Torque-wrench apparatuses and methods of assembling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016207181-A1
Application number	US-201514600509-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 20, 2015
Priority date	Jan 20, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) configured to be coupled to a torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) is disclosed. The torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) defines a first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) and comprises a force-application member ( 210 ) rotatable about a click-pivot axis ( 144 ). The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) comprises a chassis ( 140 ) and a wrench head ( 110 ) comprising a second longitudinal central axis ( 203 ) and a torque axis ( 112 ). The torque axis ( 112 ) of the wrench head ( 110 ) has an adjustable angle ( 190 ) relative to the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ). The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) also comprises a link ( 150 ) pivotally coupled to the chassis ( 140 ) and the wrench head ( 110 ), and a translating element ( 160 ) pivotally coupled to the wrench head ( 110 ). The translating element ( 160 ) comprises a contact surface ( 162 ) configured to receive a first force. The contact surface ( 162 ) is movable along the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ), and a moment arm ( 180 ) between the click-pivot axis ( 144 ) and a centroid ( 602 ) varies as a function of the adjustable angle ( 190 ) between the torque axis ( 112 ) and the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ).

First claim

1 . A torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) configured to be coupled to a torque-wrench handle ( 200 ), the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) defining a first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) and comprising a torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ) and a force-application member ( 210 ) rotatable relative to the torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ) about a click-pivot axis ( 144 ) perpendicular to the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ), the torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) comprising:
a chassis ( 140 ) configured to be coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ); a wrench head ( 110 ) comprising a second longitudinal central axis ( 203 ) and a torque axis ( 112 ), wherein:
the wrench head ( 110 ) is shaped to engage at least one of a fastener ( 500 ) or a torque-application adaptor ( 501 ) aligned with the torque axis ( 112 ),
the second longitudinal central axis ( 203 ) and the torque axis ( 112 ) have an intersection point ( 205 ), and
the torque axis ( 112 ) of the wrench head ( 110 ) has an adjustable angle ( 190 ) relative to the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) of the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) when the chassis ( 140 ) is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ) and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 );
a link ( 150 ) pivotally coupled to the chassis ( 140 ) and the wrench head ( 110 ); and a translating element ( 160 ) pivotally coupled to the wrench head ( 110 ) and linearly movable relative to the chassis ( 140 ), the translating element ( 160 ) comprising a contact surface ( 162 ) having a centroid ( 602 ) and configured to receive a first force from the force-application member ( 210 ) when the chassis ( 140 ) is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ) and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ), the wrench head ( 110 ) engages the fastener ( 500 ), and a second force is applied to the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) in an opposite direction to the first force, wherein, when the chassis ( 140 ) is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ) and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ), the contact surface ( 162 ) of the translating element ( 160 ) is movable along the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) of the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ), and a moment arm ( 180 ) between the click-pivot axis ( 144 ) and the centroid ( 602 ) of the contact surface ( 162 ) of the translating element ( 160 ) along the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) of the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) varies as a function of the adjustable angle ( 190 ) between the torque axis ( 112 ) of the wrench head ( 110 ) and the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ).

2 . The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein, with the chassis ( 140 ) coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ) and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ), the contact surface ( 162 ) of the translating element ( 160 ) translates along the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) of the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) when the wrench head ( 110 ) is pivoted relative to the translating element ( 160 ).

3 . The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , further comprising an end adaptor member ( 130 ) configured to be coupled to the force-application member ( 210 ) of the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ), the end adaptor member ( 130 ) comprising a bearing surface ( 132 ) substantially parallel to the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) of the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ), wherein the contact surface ( 162 ) of the translating element ( 160 ) is configured to contact the bearing surface ( 132 ) of the end adaptor member ( 130 ) when the torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) is coupled to the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) and the chassis ( 140 ) is aligned with the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ).

4 . (canceled)

5 . The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) according to claim 3 , wherein the chassis ( 140 ) comprises lateral portions ( 142 ) configured to at least partially enclose the end adaptor member ( 130 ) when the torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) is coupled to the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) and the chassis ( 140 ) is aligned with the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ).

6 . (canceled)

7 . The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) according to claim 3 , further comprising an adaptor ( 120 ) configured to be coupled to the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ), wherein the chassis ( 140 ) is coupled to the adaptor ( 120 ) and is configured to be mounted to the torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ) via the adaptor ( 120 ).

8 . The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the chassis ( 140 ) is pivotally coupled to the adaptor ( 120 ).

9 . The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) according to claim 7 , wherein the adaptor ( 120 ) comprises an indexing member ( 191 ) configured to maintain the moment arm ( 180 ) between the click-pivot axis ( 144 ) and the centroid of the contact surface ( 162 ) of the translating element ( 160 ) along the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) of the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) within a predetermined length range when the chassis ( 140 ) is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ) and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ).

10 . The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the indexing member ( 191 ) comprises opposed ears ( 194 ) having openings ( 196 ) configured to mate with ends of a pin ( 198 ) defining the click-pivot axis ( 144 ) of the force-application member ( 210 ).

11 . The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the moment arm ( 180 ) between the click-pivot axis ( 144 ) and the centroid ( 602 ) of the contact surface ( 162 ) of the translating element ( 160 ) increases as the adjustable angle ( 190 ) of the torque axis ( 112 ) of the wrench head ( 110 ) relative to the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) of the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ) approaches 90 degrees when the chassis ( 140 ) is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ) and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ).

12 . The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the chassis ( 140 ) further comprises a channel ( 189 ) and the translating element ( 160 ) comprises a second boss ( 161 ) slidably engaging the channel ( 189 ).

13 . The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) according to claim 1 12 1 , further comprising:
a first pivot connection ( 620 ) between the chassis ( 140 ) and the link ( 150 ), wherein the first pivot connection ( 620 ) has a first pivot axis ( 720 ); a second pivot connection ( 622 ) between the link ( 150 ) and the wrench head ( 110 ), wherein the second pivot connection ( 622 ) has a second pivot axis ( 722 ); and a third pivot connection ( 624 ) between the translating element ( 160 ) and the wrench head ( 110 ), wherein the third pivot connection ( 624 ) has a third pivot axis ( 724 ); wherein, when the chassis ( 140 ) is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel ( 204 ) and aligned with first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) of the torque-wrench handle ( 200 ),
the click-pivot axis ( 144 ) and the centroid ( 602 ) are separated by a first variable distance along the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 );
the centroid ( 602 ) and the first pivot axis ( 720 ) of the first pivot connection ( 620 ) between the chassis ( 140 ) and the link ( 150 ) are separated by a second variable distance along the first longitudinal central axis ( 202 );
the first pivot axis ( 720 ) of the first pivot connection ( 620 ) between the chassis ( 140 ) and the link ( 150 ) and the second pivot axis ( 722 ) of the

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Coffland Donald Wayne

Classifications

• B25B13/481

  for operating in areas having limited access · CPC title

• B25B23/0028

  Angular adjustment means between tool head and handle · CPC title

• B25B23/1427 Primary

  by mechanical means · CPC title

• B25B23/0035

  Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool · CPC title