Abstract:
A box for carrying tools, such as socket wrenches, screwdrivers and the like and interchangeable accessories thereof, to be used in a pre-established sequence, preferably for industrial or professional application, during sequential fastening of screws, nuts and the like operations, with a precise control of fastening torque and/or angle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is directed to a box for carrying tools, such as socket wrenches, screwdrivers, and the like and interchangeable accessories thereof, to be used in a pre-established sequence. More particularly, the invention is directed to a box for carrying tools preferably intended for industrial or professional use, of the type comprising a plurality of access holes to respective cavities provided to house the different tools according to their diameter, their size or the sequence in which they are to be used, thus keeping them in a proper arrangement, and holding them in such a way that they will remain attached to the box whatever its position, in order that they may not accidentally come out of the box or fall down. Thus, the box avoids the risk of misplacing or momentarily losing sight of the tools or altering the sequence of the industrial process underway. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Several models of socket wrench boxes are known in the art, which are particularly intended for industrial or professional use and designed to meet technical requirements such as detecting information on the tool in use and sending it by electronic or electric means, to a control unit related to the assembly, manufacture or mounting process of parts of machines, vehicles, structures and the like. During these processes, one of the most frequent operations comprises the fastening of a plurality of nuts and/or screws of different sizes. It is very important to have an accurate control of the applied torque and to be able to perform the necessary operation in the proper sequence, avoiding any circumstance that may imply an interruption of the continuous process and affect productivity of the industrial process involved. 
         [0003]    As in any industrial production process, in which a predetermined sequence of operations must be followed, the precise selection of the proper tool for each step of the process is an essential factor for a normal development of the required operations, and any accidental or involuntary alteration of said sequence may considerably affect the productivity of the whole process. 
         [0004]    In the specific case of this application, i.e. the selection and use of the required tool for fastening of nuts and bolts in a predetermined sequence, or bits or punching tools in a punching process, or markers in an identification process, it is essential to have the appropriate means to perform simple operations, such as: picking the proper tool for such step, performing the corresponding operation, putting the tool back in place, picking the next tool, and so on, as may be necessary until all the operations of the production stage involved have been completed. To this end, several types of tool boxes of varying configurations, versatility and technical complexity are currently available in the industry. Many of these boxes are associated with electronic devices used for controlling that the required sequence and torque are used. However those boxes, even those of advanced technology in terms of the electronic devices employed, have drawbacks in the way they house and contain each of the tools they contain. For example, such boxes are used in such a way that the cavities housing the tools are vertically arranged with respect to a horizontal plane defined by the upper portions thereof, thus facilitating the visualization of the tools as well as the actions of picking-up, using and replacing the tools back into their corresponding cavities. Although some conventional box types include means for holding the tools, such as magnets and/or expansion springs, practical experience has revealed that when the box tumbles down, leaving the tools in horizontal position, or even worse, pointing downwards, such holding means are not fully capable of keeping the tools properly held within the box. Particularly, if the tools are not magnetic, magnets are of no advantage to hold the tools in place. Consequently, practical experience has also taught that frequently one or more tools fall to the floor, remain hidden behind or below another object, and quite often it may be difficult to find them, and even be permanently lost. It is not necessary to explain again here the inconveniences this may cause during any assembly or manufacturing process in which each production stage of sequence is assigned a definite operation time. 
         [0005]    The above summarized drawbacks are efficiently solved by the box of the present invention, as a result of its remarkable structural and functional aspects, as will be clearly demonstrated in the detailed description, making reference to the figures which illustrate an exemplary preferred embodiment thereof. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention provides a box for carrying tools, such as socket wrenches, screwdrivers and tools in general, and interchangeable accessories thereof, which are used in a predetermined sequence, preferably for industrial or professional applications in processes consisting of a sequence of operations in which the use of each tool is ordered and controlled, for example, in sequences of bolt and nut fastening and the like, by keeping a precise control of the required torque or angle in each adjustment, drilling or punching by means of bits or punches, etc. The box is of the type comprising a plurality of holes in its upper wall to provide access to cavities where the respective tools are held, in an orderly way according to their diameter, dimensions or required sequence of use, holding them in such a way that, whichever may be the position of the box, the tools are securely attached to the box, without coming out of it and accidentally being dropped to the floor, so that they may get lost or cause an interruption to the normal course of industrial production. 
