Patent Publication Number: US-2023158643-A1

Title: Sleeve assembly and electric tool

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-application of International (PCT) Patent Application No. PCT/CN2022/098286, filed on Jun. 11, 2022, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202110855520.0 filed with China National Intellectual Property Administration on Jul. 28, 2021, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to technical field of installations instrument, in particular to a sleeve assembly and an electric tool with simple operation. 
     BACKGROUND 
     An electric wrench is a wrench powered by a power supply or a battery, which is a tool for tightening a bolt. The electric wrench is mainly classified as an impact wrench, a torsion shear wrench, a constant-torque wrench, a corner wrench, an angular wrench, a hydraulic wrench, a torque wrench, and a rechargeable electric wrench. An electric wrench with a sleeve is a tool that people often use in their daily work and life, and is essential both in ordinary mechanical maintenance and in a process of construction installation. The existing electric wrench can tighten a nut with a bolt through multiple instruments and operations, but a work efficiency is low. 
     SUMMARY 
     The technical solution provided in the present disclosure to solve problem in the related art is as following. A sleeve assembly is provided and configured to screw a nut to a bolt located on a to-be-fixed component. The sleeve assembly also includes a sleeve defining a receiving cavity recessed backward from a first end face of the sleeve. The nut is received in the receiving cavity. The sleeve assembly also includes a pull rod assembly arranged in the receiving cavity. The pull rod assembly includes a pull rod extending along a central axis of the sleeve, a pulling component arranged at one end of the pull rod, and a bearing arranged at another end of the pull rod opposite to the pulling component. The pull rod is connected to an inner wall of the sleeve through the bearing, and the pull rod is rotatable relative to the sleeve. In response to the sleeve assembly screwing the nut, the pulling component is configured to drive the bolt to be attached to a surface of the to-be-fixed component. 
     The technical solution provided in the present disclosure to solve problem in the related art is as following. An electric tool is provided and includes a housing, a motor arranged in the housing, a transmission mechanism connected to the motor, and an output shaft driven by the transmission mechanism. The output shaft is partially exposed from a front end of the housing. The electric tool also includes the sleeve assembly mentioned above. The sleeve assembly is fixedly connected to a first end of the output shaft away from the motor. 
     A technical solution provided in the present disclosure to solve problem in the related art is as following. An electric tool configured to screw a nut to a bolt located on a to-be-fixed component is provided and includes a housing, an output shaft, partially exposed from a first end of the housing; and a sleeve assembly. The sleeve assembly includes a sleeve extending along an axial direction of the output shaft, wherein the output shaft is inserted into the sleeve and a pull rod assembly received in the sleeve. The pull rod assembly includes a pull rod extending along the axis direction of the output shaft and rotatably connected to the sleeve and a magnetic component arranged at one end of the pull rod away from the output shaft. In response to the sleeve assembly screwing the nut, the magnetic component adsorbs the bolt, and the sleeve assembly applies a force to the bolt, such that the bolt is attached to a surface of the to-be-fixed component. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Specific embodiments of the present disclosure are further described in detail below in combination with drawings. 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective schematic view of an electric tool according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a sectional view of the electric tool shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective schematic view of a sleeve assembly in the electric tool shown in  FIG.  1   . 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded schematic view of the sleeve assembly shown in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective schematic view of the electric tool shown in  FIG.  1    when the electric tool is in a used state. 
         FIG.  6    is a sectional view of the electric tool shown in  FIG.  5    when the electric tool is in the used state. 
         FIG.  7    is a partially enlarged view of the electric tool shown in  FIG.  6    when the electric tool is in the used state. 
     
    
    
     Reference labels in the drawings. 
     sleeve assembly  100 , sleeve  10 , receiving cavity  11 , connecting channel  12 , groove  13 , through hole  14 , pin  15 , sealing ring  16 , pull rod assembly  20 , pull rod  21 , magnetic component  22 , bearing  23 , magnetic steel  24 , protective sleeve  25 , electric tool  200 , housing  210 , body portion  211 , holding portion  212 , operation button  213 , motor  220 , transmission mechanism  230 , output shaft  240 , battery pack  250 , to-be-fixed component  300 , nut  310 , bolt  320 , nut cap  321 , screw  322 . 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Terms used in the present disclosure are only for purpose of describing specific embodiments, not for limiting the present disclosure. For example, following terms indicating orientations or position relationships, such as “up”, “down”, “front”, “rear” and so on are only based on orientations or position relationships shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for convenience of describing the present disclosure and simplifying description, rather than indicating or implying that a device or a component referred to must have a particular orientation or be constructed and operated in a particular orientation. Therefore, the terms cannot be understood as a limitation of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1  and  2   , an electric tool  200  is provided in some embodiments of the present disclosure. In this embodiment, the electric tool  200  may be an electric wrench, and may include a housing  210 , a motor  220  arranged in the housing  210 , a transmission mechanism  230  connected to the motor  220 , an output shaft  240  driven by the transmission mechanism  230 , and a sleeve assembly  100  connected to a front end of the output shaft  240 . The output shaft  240  is partially exposed from a front end of the housing  210 . That is to say, the output shaft  240  includes two opposite ends along the axial direction of the output shaft  240 , namely the front end and a rear end. The front end of the output shaft  240  is connected to the sleeve assembly  100  while the rear end of the output shaft  240  is connected to the transmission mechanism  230 . The output shaft  240  is a wrench head at least partially exposed from the front end of the housing  210 , and the motor  220  drives, through the transmission mechanism  230 , the output shaft  240  to drive the sleeve assembly  100  to operate. Herein, the front end of the housing  210  refers to the end of the housing  210  away from the motor  220  along the axis direction of the output shaft  240 . 
