Threaded fastener device with torque control and driver therefore

Claim 2

A torque transmitting system comprising a driving member and a driven threaded fastener device member, said driven member being provided with radially directed protrudent means adapted to receive said driving member, said radially directed protrudent means having a first portion adapted to be engaged by said driving member and a second portion comprising a substantial continuation of the first portion, said driving member including means permitting said driving member to engage only the first portion of said radially directed protrudent means, while preventing simultaneous engagement with the second portion of said protrudent means, said first portion of said radially directed protrudent means being dimensioned to transmit torque up to a substantially predetermined value from said driving member to said driven member at which value shearing of said first portion of said protrudent means takes place as said fastener device is tightened relative to a mating threaded member to place said driven member in predetermined tension relative to said mating member, said second portion of the same protrudent means being dimensioned to transmit said value of torque adapting the same for subsequent engagement for removing said driven member from a mating member.

Claim 3

A torque transmitting system comprising: a fastener device adapted to engage a second member in threadably mating relation, said fastener device having a driven head provided with an outer configuration including a plurality of outwardly extending, radially directed longitudinal lobes separated by inwardly recessed longitudinal flutes, the said configuration having a length including a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion being a continuation of said first portion and of longer effective length than the first adapting the lobes in the said first portion to shear off at a substantially predetermined value of torque applied to said driven head, and a driving member provided with an inner configuration including longitudinal recesses for mating with said radially directed lobes, said driven head having an abutment surface against which said driving member is positionable with said inner and outer configurations in mating relation, said abutment surface locating said driving member longitudinally relative to the driven head with said inner configuration of said driving member in driving relation with said driven head only for the length of the said first portion thereof for shearing off the lobes thereof as said driving member applies said predetermined value of torque when said fastener device is initially driven into mating relation with the threadably mating member, said second portion of the outer configuration of the driven head having an effective length adapting the same to transmit at least said predetermined value of torque for removing said fastener device from said threadably mating member.

Claim 4

A torque transmitting system comprising: a fastener device adapted to engage a second member in threadably mating relation, said fastener device having a driven head provided with an outer configuration including a plurality of outwardly extending, radially directed longitudinal lobes separated by inwardly recessed longitudinal flutes, the said configuration having a length including a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion being a continuation of said first portion and of longer effective length than the first adapting the lobes in the said first portion to shear off at a substantially predetermined value of torque applied to said driven head, and a driving member provided with an inner configuration including longitudinal recesses for mating with said radially directed lobes, said driven head having an abutment surface against which said driving member is positionable with said inner and outer configurations in mating relation, said abutment surface locating said driving member longitudinally relative to the driven head with said inner configuration of said driving member in driving relation with said driven head only for the length of the said first portion thereof for shearing off the lobes thereof as said driving member applies said predetermined value of torque when said fastener device is initially driven into mating relation with the threadably mating member, said second portion of the outer configuration of the driven head having an effective length adapting the same to transmit at least said predetermined value of torque for removing said fastener device from said threadably mating member.

Claim 5

The system according to claim 2 wherein said abutment is provided by a washer flange located on said driven head adjacent said second portion of said outer configuration thereof, said driving member comprising a socket having said inner configuration on the interior of said socket in longitudinally spaced relation with the outer open end of said socket for engaging said first portion of said head, the open end of said socket having an inside diameter less than the outside diameter of said washer flange and greater than the outside diameter of said outer configuration of said head for the longitudinal distance between the outer open end of said socket and the said inner configuration of said driving member.

Claim 6

A torque transmitting system according to claim 1, wherein said driving member comprises a socket having an internal wall configuration including at least one segment thereof adapted for engagement with said first portion of said radially directed protrudent means on the driven member, and said means for preventing simultaneous engagement comprising a cylindrical extension on said socket said extension having an inner surface spaced from said radially directed protrudent means of said second portion thereof, and flange means formed on said driven threaded fastener for engagement by said cylindrical extension to limit thereby engagement of said driven member with said protrudent means to only said first portion thereof.

Claim 7

A torque transmitting system as defined in claim 1, wherein said driven member comprises a socket having an inner wall surface configured to engage said first portion of said radially directed protrudent means, and said means for preventing simultaneous engagement with said second portion of said radially directed protrudent means comprising an end wall formed in said socket for engagement with the top surface of said driven member whereby engagement of said socket and said radially directed protrudent means is limited only to said first portion thereof.