         [0007]    Besides providing a secure attachment of the tools, a remarkable feature of the present invention is that the size of the holding cavity can be adjusted between a complete closure position, that is 0 mm when a given cavity is completely closed, up to the maximum opening needed to hold a tool of maximum diameter or size. This remarkable feature allows for a quick adaptation of the box to changes in the process sequence, without the need for special parts or specific machining processes. This makes it possible to move the box from one to another work station, as it may be readily adjusted to the dimensions of each of the tools used at the different work stations, thus requiring a single backup unit, which will be adaptable to different work stations, irrespective of tool sizes or the number of holding cavities required. Such versatility of the box of the present invention is particularly useful for maintenance operations, and will also result in a lower cost in required backup materials when the box, for different reasons, is withdrawn from service, since it will only be necessary to adjust each position as needed, to leave the box in operation conditions again. 
         [0008]    An additional advantage of the box of the present invention is the fact that, since the box includes identical and independent tool holding modules, said modules are interchangeable. When any of said modules is worn out, it can be replaced by another module, and it is not necessary to replace the whole set of modules. This is undoubtedly a very advantageous cost benefit regarding both spare part inventory costs and maintenance work. 
         [0009]    An additional advantage of this box is the fact that the electrical connections of sensors and light indicators incorporated to the modules in which tool housing and holding cavities are defined, reach the reception channel of an external control electronic device connector. In this way, several ways of connecting both the sensors and the light indicators are possible, according to the requirements or needs of the end user, without being limited to a single or special connection arrangement. On the other hand, conventional boxes, even those from well-known and prestigious manufacturers, require a communication module and can only be used in a single configuration, which implies the need to buy additional components. 
         [0010]    It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a box for carrying tools, such as socket wrenches, screwdrivers and tools in general and their interchangeable accessories, to be used in a predetermined sequence, of the type comprising a plurality of cavities for housing and holding respective tools, in an orderly and easily accessible arrangement allowing the user to sequentially withdraw the tools as needed and then replace them into the box; the tools remaining held and attached to the box whatever its position. A set of housing and holding modules for each of the corresponding tools is removably attached within the box, and each of such modules comprises a main hollow compartment in which a tool holding clamp is slidably arranged in longitudinal arrangement in a cavity defined between a distal wall thereof and a distal wall of the module, wherein a clamp movement member is attached to said clamp for grasping or releasing the tool held within said cavity, being said clamp movement member operationally linked to an adjustment screw, wherein said adjustment screw is accessible from outside through the proximal end of the module. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    For the clarity and a better understanding of the subject matter of the present invention, one of the preferred embodiments has been represented in several figures by way of example, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of the tool box of the present invention, showing the box containing the holding modules for each tool. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the box, from the opposite side of that illustrated in  FIG. 1 , showing one of the tool-holding modules and the side wall of the box where orifices have been made to allow the passage of an adjustment tool therethrough for the corresponding module. 
           [0014]      FIGS. 3 to 7  are perspective views showing, sequentially, the assembly of one of the holding modules with the parts forming it. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing schematically the arrangement of each of the parts forming the holding module. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring in the first place to the exploded view shown in  FIG. 1 , reference numeral  1  designates the body of the box, and reference numeral  2  identifies the group of parts which, once mutually coupled, form the structure of one of the modules of the tool-housing set of modules to be arranged in the inner portion of said box body  1 . As can be seen, the box body  1  presents a series of openings  4  in its upper wall  3  giving access to the corresponding cavity defined in each module  2  intended to house and hold in place a respective tool. In the proximity of each opening  4  a hole  5  is conformed through which a light indicator is shown, such as a two-color light-emitting diode (LED), which will indicate, as will be explained later on, the position of the holding and retention clamp for the corresponding tool, while in the back wall  6  of the box body  1  there is a window  7  to allow access of a terminal connector through which the necessary electrical connections between said light indicators and sensing means incorporated in each of the modules will pass. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows the modules arranged within the box body  1 , and in particular one cavity  10  where the respective tool will be housed and held. In the front wall  8  of the box, matching with the proximal end of each of the modules  2 , a corresponding orifice  9  is formed to allow passage of a screwdriver to be used for adjusting the amplitude of cavity  10  and, consequently, adjustment to either the diameter of the corresponding tool, or closing it into an out of service position. 