     The housing  210  may include a body portion  211  extending along an axis of the output shaft  240  and a holding portion  212  connected to a lower part of the body portion  211 . The motor  220  and the transmission mechanism  230  are both received in the body portion  211 . The output shaft  240  is partially received in the body portion  211  with a part thereof exposed from the housing  210 . The holding portion  212  is configured to be held by a user when the user is using and operating the electric tool  200 . The holding portion  212  is arranged with an operation button  213  for the user to operate, so as to control the electric tool  200  to start and stop. The electric tool  200  may also include a battery pack  250  connected to a lower end of the holding portion  212 , and the battery pack  250  is configured to supply power to the electric tool  200 . That is to say, the holding portion  212  may have an upper end and a lower end opposite to the upper end as shown in  FIG.  1   . The body portion  211  is located at the upper end of the holding portion  212 , while the battery pack  250  is located at the lower end of the holding portion  212  and away from the body portion  211 . 
     As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the sleeve assembly  100  may include a sleeve  10  extending along an axis of the output shaft  240  and a pull rod assembly  20  arranged in the sleeve  10 . A receiving cavity  11  recessed backward from a front end face of the sleeve  10  is defined in the sleeve  10 , a connecting channel  12  recessed forward from a rear end face of the sleeve  10  is defined in the sleeve  10 , and a nut  310  is received in the receiving cavity  11 . The output shaft  240  extends into the connecting channel  12 , such that the sleeve assembly  100  is fixedly connected to the front end of the connecting channel  12 , thereby enabling the motor  220  to drive the sleeve assembly  100  to operate through the output shaft  240 . In other words, the sleeve  10  has a first end and a second end opposite to each other, and further includes a first end face disposed at the first end and a second end face disposed at the second end. The first end may also be called as “front end”, and the first end face may be called as “front end face”. The second end may also be called as “rear end”, and the second end face may be called as “rear end face”. The receiving cavity  11  is disposed adjacent to the first end and recessed from the first end face in a direction towards the second end face. While the connecting channel  12  is disposed adjacent to the second end and recessed from the second end face in a direction towards the first end face. The receiving cavity  11  is in communication with the connecting channel  12 . 
     Specifically, a groove  13  substantially in shape of an annulus and recessed inwards from a peripheral surface of the rear end (second end) of the sleeve  10  is defined in the sleeve  10 , and a through hole  14  radially (that is, in a direction close to a central axis of the sleeve  10 ) extending or running through the sleeve  10  from the peripheral surface of the rear end the sleeve  10  is further defined in the sleeve  10 . The groove  13  is defined around the peripheral direction of the sleeve  10 . The through hole  14  extends inwards from a wall defining the groove  13  and is fluidly coupled to the connecting channel  12 . The sleeve assembly  100  may also include a pin  15  corresponding to the through hole  14  and a sealing ring  16  clamped or engaged in the groove  13 . When a front end of the output shaft  240  is located in the connecting channel  12 , the pin  15  is inserted in the through hole  14  and penetrates the output shaft  240 , and an inner ring of the sealing ring  16  abuts against both ends of the pin  15 . Therefore, it is possible to ensure that the sleeve assembly  100  is stably and fixedly connected to the front end of the electric tool  200 . In some embodiments, the sealing ring  16  may be made of rubber, that is, may be a rubber ring. 
