Lockable torque-limiting driver and method

• US 7,487,700 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: California Torque Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: California Torque Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Davis, Charles Parkin, Cutler, Brian James
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas; David B
• Application Number:
  US11/279,752
• Publication Number:
  US 20060236826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 814/67, 81473-475, 814/77
• US Class Current: 81/475
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 23/1427 by mechanical means

Abstract

A lockable torque-limiting driver that includes, a body, a sleeve, a shaft carried by the body for rotation relative thereto and having a fastener-engaging tip at one end that projects from the body, a torque-limiting mechanism coupled to the shaft and housed within said body, a torque-adjusting mechanism within the body and coupled to the torque-limiting mechanism for adjusting the torque-limiting mechanism to a desired torque value, a torque-locking mechanism operably coupled with the torque-adjusting mechanism and the body or the sleeve for preventing movement of the torque-determining means and locking the settable torque-limiting driver at the desired torque value.

Claims

1. A lockable torque-limiting driver comprising:

a body;

a sleeve carried by said body;

a shaft carried by said body for rotation relative thereto and having a fastener-engaging tip at one end that projects from the body;

torque-limiting means coupled to said shaft and housed within said body;

torque-adjusting means within said body and coupled to said torque-limiting means for adjusting the torque-limiting means to a desired torque value, wherein the torque-adjusting means comprises an adjustment plug; and

, torque-locking means operably coupled with said torque-adjusting means and said body for preventing movement of said torque-determining means and locking the settable torque-limiting driver at the desired torque value, wherein the torque-locking means comprises a locking plate with an adjustment plug-engaging portion and a body-engaging portion.

2. The lockable torque-limiting driver of claim 1 wherein the torque-locking means comprises a locking plate-engagement portion on said body.

3. The lockable torque-limiting driver of claim 2 wherein the torque-locking means comprises said locking plate with said adjustment plug-engaging portion engaged with said adjustment plug and said body-engaging portion engaged with said locking plate-engagement portion on said body.

4. The lockable torque-limiting driver of claim 3 wherein the adjustment plug has a generally annular elongated key structure and the locking plate has a generally keyway diamond structure.

5. The lockable torque-limiting driver of claim 3 wherein the adjustment plug has a generally annular keyway structure and the locking plate has a generally key T- shaped structure.

6. A lockable torque-limiting driver comprising:

a body;

a sleeve carried by said body;

a shaft carried by the body for rotation relative thereto and having a fastener-engaging tip at one end that projects from the body;

torque-limiting means coupled to said shaft and housed within said body;

torque-adjusting means within said body and coupled to said torque-limiting means for adjusting the torque-limiting means to a desired torque value, wherein the torque-adjusting means comprises an adjustment plug; and

,

torque-locking means operably coupled with said torque-adjusting means and said sleeve for preventing movement of said torque-determining means and locking the settable torque-limiting driver at the desired torque value.

7. The lockable torque-limiting driver of claim 6 wherein the torque-locking means comprises a locking plate with an adjustment plug-engaging portion and a sleeve-engaging portion.

8. The lockable torque-limiting driver of claim 7 wherein the torque-locking means comprises a locking plate-engagement portion on said sleeve.

9. The lockable torque-limiting driver of claim 8 wherein the torque-locking means comprises said locking plate with said adjustment plug-engaging portion engaged with said adjustment plug and said body-engaging portion engaged with said locking plate-engagement portion on said sleeve.

10. The lockable torque-limiting driver of claim 9 wherein the adjustment plug has a generally annular keyway structure and the locking plate has a generally key gear- shaped structure.