U.S. patent number 3,693,484 [Application Number 05/038,659] was granted by the patent office on 1972-09-26 for snap-on spanner wrench.
Invention is credited to George H. Sanderson, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,693,484 |
Sanderson, Jr. |
September 26, 1972 |
**Please see images for:
( Certificate of Correction ) ** |
SNAP-ON SPANNER WRENCH
Abstract
A tool for threading and unthreading a plug member having a
grooved nipple; the tool is provided with a member having a bore
adapted to receive the nipple; movable ball detent elements are
provided about the lower end of the bore for engaging the grooved
portion of the nipple; a spring biased movable member disposed
about the bore is provided with cam surfaces for urging the ball
detent elements into engagement with the groove of the nipple
whereby backing off of the tool from the plug is prevented; the
movable member is provided with diametrically disposed pins for
engaging bores in the face of the plug so that rotation of the
movable member will effect rotation of the plug.
Inventors: |
Sanderson, Jr.; George H.
(Charleston, SC) |
Family
ID: |
21901175 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/038,659 |
Filed: |
April 29, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
81/176.15;
403/325; 81/53.2; 403/328 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B
13/48 (20130101); B25B 23/10 (20130101); Y10T
403/599 (20150115); Y10T 403/604 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
B25B
13/00 (20060101); B25B 13/48 (20060101); B25B
23/10 (20060101); B25B 23/02 (20060101); B25b
013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;81/9C,9E,9R,53.2,58.4,58.1,58.3 ;287/119R ;306/28 ;279/75,22
;29/240 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Riordon; Robert C.
Assistant Examiner: Parker, Jr.; Roscoe V.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A tool for rotating a cylindrical plug of the type having an end
face and an annularly grooved nipple extending substantially
perpendicularly from the center of said end face, said tool
comprising:
means for releasably engaging said nipple including ball detent
means movable between a first, retracted position and a second
position wherein said ball detent means will engage said groove of
said nipple,
means movable relative to said nipple engaging means between a
first position wherein said ball detent means will be moved to said
retracted position when said nipple engaging means engages said
nipple and a second position wherein said movable means will urge
said ball detent means into engagement with said groove of said
nipple,
spring means acting between said nipple engaging means and said
movable means to constantly urge said movable means toward said
second position,
said cylindrical plug and said movable means having means
interengageable when said movable means is in said second position
so that rotation of said movable means about the longitudinal axis
of said nipple will effect a corresponding rotation of said
plug.
2. The tool as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nipple engaging
means comprises a member having an upper and a lower portion, said
lower portion having a cylindrical bore for receiving said nipple,
the wall of said bore having a plurality of circumferentially
disposed slots formed therethrough, each of said slots carrying a
ball therein movable between said first, retracted position and
said second position.
3. The tool as claimed in claim 2 wherein said movable means
comprises a ring-shaped member slidably disposed on said lower
portion of said nipple engaging member, said ring-shaped member
having a radially interiorly extending flange formed about the
interior wall of said ring-shaped member adjacent one end thereof,
said flange having a first inwardly tapered surface for engaging
said balls when said ring-shaped member is in said retracted
position and a second surface for maintaining said balls in their
second position when said ring-shaped member is in its said second
position.
4. The tool as claimed in claim 3 wherein said interengageable
means includes at least two pin receiving bores formed in the end
face of said plug, and said ring-shaped member is provided with an
end face having at least two pins projecting therefrom for
cooperation with said bores in the end face of said plug.
5. The tool as claimed in claim 3 wherein said spring means
comprises a coil spring disposed about said lower portion of said
nipple engaging member, said spring having one end engaging said
flange of said ring-shaped member and its other end engaging an
annular shoulder formed on said nipple engaging member, said lower
portion of said nipple engaging member having stop means for
engaging said flange of said ring-shaped member to limit the
movement of said ring-shaped member relative to said slots.
6. A tool for rotating a cylindrical plug of the type having an end
face, an annularly grooved nipple extending generally
perpendicularly from the center of said end face and at least two
pin receiving bores formed in said end face on opposite sides of
said nipple and spaced along a diameter of said end face
substantially equidistantly from said nipple, said tool
comprising:
a first member having at one end a cylindrical bore for receiving
said nipple, said bore having a plurality of circumferentially
disposed slots formed therethrough, each of said slots carrying a
ball therein movable between a retracted position and a projecting
position with respect to said bore of said member,
a second, ring-shaped member slidably disposed about said one end
of said first member between a first retracted position and a
second forward position, and having an end face with at least two
pins projecting therefrom for cooperation with the bores in the end
face of said plug, said second member having interiorly thereof
first and second cam surfaces for cooperating with said balls on
said first member so that, when said second member is moved to said
first position and as said nipple is inserted into said bore of
said first member, said balls will engage said nipple and be moved
to their retracted positions to engage said first cam surface and,
when said nipple is fully inserted into said bore, said first cam
surface will move said balls to their projecting position in
engagement with said groove of said nipple so that relative
longitudinal movement between said first member and said nipple
will be prevented,
said first and second members having interengageable means whereby
rotation of one member about said nipple will effect a
corresponding rotation of the other member to move said pins into
registry with said bores of said plug when said second member is
moved to said forward position in which said second cam surface
will engage and maintain said balls in said projecting positions.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to improvements in spanner
wrenches and similar tools and more particularly to novel means for
maintaining the tool in operative engagement with the element being
manipulated.
