TORQUE TOOL FOR B-NUT FITTING

Abstract

A reciprocating apparatus for high torque transfer to a fitting, including tightening or loosening, having two coaxially synchronized engageable drive members provided with a sector geared radial flange engageable with an engageable rotatable drive gear, one internally supported split ratchet gear and drive socket maintained in contact with a spring biased ratchet pawl, together simultaneously rotatable in a first driving direction and independently disengageable in a second direction for reciprocative advancement of a ratchet geared socket in driving engagement with a fitting.

Claims

1. A geared drive assembly for rotating a fitting nut, comprising: a slotted pivot hub having an opening defined by a pair of spaced-apart arms at a first end and a receiver at a second end, wherein the opening is adapted to engage a fitting; a ratchet housing pivotally secured to the slotted pivot hub, wherein the ratchet housing comprises a sector gear on an exterior circumference of the ratchet housing; a drive gear positioned within the receiver of the slotted pivot hub, the drive gear comprising: a drive carousel having a drive socket at a first end and a pinion gear at a second end; and a housing to encase the drive carousel; wherein the pinion gear meshes with the sector gear, causing rotation of the ratchet housing when the drive socket is rotated.

2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a ratchet wheel having an inner surface adapted to engage a fitting nut, wherein the ratchet wheel is pivotally secured on an inner surface of the ratchet housing to allow rotation within the ratchet housing in at least one direction.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein an interior surface of the ratchet housing is adapted to engage a fitting nut.

4. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a locking mechanism disposed on a bottom surface of the slotted pivot hub, wherein the locking mechanism engages the ratchet housing to maintain an alignment of the slotted pivot hub and the ratchet housing.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the locking mechanism comprises: a pair of retractable blades attached to the slotted pivot hub, wherein the pair of retractable blades are adapted to engage a pair of radial slots disposed on the ratchet housing.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive gear further comprises: a planetary gear set in mechanical engagement with the drive carousel.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the planetary gear set causes an increase in a torque exerted by the pinion gear compared to the torque applied to the drive carousel.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a mechanical advantage provided by the pinion drive gear engaged with the sector gear is about 5 to 1.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a mechanical advantage provided by the pinion drive gear engaged with the sector gear is less than 5 to 1.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a mechanical advantage provided by the pinion drive gear engaged with the sector gear is greater than 5 to 1.

11. The assembly of claim 2, further comprising: a plurality of ratchet teeth disposed on an exterior of the ratchet wheel; a spring biased pivoted ratchet dog attached to the ratchet housing, wherein the ratchet dog contacts the plurality of ratchet teeth, thereby translating reciprocating rotation of the ratchet housing engaged with the pinion gear to incrementally advance the ratchet wheel.

12. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a pair of arcuate walls extending from a bottom plane of the ratchet housing, wherein the pair of arcuate walls slidingly engage an exterior surface of the spaced-apart arms of the slotted pivot hub, thereby maintaining axial alignment of the slotted pivot hub with the ratchet housing as the ratchet housing is rotated by the pinion gear.

13. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising: a plurality of rails extending from the drive gear through the slotted pivot hub, wherein the locking mechanism engages the plurality of rails when positioned in a locked position, thereby preventing the drive gear from dislodging from the receiver of the slotted pivot hub.

14. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a plurality of slots arranged in parallel and traversing a line from a first end of the receiver to a second end of the receiver, a plurality of lugs disposed on an exterior of the housing of the drive gear, wherein each of the plurality of lugs slidingly engages a corresponding slot of the plurality of slots to prevent rotation of the drive gear within the receiver.

Description

FIGURES

[0039] FIG. 1. Exploded view pivot housing and sector geared ratchet.

[0040] FIG. 2. Exploded view of strain gauge and planetary multiplier.

[0041] FIG. 3. Capture mechanism in deployed position.

[0042] FIG. 4. Rear slot and latch assembly.

[0043] FIG. 5. Pivot hub detached from sector geared ratchet.

[0044] FIG. 6. Entry slot for insertion sector gear.

[0045] FIG. 7. Blades retracted without cover in place.

[0046] FIG. 8. Alternative embodiment: Tool shown ready for use without planetary multiplier or electronic strain gauge.

[0047] FIG. 9. Alternative blade retraction key mechanism.

[0048] FIG. 10. Alternative ratchet mechanism.

[0049] FIG. 11. Tool in driving engagement with a manifold fitting.

[0050] FIG. 12. Tool in driving engagement with a fitting connecting two sections of tubing.

[0051] FIG. 13. Tool aligned with fitting and fitting body. Ratchet cover removed to show dogs engaging ratchet teeth.

[0052] FIG. 14. Sector geared housing advancing ratchet gear and fitting. Cover is removed to show engaging ratchet teeth.

