Patent Publication Number: US-2007102177-A1

Title: Combined torque indicator and regulator for pneumatically-operated hand tool

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      Not Applicable.  
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
      Not Applicable.  
     REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX  
      Not Applicable.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Technical Field  
      This invention relates to pneumatic hand tools and, more particularly, to a combined torque indicator and regulator for pneumatically-operated hand tools.  
      2. Prior Art  
      Mechanics and other professionals in the automotive industry, as well as many other industries and occupations, are quite familiar with the fatigue one experiences after repeated loosening and fastening nuts, bolts and screws. Repeated rotation of the forearm can lead to such severe muscle pains that the individual&#39;s work is negatively affected. In response to this dilemma the concept of pneumatically operated tools was introduced to the prior art.  
      Pneumatically operated tools, as the name suggests, employs air to provide the rotational movement that is usually manually applied to the tools. Such tools have greatly improved the efficiency and speed with which many task are performed. For example, the lug nuts of a vehicle&#39;s wheel can be loosened in a matter of seconds using such a tools as opposed to taking one or two minutes to manually remove the same lug nuts.  
      Certain fasteners, such as nuts, bolts and screws that are employed in a vehicle must be tightened at a very specific torque in order for proper operation of the components that are held together thereby. When manually attaching the parts it is quite simple to tighten the fastener until the desired torque is applied thereto. However, as mentioned herein above, this can be quite a time-consuming task, especially in an industry where expediency can greatly increase one&#39;s profit line. Unfortunately, the ability to effectively and accurately control the torque on a fastener is lost when employing a pneumatically operated tool.  
      Accordingly, a need remains for a torque indicator for pneumatically-operated hand tools in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present invention satisfies such a need by providing a pneumatic tool that is easy and convenient to use, small in size and efficient in application. Such a tool is attachable to an air-supply source in a matter of seconds and helps prevent the air hose from becoming tangled during use. The pressure regulator thereof advantageously provides a convenient means of adjusting and regulating the torque that is applied by the tool. This, in turn, prevents fasteners from being under- or over-tightened when using the combined torque indicator and regulator for a pneumatically-operated hand tool.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a combined torque indicator and regulator for a pneumatically-operated hand tool. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a combined torque identifying accessory and associated power tool for assisting an operator to control a pressure level applied to a lug nut when assembling and disassembling a vehicle tire.  
      The combined torque identifying accessory and power tool includes a pneumatically operated torque wrench that has a first housing provided with a threaded aperture extending parallel to a centrally registered longitudinal axis thereof. Such a first housing preferably has surface indicia printed thereon. The surface indicia provides a uniform scale that conveniently designates the torque level based upon the air-pressure level existing within the first and second housings during operating conditions. The torque wrench further has a second housing that has a centrally registered longitudinal axis registered orthogonal to the first housing axis. Such a second housing is in fluid communication with the first housing such that a predetermined volume of air passes through the first and second housings. The first and second housings are selectively pivotal about the first housing axis.  
      A male coupling is threadably conjoined directly to the threaded aperture of the first housing wherein the air is introduced through the male coupling and channeled linearly through the first housing. Such air is forced out of the first housing and into the second housing along a path oriented parallel to the second housing axis. The male coupling may be removably conjoined to the first housing.  
      A coupling assembly is threadably connected directly to the second housing and operably conjoined directly to the lug nut for rotating the lug nut between clockwise and counter clockwise directions. Such a coupling assembly includes a first coupling that has a threaded outer surface directly conjoined to the second housing. A second coupling has a proximal end provided with a threaded inner surface that is directly connected to the first coupling. Such a second coupling has a distal end provided with a threaded outer surface. A fastener is directly and threadably mated with the distal end of the second coupling. Such a fastener is conveniently and effectively attachable to the lug nut.  
      A mechanism is included for effectively regulating a pressure level of the air after the air is introduced through the male coupling such that a torque level generated by the second housing can advantageously be visually identified and regulated by the operator when the lug nut is being attached and detached from the vehicle tire. Such an air pressure level regulating mechanism preferably includes a turn dial that includes an elongated linear shaft directly attached thereto. The turn dial preferably includes a pointer imprinted thereon. The shaft has a first end statically and directly connected to the turn dial. Such a shaft traverses through the first housing and further has a second end terminating within the second housing. The shaft is oriented parallel to the second housing axis.  
      A plurality of auxiliary bearings are intercalated between an external surface of the shaft and an inner surface of the second housing for effectively allowing the shaft to rotate a predetermined distance about the second housing axis based upon the air-pressure level. An axial bore is linearly formed within the shaft. A primary bearing is disposed generally medially of the shaft and confronts a proximal closed face of the bore.  
      A first resilient spring member is interfitted within the bore and is horizontally disposed therein such that the spring member effectively adapts between compressed and expanded positions along a linear path defined parallel to the second housing axis. Such a first spring member is directly abutted against the primary bearing. An elongated stop member has a first end portion that is directly conjoined to the resilient spring member and further has a second end portion that terminates beyond the distal end portion of the shaft.  
      A second resilient spring member is anchored to the second housing and is linearly aligned with the stop member. Such a second end portion of the stop member is directly conjoined to the second spring member such that the stop member is effectively caused to rebound along the linear path between the first and second spring members when the air-pressure level is fluctuated during operating conditions.  
      There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.  
