Nut runner accessory for power tool

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12466037-B2
Application number	US-202318462959-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 7, 2023
Priority date	Oct 27, 2021
Publication date	Nov 11, 2025
Grant date	Nov 11, 2025

Abstract

A nut runner accessory for a power-driven tool is provided. The nut runner accessory can include a gear assembly received in a housing. The gear assembly transfers an externally generated force to a driver head of the nut runner accessory. The nut runner accessory can include an alignment device that can be automatically or manually operated to align an open ended slot of the gear assembly and driver head with an open ended slot of the housing. The alignment of respective open end portions of the open ended slots defined by the gear assembly, driver head, and housing allows a nut/threaded rod to be inserted into and removed from an engagement portion of the nut runner accessory.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A nut runner accessory for a power-driven tool, the nut runner accessory including:
a housing including an open ended slot at a first end portion of the housing; a gear assembly received in the housing; an input shaft coupled at a second end portion of the housing and configured to transmit a rotary force from a power-driven tool to an input gear of the gear assembly; a driver head provided at an output gear of the gear assembly at the first end portion of the housing, the driver head being configured to rotate together with the output gear in response to rotation of the input gear, wherein the output gear and the driver head define an open ended slot corresponding to the open ended slot formed at the first end portion of the housing; and an alignment device that includes a protrusion moveably coupled into the housing and configured to selectively engage the gear assembly as the input gear and the output gear rotate in response to the rotary force from the input shaft, wherein, in response to an external manipulation of the alignment device during rotation of the gear assembly, the protrusion is configured to move in a direction parallel to a rotational axis of the input gear or a rotational axis of the output gear and engage a recess in one of the input gear or the output gear and restrict further rotation of the input gear and the output gear, with respective open end portions of the open ended slot defined by the driver head and the output gear and the open ended slot at the first end portion of the housing in an aligned position.

2 . The nut runner accessory of claim 1 , wherein the alignment device includes a button assembly that is manipulatable from an exterior of the housing, the button assembly including:
a support frame coupled to the housing; a button movably positioned in an open portion of the support frame; and the protrusion having a first end portion coupled to the button, and a second end portion that selectively engages the recess in one of the input gear or the output gear to restrict rotation of the input gear and the output gear.

3 . The nut runner accessory of claim 2 , wherein the second end portion of the protrusion is configured to be engaged in the recess and to restrict rotation of the input gear and the output gear in response to a depression of the button as the input gear and the output gear rotate in response to the rotary force transmitted from the input shaft and a position of the recess is brought into alignment with a position of the second end portion of the protrusion.

4 . The nut runner accessory of claim 3 , wherein a position of the recess is indexed with a position of the open ended slot defined by the driver head and output gear, such that engagement of the second end portion of the protrusion in the recess aligns the open ended slot defined by the driver head and the output gear with the open ended slot defined at the first end portion of the housing.

5 . The nut runner accessory of claim 2 , wherein a shoulder portion of the support frame is fixed to the housing and extends across a portion of the support frame at the second end portion of the protrusion, with an opening formed in the shoulder portion corresponding to the second end portion of the protrusion.

6 . The nut runner accessory of claim 5 , wherein, in response to depression of the button, the second end portion of the protrusion extends through the opening in the shoulder portion to engage the recess as the recess as the input gear and the output gear rotate and a position of the recess is aligned with a position of the second end portion of the protrusion.

7 . The nut runner accessory of claim 2 , further comprising a biasing member positioned around an intermediate portion of the protrusion, with a first end portion of the biasing member abutting the button, and the second end portion of the biasing member abutting a portion of the support frame, wherein the biasing member biases the button to a disengaged position, and is compressed in response to depression of the button.

8 . The nut runner accessory of claim 1 , wherein
the open ended slot at the first end portion of the housing is stationary, and the open ended slot defined by the driver head and the output gear rotate in response to the rotary force transmitted from the input shaft to the gear assembly, and an aligned position of respective open end portions of the open ended slot at the first end portion of the housing and the open ended slot defined by the driver head and the output gear provides for insertion of a threaded rod and nut into an engagement portion of the nut runner accessory, and for removal of the threaded rod and nut from the engagement portion of the nut runner accessory.

9 . A nut runner accessory for a power-driven tool, the nut runner accessory including:
a housing including an open ended slot at a first end portion of the housing; a gear assembly received in the housing; an input shaft coupled at a second end portion of the housing and configured to transmit a rotary force from a power-driven tool to an input gear of the gear assembly; a driver head provided at an output gear of the gear assembly at the first end portion of the housing, the driver head being configured to rotate together with the output gear in response to rotation of the input gear, wherein the output gear and the driver head define an open ended slot corresponding to the open ended slot formed at the first end portion of the housing; and an alignment knob coupled to the housing and accessible from an exterior of the housing, wherein the output gear is configured to rotate in response to a manual manipulation of the alignment knob, and wherein respective open end portions of the open ended slot defined by the driver head and output gear and the open ended slot at the first end portion of the housing are brought into alignment in response to the manual manipulation of the alignment knob.

10 . The nut runner accessory of claim 9 , wherein the manual manipulation of the alignment knob is a rotation of the alignment knob, and wherein an amount of rotation of the alignment knob corresponds to an amount of rotation of the output gear and driver head.

11 . The nut runner accessory of claim 9 , wherein the alignment knob is partially received in the housing, and partially exposed to the exterior of the housing through an opening in the housing.

12 . The nut runner accessory of claim 11 , wherein the alignment knob is fixed to or integrally formed with the input gear such that the alignment knob rotates together with the input gear and manipulation of the alignment knob causes corresponding rotation of the input gear.

13 . The nut runner accessory of claim 11 , wherein the alignment knob is fixed to or integrally formed with the input shaft such that the alignment knob rotates together with the input shaft and the input gear coupled to the input shaft, and manipulation of the alignment knob causes corresponding rotation of the input shaft and the input gear coupled to the input shaft.

14 . The nut runner accessory of claim 9 , further comprising at least one visual indicator provided on at least one of the alignment knob or the housing, wherein the at least one visual indicator provides a visual indication of alignment of respective open end portions of the open ended slot defined by the driver head and output gear and the open ended slot at the first end portion of the housing.

15 . The nut runner accessory of claim 9 , wherein the alignment knob is coupled to the input shaft at an exterior of the housing.

Assignees

• Black & Decker Inc

Inventors

• Tucker Benjamin
• Kaye Jr Thomas R
• LOURENCO Marco
• Santamarina Aland

Classifications

• B25B23/0028 Primary

  Angular adjustment means between tool head and handle · CPC title

• B25B21/02

  with means for imparting impact to screwdriver blade or nut socket · CPC title

• B25F5/006

  Vibration damping means · CPC title

• B25F3/00

  Associations of tools for different working operations with one portable power-drive means; Adapters therefor · CPC title

• B25B21/007 Primary

  Attachments for drilling apparatus for screw or nut setting or loosening · CPC title