[0053] FIG. 15. Sector gear housing rotated to end of travel and ready for reset.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings showing a preferred embodiment of power wrench assembly, and in which: [0055] 1. Vertical passageways [0056] 2. Pinion gear pocket [0057] 3. Arm [0058] 4. Slotted pivot hub [0059] 5. Spaced apart jaw [0060] 6. C shaped shoe [0061] 7. Spring latch [0062] 8. Arm neck [0063] 9. Fitting nut [0064] 10. Fitting body (non-rotable) [0065] 11. Upper hub [0066] 12. Ratchet wheel [0067] 13. Lower Hub [0068] 14. Vertical Rails [0069] 15. Ratchet gear pocket [0070] 16. Ratchet housing [0071] 17. Radial slots [0072] 18. Dog pockets [0073] 19. Sector gear [0074] 20. Circular opening [0075] 21. Lower deck ratchet housing [0076] 22. Arcuate walls [0077] 23. Hub receiving pocket [0078] 24. Slotted opening ratchet housing [0079] 25. Housing cover [0080] 26. Ratchet dogs [0081] 27. Ratchet dog springs [0082] 28. Cover screws [0083] 29. Radial groove ends of rails [0084] 30. Key [0085] 31. Rear arms of key [0086] 32. Forward arms of key [0087] 33. Compression spring [0088] 34. Extension spring [0089] 35. First end of pivoted blades [0090] 36. Retractably curved pivot blades. [0091] 37. Spring attachment holes [0092] 38. Blade cover [0093] 39. Cover Screws [0094] 40. Ratchet wrench [0095] 41. Input stem [0096] 42. Electronic strain gauge [0097] 43. Sun gear [0098] 44. Planetary carosel [0099] 45. Telescoping socket [0100] 46. Pinion drive gear [0101] 47. Bearings (A, B) [0102] 48. Planetary housing [0103] 49. Gear teeth within barrel [0104] 50. Axels [0105] 51. Planetary gears [0106] 52. Inset key pocket [0107] 53. Blades extended [0108] 54. Curved blade pockets [0109] 55. Closed barrel [0110] 56. Slot [0111] 57. Lower end of planetary barrel [0112] 58. Pivoted blades retracted [0113] 59. Planetary fully extended [0114] 60. Hexagonal drive socket [0115] 61. Hex shaft [0116] 62. Lug pockets [0117] 63. Planetary barrel lugs [0118] 64. Thread hole in planetary barrel

Included by Description

[0119] While the present invention has been illustrated for high torque, high precession applications many variations of this basic principle are easily adapted for application which do not required exact torque values thereby eliminating the need for a strain gauge.

[0120] Also applications that do not requiring high torque values could easily use the sector geared crows foot wrenches without a planetary torque multiplier.

[0121] Extended sockets can be combined with extended fitting stabilizers to allow the present invention to work with multiple port manifolds. In conclusion the present invention provides optimized utility, safety, and value for workers assembling fittings in confined spaces.

[0122] A basic adaptation of the present invention is comprised of two individual wrench-like components. The first component is a crows foot wrench formed with a sector gear at a position opposite the opening at the top end of the crows foot wrench head and a pair segmented wall projected from the lower face of the wrench head and is provided as a rotable bearing surface and follower for a second wrench head substantially circular is provided with a stem and drive gear and sized to fit within the segmented walls of the sector geared crowfoot wrench head. Together the two separated components interlock with one wrench head within the other to permit meshed engagement of the sector geared apron of the first wrench component with the pinion drive gear of the second wrench component. This very basic assembly is functional without any ratcheting feature. While this basic mode requires repositioning the sector geared wrench head during tightening or loosening a fitting nut it also provide an very compact assembly footprint enabling use in confined locations.

[0123] While the present invention has been illustrated with a spur gear driving a conventional gear form it will be obvious that a similar construction could be achieved with a worm gear engaged with a worm gear sector on the perimeter of the crows foot ratchet drive housing.

[0124] Also not shown is a motor drive engaged with the input planetary that would be either mechanically or electronically controlled for automatic reciprocating clockwise and counter clock wise input to result in continuous rotation of the ratchet gear disposed for cooperative response to the motorized input.

[0125] The present invention has been illustrated with hexagonal sockets and a slotted pivot base adapted for use with conventional fluid fasteners, it should be obvious that the present invention could be reconfigured for a wide range of geometric shapes both at the ratchet driven socket and the circular stabilizing head piece.

[0126] The present invention has been illustrated with a 9 tooth sector gear segment. The number of teeth provided is variable to meet work envelope requirement by addition or subtraction of teeth. Gear tooth pitch is variable depending on torque requirements.

[0127] 1. The invention includes a system for installing or removing a fluid fitting with a tool comprised of an arm with a rotable drive gear arm at a first end and a slotted pivot support hub at a second end, adapted for meshed driving engagement with a pivot pocket supported sector geared housing in driving engagement with a ratcheting drive socket. [0128] B. Including a retractable latching mechanism comprised of extensible spring biased blades and retraction key. [0129] C. Pinion gear is mounted on arm at mounting distance appropriate for engagement with a sector gear. [0130] D. Drive gear is a spur gear [0131] E. Sector gear is a spur gear [0132] F. Drive gear is a worm gear [0133] G. Spector gear is a worm wheel segment.

[0134] A gear drive system for two wrenches:

[0135] Comprised of a sector gear on a first common axis slotted for engagement with a fitting head with coaxial pivot, and a driving gear opposite a slotted coaxial pivot on a second wrench head

[0136] A gear drive system for two wrenches:

[0137] Comprised of a sector gear on a first slotted wrench head, and a driving gear on a second slotted wrench handle.

[0138] Includes a rotable hub on the first wrench for stabilizing rotation of a second wrench around a common axis pivot hub when a pinion gear of the first wrench is engaged with the sector geared annulus of a second wrench head.

[0139] Second wrench head includes a ratchet.

[0140] Second wrench head includes a one way clutch.

[0141] An arm with a pivot hub at a first end and driving gear at a second end for meshed engagement with a sector geared wrench head provide with a hub receiving pocket.

[0142] An arm with a drive gear at a first end and pivot station at a second end, joinable with sector slotted sector geared head With a mutually complimentary pivot station.

[0143] 2. A retractable capture strategy for coupling a pivot hub with a slotted pocket.

[0144] A retractable capture mechanism for coupling a pivot hub with a pivot platform with a grooved annulus and a slotted pocket, defined by two spaced apart arcuate walls.