Patents Examined by Joni B. Danganan
  • Patent number: 5724872
    Abstract: A socket spanner having U-shaped elastic body and a fitting end configured to receive a nut. The fitting hole of the fitting end contains a pair of grooves respectively provided on two opposite inner walls thereof for engaging the U-shaped elastic body. The fitting hole further contains a circular slot located in an outer end of an inner wall of the fitting hole. The U-shaped elastic body includes an arcuate head portion and two arms, the two arms are received by the pair of grooves, respectively, of the fitting hole and at least one of the two arms is provided with a protruded portion capable of retaining a nut held in the fitting hole. At least one of the two arms is provided at a free end thereof with a curved or hooked portion engageable with the circular slot, so as to retain the U-shaped elastic body in the fitting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventor: Leo Shih
  • Patent number: 5713249
    Abstract: A wire stripper has a main body (10) in which are mounted a pair of clamping jaws (11, 14) for a wire to be stripped and within the clamping jaws, a pair of stripping jaws (17, 18). An operating mechanism includes a pivoting handle (30) which carriers an actuator (34) defining a cam profile (37, 38). Clamping jaw (14) has a cam follower (43) which cooperates with the cam profile (37, 38) and the actuator (34) is also coupled to the stripping jaws (17, 18) to effect linear sliding movement thereof. During operation, the mechanism serves to increase the clamping force on a wire being stripped should the stripping jaws encounter resistance to movement. The mechanism gives a smooth operation with a substantially constant velocity ratio between the movement of the stripping jaws (17, 18) and the movement of the handle (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Inventor: Barry Peter Liversidge
  • Patent number: 5713250
    Abstract: Apparatus for assembling fasteners includes a fastening wrench operated by a first operator and having interchangeable sockets of different sizes for engaging nuts of different sizes. The nuts are required to be tightened to different torque values on their respective bolts. When the first operator removes a socket from a socket tray in preparation for attaching the socket to the fastening wrench, a signal is sent to a controller which determines the torque value associated with that socket size. When the fastening wrench reaches the specified torque value during the tightening operation, the controller automatically shuts the fastening wrench off. The apparatus also includes a second wrench, operated by a second operator, for engaging the heads of the bolts to prevent them from turning during the tightening process. During the tightening process the second operator may not be in communication with the first operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Daniel Albert Hendricks, Arlen Ray Pumphrey, Robert Stephen Schempp
  • Patent number: 5711043
    Abstract: A tool adapted for use with a drill for installing screw anchors in concrete or masonry walls or the like having a sleeve type body, a bit holder slidably located in the body, a drill bit with a handle secured in the bit holder, a coil spring seated on a collar of a bit holder and extending around the bit, a set screw to retain the drill bit in the bit holder and also to serve as a means to advance and retract the drill bit, a cutout comprised of a longitudinal slot, a retainer notch, and at least one depth notch, and a driver seat capable of retaining a driver bit and further capable of releasable attachment to the sleeve type body. The attachment cap allows ready conversion of the tool from a drill to a driver and back again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1998
    Assignee: Diversified Fastening Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Trevor J. Crawford, Dennis P. Rolph
  • Patent number: 5699572
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cable driving wrench assembly for thrusting and rotating a multi-strand cable mine rock anchor. The wrench assembly includes a wrench body having an open interior and a plurality of apertures in the wrench body extending into the open interior. Each aperture is adapted to receive an individual strand of the multi-strand cable when the individual strand has been separated from the remaining strands of the cable at least at one end of the cable. The open interior of the wrench body is adapted to receive one end of the cable through the plurality of apertures. A mechanism for thrusting and rotating the wrench body is attached thereto. The present invention additionally includes a cable opening tool for opening the strands of a multi-strand cable. The cable opening tool includes a rotatable tool body and a socket formed in the tool body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Jennmar Corporation
    Inventors: Brian R. Castle, James J. Scott, John G. Oldsen
  • Patent number: 5692418
    Abstract: A nut runner tool is used to engage, turn, capture and lift the RPV head closure nuts from the RPV studs. The tool is also used to capture, lift and transport the nuts from the storage tray to the RPV head closure studs. The nut runner system enables a single operator to remove and install head closure nuts quickly and safely. The nut runner is powered by a remotely operated air driver. The reaction torque is transferred safely through the tool into the top of the closure stud. The air driver unthreads the nut, then a nut holding device is actuated, and the nut and tool are lifted from the top of the stud with a hoist attached to a trolley. The nut and tool are moved radially from the stud location to the storage position in the nut rack. When positioned over the storage location, the lowering of the nut into the rack is performed by the hoist, eliminating the need to manhandle the nuts into and out of the storage rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: James Edgar Burner
  • Patent number: 5692419
