Impact wrench

Claim 2

A tool for threading retainers onto bolts and other fasteners comprising a casing; a first rectilinearly displaceable, nonrotatable component engageable with the fastener to prevent it from rotating housed in and protruding from one end of said casing; a second component for rotating the retainer relative to the fastener to thread the retainer therealong rotatably housed in said casing; a motor having an output shaft housed in said casing; means drive-connecting said motor output shaft to said second component to rotate said component and said retainer; a handle for supporting said tool; and means for fixing said handle to said casing at selectively variable orientations relative thereto to thereby facilitate the handling of said tool, the end of the handle adjacent the casing being threaded and the means for fixing the handle to the casing comprising a track providing member oriented laterally relative to and extending at least partially around said casing, said track member having an elongated groove through which the threaded end of the handle extends, and an internally threaded retainer slidable in said member and adapted to have said handle threaded thereinto to clamp said track providing member between said retainer and said handle to fix the handle relative to the casing.

Claim 3

The tool of claim 1, wherein the means for rotating said second component comprises said motor output shaft, an intermediate drive shaft, and a final drive shaft, said shafts being disposed in parallel, spaced apart relationship, a first gear pair drive-connecting said mOtor output shaft to said intermediate drive shaft, a second gear pair distinct from said first gear pair drive-connecting said intermediate drive shaft to said final drive shaft, and means providing a drive connection between said final drive shaft and said second component.

Claim 4

The tool of claim 2, wherein the means drive-connecting the final drive shaft to the retainer rotating component comprises a torque responsive, rotary impact imparting mechanism which includes a hammer rectilinearly movable on said final drive shaft, means connecting said hammer to said shaft for rotation therewith, a rotatable anvil aligned with said hammer, there being cooperating means on said hammer and said anvil which are engageable to provide a drive connection therebetween and, during the existence of a restraining torque of predetermined magnitude on said anvil, to effect a rotary motion of said hammer relative to said anvil and an appurtant production of rotary impacts on said anvil, and said second component being fixed to said anvil for rotation therewith.

Claim 5

The tool of claim 3, together with means engaged with and biasing said hammer toward said anvil to maintain said cooperating means in drive connection providing engagement in the absence of said restraining torque.

Claim 6

The tool of claim 1, together with a magnetic type retainer means for retaining said first component in said guide, said retainer means including a magnet mounted in said guide, and a compression spring having one end fixed relative to said guide and the other end fixed to said magnet and biasing said first component toward the end of the casing from which said first component protrudes.

Claim 7

A tool for threading retainers onto bolts and other fasteners comprising a casing; a first component protruding from said casing and engageable with the fastener to prevent it from rotating, a guide for said first component fixed against rotation in said casing, said first component being slidable in said guide and said guide and said component being so configured as to restrain said component against rotation in said guide; a second component for rotating the retainer relative to the fastener to thread the retainer therealong; and means for rotating said second component including a motor, a drive shaft, means drive-connecting said motor to said drive shaft, and a torque responsive, rotary impact imparting mechanism; said drive shaft surrounding said guide to thereby foreshorten and increase the compactness of the tool and said impact imparting mechanism including a hammer axially movable relative to said drive shaft and fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, an anvil rotatably mounted in said casing and having said second component rotatable therewith, there being cooperating drive connection providing elements on said hammer and said anvil, means biasing said hammer toward said anvil and toward the end of the casing from which said first component protrudes to engage said elements, and bearing means interposed between said guide and said anvil and between said anvil and said drive shaft for making said anvil rotatable relative to said guide and said drive shaft.

Claim 8

A tool for threading retainers onto bolts and other fasteners comprising a casing; a first component protruding from said casing and engageable with the fastener to prevent it from rotating, a guide for said first component fixed against rotation in said casing, said first component being slidable in said guide and said guide and said component being so configured as to restrain said component against rotation in said guide; a second component for rotating the retainer relative to the fastener to thread the retainer therealong; and means for rotating said second component including a motor, a drive shaft, means drive-connecting said motor to said drive shaft, and a torque responsive, rotary impact imparting mechanism; said drive shaft surrounding said guide to thereby foreshorten and increase the compactness of the tool and said impact imparting mechanism including a hammer axially movable relative to said drive shaft and fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, an anvil rotatably mounted in said casing and having said second component rotatable therewith, there being cooperating drive connection providing elements on said hammer and said anvil, means biasing said hammer toward said anvil and toward the end of the casing from which said first component protrudes to engage said elements, and bearing means interposed between said guide and said anvil and between said anvil and said drive shaft for making said anvil rotatable relative to said guide and said drive shaft.

Claim 9

The tool of claim 6, wherein said motor has an output shaft parallel to and spaced from said guide surrounding drive shaft and wherein the means drive connecting said motor to said drive shaft comprises an intermediate drive shaft disposed in parallel relationship to said motor output shaft, a first gear pair drive-connecting said motor output shaft to said intermediate drive shaft, and a second gear pair drive-connecting said intermediate drive shaft to the guide surrounding drive shaft.

Claim 10

The tool of claim 6, together with a magnetic type retainer means for retaining said first component in said guide, said retainer means including a magnet mounted in said guide, and a compression spring having one end fixed relative to said guide and the other end fixed to said magnet and biasing said first component toward the end of the casing from which saiD first component protrudes.