The use of spanner wrenches to thread and unthread elements such as
studs, caps, plugs or the like in various mechanical assemblies has
long been known in the art. Generally, these devices are provided
with a plurality of studs or pins so positioned on the tool so as
to permit their insertion into bores or sockets formed in the
element to be rotated. While the cooperation between the pins and
associated sockets has proved more advantageous than the use of the
conventional screwdriver or jaw-type wrench, such devices have not
proven entirely satisfactory under all conditions of use for the
reasons that considerable difficulty has been experienced in
initially aligning the pins and sockets to effect their
interengagement particularly where the element to be rotated is
located in a position where it could not be observed by an
individual. Moreover, the tools of the prior art have generally
lacked means for maintaining the pins in engagement with the
sockets. This has proved to be particularly troublesome in
situations where the force of gravity could not be relied upon to
maintain such engagement, for example, where the element to be
rotated was disposed in a vertical plane or on the underside of an
assembly. Another disadvantage of the prior art devices flows from
the lack of means for keeping each of the pins of the tool in full
engagement with their respective sockets so that when a pin is not
fully inserted, bending stresses will be exerted thereon tending to
weaken and eventually snap off the pin.
The device of the present invention avoids the foregoing
disadvantages by providing means for maintaining the tool in proper
engagement with the element at all times during the rotation
operation, the engagement and disengagement of which can be
effected easily.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The tool of the present invention is adapted to cooperate with a
cap or plug having a flat end face from which a nipple having an
annular groove perpendicularly extends. The tool comprises a
shaft-like member having an upper portion, the exterior of which is
hexagonal in cross-section and a lower portion having a cylindrical
bore. Adjacent the open end of the bore there are provided a
plurality of circumferentially spaced slots formed therethrough,
each having a ball carried therein. The slots are formed to permit
the balls to partially project into the bore. A ring-shaped member
is disposed about the lower portion of the shaft-like member and is
mounted to move longitudinally thereof. The upper interior portion
of the ring-shaped member is formed hexagonally in cross-section to
cooperate with the hexagonal surface of the upper portion of the
shaft-like member. A radially interiorly extending flange is
provided around the interior wall of the lower portion of the
ring-shaped member to function as a cam surface for urging the ball
elements into their projecting position. The lower face of the
ring-shaped member is provided with pins projecting therefrom for
cooperation with sockets formed in the face of the plug. Spring
means are suitably disposed between a portion of the shaft-like
member and the ring-like member to maintain the ring-shaped member
in a position where the flange will urge the ball elements into
their projecting positions.
With the foregoing arrangement, when the nipple is inserted into
the bore of the shaft-like member, the tool will be prevented from
moving away from the plug by virtue of the engagement of the ball
elements with the groove of the nipple; yet rotation of the tool
about its longitudinal axis will be permitted so that the pins of
the ring-shaped member may be brought into engagement with the
sockets of the plug.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a
spanner wrench having improved means for preventing the backing off
of the tool from the element to be rotated during use.
Another object is to provide a tool having means for facilitating
the insertion of the plug engagement pins into the sockets of the
associated plug.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a
tool capable of maintaining the pins in engagement with the sockets
irrespective of the gravitational force exerted on the tool.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a spanner
wrench which is inexpensive to manufacture, yet durable enough to
withstand long use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and attendant advantages of the present invention
will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood
by reference to the following detailed description when considered
in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of the tool of the
present invention and a plug and nipple for cooperation with the
tool;
FIG. 2 is an elevational view partly in section showing the
insertion of the nipple into the bore of the tool;
FIG. 3 is an elevational view partly in section illustrating the
position of the elements when the nipple is fully inserted into the
bore of the tool;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view in elevation of the ball
detent means of the present invention; and
FIG. 5 is a view taken along lines 5--5 looking in the direction of
the arrows in FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals
designate like parts throughout the several views, there is
illustrated in FIG. 1 a spanner wrench 10 of the present invention
positioned above a cylindrical plug 12 having a flat circular end
face 14. A generally cylindrical nipple 16 is attached to the plug
12 at the center of end face 14 and is formed with an annular
groove 18. Pin receiving sockets 20 are formed in the end face 14
along a diameter thereof and are equidistantly spaced from the
nipple 16. The nipple 16 may be attached to the plug by any
suitable means such as threaded connection shown in phantom lines
at 22. It will be understood that the illustration of the plug is
only by way of example and other elements such as threaded studs,
caps, and the like may be adapted for use with the tool of the
present invention.
The tool 10 consists of a shaft member 24 having an upper portion
with a hexagonally shaped exterior surface as is more clearly shown
in the cross-section view of FIG. 5. The lower portion of member 24
is formed with a cylindrical bore 26 having a diameter and
longitudinal dimension such that the nipple 16 may be snugly
inserted therein. The wall of the bore 26 is provided with a
plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 28 therethrough spaced
a distance from the opening 26 such that when the nipple is fully
inserted into the bore 26, the slots will be positioned adjacent
the groove 18 of the nipple 16. Ball bearings, one of which is
indicated at 30, are disposed in each of the slots 28. As is more
clearly seen in the enlarged view of FIG. 4, the interior edge of
each of the slots 28 is provided with an inwardly tapering
circumferential abutment stop 32 provided for the purpose of
limiting the extent to which each of the ball bearings projects
into the bore 26.
Referring again to FIG. 1, a ring member 34 is disposed about the
lower portion of member 24. The upper portion of the interior wall
of ring member 34 is hexagonally shaped in cross-section, as shown
at 36 in FIG. 5, to interengage with the exterior surface of the
upper portion of member 24 so that they may be rotated in unison. A
radially interiorly extending flange 38 is formed about the lower
portion of the interior wall of ring member 34. A coil spring 40 is
located about the lower portion of member 24 having one end
engaging shoulder 42 formed on the lower portion of member 24 and
its other end engaging one side of the flange 38. A snap ring 44 is
disposed in a groove about the exterior wall of the lower portion
of member 24 adjacent the opening of the bore 26 to limit the
downward movement of ring member 34 under the influence of the
spring 40. Shoulder 46 on ring member 34 and shoulder 48 on member
24 are arranged to limit the upward movement of ring member 34
relative to member 24.
Ring member 34 is provided with an end face 50 from which pins 52
project in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the
bore 26. The pins 52 are spaced so that they may be brought into
registry with the bores 20 formed in the end face 14 of plug 12.
The pins 52 may be held in place by any suitable means such as by
press fitting, a threaded connection, or the like. If desired, the
pins may be releasably engaged by the bores in the end face 50 so
that they may be replaced easily in the event they become worn or
broken.
The operation of the tool of the present invention will now be
described with particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
In order to insert the nipple 16 into bore 26, an individual must
first grasp member 24 in one hand and move ring member 34 with the
other hand back along the lower portion until shoulders 46 and 48
abut each other as shown in FIG. 2. In this disposition, spring 40
will be compressed and flange 38 will no longer obstruct the
exterior openings of the slots 28 so that as the nipple 16 is
inserted into the bore 26, the top side of the nipple will engage
the ball bearings 30 and move them out of the bore to a retracted
position. With the elements arranged as shown in FIG. 2, the ball
bearings 30 are prevented from falling out of their respective
slots 28 by virtue of their engagement with the tapered underside
54 of flange 38. Also, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the ball bearings
30 are being constantly urged against the nipple 16 by virtue of
the spring force transmitted through surface 54 which is
functioning as a cam surface so that when the slots 28 are
positioned adjacent groove 18 of nipple 16, the ball bearings 30
will be moved into engagement therewith while the pins 52 engage
end face 14 of the plug 12. Upon the rotation of ring member 34
about the longitudinal axis of the nipple 16, pins 52 will be
brought into registry with the sockets 20 whereupon member 34 will
snap downwardly into engagement with the end face 14 as shown in
FIG. 3. With the elements disposed as illustrated in FIG. 3, it
will be noted that surface portion 56 of flange 38 has been moved
into contact with the ball bearings 30 to maintain the ball
bearings in their projected position in engagement with the groove
18 of nipple 16, thereby preventing longitudinal movement of the
tool 10 with respect to the nipple 16. The tool may then be rotated
about the longitudinal axis of the nipple 16 to rotate the plug 12
in its bore. A socket 58 is provided in the upper end of member 24
for cooperation with a socket wrench in the event that a greater
amount of torque is required to effect removal of the plug.
Removal of the tool 10 from the plug is accomplished by moving the
ring member 34 back to the position shown in FIG. 2 to allow the
ball elements to move to their retracted positions.
It will be understood from the foregoing that various modifications
in the present invention may be effected without departing from the
spirit and scope of the novel concepts as defined in the appended
claims.
* * * * *