Apparatuses and methods for coupling threaded fasteners

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017246714-A1
Application number	US-201615056884-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 29, 2016
Priority date	Feb 29, 2016
Publication date	Aug 31, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A rotary-drive sub-assembly includes a tool and a tool retainer. The tool includes a fastener-engagement portion, a first threaded portion, and a tool-change-engagement portion between the fastener-engagement portion and the first threaded portion. The tool retainer includes a body and a retaining member. The body includes a symmetry axis, a second threaded portion, configured to be threadably fastened with the first threaded portion of the tool so that the tool is rotationally anchored relative to the body of the tool retainer about the symmetry axis and is translationally anchored relative to the body of the tool retainer along the symmetry axis, and a key, fixed relative to the second threaded portion. The tool retainer further includes a retaining member that is removably coupled to the body at a fixed location.

First claim

1 . A rotary-drive sub-assembly ( 100 ), comprising:
a tool ( 110 ), comprising:
a fastener-engagement portion ( 111 );
a first threaded portion ( 113 ); and
a tool-change-engagement portion ( 112 ) between the fastener-engagement portion ( 111 ) and the first threaded portion ( 113 ); and
a tool retainer ( 130 ), comprising:
a symmetry axis ( 193 );
a second threaded portion ( 133 ), configured to be threadably fastened with the first threaded portion ( 113 ) of the tool ( 110 ) so that the tool ( 110 ) is rotationally anchored relative to the tool retainer ( 130 ) about the symmetry axis ( 193 ) and is translationally anchored relative to the tool retainer ( 130 ) along the symmetry axis ( 193 );
a key ( 132 ), fixed relative the second threaded portion ( 133 ); and
a retaining surface ( 130 S), fixed relative to the key ( 132 ).

2 . The rotary-drive sub-assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first threaded portion ( 113 ) of the tool ( 110 ) comprises a first external thread ( 113 E) and the second threaded portion ( 133 ) of the tool retainer ( 130 ) comprises a first internal thread ( 133 I).

3 . The rotary-drive sub-assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the first threaded portion ( 113 ) of the tool ( 110 ) comprises a second internal thread ( 113 I) and the second threaded portion ( 133 ) of the tool retainer ( 130 ) comprises a second external thread ( 133 E).

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . The rotary-drive sub-assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the fastener-engagement portion ( 111 ) of the tool ( 110 ) is co-axial with the tool-change-engagement portion ( 112 ) of the tool ( 110 ), the first threaded portion ( 113 ) of the tool ( 110 ), and the second threaded portion ( 133 ) of the tool retainer ( 130 ).

7 . The rotary-drive sub-assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second threaded portion ( 133 ) of the tool retainer ( 130 ) defines a through hole ( 133 T) in the tool retainer ( 130 ).

8 . The rotary-drive sub-assembly ( 100 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the second threaded portion ( 133 ) of the tool retainer ( 130 ) defines a blind hole ( 133 B) in the tool retainer ( 130 ).

9 . A rotary drive ( 199 ), comprising:
a rotary-drive sub-assembly ( 100 ), comprising:
a tool ( 110 ), comprising:
a fastener-engagement portion ( 111 );
a first threaded portion ( 113 ); and
a tool-change-engagement portion ( 112 ) between the fastener-engagement portion ( 111 ) and the first threaded portion ( 113 );

a tool retainer ( 130 ), comprising:
a symmetry axis ( 193 );
a second threaded portion ( 133 ), configured to be threadably fastened with the first threaded portion ( 113 ) of the tool ( 110 ) so that the tool ( 110 ) is rotationally anchored relative to the tool retainer ( 130 ) about the symmetry axis ( 193 ) and is translationally anchored relative the tool retainer ( 130 ) along the symmetry axis ( 193 );
a key ( 132 ) fixed relative to the second threaded portion ( 133 ); and
a retaining surface ( 130 S), fixed relative to the key ( 132 );

a retaining assembly ( 140 ), configured to engage the key ( 132 ) of the tool retainer ( 130 ) to limit rotation of the tool retainer ( 130 ) about the symmetry axis ( 193 ); and a socket ( 120 ), co-axially rotatable relative to the tool retainer ( 130 ) of the rotary-drive sub-assembly ( 100 ) when the retaining assembly ( 140 ) engages the key ( 132 ) of the tool retainer ( 130 ).