    Abstract: An improved deformable locking fastener system comprises a fastener, a deformable collar and a dedicated installation tool. The fastener has a threaded exterior defining a plurality of axial flutes which are configured to prevent the collar from prematurely capturing the fastener during installation. The collar comprises a cylindrical forward portion, a central portion having an elliptical cross-sectional shape and a rearward portion having an elliptical cross-sectional shape. The collar portions have axial heights selected to maximize the strength of the collar and to minimize the weight of the collar. The installation tool contacts the collar along driving ridges which reduces the radial compression of the collar and increases the tangential driving force turning the collar during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Air Industries Corporation
    Inventor: Lloyd S. Binns
  • Patent number: 5692420
    Abstract: A socket wrench has a body with a handle, and a head with a hollow cavity. A ratchet mechanism is received in the cavity and has a drive shank for connection with a socket. The ratchet mechanism is pivotally connected to the head in order to allow the head to pivot relative to the ratchet mechanism in an arc along a limited path of travel. The pivotal connection between the head and the ratchet mechanism enables an impact force to be presented to the socket when desired. Optionally, a releasable lock member is provided to prevent relative movement of the head and the ratchet mechanism so that the socket wrench can be used in a manner similar to a conventional ratchet wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: William J. Byers
  • Patent number: 5690005
    Abstract: A tool for installing and torquing a tensioning nut onto a tie rod of a shroud repair apparatus. The nut torquing tool has a socket for coupling with the tensioning nut and an adaptor for coupling with a manually operated handling pole, wherein the axis of rotation of the socket is radially displaced relative to the axis of rotation of the adaptor. The respective shafts connected to the socket and adaptor are coupled by means of a pair of sprockets and a chain which convert rotation of the adaptor into rotation of the socket. The distance between the sprockets can be adjusted to tension the chain. The handling pole adaptor is connected to a drive shaft by way of a universal joint, a torque limiter and a torque multiplier. Incorporation of a torque multiplier facilitates installation and torquing of the tensioning nut in a single operation using a lightweight handling pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wing G. Jung, John Allan Sies
  • Patent number: 5687623
    Abstract: A reversible socket wrench including a socket having two radial through holes and an outside annular groove around the periphery, two locating devices respectively mounted in the radial through holes, a clamp mounted in the outside annular groove and moved between two positions to alternatively force the locating devices into the operative position, and a handle having a driving rod at one end inserted into the socket, wherein when the driving rod of the handle is turned in one direction, the locating device which is set in the operative position is forced into engagement with the driving rod, for permitting the socket to be turned with the driving rod, or disengaged from the driving rod, for permitting the driving rod to run idle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Inventor: Chih-Ching Hsieh
  • Patent number: 5685209
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a garbage disposal unjamming device which enables a user to easily unjam a garbage disposal by rotation of blades. The present invention garbage disposal unjamming device has a shaft with a first end and a second end opposite one another. The elongated shaft has a handle connected to the first end. At the second end of the shaft is a flat plate having a straight bottom edge and an upper edge, which is hingedly connected to the second end of shaft at a location below the upper edge of the flat plate. The flat plate has a first position wherein the bottom edge forms right angles with the shaft and a second position wherein the bottom edge of the plate forms an acute angle on one side of the shaft and an obtuse angle on the opposite side of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: Paul H. Fiedler
  • Patent number: 5685206
    Abstract: A multi-purpose tool is provided and includes first and second elongate body members each having first and second ends. A torque surface is formed at one of the first and second ends of each of the body members. The torque surfaces are adapted for engagement with workpiece surfaces such as the flats of polygonal fastening elements. Driver heads are formed at the other ends of the body members and are adapted for engagement in slots of slotted fastening elements with the first body member driver head configured differently from the second body member driver head. The body members are secured together to allow relative movement therebetween with the torque surface of the first body member and the torque surface of the second body member generally facing each other to define an adjustable opening therebetween. The driver heads of the body members are adjacent to each other for exposing one of the heads beyond the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: James W. Ma
  • Patent number: 5678621
    Abstract: A versatile tire derimming machine comprises three crushing arms articulated at a top of the device, hydraulic actuators for each arm and a power multiplying arrangement. The device is generally mounted on a rotating means of a mechanical arm such as a hydraulic excavator or a log loader and can be remotely moved into position to "pick" a tire and wheel combination from a resting place, place the tire and wheel combination in a desired orientation and deform the wheel therein thus facilitating removal of the tire therefrom quickly and easily. The machine may be configured for and used on every size wheel and tire combination but is particularly suited for use in derimming large truck tires from their wheels. The device avoids the need for a worker lifting or moving the tire/wheel combinations which can easily weight 120 lbs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Tire Recycling and Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl A. Trant