         [0018]    Each module  2  comprises a main hollow body  11 , which is open at its upper side and also at its proximal end, a clamp  12  for holding tools, a piece  13  for displacing said clamp  12 , a plate  14  for closing the proximal end of the main body  11 , and an adjustment screw  15  which proximal end  16  presents a recess to allow the screw to fit into a groove  17  formed on said closing plate  14 . Each of the modules so formed is incorporated into the box independently from each other, and they are also mutually interchangeable. 
         [0019]    The external face of the distal wall of clamp  12 , which is the holding face for the tool to be held, has a central recess  18  defined between lateral protrusions  19 , while the inner face of the distal wall of said main body  11  of module  2  presents a central convexity  20  defined between lateral recesses  21 , which contributes to a firm housing and holding of the tool regardless of its diameter. The internal faces of the side walls  23  of each module  2  have longitudinal guides  24 , corresponding to longitudinal protrusions  25  of the clamp  12  for an appropriate movement of the clamp along the main body  11 . The front face of the distal wall of said main body  11  has a channel  26  with orifices to allow the passage of electrical connection cables between module  11  and an electronic control device, said cables extending along channels  27  formed in the external faces of the side walls  23  of main body  11 , and orifices for the passage of said cables used to make the electrical connections with a connection channel  28  formed on the front of the body  11  and accessible through the window  7  of the box body  1  for the insertion of the corresponding connector. 
         [0020]    In the sequence illustrated in  FIGS. 3 to 7  it may be readily appreciated the manner in which clamp  12  is slidably arranged in the longitudinal arrangement in the main body  11  of module  2 , the position of the clamp movement member  13  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) and the outward projection of the adjustment screw  15  ( FIG. 6 ), which proximal end  16  remains inserted and held within the groove  17  of closing plate  14  of module  2 , which is in turn inserted via its opposed lateral edges into matching grooves or guides  42  formed on the internal faces of the side walls  23  of the body  11  (see  FIG. 8 ). 
         [0021]    In the longitudinal cross-sectional view of  FIG. 8  it will be appreciated that the inner face  29  of the upper wall of clamp  12  and the external face  30  of clamp movement member  13  have a matching stepped configuration, so that step  31  of said member  13 , extending in front of step  32  of clamp  12 , defines a pulling shoulder in the backwards travel of said clamp. In addition, a movement space  33  is defined between the distal end of said member  13  and the inner face of the front wall of the clamp  12 , where a thrust spring  34  for the clamp  12  is arranged, in the forward direction for attachment and holding of the tool that will be housed into the adjustable cavity  35 . Thus, clamp  12  can be adjusted from a totally closed position to a maximum opening of cavity  35 , for example from 0 to 40 mm. A threaded longitudinal hole  36  is formed in clamp movement member  13  where the adjustment screw  15  is operatively coupled. 
         [0022]    Clamp  12  includes a permanent magnet  37  that is operatively linked to a sensor  38  arranged in the clamp movement member  13 , and a light indicator  39 , or LED, preferably of the two-color type, which turns on and off according to the detected position of clamp  12 , and/or changing colors indicating the sequence, according to an external command. Sensor  38 , which may be, for example, a magnetic, inductive, mechanical or proximity sensor, among other possibilities, is connected to the connection channel  28  via cables passing through orifice  43  and channel  27 . 
         [0023]    The base for each of the modules  2  and the side walls of box body  1  have orifices  40  and  44 , respectively, for the passage of linking rods between the modules and said body  1 , and housings  41  to arrange means for the slidable attachment of the box to the work station or to a control device. 
         [0024]    It should be emphasized that the tool-carrying box of the invention is capable of detecting any kind of elements housed in the cavity  35 , either metallic, non-metallic, ferrous or non-ferrous.