows the unactuated configuration and FIG. 1C shows a fully actuated configuration. Fully actuated means that the tool portion is disengaged from the force providing means within the device or system. FIG. 1C illustrates a unidirectional tool portion 30 of a DATLS.

[0042] The system and/or device 10 has a handle portion 20 with an attached tool portion 30. The tool portion can be further broken down into a work piece tool portion 31 connected by a neck 32 to a body 33 which mates in a movable (and in some cases removable) fashion to the handle. The handle may be a two half component whereby two mirror each with an exterior surface 21 and an interior surface 23 mate to form a handle to mate a tool portion to. The handle has a back side 22 and a front side 22.

[0043] The tool portion is movably mounted to the handle in a tool containment 24 interface formed on the front side 22 of the handle (thereby making the device asymmetrical as the interface supports a one sided movement of the tool portion) via first retention pin 11 which mates with a first pin guide 13 in the handle (formed through both side walls on either side of the handle) and with a second pin guide 13 in the tool. The first retention pin and first pin guide are configured so that the pin fits snugly in that guide. A second pin guide is configured to allow the tool to rotate about the first retention pin. Optionally, a second retention pin 12 within the tool containment 24 fits snugly into an optional third pin guide 14 in the handle. The body 33 of the tool may optionally include a guide slot 34 is configured to accept the second retention pin without biding against it. The pin should move freely within the guide during rotational movement of the tool along the path of arrow 1000. If the second retention pin is not included in the retention system such a slot is not necessary.

[0044] The tool may optionally have the work piece tool head portion configured non-homogeneously with a first work piece interface 35 and a second workpiece interface 36. Wherein the each work piece interface is a subset of the workpiece engaging region WER. Via the interfaces the tool head portion can only accept a workpiece in one direction. Unidirectional acceptance of a workpiece is important if the tool is to be used to provide a pre-determined amount of torque in a particular rotational direction. If the tool was reversible a user may inadvertently apply the force in the counter direction. By making the head portion unidirectional to mate only one way with a work piece such mistakes can be avoided.

[0045] FIGS. 2A-5B illustrate aspects of the handle configured with an actuator containment 26 having an open end 27 an annular wall 28 and a closed end 29. The containment has a known diameter.

[0046] FIGS. 2A-3B show aspects of exemplars with a spring actuator engine (SAE) 40. The SAE is generally cylindrical with a ball 42 fitted into the open end 45 of the closed cylinder engine housing 44 which has an annular wall 46 surrounding a spring 50 and an end portion 47 closing off the cylinder. The cylinder engine housing and volume 48 therein is configured to accept the diameter of the ball 42 therein. The open end 45 is configured to prevent the ball from being ejected by the force of the spring when the device is actuated. The ball partially extends out of the actuator to form a movable interface with the tool portion configured to provide torque limiting functionality. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that prevention to include but not be limited to crimping the open end, making the open end a smaller diameter than the ball yet elastic enough to press fit the ball therein with force exceeding that of the spring. A spring shield 60 may be added to evenly spread the force of the coil spring 50 against the ball 42. The spring shield is shown flat but optionally may be concave to better fit the ball. The spring shield is configured to move freely along an axial path within the volume 48 of the engine housing formed by the annular wall 48 At least one of the spring, end portion 47 and spring shield 60 are configured to provide a predetermined amount of force resisting the movement of the ball into the cylinder engine housing 44. FIG. 2D illustrates the tool portion 30 in the actuated position after sufficient rotational force has been applied to the tool portion 30 to cause it to overcome the retaining force of the ball against a body catch 37 whereby the tool portion rotates about the first retention pin and limits the torque applied the an engaged workpiece (not shown). In the above exemplars the spring is selected to have a predetermined compressive force limit for the SAE thereby fixing a narrow range of torque limit to the device. The body catch forms an interface to cooperate with the ball shape to hold the tool portion in place until such time as the force applied overcomes the resistance of the actuator. The method includes steps of disengaging the tool portion body catch from the ball or ball shaped end when the system or device has sufficient torque applied to the tool portion, said tool portion will rotate and disengage. That disengagement may also be referred to as the device being actuated. An unactuated device refers to a device or system wherein the tool portion has not overcome the torque limits and may continue to be used to engage a workpiece WP via the workpiece engaging region WER. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the body catch 37 is a catch which corresponds to a latch and the two features cooperate to form a temporary latchcatch which holds until sufficient force is applied to overcome the resistance of the component applying force to the catch. The catch should generally be configured to correspond to the ball or lever or other latch which cooperates therewith and that the plethora of such cooperating structures are within the scope of this disclosure.

