Torque-wrench apparatuses and methods of assembling the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9855643-B2
Application number	US-201514600509-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 20, 2015
Priority date	Jan 20, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

Abstract

A 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 a first longitudinal central axis ( 202 ) of a torque-wrench handle ( 200 ). The torque-wrench attachment ( 100 ) also comprises a link ( 150 ) and a translating element ( 160 ). The translating element ( 160 ) comprises a contact surface ( 162 ). 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 ).

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque-wrench attachment configured to be coupled to a torque-wrench handle, the torque-wrench handle defining a first longitudinal central axis and comprising a torque-wrench handle barrel and a force-application member rotatable relative to the torque-wrench handle barrel about a click-pivot axis perpendicular to the first longitudinal central axis, the torque-wrench attachment comprising:
a chassis configured to be coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel;
a wrench head comprising a second longitudinal central axis and a torque axis, wherein:
the wrench head is shaped to engage at least one of a fastener or a torque-application adaptor aligned with the torque axis,
the second longitudinal central axis and the torque axis have an intersection point, and
the torque axis of the wrench head has an adjustable angle relative to the first longitudinal central axis of the torque-wrench handle when the chassis is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis;

a link pivotally coupled to the chassis at a first pivot connection having a first pivot axis, the link pivotally coupled to the wrench head at a second pivot connection having a second pivot axis; and
a translating element pivotally coupled to the wrench head at a third pivot connection having a third pivot axis, the translating element linearly movable relative to the chassis, the translating element comprising a contact surface having a centroid and configured to receive a first force from the force-application member when the chassis is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis, the wrench head engages the fastener, and a second force is applied to the torque-wrench handle in an opposite direction to the first force,
wherein, when the chassis is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis,
the contact surface of the translating element is movable along the first longitudinal central axis of the torque-wrench handle, and
a moment arm between the click-pivot axis and the centroid of the contact surface of the translating element along the first longitudinal central axis of the torque-wrench handle varies as a function of the adjustable angle between the torque axis of the wrench head and the first longitudinal central axis.

2. The torque-wrench attachment according to claim 1 , wherein, with the chassis coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis, the contact surface of the translating element translates along the first longitudinal central axis of the torque-wrench handle when the wrench head is pivoted relative to the translating element.

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

4. The torque-wrench attachment according to claim 3 , wherein the chassis comprises lateral portions configured to at least partially enclose the end adaptor member when the torque-wrench attachment is coupled to the torque-wrench handle and the chassis is aligned with the first longitudinal central axis.

5. The torque-wrench attachment according to claim 3 , further comprising an adaptor configured to be coupled to the torque-wrench handle, wherein the chassis is coupled to the adaptor and is configured to be mounted to the torque-wrench handle barrel via the adaptor.

6. The torque-wrench attachment according to claim 5 , wherein the chassis is pivotally coupled to the adaptor.

7. The torque-wrench attachment according to claim 5 , wherein the adaptor comprises an indexing member configured to maintain the moment arm between the click-pivot axis and the centroid of the contact surface of the translating element along the first longitudinal central axis of the torque-wrench handle within a predetermined length range when the chassis is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis.

8. The torque-wrench attachment according to claim 7 , wherein the indexing member comprises opposed ears having openings configured to mate with ends of a pin defining the click-pivot axis of the force-application member.

9. The torque-wrench attachment according to claim 1 , wherein the moment arm between the click-pivot axis and the centroid of the contact surface of the translating element increases as the adjustable angle of the torque axis of the wrench head relative to the first longitudinal central axis of the torque-wrench handle approaches 90 degrees when the chassis is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel and aligned with the first longitudinal central axis.

10. The torque-wrench attachment according to claim 1 , wherein the chassis further comprises a channel and the translating element comprises a second boss slidably engaging the channel.

11. The torque-wrench attachment according to claim 1 , wherein,
when the chassis is coupled to the torque-wrench handle barrel and aligned with first longitudinal central axis of the torque-wrench handle,
the click-pivot axis and the centroid are separated by a first variable distance along the first longitudinal central axis;
the centroid and the first pivot axis of the first pivot connection between the chassis and the link are separated by a second variable distance along the first longitudinal central axis;
the first pivot axis of the first pivot connection between the chassis and the link and the second pivot axis of the second pivot connection between the link and the wrench head are separated by a third variable distance along the first longitudinal central axis;
the second pivot axis of the second pivot connection between the link and the wrench head and the third pivot axis of the third pivot connection between the translating element and the wrench head are separated by a fourth variable distance along the first longitudinal central axis;
the third pivot axis of the third pivot connection between the translating element and the wrench head and the intersection point between the second longitudinal central axis and the torque axis are separated by a fifth variable distance along the first longitudinal central axis; and
the third pivot axis of the third pivot connection between the translating element and the wrench head and the intersection point between the second longitudinal central axis and the torque axis are separated by a sixth variable distance along a direction perpendicular to the first longitudinal central axis.

12. The torque-wrench attachment according to claim 11 , wherein,
when the chassis is aligned with the first longitudinal central axis and the adjustable angle between the torque axis of the wrench head and the first longitudinal central axis of the torque-wrench handle is 90 degrees, the first variable distance has a value of C, the second variable distance has a value of D, the third variable distance has a value of E, the fourth variable distance has a value of F, the fifth variable distance has a value of G, and the sixth variable distance has a value of H;
when the chassis is aligned with the first longitudinal central axis and the adjustable angle betw

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Coffland Donald Wayne

Classifications

• B25B13/481

  for operating in areas having limited access · CPC title

• B25B23/1427 Primary

  by mechanical means · CPC title

• B25B23/0028

  Angular adjustment means between tool head and handle · CPC title