10 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 9 , wherein the rotary-drive sub-assembly ( 100 ) is co-axially translatable relative to the socket ( 120 ).

11 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 9 , further comprising a housing ( 100 H), wherein the retaining assembly ( 140 ) comprises:
a retaining member ( 150 A), coupled to the housing ( 100 H) and comprising a retaining opening ( 151 A), wherein the retaining opening ( 151 A) is configured to engage the key ( 132 ) so as to rotationally constrain the tool retainer ( 130 ) relative to the housing ( 100 H); and a resilient member ( 155 ), coupled to the housing ( 100 H) and biasing the retaining member ( 150 A) toward the housing ( 100 H), wherein the retaining member ( 150 ) is movable relative to the resilient member ( 155 ).

12 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the retaining member ( 150 A) is configured to pivot relative to the housing ( 100 H) and to translate relative to the housing ( 100 H).

13 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 12 , wherein:
the retaining member ( 150 A) includes a recess ( 177 ), at least a portion of the resilient member ( 155 ) is received within the recess ( 177 ), and the recess ( 177 ) is sized to accommodate relative translational movement between the retaining member ( 150 A) and the resilient member ( 155 ).

14 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the retaining opening ( 151 A) of the retaining member ( 150 A) is configured to engage the key ( 132 ) of the tool retainer ( 130 ) with an intrinsic rotational backlash.

15 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the intrinsic rotational backlash between the retaining opening ( 151 A) of the retaining member ( 150 A) and the key ( 132 ) of the tool retainer ( 130 ) is less than about 10 degrees.

16 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the retaining opening ( 151 A) of the retaining member ( 150 A) comprises a pair of opposed parallel walls ( 151 OP).

17 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the retaining opening ( 151 A) of the retaining member ( 150 A) is configured to engage the key ( 132 ) with an engineered rotational compliance.

18 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 17 , wherein the engineered rotational compliance between the retaining opening ( 151 A) of the retaining member ( 150 A) and the key ( 132 ) of the tool retainer ( 130 ) is between about 30 degrees and about 270 degrees.

19 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 11 , wherein:
the retaining opening ( 151 A) of the retaining member ( 150 A) comprises a first pair of parallel walls ( 151 SP 1 ) and a second pair of parallel walls ( 151 SP 2 ); walls of the first pair of parallel walls ( 151 SP 1 ) are staggered relative to each other along a first axis (SPX 1 ), parallel to the first pair of parallel walls ( 151 SP 1 ); and walls of the second pair of parallel walls ( 151 SP 2 ) are staggered relative to each other along a second axis (SPX 2 ), parallel to the second pair of parallel walls ( 151 SP 2 ).

20 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 11 , further comprising a drive transmission ( 170 ) inside the housing ( 100 H), wherein the socket ( 120 ) comprises a drive member ( 171 ), coupled to the drive transmission ( 170 ).

21 . The rotary drive ( 199 ) according to claim 9 , further comprising a friction member ( 165 ), interposed between the socket ( 120 ) and the tool ( 110 ), wherein the friction member ( 165 ) is configured to transfer rotation of the socket ( 120 ), engaging a first fastener ( 198 ), to the tool ( 110 ) when the fastener-engagement portion ( 111 ) of the tool ( 110 ) is disengaged from a second fastener ( 197 ), that is threadably couplable with the first fastener ( 198 ), and is also configured to discontinue transferring the rotation of the socket ( 120 ) to the tool ( 110 ) when the fastener-engagement portion ( 111 ) of the tool ( 110 ) becomes engaged with the second fastener (

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Mathis Dennis R
• Kerestes Jason
• Chow Rachel M

Classifications

• B25B23/0035

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

• B25B27/14 Primary

  for assembling objects other than by press fit or detaching same · CPC title

• B25B13/488 Primary

  for connections where two parts must be turned in opposite directions by one tool · CPC title

• B23P19/06 Primary

  Screw or nut setting or loosening machines · CPC title

• B25B23/08

  for holding or positioning screw or nut prior to or during its rotation · CPC title