Patent Publication Number: US-2019178283-A1

Title: Concentric actuation and reaction torque transfer system

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/150,633, filed Oct. 3, 2018, which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/932,768, filed Nov. 4, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,107,325, issued Oct. 23, 2018, both of which are incorporated herein by reference. The present application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/605,861, filed May 25, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference. If any disclosures are incorporated herein by reference and such incorporated disclosures conflict in part or whole with the present disclosure, then to the extent of conflict, and/or broader disclosure, and/or broader definition of terms, the present disclosure controls. If such incorporated disclosures conflict in part or whole with one another, then to the extent of conflict, the later-dated disclosure controls. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to systems and tools for transferring an actuation torque on an actuation receiving structure while concentrically transferring a corresponding oppositely acting reaction torque onto a reaction receiving structure in the immediate vicinity of the actuation receiving structure. In particular, the present invention relates to concentric actuation/reaction socket tools for actuating nuts and/or bolt heads while transferring the corresponding reaction torque onto a reaction washer beneath that nut and/or bolt head. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Reaction washers are increasingly adopted in conjunction with larger size nuts and/or bolt heads that require powered torque wrenches to apply the necessary high actuation torques for tightening and loosening them. Reaction washers are conveniently placed in between the nut and/or bolt head to be tightened and the flange surface. They bite into the underneath flange surface while the nut and/or bolt head is tightened by the applied actuation torque. The resulting reaction torque is thereby concentrically and without any distorting side loads transferred from the torque wrench housing onto the flange body. 
     In the prior art, actuation and reaction sockets are combined and fixed on the power torque wrench commonly via a number of small screws. Changing to a different size nut and/or bolt head requires the number of small screws to be loosened and then tightened again. This is cumbersome, time consuming and particularly unfeasible in rough operating conditions. Moreover and as such combined actuation and reaction socket tools are desirably of minimum weight and size, the resulting elastic deformations tend to loosen the attachment screws, which requires continuous checking of them. Therefore, there exists a need for a concentric actuation and reaction torque transfer system that is compact and easily manually attached and detached from commercially available power torque wrenches without need for actuating any screws. The present invention addresses this need. 
     SUMMARY 
     An actuation and reaction socket tool features a reaction coupling that is slid onto the spline flange of the power torque wrench prior to attaching the actuation socket on the drive shaft of the torque wrench and prior to securing it with a well-known safety pin. The reaction coupling is then coupled to the reaction socket via circumferentially arrayed and interlocking castles on both the reaction coupling and reaction socket. A lock plate spring loaded snaps into grooves on the inside of the castles and axially locks the reaction coupling with the reaction socket. At least one of the reaction coupling and reaction socket is axially withheld by the central actuation socket such that the entire tool remains connected to the power torque wrench while the safety pin remains in place. To remove the tool from the power torque wrench, the reaction coupling and reaction socket are first decoupled, which provides access again to the safety pin for its removal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a frontal cut view of the preferred embodiment of the invention in operational position. 
         FIG. 2  is a first perspective view of a reaction coupling of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is the first perspective view of the reaction coupling of  FIG. 2  with a snap lock cover removed. Tangent edges are not shown for clarity. 
         FIG. 4  is a second perspective view of a reaction socket of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As in  FIG. 1 , a torque transfer system  100  for concentrically and simultaneously transferring an actuation torque and a reaction torque around a torque transfer axis  10 A features an actuation socket  110 , a reaction coupling  120  and a reaction socket  130 . The actuation socket  110  has a drive shaft torque interface  111 , an axial shaft lock interface  112 , an actuation interface  113  and an axial retention feature in the form of snap ring  115  and/or a circumferential retention face  116 . 
     In operational position, the actuation socket  110  is coupled with a drive shaft  15  of a torque wrench  10  via its drive shaft torque interface  111  that is correspondingly shaped and in a torque transferring mate with the contoured shape such as for example a square of the drive shaft  15  as is well known in the art. The actuation interface  113  such as for example but not limited to a hex, double hex, Torax™, triple square, is thereby positioned substantially centrally and concentrically with respect to the torque transfer axis  10 A and is facing away from the torque wrench  10  for transferring the actuation torque from the drive shaft  15  onto the actuation receiving structure  33  such as a nut and/or bolt head. 
     The actuation socket  110  is axially coupled to the drive shaft  15  via an axial shaft lock interface in the preferred configuration of a lock pin  114  engaging with a radial through hole  112  that is radially extending through the body of the actuation socket  110  and a radial shaft hole  18  that is radially extending through the drive shaft  15 . The axial retention feature  115 / 116  is thereby axially positioned with respect to the torque wrench  10 . 
