Patent Publication Number: US-11045930-B2

Title: Non-ferrous fastener retention socket

Description:
INTRODUCTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to retention sockets for nutrunners, and more particularly, a retention socket for holding non-ferrous metallic fasteners, such as aluminum fasteners stainless steel fasteners, titanium fastener, and polymeric fasteners. 
     Fasteners, such as bolts, may be used to couple two or more components to each other. Some of the fasteners are made of non-ferrous metallic materials or polymeric materials. It is therefore desirable to develop a retention socket configured to retain non-ferrous metallic fasteners and/or polymeric fasteners. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present disclosure describes a retention socket configured to removably retain non-ferrous metallic fasteners, such as aluminum fasteners. Non-ferrous metallic fasteners, such as aluminum fasteners, cannot be retained by a magnetic socket for vertical or horizontal applications. Rather, non-ferrous metallic fasteners require manual manipulation to place and engage the threads prior to using the nutrunner. Tight clearances sometimes restrict manual manipulation of the non-ferrous metallic fasteners in fastener locations. For this reason, it is desirable to develop the retention socket to retain non-ferrous metallic fasteners. 
     The presently disclosed retention socket is configured to hold a non-ferrous metallic fastener and includes a socket body defining a cavity shaped to receive a head of the non-ferrous metallic fastener. The retention socket further includes a mechanical retaining feature coupled to the socket body to removably couple the non-ferrous metallic fastener to the socket body. The mechanical retaining feature may be a snap ring protruding from the socket body toward the cavity to retain the non-ferrous metallic fastener without the aid of magnetic forces. The retention socket may be a hexalobular socket or a hex socket. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, the mechanical retaining feature includes a sleeve disposed over the socket body and a snap ring coupled to the sleeve to hold a flange of the non-ferrous metallic fastener. The sleeve defines a first sleeve end and a second sleeve end opposite the first sleeve end. The snap ring may be closer to the second sleeve end than to the first sleeve end to hold the flange of the non-ferrous metallic fastener. The flange defines a first flange surface and a second flange surface opposite the first flange surface. The first flange surface faces the socket body when the socket body is removably coupled to the non-ferrous metallic fastener. The second flange surface faces away from the socket body when the socket body is removably coupled to the non-ferrous metallic fastener. The snap ring may be closer to the second sleeve end than to the first sleeve end to be in direct contact with the second flange surface, thereby removably coupling the socket body to the non-ferrous metallic fastener. The flange defines a circumferential flange surface interconnecting the first flange surface and the second flange surface. The snap ring may be closer to the second sleeve end than to the first sleeve end to be in direct contact with the circumferential flange surface, thereby removably coupling the socket body to the non-ferrous metallic fastener. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, the mechanical retaining feature may include a collet disposed over the socket body and an O-ring disposed over the collet to hold a flange of the non-ferrous metallic fastener, thereby removably coupling the non-ferrous metallic fastener to the socket body. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, the mechanical retaining feature may include a sleeve defining a sleeve groove, a plurality of balls disposed in the sleeve groove and configured to be in contact with a head of the non-ferrous metallic fastener, and a biasing member disposed in the sleeve groove and in contact with the balls to bias the balls toward the head of the non-ferrous metallic fastener. The socket body defines a body groove aligned with the sleeve groove to allow the balls to be in contact with the head of the non-ferrous metallic fastener. 
     In another aspect of the present disclosure, the mechanical retaining feature may include a sleeve defining a sleeve recess and a plurality of balls disposed in the sleeve recess and configured to be in contact with a flange of the non-ferrous metallic fastener. The mechanical retaining feature may further include an O-ring disposed in the sleeve recess and in contact with the plurality of balls to bias the plurality of balls toward the flange of the non-ferrous metallic fastener. 
     The present disclosure also describes a nutrunner including a shaft rotatable about a rotational axis, an electric motor coupled to the shaft, and a retention socket removably coupled to the shaft and configured to hold a non-ferrous metallic fastener. The retention socket includes a socket body defining a socket and a mechanical retaining feature (as described above) coupled to the socket body to removably couple the non-ferrous metallic fastener to the socket body without an aid of magnetic forces. 
