Self-clamping torque adapter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11698107-B2
Application number	US-202017024496-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2020
Priority date	Sep 17, 2020
Publication date	Jul 11, 2023
Grant date	Jul 11, 2023

Abstract

A self-clamping torque adapter comprises a tool base, a central hub, a plurality of clamps, and a cam actuator mechanism. The tool base has a central axis and the central hub is rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis. The central hub comprises a torque input member configured to receive a torque input. The plurality of clamps are slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis. The cam actuator mechanism couples each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub. Rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A self-clamping torque adapter comprising:
a tool base having a central axis;
a central hub rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis, the central hub comprising a torque input member configured to receive a torque input;
a plurality of clamps slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis;
a cam actuator mechanism coupling each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub, wherein rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction; and
at least one biasing member biasing a clamp of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction.

2. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 1 , wherein the at least one biasing member comprises at least one spring.

3. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of clamps comprises a friction modifier configured to increase friction between a respective clamp and an object being clamped.

4. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 1 , wherein the central hub comprises a plurality of curved slots and the cam actuator mechanism comprises a plurality of shafts with each shaft disposed in a respective slot of the plurality of slots, and wherein each shaft is coupled to a respective clamp of the plurality of clamps.

5. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 4 , wherein the cam actuator mechanism comprises a range of travel limited by a configuration of the curved slots, thus providing a hard stop of each of the plurality of clamps, and thus limiting radial travel of the plurality of clamps.

6. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 5 , wherein the hard stop limits travel of the plurality of clamps in at least one of a radially outward direction or a radially inward direction.

7. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 4 , wherein a centroid of each of the plurality of curved slots is located between the plurality of curved slots, respectively, and the central axis.

8. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 4 , wherein a centroid of each of the plurality of curved slots is located outside of an area between the plurality of curved slots, respectively, and the central axis.

9. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 4 , wherein a distance between the central axis and a point in the curved slots at a location offset from a midpoint of the curved slots and along a central plane of the curved slots is one of greater than or less than a distance between the central axis and the midpoint.

10. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of clamps have a default position, and wherein, with each of the plurality of clamps in the default position, a counterclockwise rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes each of the plurality of clamps to move in a first direction relative to the default position, and a clockwise rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes each of the plurality of clamps to also move in the first direction relative to the default position.

11. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 1 , wherein the tool base comprises a plurality of linear slots extending in a radial direction and each of the plurality of clamps is slidably coupled to the tool base by at least one bolt extending through a linear slot of the plurality of linear slots.

12. The self-clamping torque adapter of claim 11 , wherein each of the bolts are limited in radial travel by a respective linear slot thus providing a hard stop of each of the plurality of clamps, and thus limiting radial travel of the plurality of clamps.

13. A torqueing system comprising:
an object to be torqued, the object having a torque receiving surface and an axis of rotation; and
a self-clamping torque adapter comprising:
a tool base having a central axis aligned with the axis of rotation;
a central hub rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis, the central hub comprising a torque input member configured to receive a torque input;
a plurality of clamps slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis to apply a clamping force to the torque receiving surface;
a cam actuator mechanism coupling each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub, wherein rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction to provide a variable clamping force to the object to be torqued depending upon the travel of the plurality of clamps; and
at least one biasing member biasing a clamp of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction.

14. The torqueing system of claim 13 , wherein the self-clamping torque adapter further comprises a friction modifier disposed between each of the clamps and the torque receiving surface.

15. The torqueing system of claim 13 , wherein the central hub comprises a plurality of curved slots and the cam actuator mechanism comprises a plurality of shafts with each shaft disposed in a respective slot of the plurality of slots, and wherein each shaft is coupled to a respective clamp of the plurality of clamps.

16. The torqueing system of claim 15 , wherein a centroid of each of the plurality of curved slots is located between the plurality of curved slots, respectively, and the central axis.

17. The torqueing system of claim 15 , wherein a centroid of each of the plurality of curved slots is located outside of an area between the plurality of curved slots, respectively, and the central axis.

18. The torqueing system of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of clamps have a default position, and wherein, with each of the plurality of clamps in the default position, a counterclockwise rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes each of the plurality of clamps to move in a first direction relative to the default position, and a clockwise rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes each of the plurality of clamps to also move in the first direction relative to the default position.

19. A method of torqueing an object comprising:
positioning a self-clamping torque adapter proximate an end of an object being torqued, the self-clamping torque adapter comprising:
a tool base having a central axis aligned with an axis of rotation of the object being torqued;
a central hub rotatably coupled to the tool base and configured to rotate relative to the tool base about the central axis, the central hub comprising a torque input member configured to receive a torque input;
a plurality of clamps slidably coupled to the tool base, and configured to displace bi-directionally along a radial axis;
a cam actuator mechanism coupling each of the plurality of clamps to the central hub, wherein rotation of the central hub relative to the tool base causes the cam actuator mechanism to move each of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction to provide a variable clamping force to the object being torqued; and
at least one biasing member biasing a clamp of the plurality of clamps in a radial direction;

applying a torque to the torque input member to cause the central hub to rotate relative to the tool base and each of the plurality of clamps to move radially to apply a clamping force to the object being torqued.

20. A self-clamping torque adapter comprising:

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Remy Christopher D

Classifications

• F16D1/0817 Primary

  with radial clamping due to rotation along an eccentric surface, e.g. arcuate wedging elements (similar clutches F16D17/00; similar free-wheel clutches F16D41/06) · CPC title

• B25B13/50

  for operating on work of special profile, e.g. pipes · CPC title

• F16B2/04

  internal, i.e. with spreading action (F16B2/14 - F16B2/18 take precedence) · CPC title

• B25B13/18 Primary

  by cam, wedge, or lever · CPC title

• B25B13/44 Primary

  of the chuck type · CPC title