  • Patent number: 5671643
    Abstract: An extension wrench is presented which is especially adapted to remove nuts from underground water meters which are located in a confined space. The invention is approximately six feet long having two handles at the top and a ratchet mechanism located at the bottom. One of the two handles is movable and supplies force to the ratchet mechanism some six feet below the pivoting handle. The ratchet mechanism can be placed around a nut in a confined area. The ratchet mechanism has an open-ended but latched portion. As the ratchet mechanism rotates to loosen or tighten a nut, the latch mechanism automatically closes. Loosening or tightening of the nut is accomplished by simply reversing the direction of the device by 180 degrees. Also provided is a mechanism to retain the nut within the ratchet mechanism while the nut is being tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventor: John K. Henkhaus
  • Patent number: 5671645
    Abstract: A drive link is coupled to an end of a ratchet wheel, and the other end of the drive link is slidably arranged in a guide hole formed in a side wall of a nose holder. The nose holder has a control plate rotatably attached to the other end of the drive link. The control plate is urged by a spring so as to engage with the other end of the drive link with such a strength as to temporarily stop the movement of the drive link when the drive link is in the course of retreating together with the nose portion. The other end of the drive link is designed to engage with a front end of the guide hole while the nose portion is in the course of advancing from a retreat end. By causing the ratchet wheel to make a forward/backward rotation based on stoppage of the drive link while the nose portion is in the course of retreating and while the nose portion is in the course of advancing, a feed wheel is rotated intermittently in a coupled screw feed direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keishiro Murayama, Osamu Ebisawa
  • Patent number: 5664468
    Abstract: A screw tightening machine is provided which comprises a main body 2 formed on an end of a grip 1, a nose 3 mounted on the forward part of the main body 2, and a magazine 5 for guiding and feeding a band in which evenly spaced screws 4b are fitted from the side of the grip 1 to the nose 3. The nose 3 moves relatively with respect to a direction in which a screw 4b is tightened. The screw 4b is driven out from the nose 3. An end of the magazine 5 is connected to the nose 3, and a part of the other end of the magazine 5 is slidably connected to the grip 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Assignee: Max Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keijiro Murayama, Osamu Ebisawa
  • Patent number: 5664467
    Abstract: An adjustable socket for removing threaded fasteners has a split collet socket, a collet ring and an outer barrel. The split collet ring has at least two fingers. The collet ring is mounted about ends of the fingers. The outer barrel threadably engages the split collet socket and frictionally engages the collet ring. Rotating the barrel relative to the split collet socket in one sense urges the collet ring to close the fingers for gripping a head of the threaded fastener. Continued rotation of the barrel in the one sense increases the grip and applies a torque to the threaded fastener for removal thereof. Counter rotation of the barrel relative to the split collet socket relaxes the collet ring allowing removal of the head of the threaded fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1997
    Inventor: Robert W. Breeze
  • Patent number: 5662012
    Abstract: An improved and less costly torque wrench adjusting and calibrating structure for accurate axial biasing and adjustment of an elongate axially extending spring in an elongate axially extending tubular lever arm of an adjustable click-type torque wrench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Consolidated Devices, Inc.
    Inventor: Bosko Grabovac
  • Patent number: 5660089
    Abstract: A pair of pliers includes a handle member having an intermediate portion slidably engaged in an intermediate portion of another handle member which has a rack located close to the handle end. A pawl is pivotally secured on the handle member for engaging with the rack so as to secure the intermediate portions of the handle members together when the jaw ends are engaged with the workpiece. The intermediate portions of the handle members have no slots such that the strength of the handle members can be greatly increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventor: Jessie Chow
  • Patent number: 5655421
    Abstract: A micro-torque limiting production tool comprises a hollow cylindrically shaped handle in which a combination bit retainer clutch mechanism is supported. The combination bit retainer-clutch mechanism includes a pair of cylindrical clutch plates of a plastic composite composed of teflon fluorocarbon and acetal resin, having bulbous regions of diameter D1 in axially broad contact with each other within the central cavity of the handle to define a primary braking surface of area .pi.(D1/2).sup.2. Reduced regions of the clutch plates face in opposite directions, from a shoulder region to a remote end segment, the remote end segment of one of the reduced regions, extending through a secondary braking plate also of a plastic composite as described above, to define a secondary annular braking surface equal to .pi.[(D1-D2)/2].sup.2 (where D1 and D2 are exterior and interior diameters of such plate).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventor: Chett D. Haupt