Patent Publication Number: US-6666282-B2

Title: Impact tool carriage system

Description:
Applicant claims priority to the application described herein through a United States provisional patent application entitled “Impact Tool Carriage System, having U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/308,364 which was filed on Jul. 26, 2001. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This device relates in general to devices for unscrewing threaded members, and in particular to a carriage that will support and position an impact tool while the tool is being used to remove a threaded stud or a nut. 
     BACKGROUND of the INVENTION 
     Pneumatic tools can be cumbersome and difficult to operate in certain conditions. Some pneumatic driver tools or impact tools that are typically used for unscrewing threaded members can be heavy and require one or more persons to use both hands to support the tool when trying to remove threaded members that are above the person. This does not allow a person to easily control how the driver tool is engaging the threaded member. 
     What is needed is an apparatus that can support a driver tool so that the person operating the tool can focus on how the tool is engaging the threaded member rather that balancing the tool. The apparatus needs to be maneuverable so that operator can efficiently remove threaded members that are located at different locations. The apparatus needs to be able to help lift the driver tool into position before the operator operates the driver tool. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A carriage system adapted to support a driver tool. The system for supporting the driving tool has at least one support member with a lower portion connected to a horizontally extending platform with other portions of the support member extending upwardly from the platform. A first arm is rotatably connected to the support member at a first elevation above the platform. The connection of the first arm to the support member is at a medial portion of the first arm. A distal end of the first arm defines a first driver end and a proximal end of the first arm defines a first weight end. A distal portion of the first arm adjacent the first driver end is adapted to rotatably engage a first portion of a driver tool. 
     A second arm is rotatably connected to the support member at a second elevation that is closer to the platform than the first elevation. The connection of the second arm to the support member is at a medial portion of the second arm. A distal end of the second arm defines a second driver end and a proximal end of the second arm defines a second weight end. A distal portion of the second arm adjacent the second driver end is adapted to rotatably engage a second portion of the driver tool. 
     A weight is positioned between the first weight end of the first arm and the second weight end of the second arm. A portion of the first arm toward the first weight end is rotatably connected to an upper elevation of the weight and a portion of the second arm toward the second weight end is rotatably connected to a lower elevation of the weight. When the weight and the first weight end and the second weight end vertically move in combination in a first direction the first driver end and second driver end move in combination in a vertically opposite second direction. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a carriage system constructed in accordance with this invention, shown with the tool driver in the lowered position. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the apparatus of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1, shown with the tool driver in the elevated position. 
     FIG. 4 is a detailed front view of the lower portion of an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
     FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a carriage system  10  constructed in accordance with the invention. Carriage system  10  comprises a support member such as a vertical, cylindrical pillar  12  which is securely fastened to a base  14 , which is a circular plate. A pair of upper arms  16  and a pair of lower arms  18  are attached at their midpoints to the pillar  12  by pivot pins  20 , so that each upper arm  16  and lower arm  18  is free to rotate about its midpoint in a vertical plane with respect to pillar  12 . Each pivot pin  20  has a transverse hole (not shown) at the end, through which passes a locking pin  22  to hold the pivot pin  20  securely in place relative to the arm. Each upper arm  16  and lower arm  18  is substantially rectangular in cross-section, with all four arms having essentially identical dimensions. Upper arms  16  are parallel to each other and to both lower arms  18 . 
     Hinge pins  24  at both ends of each upper arm  16  and lower arm  18  allow for the attachment of a tool driver  26  at one end of the arms, and the attachment of counterweights  28  at the opposite end of the arms relative to the pillar  12 . Counterweights  28  are mounted to vertical braces  30  that extend between arms  16 ,  18  and are connected by hinge pins  24 . Each of these hinge pins  24  also has a locking pin at its end as described above. 
     Tool driver  26  is a pneumatic powered driver or impact tool of a type well known to those skilled in the art. Tool driver  26  has a body  32  which is attached to one end of each upper arm  16  and lower arm  18  by hinge pins  24  as described above. Tool driver  26  also has a square or multi-sided drive head  34  for receiving and securely holding a socket (not shown) for gripping a threaded fastener. Socket may be configured to grip a threaded stud, a nut, or an Allen head. As shown in FIG. 2, a bar  36  extends between the forward ends of lower arms  18 . Bar  36  passes through a ring  38  located at the lower end of tool driver body  32 . Ring  38  transfers torque on the housing of tool driver  26  to bar  36 , hinge pin  24 , arms  18 , and pillar  12 . 
     Counterweights  28  are attached to the opposite end of each upper arm  16  and lower arm  18 . Counterweights  28  have a total weight approximately equal to or slightly less than that of tool driver  26 . The distance between counterweights  28  and pillar  12  is roughly equivalent to the distance between tool driver  26  and pillar  12 . 
     A handle  40  secured to each brace  30  extends from counterweights  28  away from pillar  12 , in a direction substantially parallel to upper arms  16 . Control lines  42  extend from handle  40 , along upper arm  16 , to control valve  44  on tool driver  26  to allow an operator to control the operation of tool driver  26 . A pneumatic piston  46  is positioned between the pivot pin  20  at the midpoint of lower arm  18  and a point on the lower surface of tool driver  26  to permit the operator to change between clockwise and counterclockwise movement. Piston  46  is operated by a control device mounted on one of the handles  40 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the invention, base  14  is mounted on a platform  48  by a plurality of bearings  50  to enable pillar  12  to be rotated relative to platform  48 . Platform  48  is circular or rectangular. A plurality of feet  52  are mounted at the periphery of platform  48 . Feet  52  are sufficiently broad to provide a stable support for the carriage system  10 . Casters (not shown) engage the floor to allow carriage  10  to be rolled from one location to another. Feet  52  are vertically adjustable to lift the casters above the floor while carriage system  10  is operating. 