[0047] Aspects methods include placing an actuator in a tool containment interface of a handle and movable mounting the tool portion with an actuation catch and a work piece engaging region in the interface; the method applies sufficient force to the tool portion to allow a user to apply torque at a set limit to a workpiece until such time as the actuator is disengaged.

[0048] FIGS. 3A and 3B show an alternate exemplary 150 wherein the tool portion is removable. Specifically, a modified tool portion 30 replaces the second pin guide 13 with a retention slot 155 whereby the tool portion is temporarily held in the system and fully removable. Once the torque limits are met the tool portion may be rotated (along the line of arrow 1005) out of the tool containment 24 for disposal, replacement or to be swapped.

[0049] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrated an exemplary system and device wherein SAE is replaced by a lever actuate engine (LAE) 210 and the body 33 of the tool portion 30 is configured with a lever catch 212 instead of a ball catch. The LAE has a body 215 which fits into the containment 26 and a flexible force lever 220 which requires a predetermined amount of force to be applied to it to bend and allow the lever catch to pass by it during rotation of the tool portion. The force lever is frangible and it will one of break and bend beyond the memory of the material and become dysfunctional post actuation. Rotation along the line of arrow 1010 results in the non-functional force lever post actuation.

[0050] FIGS. 5A-5B illustrate an exemplary system and device wherein SAE is replaced by a bushing actuate engine (BAE). In FIG. 5A the bushing engine BAE is a two part configuration with an actuation body 310 and an elastomeric bushing 320 configured to cause the ball 312 shaped nose of the actuation body to apply a predetermined amount of force to the body catch 37. The closed end 29 of the containment 26 has a bushing well 29 with a smaller diameter than the containment and configured to retain an elastomeric bushing 320 central in the containment and allowing volume around the bushing for expansion which will occur during compression by the application of force to the nose 312.

[0051] In FIG. 5B the bushing actuation engine (BAE) is a two part configuration with an actuation body 310 and a elastomeric bushing 360 configured to cause the ball 312 shaped nose of the actuation body to apply a predetermined amount of force to the body catch. The annular wall 28 of the containment 26 has a bushing expansion region 28 which is of a greater diameter than the containment to allow volume around the bushing for bushing expansion which will occur during compression by the application of force to the nose 312. In either of the above exemplars the bushing is selected to provide a predetermined force limit to the engine thereby fixing a narrow range of torque limit to the device.

[0052] FIG. 6 illustrates aspects of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device 400 with a close ended WER 410.

[0053] FIG. 7A shows a top view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device:

[0054] FIG. 7B shows a left side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0055] FIG. 7C shows a bottom view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0056] FIG. 7D shows a right side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0057] FIG. 7E shows a front side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0058] FIG. 7F shows a back side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device.

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a cut-away presenting aspects of an adjustable side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device 600. An adjustment interface 605 provides a threaded 610 channel which is fluidly connected to the containment 26. A threaded fixation fastener 615 configured to cooperatively mount in the threaded 610 channel. The fastener having an adjustment mount 620 shown as a mating region for a hex wrench or screw driver is provided. The fastener is used to adjust the depth of the actuation means 40 within the containment relative to the tool portion. The depth adjustment of the adjustment fastener is used to increase or decrease the force applied by the spring 50 in this case to the tool portion at the catch 37. In other instances such as the exemplars is FIG. 5A or 5B utilizing bushings, the adjustment fastener works in the same fashion as described in reference to FIG. 8.

