Torque Transfer Driver

Abstract

The present invention is a wrench type device designed to deliver high torque into awkward and cramp spaces. A long, slim, and narrow body harboring a plurality of band type components for transferring torque from one rotatable shank to another in line rotatable shank. The rotatable shanks positioned at both ends are identical and the device is fundamentally symmetric in all planes, thereby producing same functionality when the device is reversed or rotated centrally in all planes. The rotatable shank accepts and retains by utilizing magnetics, a variety of inserts designed to drive bolts, nuts, screws and the likes. The device is designed to be compatible with devices in the current tool market, hence activation of the rotatable shanks can originate from manually or powered tools and its driving abilities can be communicated to the aforementioned accessories such as socket tools, nut and screwdriver bits, torx, allen and the likes.

Claims

1. A torque transfer driver device that is symmetric in all planes and can be reversibly operated in the same comprising: a) semi-circular ends, protracted, slim and narrow split shelled housing with a full central stiffener and combined by fasteners, welds, or the likes. b) concentric identical apertures at both ends with means of entrapping identical bushing and identical rotatable shank. c) encasing plurality of flexible endless high tensile strength torque transfer means in communication with both rotatable shanks, said communication is in the form of a plurality of equally spaced protrusions on rotatable shank and a matching spaced array of openings along full length in torque transfer means. d) centered geometric opening in rotatable shank wherein the internal faces of the opening contains implanted magnets for retention of insert type sub-components and the likes thereof. e) said sub-components contain outer geometry matching rotatable shank's opening as to produce synchronize rotation when inserted and engaged. f) said sub-components contain inner geometry matching driving tools such as; driving handles, ratcheting handles and powered tools to include driven devices such as; wrench sockets, screw driver bits, hex bits and the likes.

2. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 1, in which the central stiffener can be an integral design of the shelled exterior in the form of ribs and the likes.

3. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 1, having superior performance type bushings positioned between rotatable shanks at either end of protracted housing and in contact with rotatable shanks, whereby handling the large loads produced by the torque transfer means during high tensions from applied forces.

4. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 3, wherein grease type lubricants are a consideration when device is continuously operated as such by powered tools.

5. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 3, containing two identical hollow rotatable shanks demonstrating a plurality of equally spaced, radial protrusions, each having a slightly elongated cube like appearance and rounded on all sharps and corners.

6. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 3, having a torque transfer means composed of an encasing plurality of thin flexible endless bands each having a matching lengthwise pitch array of geometrically accepting opening per geometry of radial protrusions on the rotatable shanks.

7. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 6, wherein the main objective of the torque transfer means is to provide a tool with the best performance in a minimum footprint whereas the plurality, thinness, width and flexibility of the band can be exactly calculated and engineered for a specific tool or device requirement.

8. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 6, whereby endless bands are made with high tensile strength metals and related composites both metals and non-metals.

9. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 8, wherein metals of the Stainless Steel, 300 Series, has provided the best test results in both production and cost.

10. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 5, wherein the rotatable shanks contain hollow centered geometry to accept inserts and adapters.

11. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 10, wherein the rotatable shank inner geometry and the insert or adapter outer geometry are engineered to produce rotatable torque transfer and non-deformation while enduring enormous forces from process.

12. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 5, wherein the rotatable shanks contain implanted magnets to retain inserts and adapters.

13. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 10, wherein the inserts and adapters are designed to assimilate with current hand and power tool accessories.

14. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 1, whereby the torque transfer device can be a parent device to its own family of inserts and adapters. Similarly to the likes of a ratchet driver and socket tool set.

15. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 1, whereby the torque transfer means and the rotatable shank are inversely designed.

16. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 15, whereby the rotatable shanks contains a plurality of equally spaced, radial openings.

17. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 15, whereby the torque transfer means is composed of an encasing plurality of thin flexible endless bands fused together at strategic points as to behave as one during tensile loading.

18. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 15, wherein the torque transfer means innermost band is one containing an array of equally spaced teeth along its endless length matching openings of rotatable shank.

19. A torque transfer driver device as narrated in claim 15, where torque transfer occurs from meshing of the openings in rotatable shank and the teeth of innermost band of the said torque transfer means.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the device.

[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device with one side of housing removed.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a full front view of the device with an enlarged partial of one end.

[0013] FIG. 4 is a full top view of the device.

[0014] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective section view of rotatable shank area.

[0015] FIG. 6 is a partial front mid-sectional view of rotatable shank area.

[0016] FIG. 7 is a partial front view of rotatable shank area with open casing.

[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the rotatable shank.

