US3759119A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Internally reactive structural joinder system
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-09-13
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1991-09-13
Abstract
Abstract An internally reactive system for attaching one of its elements to another at a predetermined torque and axial tensile pre-load. The system includes a driver element, a fastener element, a workpiece element, and an interlinking element for interlinking the driver element and the workpiece element. The driver element constitutes a wrench with a driving arm, and a pressure-regulated fluid motor which turns the arm. The fluid motor exerts a force limited by the pressure of its motive fluid, and this force is directly proportional to the resulting torque level, because the system has no portion which during driving accelerates independently of any other portion, and no portion which overruns or impacts any other portion. The interlinking means may be a washer engaged by the frame of the driver element, and restrained relative to the workpiece element.
Inventors
- 👤 G Wing
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:39
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B21/00; B25B21/002; B25B23/00; B25B23/14; B25B23/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A torque wrench comprising: a frame, a drive shaft mounted in said frame and rotatable therein around a central axis; a lever arm; unidirectionally driving clutch means engaging the lever arm to the drive shaft member for driving the drive shaft in one direction and releasing it in the other direction; a bidirectional fluid motor mounted to said frame and drivingly connected to said lever arm, said fluid motor having a pair of supply ports; pressure conduit means; exhaust conduit means; an adjustable pressure regulator in said pressure conduit means maintaining pressure downstream therefrom at a constant and selected value; direction selector valve means in said pressure conduit downstream from said rEgulator; a pair of supply conduits connected to said direction selector valve means, one being connected to each supply port of the fluid motor; pilot means contactible by the lever arm and operatively connected to said direction selector valve means for setting the same and thereby determining the direction of operation of the fluid motor, the fluid motor thereby cycling bi-directionally and driving the lever arm back and forth and driving the drive shaft unidirectionally as a consequence of the alternate engagement and release of the clutch means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
A torque wrench comprising: a frame, a drive shaft mounted in said frame and rotatable therein around a central axis; a lever arm; unidirectionally driving clutch means engaging the lever arm to the drive shaft member for driving the drive shaft in one direction and releasing it in the other direction; a bidirectional fluid motor mounted to said frame and drivingly connected to said lever arm, said fluid motor having a pair of supply ports; pressure conduit means; exhaust conduit means; an adjustable pressure regulator in said pressure conduit means maintaining pressure downstream therefrom at a constant and selected value; direction selector valve means in said pressure conduit downstream from said rEgulator; a pair of supply conduits connected to said direction selector valve means, one being connected to each supply port of the fluid motor; pilot means contactible by the lever arm and operatively connected to said direction selector valve means for setting the same and thereby determining the direction of operation of the fluid motor, the fluid motor thereby cycling bi-directionally and driving the lever arm back and forth and driving the drive shaft unidirectionally as a consequence of the alternate engagement and release of the clutch means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
A torque wrench according to claim 1 in which the fluid motor exerts its force at all times while operating in its driving direction without release, whereby it continues to exert a steady torque even at stall conditions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A torque wrench according to claim 1 in which the fluid motor is a rotary motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A torque wrench according to claim 1 in which the fluid motor is a linear actuator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A torque wrench according to claim 1 in which the fluid motor is a piston-cylinder type, having an axis of actuation along which it exerts its force.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A torque wrench according to claim 5 in which said axis of actuation lies in a plane which is normal to the axis of rotation of the wrench.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A torque wrench according to claim 1 in which the direction of drive of the clutch means is reversible and selectible.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
94 words
A torque wrench according to claim 1 in which a shuttle valve is connected to said pilot means and to the direction selector valve means, the shuttle valve including a pressure-balanced shuttle exposed at opposite ends to chambers connected to a source of pressure and to the pilot means, opening of respective pilot means changing the pressure in respective chambers whereby to move the shuttle and thereby change the selection of the direction selector valve means, the pilot valves being opened by contact with the said lever arm at respective ends of its stroke.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A torque wrench according to claim 2 in which the direction selector valve means is a four-way valve.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A torque wrench according to claim 1 in which the clutch means comprises a pair of faces on the drive shaft, and a pair of faces on the lever arm, the faces being adapted to be pressed together in selected pairs whereby to determine the direction of driving rotation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A torque wrench according to claim 10 in which the said faces include surfaces engageable to drive in one direction, and to release in the other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
A torque wrench according to claim 10 in which a shuttle valve is connected to said pilot means and to the direction selector valve means, the shuttle valve including a pressure-balanced shuttle exposed at opposite ends to chambers connected to a source of pressure and to the pilot means, opening of respective pilot means changing the pressure in respective chambers whereby to move the shuttle and thereby change the selection of the direction selector valve means, the pilot valves being opened by contact with the said lever arm at respective ends of its stroke.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A torque wrench according to claim 12 in which the fluid motor is a piston-cylinder type, having an axis of actuation along which it exerts its force.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A torque wrench according to claim 13 in which said axis of actuation lies in a plane which is normal to the axis of rotation of the wrench.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |