Abstract: A torque wrench having a handle and an output shaft is disclosed. The output shaft may be constrained to turn only unidirectionally due to a ratchet. Rotation of the output shaft may be permanently disabled by an internal mechanism. Torque imposed on the output shaft may be limited by a torque responsive cam clutch. The handle forms or is part of an enclosure enclosing internal components such as the ratchet, the internal disablement mechanism, and the torque responsive cam clutch. A seal between the body and the output shaft prevents ingress and egress of lubricants and contamination between the inside of the body and the output shaft.

Abstract: A torque wrench having a handle and an output shaft is disclosed. The output shaft may be constrained to turn only unidirectionally due to a ratchet. Rotation of the output shaft may be permanently disabled by an internal mechanism. Torque imposed on the output shaft may be limited by a torque responsive cam clutch. The handle forms or is part of an enclosure enclosing internal components such as the ratchet, the internal disablement mechanism, and the torque responsive cam clutch. A seal between the body and the output shaft prevents ingress and egress of lubricants and contamination between the inside of the body and the output shaft.

Abstract: A torque applying tool suited for torquing small surgical fasteners. The tool includes a torque limiting clutch accessible when a housing of the tool is removed, so that torque limits can be sensed without subjecting the blade or working shaft to deforming forces. Torque can be adjusted by turning a nut threaded to the blade or working shaft. The torque limiting clutch is formed in interacting cam members bearing interacting ratchet surfaces, the cam members urged together by a spring located between the clutch and the housing, away from interference with torque sensing when first establishing a predetermined maximum torque of the tool. The tool is small and disposable, and includes a rubber grip coating.

Abstract: A torque wrench having a handle and an output shaft is disclosed. The output shaft may be constrained to turn only unidirectionally due to a ratchet. Rotation of the output shaft may be permanently disabled by an internal mechanism. Torque imposed on the output shaft may be limited by a torque responsive cam clutch. The handle forms or is part of an enclosure enclosing internal components such as the ratchet, the internal disablement mechanism, and the torque responsive cam clutch. A seal between the body and the output shaft prevents ingress and egress of lubricants and contamination between the inside of the body and the output shaft.

Abstract: A torque applying tool suited for torquing small surgical fasteners. The tool includes a torque limiting clutch accessible when a housing of the tool is removed, so that torque limits can be sensed without subjecting the blade or working shaft to deforming forces. Torque can be adjusted by turning a nut threaded to the blade or working shaft. The torque limiting clutch is formed in interacting cam members bearing interacting ratchet surfaces, the cam members urged together by a spring located between the clutch and the housing, away from interference with torque sensing when first establishing a predetermined maximum torque of the tool. The tool is small and disposable, and includes a rubber grip coating.

Abstract: A torque limiting adapter readily usable with rotary drivers and tool holders customarily received in a chuck of rotary drivers. The torque limiting adapter is installed in the rotary driver, and in turn, receives the tool holder which holds a fastener or other item to be rotatably driven into the substrate. The torque limiting adapter includes an input shaft received by the rotary driver, a separate output shaft, and an internal spring clutch adjustable to transmit only a desired torque value from the input shaft to the output shaft. A rotatable adjuster adjusts a spring of the spring clutch to vary maximum transmissible torque. The rotatable adjuster includes a locking mechanism to maintain a selected maximum torque value.

Abstract: A torque wrench having a handle and an output shaft is disclosed. The output shaft may be constrained to turn only unidirectionally due to a ratchet. Rotation of the output shaft may be permanently disabled by an internal mechanism. Torque imposed on the output shaft may be limited by a torque responsive cam clutch. The handle forms or is part of an enclosure enclosing internal components such as the ratchet, the internal disablement mechanism, and the torque responsive cam clutch. A seal between the body and the output shaft prevents ingress and egress of lubricants and contamination between the inside of the body and the output shaft.

Abstract: A torque-limiting driving tool having a body having an axis of rotation, an elongated shaft disposed along the axis of rotation and supported by the body, and a torque-limiting element disposed to limit the amount of torque imposed on the body which is transmitted to the elongated shaft. The torque-limiting element includes opposed cams each of which comprises a metallic cam surface and a non-metallic structural base which is disposed to hold the metallic cam surface in operable position within the body. The torque-limiting driver may have a torque-adjustment element which is operable to adjust the torque value to which the transmitted torque is limited, which may include a plug bearing threads which are compatible with threads of the body. The body may include a locking element which drivably interacts with the plug to resist spontaneous rotation of the plug.

Abstract: A torque tool having a visible indicator indicating that a predetermined number of usages of the torque tool has occurred. The indicator is carried on a movable platform which is moved into alignment with a window in the housing of the torque tool by a gearing assembly ultimately driven by a torque shaft for applying torque to a fastener. The gearing assembly includes gears extending along less than the full extent of the gear, so that a point is reached wherein at least one of the gears disengages from another gear, such that further rotation of the last gear does not occur. The indicator is eventually displayed to signal exhaustion of permissible usages, but is not moved further to conceal the indicator by disengagement of at least one gear from another.

Abstract: A tool for removing debris from sockets containing screws of electrical conductors of medical pacemakers, to allow engagement of screw heads for unthreading. The tool includes a body, with a screw driving blade projecting from one end and a cutting blade of diameter similar to that of the screw driving blade projecting from an opposed end. Optionally, the body encloses torque limiting components limiting torque applied to the screw driving blade. The screw driving blade may be polygonal. The cutting blade may be a fluted drill bit. Where the torque limiting components are not provided, the body may bear external splines, with the screw driving blade and cutting blade being monolithic with the body.

Abstract: A socket for driving a lug nut. The socket may include a tapered external surface which eliminates shoulders which might otherwise exist at the external surface of the socket. The tapered external surface may be formed as a sleeve. In a second implementation, the sleeve may both provide the tapered external surface and may also cover one end of the socket to increase the overall diameter and hence grippability of the socket. The socket may be fabricated from steel, while either of the sleeves may be fabricated from a lighter material such as aluminum or an alloy thereof. The socket may have a chamfer at the internal termination of the wrench surface of the socket to better seat lug nuts having a correspondingly tapered configuration.

Abstract: A torque-limiting driving tool having a body having an axis of rotation, an elongated shaft disposed along the axis of rotation and supported by the body, and a torque-limiting element disposed to limit the amount of torque imposed on the body which is transmitted to the elongated shaft. The torque-limiting element includes opposed cams each of which comprises a metallic cam surface and a non-metallic structural base which is disposed to hold the metallic cam surface in operable position within the body. The torque-limiting driver may have a torque-adjustment element which is operable to adjust the torque value to which the transmitted torque is limited, which may include a plug bearing threads which are compatible with threads of the body. The body may include a locking element which drivably interacts with the plug to resist spontaneous rotation of the plug.

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.

Abstract: A torque wrench assembly includes a casing assembly, a click arm, a signaling assembly and a torque-limiting assembly. The casing assembly includes an inward projection. The click arm is disposed within the casing assembly. The click arm has a first end adapted to engage a fastener, and a second end. The click arm is movable between first and second positions. The signaling assembly is coupled to the click arm and configured to engage the casing assembly inward projection when the click arm is moved to the click arm second position whereby the signaling system emits at least one of an audible, tactile, and visual notification. The torque-limiting assembly is disposed within the casing and operably coupled to the click arm second end and configured to permit the click arm to move from the first position to the second positing when a predetermined amount of torque has been reached.

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.

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.