[0018] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the bushing.

[0019] FIG. 10 is a perspective partial section view of inversely operational device.

[0020] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of device in use.

[0021] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of inserts/adapters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] Now with reference to drawings, the device is a double aperture wrench having a long narrow split shelled casing with semicircular ends and containing two apertures at each end as shown in FIG. 1. This long narrow body is symmetric in all planes originating from the centroid of the device. The said long narrow body is a housing that is structurally composed of two identical shelled parts 1 and a stiffening spacer 2. Assembly of housing can be of any form as in being fastened, riveted, welded or the like of which is not detailed in figures. The said housing contains identical bushings 3 that are constrained to the apertures by shaped geometry 9 and directly contacts stiffening spacer 2 on both ends in housing shell as shown in FIG. 3. The bushing positioning is strategically placed for friction and load support hence supplying smooth load bearing surfaces 19 and providing an unimpeded rotatable shank rotation when the device is transferring high torques. The combined aforementioned designs help in a non-collapsing system whereby high tensile loads resulting from applied high torques tend to draw the opposing rotatable shanks together. The resulting circular apertures 10 nest identical rotatable shanks 4 that are side-to-side controllably constrained by the channel feature 11 in the bushing and radial protrusions 12 on rotatable shanks 4 and are allowed to freely rotate in the apertures at each end as shown in FIG. 5. The two rotatable shanks 4 are connected by the torque transfer means 6,7. The said torque transfer means 6,7 is a plurality of thin flexible high tensile strength metal bands each surrounding the other 14 in a tightfitting fashion. The plurality of bands 14 can be any amount required to meet a torque transfer design performance requirement hence the first endless band is encased by the second and a third and so on- to recite that each encased fit is snug to the former. Any metal or composite combination of metals and non-metals can be design engineered for use however the stainless steel types performed best in the present invention as shown in FIG. 2. As per FIG. 4, the mechanics of torque transfer 15 occurs from the interaction of the protrusions 12 on the rotatable shank's outer circumferential surface and openings 13 in belts 6,7. The mechanisms of torque transfer can be shape and pitch engineered (number of protrusion and opening engagement per belt length) to a specific performance however a rectangular profile 17 shown in FIG. 8 tested best in overall performance for the present invention. Clearly it can be realized that the present invention's torque transfer means 6,7 provides for the most compact design against the majority of prior arts containing chains and wire loops with rollers and the likes. The rotatable shank's 4 protrusions 12 are also design with close tolerance 21 to the casing 1 as to prevent engagement issues occurring from wear, stretch, and abnormal tool use. The rotatable shank 4 is designed to accept inserts/adapters 8 as shown in FIG. 12 and these are retained by magnetism. Said magnetism is produced by implanting strong small magnets 5 into openings 16 in rotatable shank 4. Another method can be magnetizing material if material permits. Synchronized rotation of the rotatable shank 4 and insert/adapter 8 is achieved from matching geometry on both the rotatable shank center 18 and the insert/adapter outer surface 20. Said geometry can vary however the functionality and purpose must remain the same. References herein are to details of the illustrated embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope and use of the invention FIG. 10,11,12 to which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention. There exist patented inventions of this form but none appears to have the matched capability of transferring the high force/torque requirements in a comparable design package as the present invention does. During the development of the invention the inventors of the present invention verified these issues by investigating the driving mechanisms that exist in the prior arts. These mechanisms exist as drive trains in the form of multiple gear types, chains loops, and the likes. To achieve a competing design as in the present invention these components will be large and bulky, thereby making the prior devices inferior. See FIG. 10, an off-shoot device that was produced and tested. It was inversely designed, whereby the rotatable shank had the cavities and the inner band contained teeth for torque transfer. In this configuration the outer band is smooth and is fused at strategic points to the inner band whereby both bands behave as one when in tensile load. This design worked well but proved to be more costly to develop and produce. The design goals of the present invention pursued implementing tool design criteria's as per 25.140.30-ISO and Machinery's Handbook. Hence the said compact housing is very close to the dimensional footprint and of a ratcheting box wrench and the likes. Said present invention is scalable in design for variable torque range grouping a feature that is concurrent to hand tool sizing designs for specified torque range. The present invention's design permits the ability to overdesign in a still compact package for the most stubborn fastener connections such as rusted, galled, fused, and like difficult situations. The current design also offers the ability to produce a device that can transfer high torque over a long distance (a highly elongated device) without a large cost change. All of the aforementioned prior arts challenges and many more have been resolved by the present invention. Therefore the invention is both innovative and an improvement on similar tools and devices existing in prior arts.