Multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner

Claim 2

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner capable of simultaneously rotating a plurality of wheel-mounting nuts, comprising: a plurality of sockets shaped to correspond to a shape of said wheel-mounting nuts, said sockets having a pitch circle diameter equal to a pitch circle diameter of said wheel-mounting nuts; a plurality of transmitting members, said sockets being fixed to said transmitting members; a plurality of driving means for driving said sockets, wherein a rotational driving force is imparted to said driving means by means of an electrical power source, said transmitting members being coupled for rotation to said driving means; a plurality of torque-generating rotating members rotatably coupled to said transmitting members, said torque-generating rotating members being coupled for rotation to said driving means; a plurality of torque-changing means each disposed between a corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members and a corresponding one of said plurality of transmitting members for changing a torque of the rotational driving force from said torque-generating rotating members to said transmitting members; and stopper means for interrupting rotation of said torque-generating rotating members, wherein when rotation of said torque-generating rotating members is interrupted, said torque of the rotational driving force is changed to said transmitting members by said torque changing means.

Claim 3

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 1, wherein said sockets have a pitch circle diameter equal to a multiple of an integer of a pitch of said wheel-mounting nuts on the pitch circle thereof.

Claim 4

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 1, wherein said driving means rotate in both a forward direction and a reverse direction.

Claim 5

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 3, wherein said stopper means comprises a plurality of stopper members, each of said stopper members being disposed for engagement with a corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members, said stopper members interrupting rotation of said torque-generating rotating members by engaging the corresponding one of said torque-generating rotating members.

Claim 6

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 4, wherein each of said stopper members is movable between a projected and a retracted position, said stopper members interrupting rotation of the corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members in the projected position at which each of said stopper members projects into a range of movement of the corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members, said stopper members in said retracted position allowing the corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members to resume rotation.

Claim 7

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 5, wherein said stopper means further comprises a moving plate, said stopper members being coupled to said moving plate, said moving plate moving said stopper members between said projected position and said retracted position.

Claim 8

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 6, wherein said stopper means further comprises a driving member coupled to said moving plate for moving said moving plate as said driving member is actuated.

Claim 9

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 7, wherein said stopper means comprises a plurality of shaft members one end of each of said shaft members being secured to a corresponding one of said plurality of stopper members, another end of each of said shaft members being secured to said moving plate.

Claim 10

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 8, wherein said stopper means further comprises a plurality of urging members, wherein a corresponding one of said plurality of urging members is disposed around an outer periphery of each of said shaft members, said urging members urging said stopper members toward said projected position.

Claim 11

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 9, wherein said stopper means further comprises a control switch electronically coupled to said driving member, wherein when said control switch is turned on, said driving member causes said moving plate to move toward said retracted position against urging forces of said urging members.

Claim 12

A multi shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 2, wherein each of said sockets has a first socket portion and a second socket portion, said first socket portion comprising a cut out starting from one end of each of said sockets toward said driving shaft, said second socket portion comprising a portion of a bottom surface of said first socket portion being further cut out toward the driving shaft.

Claim 13

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 11, wherein said first socket portion is shaped to be fitted over said wheel-mounting nut.

Claim 14

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 11, wherein said second socket portion is shaped to be fitted over an inner nut.

Claim 15

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner capable of simultaneously rotating a plurality of wheel-mounting nuts, comprising: a plurality of sockets shaped to correspond to a shape of said wheel-mounting nuts, said sockets having a pitch circle diameter equal to a pitch circle diameter of said wheel-mounting nuts, a pitch of said sockets on the pitch circle thereof being equal to a multiple of an integer of a pitch of said wheel-mounting nuts on the pitch circle thereof; a plurality of transmitting members, said sockets being fixed to said transmitting members; a plurality of driving means for driving said sockets, wherein a rotational driving force is imparted in both a forward direction and a reverse direction by means of an electrical power source, said transmitting members being coupled for rotation to said driving means; a plurality of torque-generating rotating members rotatably coupled to said transmitting members, said torque-generating rotating members being coupled for rotation to said driving means; a plurality of torque-changing means each disposed between a corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members and a corresponding one of said plurality of transmitting members for changing a torque of the rotational driving force from said torque-generating rotating members to said transmitting members; a plurality of stoppers each disposed for engagement with a corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members, said stopper members being movable between a projected and a retracted position, said stoppers simultaneously interrupting rotation of said torque-generating rotating members in the projected position at which each of said stoppers projects into a range of movement of a corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members, said stoppers in said retracted position simultaneously allowing said torque-generating rotating members to resume rotation, wherein when rotation of said torque-generating rotating members is interrupted, said torque of the rotational driving force is changed to said transmitting members by said torque changing means, said torque having a first predetermined value or less during free rotation of said torque-generating rotating members and a second predetermined value higher than said first predetermined value when rotation of said torque-generating rotating members is interrupted by said stopper means; driver means coupled to said stoppers for simultaneously moving said stoppers to and from said retracted position; and a control switch electrically connected to said driver means, said control switch actuating said driver means to move said stoppers to and from said retracted position.

