US3813933A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic torque indicators
Assignee: SWEENEY B Manufacturing CO US
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Filing: 1972-02-02
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1992-02-02
Abstract
Abstract The present invention is a dynamic torque indicator for wrench systems. A rotor, carried within a rather short cylindrical housing has a driven socket connector projecting from one end of the housing and a driving socket stub projecting from the other end of the housing. The housing includes a radially extended arm from whence a conductor cable extends, as to a readout meter calibrated to indicate torque. A transducer is positioned within the medial portion of the rotor to convert the torque applied to the rotor to an electrical signal. The transducer consists of piezo-electric crystals mounted between opposing arms upon the rotor. The piezo-electric crystals are connected to one element of a rotary capacitor consisting of a first axially centered cylinder embracing the rotor and a second like cylinder embracing the first cylinder. An amplifier, carried in the housing arm controls the strength of the electrical signal to provide an amplified signal of suitable strength at the readout meter. Thus, when the dynamic torque indicator is interposed between a driven component and a drive component, torque will be applied to the rotor and this torque will be indicated directly upon the readout meter.
Inventors
- 👤 L Weiss
- 👤 C Fitzgerald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 00:02
CPC Classifications
B; B25; B25B; B25B23/00; B25B23/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A dynamic torque indicator for securing a driver means with a driven means, comprising: a. an axially extended rotor having a first connecting means at one extremity to connect with the driver means, a second connecting means at the opposite extremity to connect with the driven means and a flexure column between the first connecting means and the second connecting means adapted to be torsionally flexed responsive to torque applied between said first and second connecting means; b. a housing having a passageway therethrough wherein said rotor is freely rotatably mounted; c. transducer means positioned on said rotor adjacent said flexure column, and between said first and second connecting means, said transducer means being adapted to convert torsional flexions of said flexure column into electrical signals; and d. circuit readout means connected to and actuated by said transducer means for producing indications responsive to said electrical signals, wherein the circuit readout means includes a rotary capacitor having an inner cylindrical shell axially centered upon the rotor and an outer cylindrical shell axially centered in the axial passageway of the housing and embracing the inner shell.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A dynamic torque indicator for securing a driver means with a driven means, comprising: a. an axially extended rotor having a first connecting means at one extremity to connect with the driver means, a second connecting means at the opposite extremity to connect with the driven means and a flexure column between the first connecting means and the second connecting means adapted to be torsionally flexed responsive to torque applied between said first and second connecting means; b. a housing having a passageway therethrough wherein said rotor is freely rotatably mounted; c. transducer means positioned on said rotor adjacent said flexure column, and between said first and second connecting means, said transducer means being adapted to convert torsional flexions of said flexure column into electrical signals; and d. circuit readout means connected to and actuated by said transducer means for producing indications responsive to said electrical signals, wherein the circuit readout means includes a rotary capacitor having an inner cylindrical shell axially centered upon the rotor and an outer cylindrical shell axially centered in the axial passageway of the housing and embracing the inner shell.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
In the torque indicator defined in claim 1, wherein the rotor is mounted upon a bearing means at each side of the flexure column to hold the rotor in axial alignment with the axial passageway of the housing, and wherein said rotary capacitor inner cylindrical shell is axially centered upon the rotor between the bearing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
In the torque indicator defined in claim 2, wherein the rotor includes: a. a head at each end of the flexure column; b. an arm extends from each head to lie alongside the flexure column and alongside and in spaced parallelism with an opposing arm extending from the other head; and c. wherein the transducer means is disposed between the arms, whereby the flexure column, when subjected to torque, moves the arms together and apart to vary the pressure of the arms against the transducer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
In the torque indicator defined in claim 3, wherein: a. the arms and the transducer means lie in a pocket between each head and within the inner shell of the rotary capacitor; b. a lead connecting said transducer means with said inner shell; and c. an insulating, dielectric embedment means filling the space between the heads and the inner cylindrical shell of the rotary capacitor and supporting the inner shell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
In the torque indicator defined in claim 2, wherein: a. a cylindrical bearing seat is provided at each side of the flexure column; and b. bearing races are mounted upon the bearing seats and within the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
In the torque indicator defined in claim 5, wherein: a. the passageway through the housing is cylindrical with a bearing race at each end of the passageway; and b. wherein the said outer capacitor shell is mounted upon dielectric spacer rings between the bearing races and axially concentric with the rotor and the aforesaid inner cylindrical capacitor shell.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
In the torque indicator defined in claim 5, wherein: a. a cylindrical head is formed at the central portion of the rotor adjacent to each bearing seat; b. an arm extends from the inner face of each cylindrical head to lie alongside and substantially parallel to the flexure column and alongside and in spaced parallelism with a corresponding arm on the other head; and c. wherein said transducer means is a piezo-electric crystal means fitted between the spaced arms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
In the torque indicator defined in claim 1, wherein an arm is mounted on the rotor at each end of the flexure column, each arm being extended to lie alongside the flexure column and alongside the other arm at the opposite end of the flexure column, with said transducer means lying between the two arms, and comprising: a. a pair of oppositely oriented, silica wafers and a metallic shim between the wafers, said shim extending to and connecting with the aforesaid inner shell of the rotary capacitor.
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) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |