Torque Socket

• US 20090255386A1
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cheng-Wei Su
• Original Assignee: Cheng-Wei Su
• Inventors: LIAO, Jyun-Wun
• Application Number:
  US12/422,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20090255386A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 81/474
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/06 of socket type
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/141 Mechanical overload release couplings
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1427 by mechanical means

Abstract

A torque socket essentially comprises an inner socket, and an outer socket. Besides a function of torque value setting and adjustment, the torque socket utilizes a ratchet structure design to produce a sound to warn the user, when the torque applied by the torque socket has reached a predetermined value, allowing the user to know the torque applied to the fastener by the torque wrench has reached the predetermined value easily. Further, the torque socket is simple in structure, thus reducing the production and assembly cost.

Claims

1. A torque socket comprising:

an inner socket being interiorly provided with an axially movable positioning ball, a spring and a radially movable loading ball, the positioning ball and the loading ball being pushed against each other, and the loading ball being allowed to partially protrude out of the inner socket; and

an outer socket axially including a holding groove in one end thereof, the holding groove of the outer socket being formed with a ratchet surface on an inner periphery thereof, on the ratchet surface being equidistantly provided plural annularly-arranged teeth, the respective teeth including two side surfaces, and a resisting surface connected between the two side surfaces, between two opposite side surfaces of each two neighboring teeth being formed a U-shaped engaging recess with respect to the ratchet surface, the outer socket being allowed to be pivotally engaged on the inner socket, when the loading ball is engaged into the one of the engaging recesses, the outer socket and the inner socket will be fixed relative to each other, when the loading ball is pushed against by one of the resisting surfaces of the teeth, the outer socket and the inner socket are allowed to pivot relative to each other;

by such arrangements, during a pivoting process of the inner socket and outer socket, the loading ball will move into and out of the inner socket due to its position changes with respect to the engaging recesses and the teeth, and when the loading ball passes over the teeth and engages into the engaging recess, a sound will be produced.

2. The torque socket as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner socket axially includes a recess and a first assembling portion in two ends thereof, and the inner socket is axially defined with a through hole in communication with the recess, the recess is provided for accommodation of the positioning ball and the spring, the through hole is provided for accommodation of the loading ball.

3. The torque socket as claimed in claim 2, wherein an adjusting hole is defined between the recess and the first assembling portion of the inner socket, in the adjusting hole is disposed an adjusting rod, one end of the adjusting rod protrudes from the first assembling portion of the inner socket, and the other end of the adjusting rod is abutted against the positioning ball.

4. The torque socket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer socket is provided with a second assembling portion at the other end opposite the holding groove.

5. The torque socket as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second assembling portion of the outer socket is provided for engaging with a wrench.

6. The torque socket as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second assembling portion of the outer socket is provided for engaging with a gripping handle.

7. The torque socket as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first assembling portion of the inner socket is an inner hexangular groove.

8. The torque socket as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first assembling portion of the inner socket is an inner tetragonal groove.

9. The torque socket as claimed in claim 2, wherein the inner socket includes a flange extending outwards from a middle portion thereof for stopping against the outer socket.

10. The torque socket as claimed in claim 2, wherein a first stopper is disposed between the positioning ball and the spring, and a second stopper is disposed between the spring and the outer socket.

11. The torque socket as claimed in claim 3, wherein the adjusting hole is a threaded hole.

12. The torque socket as claimed in claim 11, wherein the adjusting rod is a screw.