Rotary torque adapter

An adapter device for transmitting rotary energy by means of various drive end portions adapted to fit openings of torque drive tools such as socket wrenches and the like and transfer torque from a rotary torque power source such as a reversible variable speed electric drill for in-line coincident centerlines as well as for non-coincident angularly disposed centerlines such as in a universal joint coupling type action, whereby rotary energy is transmitted to tighten or loosen fastening components such as bolts, nuts, screws, threaded components and the like.

DESCRIPTION 
1. Technical Field 
This invention relates to adapter tools for use with rotational energy 
transmitting tools and more specifically for use with socket tool or 
ratchet wrench devices and the like which are typically used to impart 
tightening or loosening forces on nuts, bolts or other threaded fastening 
devices. 
2. Background of the Invention 
It has been conventional to furnish with torque or ratchet wrenches and 
socket tools one or more extensions which extend the drive protuberance of 
the torque or ratchet wrench. The extensions generally have a square 
receptacle in one end to fit matingly over the square protuberance or 
extension of the handle and a square protuberance or extension on the 
other end to fit matingly into the square receptacle of a wrench or socket 
tool device. Such tools having extension bars with a square receptacle 
therein are not readily adaptable to application of rotary force or torque 
from other than the normal handle without a special adapter having a 
reliable means of preventing rotary slippage. Extension bars are usually 
hardened steel with the bar shafts normally being circular in cross 
section. The large diameter of the extension end with the square 
receptacle therein, in conjunction with the hardened cylindrical surface, 
increases the degree of difficulty of adapting such tools to a chuck or 
gripping device as rotational slippage occurs when attempting to apply 
rotary turning force of any useful or practical magnitude. For large heavy 
duty loads where hardened steel parts are utilized for rotational impact 
forces, more complex multi-piece assemblies are generally used. Tools or 
adapters with 1/4 inch square adapters and spring loaded retainer balls 
which enable the use of small socket-set tools with variable speed 
reversible or plain electric drills have recently been made available. No 
other such adapter or similar devices are known or believed to be 
available. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The adapter tool of the present invention is used to tighten or loosen 
nuts, bolts and similar devices and is positioned between an energy power 
source and a socket tool. The adapter tool transfers rotational torque 
force from a power source such as an electric drill to a socket tool 
device which transfers torque force to the nut or bolt being tightened or 
loosened depending upon the rotation direction. The electric energy source 
imparts fast continuous rotational motion thereby decreasing the time 
required for the rotational threading operation. The adapter tool 
transmits torque through coincident in-line centerlines of revolution of 
the adapter tool and the socket tool device and in the preferred 
embodiment also transmits torque as hereinafter described when the 
centerlines of the two connected pieces are angularly arranged to each 
other in an intersecting manner and are not coincident.

OBJECTS 
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a novel single 
piece rotational energy transmitting adapter. 
Another object is to provide an adapter capable of being gripped in a 
torque generating tool without rotational slippage. 
A further object is to provide an adapter which is economical to 
manufacture and easily made. 
Another object is to provide a wrench device capable of faster rotational 
operation than conventional wrenches while also being conveniently usable 
with electric energy converted into rotational force such as with an 
electric drill. 
Another object is to provide an adapter capable of transmitting rotational 
torque through either coincident centerline alignment conditions of the 
torque generating device and the adapter and the socket tool device or 
through non-coincident centerline alignment conditions of the adapter and 
the socket tool device. 
Another object of this invention is to provide an adapter which enables 
one-handed use thereby freeing the other hand for positioning or other 
wrench handling or other functions. 
Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from 
considering the accompanying drawings and ensuing descriptions thereof. 