     The reaction coupling  120  has a torque wrench interface  125  and a reaction socket interface  126 . The torque wrench interface  125  may be in the preferred form of an internal spline  125  in a configuration that is mating preferably a spline flange  11  that may be part of a well-known housing  12  of the torque wrench  10 . The spline flange  11  may be positioned axially adjacent the drive shaft  15  and may be substantially concentric with respect to the torque transfer axis  10 A. The torque wrench interface  125  is torque transferring and axially slide able coupled with the housing  12  in general but preferably with the spline flange  11 . The reaction socket interface  126  becomes thereby positioned substantially concentric with respect to the torque transfer axis  10 A and is facing away from the torque wrench  10 . 
     The reaction socket  130  has a coupling interface  131  and a drain interface  132 . While the reaction socket  130  is rotationally move able with respect to and substantially concentric surrounding the actuation socket  110 , it is coupled with the reaction socket interface  126  via its coupling interface  131 . Thereby, the drain interface  132  is substantially concentrically surrounding and axially adjacent the actuation interface  113 . Consequently, the reaction torque is transferred from the housing  12  onto a reaction receiving structure  53  that may be positioned at least beneath but preferably also concentrically with respect to the torque transfer axis  10 A around the actuation receiving structure  33 . The reaction receiving structure  53  may be preferably a reaction washer  53 , which in turn may transfer the received reaction torque onto a base flange  63 . 
     As also shown in  FIG. 4  and in case of the axial retention feature  115  being the snap ring  115 , the reaction socket  130  may have an internal circumferential snap groove  133  in which the snap ring  115  may snap in. Thereby, the reaction socket  130  may be axially secured with respect to the torque transfer axis  10 A and onto the actuation socket  110 . Snap ring access holes  1331  may radially extend through the body of the reaction socket  130  and may be circumferentially arrayed around the snap groove  133  to externally access and radially depress the snap ring  115 . That way, the reaction socket  130  may be removed again from the actuation socket  110 . The snap ring access holes  1331  may be threaded such that the radial inward displacement of the snap ring  115  may be accomplished by screwing in set screws or the like into the snap ring access holes  1331 . 
     The axial retention feature  116  may alternately be a circumferential retention face  116  that may be facing towards the torque wrench  10 . In that case, the reaction coupling  120  may have an axial stop face  1271 . The axial stop face  1271  may be resting against the circumferential retention face  116  while the actuation socket  110  is axially secured on the drive shaft  15  and the reaction coupling  120  is coupled via its torque wrench interface  125  with the spline flange  11  of the housing  12 . 
     The axial retention feature  114  may alternatively be provided by the radial lock pin  114  that may radially extend outside the radial pin hole  112  and underneath the axial stop face  1271  while assembled to axially secure the actuation socket  110  on the drive shaft  15 . In that case and as may be clear to anyone skilled in the art, the reaction coupling  120  may be axially secured on the housing  12  by the axial stop face  1271  resting against the lock pin  114 . 
     As further shown in  FIGS. 2, 3, 4 , the reaction socket interface  126  may be provided by a number of first castles  121  that are circumferentially arrayed at an end of the reaction coupling  120  and preferably radially dimensioned with a first outer castle array diameter  1210 D that matches substantially an outer reaction socket body diameter  1300 D. At the same time, the coupling interface  131  may be provided by a number of second castles  134  that are circumferentially arrayed at an end of the reaction socket  130  in mating opposition to the first castles  121 . Likewise, the second castles  134  may be preferably radially dimensioned with an inner castle array diameter  134 ID that matches substantially an inner reaction socket body diameter  130 ID and an outer castle array diameter that matches substantially an outer reaction socket body diameter  1300 D. Thereby, the coupling interface  131  is axially slide able and circumferentially interlocking with the reaction socket interface  126 . 
     Employment of first and second castles  121 ,  134  and radial dimensioning  1210 D,  134 ID,  1340 D of them in conjunction with the reaction socket body diameters  130 ID,  1300 D as well as the circumferentially opposite mating of first and second castles  121 ,  134  provides for a high structural strength and high transferable reaction torque from the reaction coupling  120  onto the reaction socket  130  while maintaining outer diameters  1300 D,  1340 D and inner diameters  130 ID,  134 ID substantially continuous all the way to the end of the reaction socket  130  including the coupling interface  131 . This is advantageous on one hand for assembling the reaction socket  130  over the actuation socket  110  and on the other hand for keeping a maximum outer diameter of reaction coupling  120 , reaction socket interface  126  and coupling interface  131  within the limits of reaction body diameters  130 ID,  1300 D. The reaction body diameters  130 ID,  1300 D may in turn be predetermined by structural needs for transferring a predetermined reaction torque within the reaction socket  130  body as may be clear to anyone skilled in the art. 
     First and second castles  121 ,  134  may have first and second internal recesses  122 ,  135  in the preferred configuration of first and second internal grooves  122 ,  135 . At the same time, the reaction socket interface  126  may have a radial lock feature  123  in the preferred configuration of a lock plate  123 . The preferably two lock plates  123  may be axially retained and radially slide able within the reaction socket  120  and in between a removable snap lock cover  127  and the reaction coupling body  1201 . The lock plates  123  may be spring loaded forced via lock plate load springs  1232  into the first and second internal grooves  122 ,  135  while the reaction socket interface  126  is coupled with the coupling interface  131 . Preferably, first and second internal grooves  122 ,  134  are axially with respect to the torque transfer axis  10 A substantially aligned with each other while the reaction socket interface  126  is coupled with the coupling interface  131  such that the lock plates  123  may be of continuous thickness in between first and second castles  121 ,  134 . The lock plates  123  thickness may preferably correspond to the axial height of the first and second internal grooves  122 ,  134 . 