Claim 11

A tool for threading retainers onto bolts and other fasteners comprising a casing; a first component protruding from said casing and engageable with the fastener to prevent it from rotating; a guide for said first component fixed against rotation in said casing, said first component being slidable in said guide and said guide and said component being so configured as to restrain said component against rotation in said guide; a second component for rotating the retainer relative to the fastener to thread the retainer therealong; means for rotating said second component including a motor, a drive shaft surrounding said guide, means drive-connecting said motor to said drive shaft, and a torque responsive, rotary impact imparting mechanism including a hammer axially movable relative to said drive shaft and fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, an anvil rotatably mounted in said casing and having said second component rotatable therewith, there being cooperating drive connection providing elements on said hammer and said anvil, and means surrounding said drive shaft for biasing said hammer toward said anvil to engage said drive connection providing elements; a handle for supporting the tool; and means for fixing said handle to said casing at selectively variable orientations relative thereto to thereby facilitate the handling of said tool, one end of the handle being adjacent the casing, said one handle end being threaded, and the means for fixing the handle to the casing comprising a track providing member oriented laterally relative to and extending at least partially around said casing, said track providing member having therein an elongated groove through which the threaded end of the handle extends, and an internally threaded retainer slidable in said member and adapted to have said handle threaded thereinto to clamp said track providing member between said retainer and said handle to fix the handle relative to the casing.

Claim 12

A tool for threading retainers onto bolts and other fasteners comprising a casing; a first component protruding from said casing and engageable with the fastener to prevent it from rotating; a guide for said first component fixed against rotation in said casing, said first component being slidable in said guide and said guide and said component being so configured as to restrain said component against rotation in said guide; a second component for rotating the retainer relative to the fastener to thread the retainer therealong; means for rotating said second component including a motor, a drive shaft surrounding said guide, means drive-connecting said motor to said drive shaft, and a torque responsive, rotary impact imparting mechanism including a hammer axially movable relative to said drive shaft and fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, an anvil rotatably mounted in said casing and having said second component rotatable therewith, there being cooperating drive connection providing elements on said hammer and said anvil, and means surrounding said drive shaft for biasing said hammer toward said anvil to engage said drive connection providing elements; a handle for supporting the tool; and means for fixing said handle to said casing at selectively variable orientations relative thereto to thereby facilitate the handling of said tool, one end of the handle being adjacent the casing, said one handle end being threaded, and the means for fixing the handle to the casing comprising a track providing member oriented laterally relative to and extending at least partially around said casing, said track providing member having therein an elongated groove through which the threaded end of the handle extends, and an internally threaded retainer slidable in said member and adapted to have said handle threaded thereinto to clamp said track providing member between said retainer and said handle to fix the handle relative to the casing.

Claim 13

A tool for threading retainers onto bolts and other fasteners comprising a casing; a first component protruding from said casing and engageable with the fastener to prevent it from rotating; a guide for said first component fixed against rotation in said casing, said first component being slidable in said guide and said component being so configured as to restrain said component against rotation in said guide; a second component for rotating the retainer relative to the fastener to thread the retainer therealong; means for rotating said second component including a motor, a drive shaft surrounding said guide, means drive-connecting said motor to said drive shaft, and a torque responsive, rotary impact imparting mechanism including a hammer axially movable relative to said drive shaft and fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, an anvil rotatably mounted in said casing and having said second component rotatable therewith, there being cooperating drive connection providing elements on said hammer and said anvil, means biasing said hammer toward said anvil to engage said elements, and bearing means interposed between said guide and said anvil and between said anvil and said drive shaft for making said anvil rotatable relative to said guide and said drive shaft; a handle having one end adjacent said casing; and means for fixing said handle to said casing at selectively variable orientations relative thereto to thereby facilitate the handling of said tool, the end of the handle adjacent the casing being threaded and the means for fixing the handle to the casing comprising a track providing member oriented laterally relative to and extending a at least partially around said casing, said track member having therein an elongated groove through which the threaded end of the handle extends, and an internally threaded retainer slidable in said member and adapted to have said handle threaded thereinto to clamp said track providing member between said retainer and said handle to fix the handle relative to the casing.

Claim 14

A tool for threading retainers onto bolts and other fasteners comprising a casing; a first component protruding from said casing and engageable with the fastener to prevent it from rotating; a guide for said first component fixed against rotation in said casing, said first component being slidable in said guide and said component being so configured as to restrain said component against rotation in said guide; a second component for rotating the retainer relative to the fastener to thread the retainer therealong; means for rotating said second component including a motor, a drive shaft surrounding said guide, means drive-connecting said motor to said drive shaft, and a torque responsive, rotary impact imparting mechanism including a hammer axially movable relative to said drive shaft and fixed to said shaft for rotation therewith, an anvil rotatably mounted in said casing and having said second component rotatable therewith, there being cooperating drive connection providing elements on said hammer and said anvil, means biasing said hammer toward said anvil to engage said elements, and bearing means interposed between said guide and said anvil and between said anvil and said drive shaft for making said anvil rotatable relative to said guide and said drive shaft; a handle having one end adjacent said casing; and means for fixing said handle to said casing at selectively variable orientations relative thereto to thereby facilitate the handling of said tool, the end of the handle adjacent the casing being threaded and the means for fixing the handle to the casing comprising a track providing member oriented laterally relative to and extending a at least partially around said casing, said track member having therein an elongated groove through which the threaded end of the handle extends, and an internally threaded retainer slidable in said member and adapted to have said handle threaded thereinto to clamp said track providing member between said retainer and said handle to fix the handle relative to the casing.