     The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the disclosure when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic side view of a nutrunner including a retention socket for holding non-ferrous metallic fasteners. 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic side view of the retention socket shown in  FIG. 1 , wherein the retention socket includes a snap ring and is coupled to a non-ferrous metallic fastener. 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic side view of a retention socket including a sleeve and a snap ring. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic side view of a retention socket including a collet and an O-ring, providing a friction clamp load on the fastener head. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic side view of a retention socket including a sleeve and a biasing member, providing a friction clamp load on or under the fastener flange. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic side view of a retention socket including a sleeve and balls to provide a compressive force on the ferrous metallic fastener. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a nutrunner  10  is configured to rotate a non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  ( FIG. 2 ) about a rotational axis R in order to couple the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  to another component. The nutrunner  10  includes an electric motor  14  (or other device capable of rotating the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 , such as a pneumatic system), a tool shaft  16  coupled to the electric motor  14 , and a retention socket  18   a  removably coupled to the tool shaft  16 . The nutrunner  10  may also include a handle  20  coupled between the electric motor  14  and the tool shaft  16  and a trigger  22  coupled to the handle  20 . The trigger  22  is coupled to the electric motor  14 . As such, actuating the trigger  22  causes the electric motor  14  to active, thereby causing rotation of the tool shaft  16  about the rotational axis R. In turn, rotating the tool shaft  16  causes the retention socket  18   a  to rotate about the rotational axis R. 
     With reference to  FIG. 2 , the retention socket  18   a  is configured to removably retain non-ferrous metallic fasteners  12 . The term “configured to” means “specially designed or constructed to.” Non-ferrous metallic fasteners  12 , such as aluminum fasteners, cannot be retained by a magnetic socket for vertical or horizontal applications. Rather, non-ferrous metallic fasteners  12  require manual manipulation to place and engage the threads  24  prior to using the nutrunner  10 . Tight clearances sometimes restrict manual manipulation of the non-ferrous metallic fasteners in fastener locations. For this reason, it is desirable to develop the retention socket  18   a  to retain non-ferrous metallic fasteners  12 . 
     The non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  is partly or wholly made of non-ferrous metallic material, such as aluminum, and it is non-magnetic. In the depicted embodiment, the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  is configured as a bolt and includes a threaded shaft  23  including the threads  24 . In addition, to the threads  24 , the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  includes a flange  26  at a shaft end  28  of the threaded shaft  23 . Accordingly, the flange  26  is directly coupled to the threaded shaft  23 . The non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  further includes a head  30  directly coupled to the flange  26 . The flange  26  defines a first flange surface  32  and a second flange surface  34  opposite the first flange surface  32 . The first flange surface  32  faces the head  30 , and the second flange surface  34  faces the threaded shaft  23 . The flange  26  further includes a circumferential flange surface  36  directly interconnecting the first flange surface  32  and the second flange surface  34 . 
     The retention socket  18   a  may be a hexalobular socket, a hex socket, or any other suitable type of socket and includes a socket body  38 . The socket body  38  defines a cavity  40  configured, shaped, and sized to receive the head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . The socket body  38  defines a tool-engaging recess  42  to facilitate a connection to the tool shaft  16  of the nutrunner  10 . The tool-engaging recess  42  may have an annular shape. The retention socket  18   a  further includes a mechanical retaining feature  44  configured to removably couple the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  without the aid of magnetic forces. The mechanical retaining feature  44  is coupled to the socket body  38  to removably couple the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  to the socket body  38  without the aid of magnetic forces. The mechanical retaining feature  44  includes a snap ring  46  protruding from the socket body  38  toward the cavity  40  to retain the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  without the aid of magnetic forces. When the head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  is disposed in the cavity  40  of the retention socket  18   a , the snap ring  46  directly contacts the head  30  to removably couple the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  to the retention socket  18   a . The head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  may include a head groove to facilitate the connection between the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  and the retention socket  18   a . The socket body  38  has a first body end  48  and a second body end  50  opposite the first body end  48 . The snap ring  46  is disposed closer to the first body end  48  than to the second body end  50  to facilitate the connection between the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  and the retention socket  18   a . The tool-engaging recess  42  is closer to the second body end  50  than to the first body end  48  to facilitate the connection between the tool shaft  16  of the nutrunner  10  and the retention socket  18   a.    