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
With reference to FIG. 1, adapter 10 has a drive shaft 11 with a hexagonal 
cross section having flat surfaces 12. The hexagonal drive shaft 11 could 
also have any desired non-round geometric shape that is compatible with 
chucks typically used with electric drills, or compatible with whatever 
torque tool is being utilized. One alternative embodiment envisioned 
consists of three flat surfaces forming a cross sectional equilateral 
triangle with three arcs 14 of a circle connecting the three flat surfaces 
12 as shown in FIG. 3. This drive shaft configuration is also depicted as 
drive shaft 11 of adapter 10 as shown in FIG. 2. Another embodiment of the 
drive shaft 11 could also consist of three flat surfaces 12 having the 
cross section of an equilateral triangle as shown in FIG. 4. Another cross 
sectional configuration is the outwardly forged or upset projection 15 as 
shown in FIG. 5, or more clearly shown in cross section in FIG. 6. The 
single outwardly forged or upset projection 15 may also consist of a 
plurality, but preferably two or three outwardly forged or upset 
projections 15 spaced equidistant around the drive shaft 11. The drive 
shaft 11 may also be a twelve-sided cross sectional area, such as the 
polyhedron 16 shown in FIG. 5, or as more clearly shown in the section 
view in FIG. 7. This will produce a drive shaft 11 capable of being 
gripped to prevent rotational slippage around the longitudinal axis of the 
drive shaft 11 of the adapter 10 by gripping jaws or chucks compatible 
with such shapes. With reference to FIG. 8, adapter 10 has a drive shaft 
11 with six flat surfaces. The adapter 10 also has a square drive end 
portion 13 and a truncated quadrangular pyramid 17 as drive end portion 
13c. The square or extension drive end portion 13 and the drive end 
portion 13c are of such dimensions as to be easily inserted into a socket 
having a square mating opening or cavity therein. The size of the square 
cross sectional extension or drive end portion 13 of the adapter 10 is 
dependent upon the size of the socket receptacle and its square mating 
cavity or opening therein. Normally, the size will be for 1/4 inch or 3/8 
inch or 1/2 inch square cavities or apertures as is standard in such 
socket tools; however, the size of the adapter may be selected for any 
size adapter as desired as the size of the adapter is easily constructed 
to fit any desired receptacle or socket, or any desired torque producing 
device. The largest size cross sectional size of drive end portion 13c is 
equal to the cross sectional size of drive end portion 13. 
The square cross sectional extension or drive end portion 13 of adapter 10 
may also be constructed so as to have more than one square cross section 
extension or other compatibly shaped drive end portions on the same 
adapter 10 increasing the adaptability and flexibility of the adapter as 
such combination will fit different size sockets with different size 
square cavity openings. 
FIG. 5 shows elements of drive end portion 13 whereby drive end portions 
13a and 13b are dimensioned longitudinally to minimize the distance 
necessary for insertion of drive end portion 13a into a socket opening to 
fit drive end portion 13. In certain cases, placement of drive end portion 
13b immediately preceeding drive end portion 13a could prohibit the 
engagement of drive end portion 13 should drive end portion 13b hit a work 
piece before sufficient insertion into a socket to provide engagement of 
drive end portion 13. The embodiment of adapter 10 shown in FIG. 5 can be 
arranged with any other combination positional arrangement with a 
hexagonal or other combination section drive shaft 11 as shown in FIGS. 3, 
4, 6 and 7, arranged on only one end or both ends of adapter 10. 
The adapter of preferred configuration having an additional drive end 
portion thereon is shown in FIG. 8 in which square cross sectional drive 
end portion 13 of adapter 10 is shown along with a truncated quadrangular 
pyramid 17. FIG. 9 shows the full square drive end portion 13 with the 
truncated quadrangular pyramid 17 decreasing in cross sectional size as 
drive end portion 13c from the full square dimension of the drive end 
portion 13. FIG. 10 shows the decreasing dimensions of cross sectional 
areas A--A, B--B and C--C of FIG. 9 of drive end portion 13 along with the 
full dimension square drive end portion 13. In operation, the square drive 
end portion 13 can be fully inserted into the mating socket tool device or 
it can be partially inserted to where only a portion of the drive end 
portion 13c is in the square opening aperture of the socket. In the fully 
inserted position, the centerlines of the mating socket and the adapter 
tool 10 are coincident for all practical intents and purposes. In the 
partially inserted, or partially engaged position, the centerline of the 
mating socket and the centerline of the adapter tool can be angularly 
arranged with respect to each other as shown in phantom in FIG. 8. In this 
arrangement, the centerlines are not coincident. The drive end portion 13c 
portion of the truncated quadrangular pyramid 17 allows the truncated 
quadrangular pyramid 17 to engage the square opening of the socket on 
non-coincident centerlines thereby permitting use of the adapter in work 
areas where access for coincident centerline alignment could be difficult 
or impossible. This movement also allows the centerline of the adapter 10 
to move angularly with respect to the centerline of the socket and to 
swing a limited angle in the manner of a universal joint or coupling. The 
swinging of the limited angle allows the transmission of rotary motion, or 
torque, from the adapter 10 to the socket in the same manner as 
transmitted from one shaft to another shaft not in line with it as in the 
drive shaft of an automobile. The rotary driving capability and usefulness 
of the adapter 10 is enhanced with this truncated quadrangular pyramid 17 
feature. The action of the truncated quadrangular pyramid 17 of the drive 
end portion 13 when rotating provides a pulling-on force on the adapter 10 
which tends to keep the adapter 10 and the socket in operational 
engagement. 