     The pull rod assembly  20  is arranged in the receiving cavity  11  and may include a pull rod  21  extending along the central axis of the sleeve  10 , a magnetic component  22  (also called as “pulling component” in some embodiments) arranged at a front end of the pull rod  21 , and a bearing  23  arranged at a rear end of the pull rod  21 . The pull rod  21  is connected to an inner wall of the sleeve  10  through the bearing  23 , such that the pull rod  21  may be axially fixed on the sleeve  10  and is rotatable relative to the sleeve  10 . The magnetic component  22  may include a magnetic steel  24  arranged on a front end face of the pull rod  21  and a protective sleeve  25  sleeved on an outside of the magnetic steel  24 . The protective sleeve  25  extends backward from a front end of the magnetic steel  24  and is sleeved on a periphery of the pull rod  21 , such that the magnetic steel  24  is stably connected to the pull rod  21 . In some embodiments, the magnetic component  22  may be replaced by other pulling components, such as an adsorbing component configured to drive the bolt to be attached to the surface of the to-be-fixed component. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  5  to  7   , the sleeve assembly  100  according to some embodiments of the present disclosure is configured to screw the nut  310  to a bolt  320  arranged on a to-be-fixed component  300 . The to-be-fixed component  300  includes two sub-components that are attached and contacted to each other and to be fixed. The bolt  320  includes a nut cap  321  and a screw  322 . The nut cap  321  is located on a side of the to-be-fixed component  300 . The screw  322  extends from the nut cap  321 , penetrates the to-be-fixed component  300  and extends to another side of the to-be-fixed component  300 . The electric tool  200  is arranged on the another side of the to-be-fixed component  300  through the sleeve assembly  100  receiving the nut  310 . 
     A shape of a periphery of the nut  310  is substantially regular multi prism, and a shape of the receiving cavity  11  corresponds to or matches with the shape of the periphery of the nut  310 . That is, the shape of the receiving cavity  11  is also substantially regular multi prism, so as to receive the nut  310 . A diameter of the pull rod assembly  20  is smaller than an inner diameter of the nut  310 , such that when the nut  310  is received in the receiving cavity  11 , the nut  310  is abstracted by the magnetic component  22  to move to a periphery of the magnetic component  22 . 
     When the sleeve assembly  100  is screwing the nut  310 , the magnetic component  22  adsorbs the bolt  320  and the sleeve assembly  100  applies a force to the bolt  320  to make the bolt  320  attached to a surface of the to-be-fixed component  300  and prevent the bolt  320  from moving relative to the to-be-fixed component  300 . Specifically, when the sleeve assembly  100  is screwing the nut  310 , the screw  322  extends into the receiving cavity  11 , the magnetic steel  24  of the magnetic component  22  adsorbs one end of the screw  322 , and the sleeve assembly  100  applies a force away from the to-be-fixed component  300  to the screw  322  to make the nut cap  321  attached to the surface of the to-be-fixed component  300 , thereby generating a friction. The friction may prevent the bolt  320  from rotating with the nut  310 . That is, the bolt  320  cannot move relative to the to-be-fixed component  300 , thereby tightening the nut  310  with the bolt  320 . 
     A sleeve assembly is provided and configured to screw a nut to a bolt located on a to-be-fixed component. The sleeve assembly also includes a sleeve defining a receiving cavity recessed backward from a first end face of the sleeve. The nut is received in the receiving cavity. The sleeve assembly also includes a pull rod assembly arranged in the receiving cavity. The pull rod assembly includes a pull rod extending along a central axis of the sleeve, a pulling component arranged at one end of the pull rod, and a bearing arranged at another end of the pull rod opposite to the pulling component. The pull rod is connected to an inner wall of the sleeve through the bearing, and the pull rod is rotatable relative to the sleeve. In response to the sleeve assembly screwing the nut, the pulling component is configured to drive the bolt to be attached to a surface of the to-be-fixed component. 
     In some embodiments, the pulling component is a magnetic component arranged at one end of the pull rod; in response to the sleeve assembly screwing the nut, the magnetic component adsorbs the bolt, and the sleeve assembly applies a force to the bolt, such that the bolt is attached to a surface of the to-be-fixed component. 
     In some embodiments, a diameter of the pull rod assembly is smaller than an inner diameter of the nut. 
     In some embodiments, the magnetic component includes a magnetic steel arranged on a front end face of the pull rod. 
     In some embodiments, the magnetic component further includes a protective sleeve sleeved on an outside of the magnetic steel, the protective sleeve extends backwards from a front end of the magnetic steel, and is sleeved on a periphery of the pull rod. 
     In some embodiments, a shape of the receiving cavity matches with a shape of the periphery of the nut. 
     In some embodiments, the pulling component is configured to attract the nut to move to a periphery of the pulling component in a case where the nut is received in the receiving cavity. 
     In some embodiments, the bolt includes a nut cap located on a side of the to-be-fixed component and a screw extending from the nut cap, penetrating the to-be-fixed component, and extending to another side of the to-be-fixed component; in response to the sleeve assembly screwing the nut, the screw extends into the receiving cavity, the pulling component pulls one end of the screw away from the to-be-fixed component. 
