Patent Publication Number: US-2022226970-A1

Title: Adjustable socket assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
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     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to collet devices and more particularly pertains to a new collet device for engaging a valve actuator and in particular a valve actuator which may be corroded due being buried within soil for an extended period of time. Such valve actuators are used for gas lines and water lines and as they corrode, their edges become rounded and cannot be easily gripped by conventional sockets. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The prior art relates to collet devices that are used for clamping down on articles typically engaged by sockets such as bolt heads, nuts and other articles which are threadably coupled to another object. However, these devices are insufficient for handling larger valve actuators which not only are compromised by corrosion, but which require a very large amount of torque to be turned. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a collet having a first end, a second end, and a perimeter wall extending between the first and second ends. The second end has a receiving aperture extending therein. The first end has a well extending therein and is in communication with the receiving aperture. The receiving aperture is configured to receive a valve actuator such that an inner surface of the perimeter wall engages the valve actuator. The perimeter wall has an outer surface including an engagement portion. The engagement portion is angled outwardly as the engagement portion extends downwardly from the first end toward the second end. The perimeter wall of the collet has a plurality of breaks therein extending from the first end to the second end such that the collet comprises a plurality of sections that are discrete from each other. A sleeve has a bottom end and a top end. The bottom end is open and receives the collet such that the second end extends downwardly and outwardly away from the sleeve. The sleeve comprises a peripheral wall having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior surface tapers inwardly as the interior surface extends from the bottom end to the top end. The interior surface abuts the engagement portion of each of the sections and biases the second ends of the sections toward each other as the first end moves inward of the bottom end of the sleeve. A biasing member extends through the top end of the sleeve and engages each of the sections of the collet to retain the sections within the sleeve. The biasing member is actuated to bias the sleeve downward toward the second end of the collet such that the sections close together to engage the valve actuator. An engagement head is attached to the upper end of the biasing member and is configured to be engaged with a tool to rotate the collet. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure 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 disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a adjustable socket assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear exploded isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom exploded isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a side isometric view of a collet of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a side exploded view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a top and side isometric in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a side in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 10  thereof, a new collet devices embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 10 , the adjustable socket assembly  10  generally comprises a collet  12 , or a more particularly a collet type structure as will be described below, having a first end  14 , a second end  16 , and a perimeter wall  18  extending between the first  14  and second  16  ends. The second end  16  has a receiving aperture  20  extending therein. The first end  14  has a well  22  extending therein and is in communication with the receiving aperture  20 . The receiving aperture  20  is configured to receive a valve actuator  24  such that an inner surface  26  of the perimeter wall  18  engages the valve actuator  24 . The valve actuator  24  is typically a rectangular or other geometrically shaped valve actuator  24  extending away from, and often in an upwardly direction, a valve  28  in fluid communication with a pipe  30 . The pipe  30  may carry any fluid or gas but in many particular instances the pipe  30  will often be a water pipe that is buried several feet below a surface of the ground. 
     A lip  32  is attached to the inner surface  26  and is positioned adjacent to the first end  14 . The perimeter wall  18  has an outer surface  34  including a section defining an engagement portion  36  which will typically only include a portion of the outer surface  34  extending completely around the collet  12  and may be spaced from both of the first  14  and second  16  ends, though it could extend from the first end  14  to the second end  16 . The engagement portion  36  is angled outwardly as the engagement portion  36  extends downwardly from the first end  14  toward the second end  16 . That is, a diameter of the collet  12  generally increases as one moves along the outer surface  34  away from the first end  14  and toward the second end  16 . The inner surface  26  of the receiving aperture  20  may include a plurality of teeth  38  thereon to enhance friction between the inner surface  26  and the valve actuator  24 . The receiving aperture  20  will typically have a rectangular shape though other geometric shapes including pentagons, hexagons, octagons, triangles and the like may be utilized though circular shapes likely would not. Generally, the shape of the receiving aperture  20  will conform to the type and shape of the valve actuator  24  to be engaged. 
     The perimeter wall  18  of the collet  12  has a plurality of breaks  40  therein extending from the first end  14  to the second end  16  such that the collet  12  comprises a plurality of sections  42  that are discrete from each other. That is, each section  42  is unattached to the remaining sections  42  such that each can float independently from each other as will be further understood below. The plurality of sections  42  is at two sections  42  and, as can be seen in the Figures, four sections  42  may be utilized, particularly when the receiving aperture  20  is rectangular shaped such that each section  42  includes one side of the rectangle. While the number of sections  42  may vary, there would generally be little reason to utilize more than eight sections  42 . Each of the sections  42  includes a lower component  44  including the second end  16  and an upper component  46  including the first end  14 . The lower component  44  includes the inner surface  26  of the receiving aperture  20 . As can be seen in  FIG. 5 , the engagement portion  36  may traverse a juncture of the upper  46  and lower  44  components. A shoulder  48  extends away from the inner surface  26  and is spaced from the second end  16  and may be positioned above the lower component  44  to define a terminus of the receiving aperture  20 . The shoulders  48  of the sections  42  when placed together form a non-circular geometric shape as seen in  FIG. 3  for purposes which will be apparent below. 
     A sleeve  50  has a bottom end  52  and a top end  54 . The bottom end  52  is open and receives the collet  12  such that the second end  16  extends downwardly and outwardly away from the sleeve  50 . The sleeve  50  comprises a peripheral wall  56  having an interior surface  58  and an exterior surface  60 . The interior surface  58  tapers inwardly as the interior surface  58  extends from the bottom end  52  to the top end  54 . The interior surface  58  abuts the engagement portion  36  of each of the sections  42  and biases the lower components  44  toward each other as the first end  14  moves inward of the bottom end  52  of the sleeve  50 . That is, the breaks  40  allow the sections  42  to be spaced from each other as shown in  FIG. 5  but movement of the engagement portions  36  of the sections  42  upwardly against the sleeve  50  forced the sections  42  together. 
     As can be seen in the Figures, the outer surface  36  of the collet  12 , and in some cases the outer surfaces  36  of each section  42 , includes a first mating member  62 . The peripheral wall  56  includes a plurality of second mating members  64 . Each of the second mating members  64  is engageable with a first mating member  62  on one of the sections  42  to prevent rotation of the collet  12  relative to the sleeve  50  as well as to stabilize the sections  42  relative to the sleeve  50  for easier assembly and usage. Each of the first mating members  62  may comprises an outwardly extending and vertically orientated plate. Each of the second mating members  64  may comprise a channel extending upwardly into the bottom end  52  and through the interior  58  and exterior  60  surfaces of the peripheral wall  56 . As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the plates extend into the channels and thereafter the sections  42  cannot rotate within the sleeve  50 . 
     A biasing member  66  extends through the top end  54  of the sleeve  50  and engages the collet  12 . The biasing member  66  is actuated to bias the sleeve  50  downward toward the second end  16  of the collet  12  to cause the receiving aperture  20  to constrict in size. The biasing member  66  includes a shaft  68  having an upper end  70  and a lower end  72 . For explanatory purposes, the shaft  68  includes a lower portion  74  and an upper portion  76  and the shaft  68  extends through the first end  14  such that the lower portion  74  is positioned within the collet  12 . The lower portion  74  includes an annular slot  78  therein at a juncture of the lower  74  and upper  76  portions to define a protuberance  80  positioned between the annular slot  78  and the lower end  72 . The lip  32  is extendable into the annular slot  78 , which may comprise a number of indents instead of an annular slot extending around the shaft  68 , to engage the shaft  68  with the collet  12  to retain the collet  12  in connection with the shaft  68 . This is best shown in  FIG. 6  where the protuberance  80  abuts the inner surface  26  of the perimeter wall of the shoulder(s)  48  while the lip  32  extends into the annular slot  78 . The protuberance  80  of the shaft  68  has a shape such that the shaft  68  is in a rotationally static condition with the respect to the collet  12 . As can be seen from the Figures and in particular in  FIG. 7 , in this embodiment the protuberance  80  has a rectangular cross-section taken perpendicular to a line extending through the upper  70  and lower  72  ends to match a generally rectangular shape of the opening formed by the shoulders  48 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the sleeve  50  top end  70  being open but including a top wall  82  with a barrier  84  bounded tubular passage  86  extending therethrough. The tubular passage  86  has a rectangular shape. The shaft  68  includes a locking section  88  positioned above the annular slot  78  having a matching shape to the tubular passage  86  to allow the shaft  68  to slide through the tubular passage  86  but not rotate with respect to it. This structure further stabilizes the shaft  68  relative to the collet  12  and the sleeve  50  to prevent rotation of the shaft  68  relative to the sleeve  50  and collet  12 . 
     A nut  90  is threadably coupled to the upper portion  76  of the shaft  68  and is abutted against the top end  54 , or top wall  82 , of the sleeve  50 . The nut  90  moves the sleeve  50  downward relative to the shaft  68  when the nut  90  is rotated in a first direction such that the shaft  68  is urged upwardly and pulls the collet  12  inwardly of the sleeve  50 . The collet  12  is closable and frictionally engageable with the valve actuator  24  when the nut  90  is rotated in the first direction. The shaft  68  is moved downwardly and allows the collet  12  to fall outwardly of the sleeve  50  when the nut  90  is rotated in a second direction to release the valve actuator  24 . The nut  90  may include a flange  92  seated within a space between a ridge  96  extending upwardly from the peripheral wall  56  and tubular passage  86  to facilitate the retention of the nut  90  on the sleeve  50 . A lateral gripping surface  94  of the nut  90  may have any conventional shape, such as hexagonal seen in  FIG. 1 , such that it can be gripped by a socket or wrench type-head. Shown in  FIG. 6  is a washer that may be positioned above the flange  92  and embedded into the ridge  96  to retain the nut  90  on the sleeve  50 , however alternate structures may be used to secure the nut  90  in rotational connection with the sleeve  50 . 
     An engagement head  98  is attached to the upper end  70  of the shaft  68  and the engagement head  98  is configured to be engaged with a tool  100  to rotate the shaft  68  and collet  12 . The engagement head  98  and upper end  70  of the shaft  68  will typically comprise a unitary structure. The engagement head  98  may include an outer surface engageable with a socket, wrench or other similar tool. Alternatively, a distal end  102  of the engagement head  98  relative to the shaft  68  may have a threaded or geometrically shaped well extending therein for receiving a tool that can then couple to the shaft  68 .  FIG. 8  shows an engagement head having an opening  104  extending laterally through the engagement head  98 . The opening  104  may be vertically elongated as can be seen in  FIG. 7 . This allows a pin  106  extending through opening  104  to have some ability to swivel out of a horizontal plane if needed. The pin  106  is then attached to an engagement head receiver  108  which in turn is secured to an elongated rod  110 . The rod  110  may then be rotated by a motor driven mechanism to create enough torque required to rotate the valve actuator  24 . 
     All structural components of the assembly  10  will typically comprise the same materials as each other such as being machined from steel alloys, though any conventional materials used for sockets, wrenches and the like may be utilized. The size of the collet  12 , sleeve  50  and, to some extent, the shaft  68 , will be dependent upon the size of the valve actuator  24  and the amount of torque the assembly  10  will be subjected to. Since the elongated rod  110  will likely be driven by machine power instead of human power, the components may have a thickness and material characteristics to withstand torque forces subjected by the elongated rod  110  in excess of 1000 lbs. The receiving aperture  20 , when fully closed, will typically have a diameter in excess of 0.5 inches and less than 4.0 inches, and a depth greater than 0.5 inches 
     In use, the assembly  10  is lowered onto the valve actuator  24  such that it extends into the receiving aperture  20  of the collet  12 . The nut  90  is then tightened such that the shaft  68  is lifted upwardly causing the engagement portions  36  of the sections  42  of the collet  12  to move upwardly along the interior surface  58  of the sleeve  50  wherein the interior surface  58  of the sleeve  50  urges the second ends  16  of the sections  42  toward each other to close the collet  12 . This closing of the sections  42  toward each other increases the friction between the collet  12  and the valve actuator  24 . This may be required as the valve actuator  24 , typically being buried in soil, may be corroded and therefore its once squared edges may have become rounded. The teeth  38  on the interior surface  26  enhance the friction between the collet  12  and the valve actuator  24 . After the nut  90  has been tightened to its maximum limit, the rod  110 , which may have already been coupled to the engagement head  108 , is rotated to turn the valve actuator  24 . When the required task is complete the nut  90  is loosened to release the collet  12  from the valve actuator  24 . 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.