The use of the rotational energy transmitting adapter 10 is facilitated 
when a torque imparting rotary force is applied to the drive shaft 11 of 
the adapter 10 and the torque load is transmitted cooperatively to or 
through the square cross sectional drive end portion 13 and drive end 
portion 13c to the resistive load of a mating socket tool device engaging 
a work piece. 
It is also possible to transmit rotational energy in reverse direction from 
the square cross sectional drive end portion 13 to the drive shaft 11 
which may be inserted into a socket tool having a mating cavity or opening 
in it which would resist rotational slippage and would transmit rotational 
energy. The adapter can be used for a different purpose which would entail 
use of the adapter as a rotational torque transmitting coupling similar to 
motor driven shafts or mechanisms needing such coupling. 
The drive shaft 11 is inserted into a holding device, such as jaws of a 
metal chuck, typically a three jaw chuck, such as a Jacobs chuck. The 
chuck is normally used on reversible or non-reversible, variable or 
constant speed electric or pneumatic machines or tools such as drill 
devices. The holding device, which may also be a device such as a lock 
wrench, an open end wrench, or a box wrench or any other device made for 
holding drills, bits, taps, cylindrical tools, or square or non-round 
shanked wood bit type tools, is tightened down to clamp onto the surfaces 
of the drive shaft 11 of the adapter 10 in a non-slip grip. The jaws when 
thus tightened down onto flat surfaces 12 cannot turn or slip about the 
longitudinal axis of the shaft or drive shaft 11 of adapter 10. 
FIG. 11 shows another embodiment in which a wide blade-like drive end 
portion 13d is shown, but without the square drive end portion 13 shown in 
FIGS. 8 and 9. The blade-like drive end portion 13d is derived to extend 
from diagonally opposite corners of a square truncated drive end 17 shown 
in phantom in FIG. 11. The extreme corners of drive end portion 13d engage 
a suitably sized square opening or cavity in a socket tool device for 
producing desired rotational torque of the socket tool device when the 
adapter 10 is engaged with non-coincident angularly disposed centerlines 
or with coincident centerlines of the adapter 10 and the socket tool 
device. 
FIG. 12 shows a portion of the truncated pyramid 17 decreasing in cross 
sectional size from the full size diagonal dimension of drive end portion 
13d as shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 13 shows the decreasing dimensions of cross 
sectional areas D--D, E--E and F--F of the portion of the truncated 
pyramid 17. The insertion movement of the truncated partial pyramids along 
with rotational torque production means and motions are the same as those 
of full square four sided truncated pyramids previously described herein. 
The capability of accepting and handling coincident and non-coincident 
centerlines is possessed by the said truncated and non-truncated partial 
pyramid configurations. 
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of another embodiment of adapter 10 showing a 
wide blade-like drive end portion 13e remaining after the removal of 
material from a typical square drive end portion 13 such as that shown in 
FIG. 1. The extreme corners of the blade-like drive end portion 13e engage 
a suitably sized square aperture or cavity in a socket tool device for 
producing desired rotational torque of the socket tool device when adapter 
10 is engaged with coincident centerlines of the adapter 10 and the socket 
tool device. 
The surfaces of the various configured drive end portions 13 and or 13a 
through 13e can all be made undersized and coated with friction increasing 
materials like plastic or other elastomeric-like coating materials to give 
the adapter a frictional socket retention action or holding capability 
while also increasing the undersize metal condition to desired full size 
finished drive end dimension. 
It is understood that suitable modifications and configurations may be made 
in the structure as disclosed and such modifications and configurations 
are only limited to those within the spirit and scope of the appended 
claims. Having now, therefore, fully illustrated and described my 
invention, what I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent 
is set forth in the appended claims.