Patent Publication Number: US-8984992-B2

Title: Socket with nut or bolt holding structure

Description:
FIELD 
     The invention relates to holding a nut or a bolt after unscrewing or before screwing, preferably when this process is automated and, more particularly, to structure and methods for securely holding a nut or bolt within a socket by friction or by vacuum. 
     BACKGROUND 
     When using a socket wrench to install or remove a nut or bolt, there is a tendency for the nut or bolt to fall out of the socket when it is not engaged. When the nut or bolt is engaged, the retaining force on the nut or bolt is much greater than the holding force on the socket. Therefore, the wrenching tool, including the socket, can be retracted off of the nut or bolt. 
     Using a socket that holds the nut or bolt is useful in manual operation, but is particularly useful when the wrenching operation is automated, since there may not be an operator near the wrench to replace the nut or bolt if it falls from the socket. 
     Magnets have been used to hold a nut or bolt in a socket. However, there is a possibility that foreign, ferrous material may be attracted by the magnet and enter the socket, requiring an operator to remove the foreign material. 
     Thus, there is a need to provide a structure for holding a nut or bolt in a socket by friction or by a vacuum. 
     SUMMARY 
     An objective of the invention is to fulfill the need referred to above. In accordance with the principles of the present invention, this objective is obtained by providing a socket for removing or installing a fastener having a hexagonal shaped portion. The socket includes a body having a longitudinal axis and opposing first and second ends. First surfaces define a tool-receiving portion at the first end. The tool-receiving portion is constructed and arranged to receive a portion of a tool. Second surfaces define a socket portion at the second end. The socket portion is constructed and arranged to receive and engage the portion of the fastener therein. Holding structure is associated with the socket portion and is constructed and arranged to non-magnetically hold the portion of the fastener in the socket portion so as to not fall out of the socket portion, without providing torque to the fastener when the socket is rotated during installation or removal of the fastener. 
     In accordance with another aspect, a method of holding a fastener with respect to a socket provides a socket having surfaces defining a socket portion. The socket is placed over a portion of a fastener so that the portion of the fastener is received in the socket portion. Holding structure, associated with the socket portion, is utilized to non-magnetically hold the portion of the fastener in the socket portion so as to not fall out of the socket portion, without providing torque to the fastener when the socket is rotated during installation or removal of the fastener. 
     Other objects, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and the functions of the related elements of the structure, the combination of parts and economics of manufacture will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a socket having holding structure in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the socket with the holding structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is sectional view of the socket with the holding structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the socket with the holding structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of a tooth of the holding structure of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is sectional view of another embodiment of the socket with a single holding structure holding a nut within a socket portion. 
         FIG. 7  a view of a socket with holding structure, provided in accordance with another embodiment, with the holding structure including a vacuum system, drive shaft and collar. 
         FIG. 8A  is a front exploded view of the socket, collar and drive shaft of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 8B  is a rear exploded view of the socket, collar and drive shaft of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the socket, collar and drive shaft of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 10A  is a rear exploded view of a socket, collar and cap of yet another embodiment. 
         FIG. 10B  is a front exploded view of the socket, collar and cap of  FIG. 10A . 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the socket, collar and cap of  FIG. 10B . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , a socket for installing or removing fasteners is shown, generally indicated  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The socket  10  includes a generally cylindrical body  12  having a longitudinal axis X and opposing, first and second ends  14  and  16 , respectively. The first end  14  includes surfaces  15  defining a preferably square shaped, tool-receiving portion  17  that is constructed and arranged to be removably received by a tool such as a socket wrench  40  ( FIG. 3 ) therein. The second end  16  includes surfaces  18  defining a socket portion  19  in the conventional manner constructed and arranged to receive and engage a hexagonally-shaped portion of fastener therein. As used herein, “fasteners” includes heads of bolts, studs, nuts, or any other hexagonally-shaped structure. The socket portion  19  is preferably hexagonally shaped, but can be other shapes that can receive and engage a hexagonally-shaped portion of fastener therein. 
     The socket  10  includes at least one holding structure, generally indicated at  20 . Each holding structure  20  includes a rigid tooth  24 , preferably of metal, and a spring member  26 , engaged with a back end  29  of the tooth  24 . Each tooth  24  and associated spring member  26  is received in an opening  28  through the wall  30  of the body  12 . The openings  28  extend perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis X and communicate with the socket portion  19  so that the tooth  24  extends into the socket portion  19 . With reference to  FIG. 3 , a lip  31  is provided in each opening  28  and the tooth  24  includes a flange  32  that engages the lip  31 , preventing the tooth  24  from falling into the socket portion  19 . A cap  33  is placed over the body  12  near the second end  16  thereof to cover the openings  28  and secure the holding structures  20  to the body  12 . As best shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , preferably three openings  28 , spaced about 120° apart with regard to the socket portion  19 , and three holding structures  20  are provided. 
     The spring member  26  provides the associated tooth  24  with resilience, allowing the tooth  24  to compress when the socket  10  engages the fastener. In the embodiment, each spring member  26  is an elastic member such as a rubber pad, or an array of rubber material such as rubber balls. Alternatively, each spring member  26  can be a spring such as a coil, leaf, or other type of small spring applying a spring force to the rigid tooth  24 . As best shown  FIG. 3 , a portion of engaging surface  27  of each tooth  24 , closest to the second end  16  of the socket  10 , includes a chamfered surface  34  tapering (enlarging) towards the second end  16 . The chamfered surface  34  is engaged by the fastener when the fastener is introduced into the socket portion  19 , which causes the spring member  26  to compress. 