     An electric tool is provided and includes a housing, a motor arranged in the housing, a transmission mechanism connected to the motor, and an output shaft driven by the transmission mechanism. The output shaft is partially exposed from a front end of the housing. The electric tool also includes the sleeve assembly mentioned above. The sleeve assembly is fixedly connected to a first end of the output shaft away from the motor. 
     In some embodiments, a connecting channel recessed forward from a rear end face of the sleeve is defined in the sleeve, and the output shaft extends into the connecting channel such that the sleeve assembly is fixedly connected to the first end of the output shaft away from the motor. 
     In some embodiments, the pulling component is a magnetic component arranged at one end of the pull rod; in response to the sleeve assembly screwing the nut, the magnetic component adsorbs the bolt, and the sleeve assembly applies a force to the bolt, such that the bolt is attached to a surface of the to-be-fixed component. 
     In some embodiments, a diameter of the pull rod assembly is smaller than an inner diameter of the nut; a shape of the receiving cavity matches with a shape of the periphery of the nut. 
     In some embodiments, the magnetic component includes a magnetic steel arranged on a front end face of the pull rod. 
     In some embodiments, the magnetic component further includes a protective sleeve sleeved on an outside of the magnetic steel, the protective sleeve extends backwards from a front end of the magnetic steel, and is sleeved on a periphery of the pull rod. 
     In some embodiments, the pulling component is configured to attract the nut to move to a periphery of the pulling component in a case where the nut is received in the receiving cavity. 
     In some embodiments, the bolt includes a nut cap located on a side of the to-be-fixed component and a screw extending from the nut cap, penetrating the to-be-fixed component, and extending to another side of the to-be-fixed component; in response to the sleeve assembly screwing the nut, the screw extends into the receiving cavity, the pulling component pulls one end of the screw away from the to-be-fixed component. 
     In some embodiments, a through hole radially extending through the sleeve from a peripheral surface of the rear end of the sleeve is defined in the sleeve, the through hole is fluidly coupled to the connecting channel, the sleeve assembly includes a pin corresponding to the through hole; in a case where a front end of the output shaft is located in the connecting channel, the pin is inserted in the through hole and penetrates the output shaft. 
     In some embodiments, a groove substantially in shape of an annulus and recessed inwards from the peripheral surface of the rear end of the sleeve is defined in the sleeve, and the through hole extends inwards from the groove and is fluidly coupled to the connecting channel; the sleeve assembly includes a sealing ring clamped in the groove, and in a case where the front end of the output shaft is located in the connecting channel, an inner ring of the sealing ring abuts against both ends of the pin. 
     In some embodiments, the electric tool is an electric wrench, and the output shaft is a wrench head at least partially exposed from a front end of the housing. 
     An electric tool configured to screw a nut to a bolt located on a to-be-fixed component is provided and includes a housing, an output shaft, partially exposed from a first end of the housing; and a sleeve assembly. The sleeve assembly includes a sleeve extending along an axial direction of the output shaft, the output shaft is inserted into the sleeve and a pull rod assembly received in the sleeve. The pull rod assembly includes a pull rod extending along the axis direction of the output shaft and rotatably connected to the sleeve and a magnetic component arranged at one end of the pull rod away the output shaft. In response to the sleeve assembly screwing the nut, the magnetic component adsorbs the bolt, and the sleeve assembly applies a force to the bolt, such that the bolt is attached to a surface of the to-be-fixed component. 
     In the present disclosure, the pull rod assembly  20  includes the pull rod  21  extending along the central axis of the sleeve  10 , the magnetic component  22  arranged at the front end of the pull rod  21 , and the bearing  23  arranged at the rear end of the pull rod  21 . The pull rod  21  is connected to the inner wall of the sleeve  10  through the bearing  23 , such that the pull rod  21  is rotatable relative to the sleeve  10 . When the sleeve assembly  100  is screwing the nut  310 , the magnetic component  22  adsorbs the bolt  320 , and the sleeve assembly  100  applies the force to the bolt  320  to make the bolt  320  attached to the surface of the to-be-fixed component  300 , thereby generating the friction. The friction may prevent the bolt  320  from rotating with the nut  310 . That is, the bolt  320  cannot move relative to the to-be-fixed component  300 . The sleeve assembly  100  ensures that the electric tool  200  may tighten the nut  310  with the bolt  320  without additional instrument to fix the bolt  320 . The operation is simple and convenient, which improves a working efficiency and reduces an operation difficulty. 
     The present disclosure is not limited to above specific embodiments. Those skilled can easily understand that there are many alternatives to the sleeve assembly and electric tool of the present disclosure without departing from the principle and scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is subject to the claims.