     In operation, the carriage system  10  begins in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, with the tool driver  26  in the lowered position. A fastener engaging tool (not shown) is installed on the drive head  34  of tool driver  26 . The carriage system  10  is then positioned so that tool driver  26  is generally below the stud or nut to be loosened. An operator manually pushes the handles  40  downward. Upper arms  16  and lower arms  18  will rotate about their midpoints at pivot pins  20 , counterweights  28  will move downward, and tool driver  26  will move upward to the elevated position shown in FIG.  3 . Braces  30  link both upper arms  16  and lower arms  18  together at one end, and tool driver  26  links the arms at their other end, so that all four arms are constrained to move in unison. This unified motion ensures that tool driver  26  will remain vertical while moving from the lowered position to the elevated position. 
     When tool driver  26  reaches the desired elevation, socket or gripping tool on drive head  34  engages the fastener. The operator uses the controls mounted on handle  40  to rotate drive head  34  and the socket. After the completion of the task at hand, the operator will raise the handles  40 , returning tool driver  26  to the lowered position. The socket or gripping tool can then be removed from tool driver  26 , or the carriage system  10  can be moved to a different location to perform further work. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the carriage system of the invention. In this alternate embodiment, the support member that was pillar  12  in the other embodiment is replaced with two vertical, rectangular support columns  54  as another example of a pair of support members. Columns  54  are securely attached to base  14 ′, which has a circular hole  56  in the center. Anchor bolt  58  extends up through platform  48 ′ and through hole  56 . Retainer plate  60  prevents bolt  58  from falling down through hole  56 . Hole  56  has a greater diameter than bolt  58 , allowing base  14 ′ to move linearly relative to platform  48 ′ and feet  52 ′. 
     In operation, this alternate embodiment is used in the same manner as the preferred embodiment, except that an operator can correct small misalignments between the tool driver  26  and the work piece by linearly moving the entire upper portion of the carriage system  10  relative to the platform  48 ′ and feet  52 ′, as indicated by arrows in FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates an alternate embodiment of the carriage system of the invention. In this alternative embodiment, support member that was the vertical, cylinder pillar  12  in the other embodiment is replaced with a vertical pillar  62  and a vertical shaft  64  attached to the U-frame support structure  66  as another example of a support member. In the preferred embodiment the vertical pillar  62  uses a hydraulics system comprised of a gaseous element located over a fluid element. The hydraulics of the vertical pillar  62  permits the vertical shaft  64  to extend upward and retract downward from the vertical pillar  62  in a smooth motion. The distance the vertical shaft  64  may extend from the vertical pillar  62  is approximately 62 inches. Vertical shaft  64  is attached to the U-Frame  66  in a manner that enables the U-frame  66  to be raised and lowered by controlling the hydraulic cylinder of pillar  62  from a control mounted on handles  40 . 
     The upper arms  16  and lower arms  18  are attached to the U-frame  66  at their midpoint with pivot pins in a vertical plane with pillar  62 . The ends of the upper arms  16  and lower arms  18  is connected to track plate  68  or  70 . Track plates  68  and  70  contain two sets of track running wheels  72  that will permit tracks  74  and  76  to slide freely along the horizontal plane of track plates  68  and  70 . 
     The counterweight  28  are attached to plates  109  that are attached to tracks  74 . The tracks  74  are attached to track plates  68  in a manner to allow tracks  74  to run along the track wheels  72  that are attached to track plate  68 . This system permits the counterweight  28  to vary their distance from the U-frame  66  and the remainder of the carriage system. 
     The tool driver  26  has a body  32  that is attached to a support frame  80 . The support frame  80  is with pivot pins to beams  82 . The beams  82  are attached to track  76 . The beams  82  permit the tool driver  26  to rotate independently of track  76 ( 106 B). Track  76  is attached to track plate  70  in a manner to allow track  76  to run along track running wheels  72  that are attached to track plate  70 . This system permits the tool driver  26  to rotate independently of the U-frame and the remainder of the carriage system as well as vary the distance between the tool driver  26  and the remainder of the carriage system. 
     Additionally, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 portions of the carriage system can be separated from the base  14 , vertical pillar  62  and vertical shaft  64 , and be maneuvered into alternative positions. The U-frame  66  is attached to vertical shaft  64  through attachment bolt  84 . The removal of the attachment bolt from the U-frame  66  permits the detachment of the U-frame  66 , along with the attached upper arms  16 , lower arms  18 , counterweight  28 , and tool driver  26 , to be separated from the vertical shaft  64 , vertical pillar  62 , and base  14 . The removal of the U-frame  66  from vertical shaft  64  is facilitated by lift loop  86  attached to U-frame  66 . The lift loop  86  permits a crane to lift the U-frame  66  and attached structure and maneuver it into alternative positions. Additionally should the attachment bolt  84  not be removed the entire carriage system can be transported by a crane via the lift loop  86 . 
     Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of this description. Accordingly, this description is to be construed as illustrative only and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the general manner of carrying out the invention. It is to be understood that the forms of the invention shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently preferred embodiments. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and described herein, parts and processes may be reversed, and certain features of the invention may be utilized independently, all as would be apparent to one skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the invention. Changes may be made in the elements described herein or in the steps or in the sequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as described.