Claim 16

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner capable of simultaneously rotating a plurality of wheel-mounting nuts, comprising: a plurality of sockets shaped to correspond to a shape of said wheel-mounting nuts, said sockets having a pitch circle diameter equal to a pitch circle diameter of said wheel-mounting nuts, a pitch of said sockets on the pitch circle thereof being equal to a multiple of an integer of a pitch of said wheel-mounting nuts on the pitch circle thereof; a plurality of transmitting members, said sockets being fixed to said transmitting members; a plurality of driving means for driving said sockets, wherein a rotational driving force is imparted in both a forward direction and a reverse direction by means of an electrical power source, said transmitting members being coupled for rotation to said driving means; a plurality of torque-generating rotating members rotatably coupled to said transmitting members, said torque-generating rotating members being coupled for rotation to said driving means; a plurality of torque-changing means each disposed between a corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members and a corresponding one of said plurality of transmitting members for changing a torque of the rotational driving force from said torque-generating rotating members to said transmitting members; a plurality of stoppers each disposed for engagement with a corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members, said stopper members being movable between a projected and a retracted position, said stoppers simultaneously interrupting rotation of said torque-generating rotating members in the projected position at which each of said stoppers projects into a range of movement of a corresponding one of said plurality of torque-generating rotating members, said stoppers in said retracted position simultaneously allowing said torque-generating rotating members to resume rotation, wherein when rotation of said torque-generating rotating members is interrupted, said torque of the rotational driving force is changed to said transmitting members by said torque changing means, said torque having a first predetermined value or less during free rotation of said torque-generating rotating members and a second predetermined value higher than said first predetermined value when rotation of said torque-generating rotating members is interrupted by said stopper means; driver means coupled to said stoppers for simultaneously moving said stoppers to and from said retracted position; and a control switch electrically connected to said driver means, said control switch actuating said driver means to move said stoppers to and from said retracted position.

Claim 17

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 14, wherein said driver means comprises a moving plate, said stoppers being coupled to said moving plate, said moving plate moving said stoppers between said projected position and said retracted position.

Claim 18

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 15, wherein said driver means comprises a solenoid coupled to said moving plate, said solenoid actuating said driver means to move said moving plate.

Claim 19

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 16, wherein said driver means has a plurality of shaft members corresponding to said plurality of stoppers, one end of each of said shaft members being secured to a corresponding one of said plurality of stoppers, while another end of each of said shaft members is secured to said moving plate.

Claim 20

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 17, wherein said driver means comprises a plurality of compression coil springs disposed around an outer periphery of each of said shaft members, said compression coil springs urging said stoppers toward said projected position.

Claim 21

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 18, wherein when said control switch is turned on, said solenoid actuates said driver means to move said moving plate and said stoppers toward said retracted position against urging forces of said compression coil springs.

Claim 22

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 14, wherein each of said sockets has a first socket portion and a second socket portion, said first socket portion being cut out from one end of each of said sockets toward said driving shaft and shaped to be fitted over said wheel-mounting nut, said second socket portion being further cut out from a portion of a bottom surface of said first socket portion toward the driving shaft and shaped to be fitted over an inner nut.

Claim 23

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 14, wherein said torque-changing means is a planetary gear mechanism.

Claim 24

A multi-shaft electrically-operated automatic nut runner according to claim 1, wherein said torque has a first predetermined value or less during free rotation of said torque-generating rotating members and a second predetermined value higher than said first predetermined value when rotation of said torque-generating rotating members is interrupted by said stopper means.