     The teeth  24  provide a sufficient friction force on the head of the fastener to securely grasp it and keep it from falling out of the socket portion  19 . When three teeth  24  are provided, the teeth  24  also provide sufficient force on the fastener head to keep fastener aligned concentrically with the socket portion  19 . This will allow the fastener to rotate concentrically with the socket portion  19  making the fastening process easier. The teeth  24  are strictly intended to retain the fastener and do not exert torque on the fastener for fastening or unfastening purposes when the socket  10  is rotated. The teeth  24  are intentionally located on the flat surfaces  18  of the socket portion  19  rather than on the corners to retain the torque transmission capabilities of the socket portion  19 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , to increase the friction gripping force on the fastener, each or some of the teeth  24  can include a surface feature such as knurling or serrations  36  on a the engaging surface  27  thereof. 
     Returning to  FIG. 3 , a wrench  42  with an adaptor  40  is received in the tool-receiving portion  17 . The wrench adaptor  40  can be operated manually or can be coupled to another tool which provides rotation and torque, such as a pneumatic or electric wrench tool. The wrench tool itself can be operated manually of automatically, such as with an industrial robot or another movable carrier mechanism. In either manual or automated use, the teeth  24  of the holding structure  20  engage and hold the fastener within the socket portion  19  to prevent the fastener from falling out of the socket portion  19  while transporting the fastener to or from the location where it is to be fastened. 
     Instead of providing the holding structures  20  as in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-4 ,  FIG. 6  shows is a sectional view of a socket  10 ′ having a single holding structure  20  holding a fastener, in the form of a nut  43 , in engagement with a surface  18  of the socket portion  19 . 
       FIG. 7  shows another embodiment of a socket, generally indicated at  10 ″. Instead of providing the holding structure in the form of teeth and spring members, the holding structure  20 ′ includes a vacuum source  46  in communication with the socket portion  19  via a tube  48 . In the embodiment of  FIGS. 7-9 , the holding structure  20 ′ also includes a tubular drive shaft  50  having an opened first end  52  for receiving an end  54  of the socket  10 ″, preferably in a press-fit manner. Alternatively, the socket  10 ″ can be welded or adhered to the drive shaft  50 . The second end  56  of the drive shaft  50  includes surfaces  15 ′ defining a tool-receiving portion  17 ′ similar to that of the socket  10 ″ for engaging a wrench or the like for driving the socket  10 ″. However, the tool-receiving portion  17 ′ of the drive shaft  50  does not communicate with opened end  52  due to providing an end wall  57 . At least one vacuum port  58  is provided through a wall of the drive shaft  50 . In the embodiment, a plurality of ports  58  are provided about the circumference of the drive shaft  50  to communicate with the opened end  52  thereof and thus with the tool-receiving portion  17  of the socket  10 ″. 
     The holding structure  20 ′ further includes a collar  60  disposed about the drive shaft  50  so as to cover the ports  58 . The tube  48  is connected with a port  62  through the collar  60  and port  62  communicates with ports  58 . A bushing or bearing  64  is provided between the collar  60  and the drive shaft  50  permitting the drive shaft  50  and socket  10 ″ therein to rotate with respect to the stationary collar  60 . The bushing or bearing  64  also serves as a seal between the collar  60  and the drive shaft  50 . Alternatively, separate seals may be used to seal the gap between the collar  60  and drive shaft  50 . A vacuum, provided by the vacuum source  46 , draws air through the tool receiving-portion  17  of the socket  10 ″, through ports  58  and  62  and tube  48 . Since tool-receiving portion  17  and the socket portion  19  of the socket  10 ″ communicate with each other, due to the vacuum, the portion of a fastener in the socket portion  19  is held within the socket portion  19 . 
       FIGS. 10A ,  10 B and  11  show yet another embodiment of a socket  10 ′″. Instead of providing the drive shaft  50 , the holding structure includes a tubular cap  65  having an opened first end  66  for receiving the end  54  of the socket  10 ′″, preferably in a press-fit manner. A second end  68  of the cap  65  includes an opening  70  for accessing the square tool-receiving portion of the socket  10 ′″. At least one vacuum port  58  is provided through a wall of the cap  65 . In the embodiment, a plurality of ports  58  are provided about the circumference of the cap  65  to communicate with ports  72  in end of the socket  10 ′″. The ports  72  communicate with the socket portion  19 . The holding structure further includes the collar  60  disposed about the cap  65  so as to cover the ports  58 . The tube  48  is connected with the port  62  through the collar  60  and port  62  communicates with ports  58 . A bushing or bearing  64  is provided between the collar  60  and the cap  65  permitting the cap  65  and socket  10 ′″ therein to rotate with respect to the stationary collar  60 . A vacuum, provided by the vacuum source  46  ( FIG. 7 ), draws air through the socket portion  19 , through ports  72 ,  58  and  62  and tube  48 . Due to the vacuum, the portion of a fastener in the socket portion  19  is draw against the inner face  18 ′ ( FIG. 3 ) and held. 
     The cap  65  and drive shaft  50  can be considered to be vacuum port structure. The vacuum can be reversed to blow air through the socket  10  to remove debris. 
     Thus, disclosed embodiments non-magnetically hold a portion of a fastener to keep it from falling out of the socket portion  19  since friction or vacuum is employed. Since no magnetic forces are required, the embodiments eliminate the possibility of foreign, ferrous material being attracted to the socket and enter the socket portion  19 . Another advantage of the socket is that an outside diameter thereof is similar to that of conventional sockets. Thus, the socket can engage fasteners that are close to obstructions or close to neighboring fasteners. 
     The foregoing preferred embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the structural and functional principles of the present invention, as well as illustrating the methods of employing the preferred embodiments and are subject to change without departing from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit of the following claims.