     The lock plates  123  have each an externally accessible actuator  124  that is circumferentially aligned with a respective one reduced height castle  1212 . The actuator  124  is extending radially outward beyond the outer first and second outer castle array diameters  1210 D,  1340 D. Thereby, the reaction socket interface  126  may be coupled with the coupling interface  131  in any circumferential oppositely mating orientation to each other unimpeded by the actuators  124 . 
     The preferably two lock plates  123  are positioned rotationally symmetric with respect to the torque transfer axis  10 A such that the snap interlock between the reaction socket interface  126  and the coupling interface  131  is circumferentially evenly distributed between them. The lock plates  123  may be radially guided by lock plate guide pins  1231  as may be clear to anyone skilled in the art. The snap lock cover  127  may be held onto the reaction coupling body  1201  via cover screws  1272 . The snap lock cover  127  may also provide the axial stop face  1271 . The first inner castle array diameter  121 ID may be substantially reduced below the second inner castle array diameter  134 ID to provide sufficient radial depth of the first internal grooves  122  such that the lock plates  123  remain axially guide within them over their entire radial movement range. 
     The internal spline  125  may be provided by a spline ring  1251  axially attached at the end of the reaction coupling  120  that is opposite the reaction socket interface  126 . That way, the reaction coupling  120  may be conveniently adapted to different spline flanges  11 . 
     All parts of the concentric actuation and reaction torque transfer system  100  may be fabricated from steel or any other material suitable for transferring predetermined high torque loads. To apply an actuation torque to a predetermined actuation torque receiving structure  34  and to concurrently drain the corresponding reaction torque onto an axially adjacent reaction torque receiving structure  53 , an actuation socket  110  and reaction socket  130  with correspondingly shaped actuation and drain interfaces  113 ,  132  are selected. A reaction coupling  120  may be initially coupled with the spline flange  11  followed by coupling the actuation socket  110  with the drive shaft  15 . 
     In case of actuation and reaction torque receiving structures  34 ,  53  having standardized shapes, a snap ring  115  may be employed and actuation and reaction socket  110 ,  130  may be selected as a preassembled set. In that case, actuation and reaction sockets  110 ,  130  may be together already while the actuation socket  110  is attached to the drive shaft  15 . Alternately, the reaction socket  130  may consecutively be slid over the actuation socket  110  following the coupling and attachment of the actuation socket  110  onto the drive shaft  15 . The reaction socket  130  may be rotationally oriented such that its second castles  134  face the gaps in between the first castles  121 . The reaction coupling  120  may be then axially slid along the spline flange  11  such that reaction socket interface  126  engages with coupling interface  131 . During coupling, lock plate displacement chamfers  1341  along the inner top edges of the second castles  134  may force the lock plates  123  radially inward until they give way for the second castles  134  to bottom out in between the first castles  121 . At that moment, the second internal grooves  135  become aligned with the first internal grooves  122  and the lock plates  123  spring back and lock into both first and second internal grooves  122 ,  135 . Thereby, a direct axial lock is established between first and second castles  121 ,  135  across the lock plates  123 . 
     In case of an axial stop face  1271  being employed instead of a snap ring  115 , The axial stop face  1271  resting against the lock pin  114  or the circumferential retention face  116  may keep the reaction coupling  120  and attached reaction socket  130  axially on to the torque wrench  10 . The torque transfer system  100  is now ready to be put in position together with the attached torque wrench  10  over the predetermined actuation and reaction torque receiving structures  34 ,  53 . 
     To disassembly the reaction socket  130  again, the actuators  124  are externally accessed and manually depressed, whereby the lock plates  123  are moved radially inward and the second castles  135  axially released. While the actuators  124  are kept depressed, the reaction socket  130  may be separated from the reaction coupling  120  and the entire torque transfer system removed from the torque wrench  10  in the following without having to loosen any screws. 
     Irrespective the preferred employment of the ring snap coupling  140  including the reaction socket interface  126 , the coupling interface  131  and the radial lock feature  123  in conjunction with the concentric actuation and reaction torque transfer system  100 , the ring snap coupling  140  may be independently employed to provide coupling of any two structures  120 ,  130  as described for the reaction socket  120  and reaction socket  130 . The reaction socket interface  126  may thereby be any first coupling interface  126  at a first coupling end  128  of a first structure  120  and the coupling interface  131  may thereby be any second coupling interface  126  at a second coupling end  138  of a second structure  130 . 
     Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is set forth by the following claims and their legal equivalent: