Collet type fastener removal tool

• US 5,438,891 A
• Filed: 07/05/1994
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fairchild Holding Corp. (ON Semiconductor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: VXI Corporation (GN Store Nord A/S)
• Inventors: Batten, Ronald W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MEISLIN, DEBRA S
• Application Number:
  US08/270,691
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 81/54-56, 81/57.11-57.14, 81/57.3
• US Class Current: 81/56
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/488 for connections where two parts must be turned in opposite directions by one tool
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 21/002 for special purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/0035 Connection means between socket or screwdriver bit and tool

Abstract

There is disclosed a power driven tool for the removal of locking collars of the frangible fasteners used in the aerospace industry. The tool has a drive motor and gear housing with a stationary sleeve which projects from the housing. Within the stationary sleeve are mounted a rotationally driven outer member that distally bears a lead screw and that slidably receives a stationary, telescoping inner member with a spring to bias the inner member into its extended configuration, and a detent to capture the inner member in its contracted, working configuration. A key holder is mounted on the end of the stationary inner member which has a hexagonally broached center bore that receives a key having has an annular groove which receives a detent ball that is secured by a sliding bushing which surrounds the key holder and a spring which biases the bushing into the detent position. The collet clutch has an internally threaded axial bore which is received over the lead screw of the rotational outer member, and is rotationally indexed to a surrounding collet sleeve. The collet sleeve is engaged through a unidirectional clutch to the stationary sleeve of the housing. When a key is to be replaced, the telescoping inner member is extended by releasing its detent, exposing the key holder to permit one to retract the key detent sleeve and free the key for removal.

Claims

1. In a driven power tool having a first tool member received concentrically within a surrounding, second tool member and axially moveable therein, drive means to impart relative rotational movement of said first and second tool members, wherein said first tool member is an assembly of a quick disconnect key having a wrenching surface with a distal, annular groove and a key holder having a central recess which receives said key and which has a mating wrenching surface to rotationally index to said key, and wherein said key holder also has a detent recess transversely intersecting said central recess in which is received at least one detent ball which seats in said annular groove of said key to retain said key in said holder, the improvement in quick disconnect means which comprises:

a. a sleeve slidably received about said key holder and moveable between a detent position in which it overlies said detent to recess retain said ball seated in said annular groove and a release position in which it is sufficiently withdrawn from said detent recess to permit said ball to move out of said annular groove of said key;

b. spring means carried on said holder and engaging said sleeve to urge said sleeve into said detent position;

c. second detent means comprising;

(1) a receptacle slidably carried within said second tool member and having a second central recess that receives an end of said first tool member;

(2) second detent means carried by said receptacle to secure said first tool member against axial movement relative to said receptacle;

(3) release means carried on said second tool member and adjacent said second detent means to release said first tool member and permit sufficient axial movement thereof to project said key beyond the end of said second tool member and accessible to permit movement of said sleeve and release of said key.

2. The driven power tool of claim 1 including second spring means biased between said first and second tool members to urge extension of said first tool member upon engagement of said release means.

3. The driven power tool of claim 1 wherein said second detent means comprises a second detent recess located in said receptacle transversely to and intersecting said second central recess, with second detent ball means received therein to seat in said second annular groove of said first tool member.

4. The driven power tool of claim 1 wherein said receptacle is a cylindrical plug and said second central recess is an axial socket having wrenching flats.

5. The driven power tool of claim 1 wherein said first tool member is rotationally immobile and said second tool member is rotationally driven by said drive means.

6. The driven power tool of claim 4 wherein said second tool member coaxially receives said cylindrical plug and said release means comprises an annular recess on the inside wall of said second tool member at a location which can be aligned with said second detent recess to permit movement of said second ball means radially outwardly from said second annular recess, releasing said first tool member for axial movement relative to said receptacle.

7. The driven power tool of claim 1 wherein said second tool member has a collet clutch to engage work pieces.

8. The driven power tool of claim 7 wherein said collet clutch has a threaded engagement with said second tool member.

9. The driven power tool of claim 8 wherein said threaded engagement comprises left hand threads and said tool is operable for the powered removal of collars of threaded collar and pin fasteners.

10. The driven power tool of claim 1 including stop means between said first and second tool members to limit the axial extension of said first tool member within said second tool member.