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , in another aspect of the present disclosure, a retention socket  18   b  is identical to the retention socket  18   a  described above, except for the features described below. The retention socket  18   b  includes a mechanical retaining feature  44  to removably couple the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  to the socket body  38  without the aid of the magnetic forces. The mechanical retaining feature  44  includes a sleeve  52  disposed over the socket body  38 . The sleeve  52  is configured to slide over the socket body  38 . The sleeve  52  defines a first sleeve end  54  and a second sleeve end  56  opposite the first sleeve end  54 . The mechanical retaining feature  44  further includes a snap ring  46  coupled to the sleeve  52  to hold the flange  26  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . The snap ring  46  is closer to the second sleeve end  56  than to the first sleeve end  54  to hold the flange  26  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . The snap ring  46  is also closer to the second sleeve end  56  than to the first sleeve end  54  of the sleeve  52  to be in direct contact with the second flange surface  34 , thereby removably coupling the socket body  38  to the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . By being in direct contact with the second flange surface  34  of the flange  26 , the snap ring  46  captures the head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . The first flange surface  32  faces the socket body  38  when the socket body  38  is removably coupled to the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 , and the second flange surface  34  faces away from the socket body  38  when the socket body  38  is removably coupled to the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . The snap ring  46  may additionally or alternatively be closer to the second sleeve end  56  than to the first sleeve end  54  of the sleeve  52  to be in direct contact with the circumferential flange surface  36  of the flange  26 , thereby removably coupling the socket body  38  to the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . By being in direct contact with the circumferential flange surface  36 , the snap ring  46  applies a clamping load on the flange  26 , thereby removably coupling the socket body  38  to the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , in another aspect of the present disclosure, a retention socket  18   c  is identical to the retention socket  18   a  described above, except for the features described below. The mechanical retaining feature  44  of the retention socket  18   c  includes a collet  58  disposed over the socket body  38 . The term “collet” means a segmented sleeve (with slots) that is disposed around a component, such as the socket body  38 , to apply a clamping force to that component. The collet  58  is configured to slide over the socket body  38 . The mechanical retaining feature  44  includes an O-ring  60  disposed over the collet  58  to hold the flange  26  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 , thereby removably coupling the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  to the socket body  38 . The collet  58  defines a collet recess  62  configured, shaped, and sized to receive the O-ring  60 . The collet recess  62  may have an annular shape to receive the O-ring  60 . The collet  58  has a first collet end  64  and a second collet end  66  opposite the first collet end  64 . The collet recess  62  may be closer to the second collet end  66  than to the first collet end  64  to allow the collet  58  to be in direct contact with the circumferential flange surface  36  of the flange  25  (under the clamping force applied by the O-ring  60 ) to retain the head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  without the aid of magnetic forces. 
     With reference to  FIG. 5 , in another aspect of the present disclosure, a retention socket  18   d  is identical to the retention socket  18   a  described above, except for the features described below. In  FIG. 5 , a ball plunger retention method is employed. The mechanical retaining feature  44  of the retention socket  18   d  includes a sleeve  52  configured to be disposed over the socket body  38 . In particular, the sleeve  52  is configured to slide over the socket body  38 . The sleeve  52  defines a sleeve groove  68  that extends through the entire thickness of the sleeve  52 . Thus, the sleeve groove  68  is a thru-hole and may have an annular shape. The mechanical retaining feature  44  further includes a plurality of balls  70  partly disposed in the sleeve groove  68  and configured to be in direct contact with the head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . The socket body  38  defines a body groove  72  aligned with the sleeve groove  68  to allow the balls  70  to be in direct contact with the head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  to capture the head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  without the aid of magnetic forces. The mechanical retaining feature  44  further includes a biasing member  74  disposed in the sleeve groove  68  and in direct contact with the balls  70  to bias the balls  70  toward the head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 , thereby coupling the retention socket  18   d  to the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  without the aid of the magnetic forces. The biasing member  74  may be configured as an O-ring  60  and/or a plurality of springs embedded in the sleeve groove  68 . As such, the biasing member  74  and the balls  70  collectively form ball plungers configured to capture the head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . The sleeve  52  and the socket body  38  may be integrally coupled to each other to enhance its structural integrity. As such, the sleeve  52  and the socket body  38  may be a one-piece structure. In other words, the retention socket  18   d  may include a thick wall socket body  38 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 6 , in another aspect of the present disclosure, a retention socket  18   e  is identical to the retention socket  18   a  described above, except for the features described below. In  FIG. 6 , the ball plunger retention method as in  FIG. 5  is employed. The mechanical retaining feature  44  of the retention socket  18   e  includes a sleeve  52  defining a sleeve recess  76 . Further, the mechanical retaining feature  44  includes a plurality of balls  70  disposed in the sleeve recess  76 . The balls  70  are annularly arranged around the sleeve  52  (in the sleeve recess  76 ). For this reason, the sleeve  76  has an annular shape to accommodate the balls  70 . The mechanical retaining feature  44  further includes an O-ring  60  disposed in the sleeve recess  76  and in direct contact with the plurality of balls  70  to bias the plurality of balls  70  toward the flange  26  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 , thereby coupling the retention socket  18   e  to the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  without the aid of magnetic forces. The sleeve recess  76  is closer to the second sleeve end  56  than to the first sleeve end  54  to allow the O-ring  60  to be in direct contact with the flange  26  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 . The sleeve  52  and the socket body  38  may be integrally coupled to each other to enhance its structural integrity. As such, the sleeve  52  and the socket body  38  may be a one-piece structure. In other words, the retention socket  18   e  may include a thick wall socket body  38 . The O-ring  60  and the balls  70  collectively form ball plungers configured to exert compressive forces on the head  30  of the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12 , thereby retaining the non-ferrous metallic fastener  12  without the aid of magnetic forces. 
     While the best modes for carrying out the disclosure have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this disclosure relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the disclosure within the scope of the appended claims. For example, each of the retention sockets  18   a ,  18   b ,  18   c    18   d , and  18   e  may be removably coupled to the tool shaft  16  of the nutrunner  10 .