[0060] FIG. 9 shows a cut-away presenting aspects of an adjustable side view of an asymmetrical disposable torque limiting device 800. An adjustment interface 605 provides a threaded 610 channel which is fluidly connected to the containment 26. The SAE 40 engine housing has an annular wall 46 which is at least partially threaded 810 to cooperatively mount in the threaded 610 channel. The SAE also provides an adjustment interface 815 which is accessed through an adjustment mount 820 shown as a mating region for a hex wrench or screw driver. The fastener is used to adjust the depth of the SAE within the containment relative to the tool portion. The depth adjustment is used to increase or decrease the force applied by the spring 50, in this case, to the tool portion at the catch 37.

[0061] Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the threaded 610 channel and threaded fastener 615 may be replaced with a fastener that connects to the interface 605 in a plethora of ways. Including but not limited to pressure fit, adhesive, sonic weld, a threaded fastener harder than the cannel material that creates its own cooperating groves as it is mounted that forms its own

[0062] While the method and agent have been described in terms of what are presently considered to be the most practical and preferred implementations, it is to be understood that the disclosure need not be limited to the disclosed implementations. It is intended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the claims, the scope of which should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar structures. The present disclosure includes any and all implementations of the following claims.

[0063] It should also be understood that a variety of changes may be made without departing from the essence of the disclosure. Such changes are also implicitly included in the description. They still fall within the scope of this disclosure. It should be understood that this disclosure is intended to yield a patent covering numerous aspects of the disclosure both independently and as an overall system and in both method and apparatus modes.

[0064] Further, each of the various elements of the disclosure and claims may also be achieved in a variety of manners. This disclosure should be understood to encompass each such variation, be it a variation of an implementation of any apparatus implementation, a method or process implementation, or even merely a variation of any element of these.

[0065] Particularly, it should be understood that as the disclosure relates to elements of the disclosure, the words for each element may be expressed by equivalent apparatus terms or method termseven if only the function or result is the same.

[0066] Such equivalent, broader, or even more generic terms should be considered to be encompassed in the description of each element or action. Such terms can be substituted where desired to make explicit the implicitly broad coverage to which this disclosure is entitled.

[0067] It should be understood that all actions may be expressed as a means for taking that action or as an element which causes that action.

[0068] Similarly, each physical element disclosed should be understood to encompass a disclosure of the action which that physical element facilitates.

[0069] Any patents, publications, or other references mentioned in this application for patent are hereby incorporated by reference. In addition, as to each term used it should be understood that unless its utilization in this application is inconsistent with such interpretation, common dictionary definitions should be understood as incorporated for each term and all definitions, alternative terms, and synonyms such as contained in at least one of a standard technical dictionary recognized by artisans and the Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, latest edition are hereby incorporated by reference.

[0070] In this regard it should be understood that for practical reasons and so as to avoid adding potentially hundreds of claims, the applicant has presented claims with initial dependencies only.

[0071] Support should be understood to exist to the degree required under new matter lawsincluding but not limited to United States Patent Law 35 USC 132 or other such lawsto permit the addition of any of the various dependencies or other elements presented under one independent claim or concept as dependencies or elements under any other independent claim or concept.

[0072] To the extent that insubstantial substitutes are made, to the extent that the applicant did not in fact draft any claim so as to literally encompass any particular implementation, and to the extent otherwise applicable, the applicant should not be understood to have in any way intended to or actually relinquished such coverage as the applicant simply may not have been able to anticipate all eventualities; one skilled in the art, should not be reasonably expected to have drafted a claim that would have literally encompassed such alternative implementations.

[0073] Further, the use of the transitional phrase comprising is used to maintain the open-end claims herein, according to traditional claim interpretation. Thus, unless the context requires otherwise, it should be understood that the term compromise or variations such as comprises or comprising, are intended to imply the inclusion of a stated element or step or group of elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other element or step or group of elements or steps.

[0074] Such terms should be interpreted in their most expansive forms so as to afford the applicant the broadest coverage legally permissible.