      It is noted the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
      The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a combined torque indicator and regulator for pneumatically-operated hand tools, in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a front-elevational view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in  FIG. 2 , taken along line  3 - 3 ;  
       FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of the device shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a top plan view of the second housing shown in  FIG. 4 ; and  
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the second housing shown in  FIG. 5 , taken along line  6 - 6 .  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.  
      The device of this invention is referred to generally in  FIGS. 1-6  by the reference numeral  10  and is intended to provide a combined torque indicator and regulator for pneumatically-operated hand tools. It should be understood that the device  10  may be used to pneumatically fasten many different types of fasteners and should not be limited in use to only wheel lug nuts.  
      Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , the device  10  includes a pneumatically operated torque wrench that has a first housing  20 A provided with a threaded aperture  21  extending parallel to a centrally registered longitudinal axis thereof. Such a first housing  20 A has surface indicia  22  printed thereon that are essential for effectively allowing a user to conveniently visually identify the torque setting of the device  10 . The surface indicia  22  provides a uniform scale that conveniently designates the torque level based upon the air-pressure level existing within the first  20 A and second  20 B (described herein below) housings during operating conditions.  
      The torque wrench  10  further has a second housing  20 B that has a centrally registered longitudinal axis registered orthogonal to the first housing axis. Such a second housing  20 B is in fluid communication with the first housing  20 A, which is crucial such that a predetermined volume of air effectively passes through the first  20 A and second  20 B housings. The first  20 A and second  20 B housings are selectively pivotal about the first housing axis.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a male coupling  23  is threadably conjoined directly, without the use of intervening elements, to the threaded aperture  21  of the first housing  20 A wherein the air is introduced through the male coupling  23  and channeled linearly through the first housing  20 A. Of course, the male coupling  23  may be alternately positioned and still allow air to be introduced into the first housing  20 A, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Such air is forced out of the first housing  20 A and into the second housing  20 B along a path oriented parallel to the second housing axis. The male coupling  23  is removably conjoined to the first housing  20 A, as is best shown in  FIG. 4 .  
      Again referring to  FIGS. 1 through 4 , a coupling assembly  30  is threadably connected directly, without the use of intervening elements, to the second housing  20 B and operably conjoined directly, without the use of intervening elements, to the lug nut (not shown) for conveniently and effectively rotating the lug nut between clockwise and counter clockwise directions. Such a coupling assembly  30  includes a first coupling  31  that has a threaded outer surface  32 A directly conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, to the second housing  20 B.  
      A second coupling  33  has a proximal end  34 A provided with a threaded inner surface  32 B that is directly connected, without the use of intervening elements, to the first coupling  31 . Such a second coupling  33  has a distal end  34 B provided with a threaded outer surface  32 C. A fastener  35  is directly and threadably mated, without the use of intervening elements, with the distal end  34 B of the second coupling  33 . Such a fastener  35  is conveniently and effectively attachable to the lug nut. Of course, the device  10  may employ a variety of fasteners  35  for fastening a loosening a plethora of alternate nuts, bolts and screws, as is obvious to a person of ordinary skill in the art.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 1 through 6 , a mechanism  40  is included for effectively regulating a pressure level of the air after the air is introduced through the male coupling  23 , which is important such that a torque level generated by the second housing  20 B can advantageously be visually identified and regulated by the operator when the lug nut is being attached and detached from the vehicle tire (not shown). Thus, the operator can be sure that the lug nut is properly fastened without jeopardizing the integrity of the wheel or the lug nut. Such an air pressure level regulating mechanism  40  includes a turn dial  41  that includes an elongated linear shaft  42  directly attached, without the use of intervening elements, thereto.  
      The turn dial  41  includes a pointer  43  imprinted thereon that is crucial and convenient for visually indicating the torque setting of the device  10  by pointing to the surface indicia  22 . The shaft  42  has a first end  44 A statically and directly connected, without the use of intervening elements, to the turn dial  41 . Such a shaft  42  traverses through the first housing  20 A and further has a second end  44 B terminating within the second housing  20 B. The shaft  42  is oriented parallel to the second housing axis.  
      Referring to  FIG. 6 , a plurality of auxiliary bearings  45  are intercalated between an external surface  46 A of the shaft  42  and an inner surface  46 B of the second housing  20 B, which is vital for effectively allowing the shaft  42  to rotate a predetermined distance about the second housing axis based upon the air-pressure level. An axial bore  47  is linearly formed within the shaft  42 . A primary bearing  48  is disposed generally medially of the shaft  42  and confronts a proximal closed face  49 A of the bore  47 .  
      Still referring to  FIG. 6 , a first resilient spring member  50  is interfitted within the bore  47  and is horizontally disposed therein such that the spring member  50  effectively adapts between compressed and expanded positions along a linear path defined parallel to the second housing axis. Such a first spring member  50  is directly abutted, without the use of intervening elements, against the primary bearing  48 . An elongated stop member  51  has a first end portion  52 A that is directly conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, to the resilient spring member  50  and further has a second end portion  52 B that terminates beyond the distal end portion  49 B of the shaft  42 .  
      Again referring to  FIG. 6 , a second resilient spring member  53  is anchored to the second housing  20 B and is linearly aligned with the stop member  51 . Such a second end portion  52 B of the stop member  51  is directly conjoined, without the use of intervening elements, to the second spring member  53 , which is critical such that the stop member  51  is effectively caused to rebound along the linear path between the first  50  and second  53  spring members when the air-pressure level is fluctuated during operating conditions.  
      While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.  
      In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.