Textron Corporation

Acument Intellectual Properties, LLC

Ttapdrive As

Acument Intellectal Properties, LLC

David Curtis Goss

Steven P Donovan

Richard J Seidl

Michael Janusz

David W Everdon

Jone Edland

Richard A Swedberg

Steve P Donovan

Jordan Kingsbury

David J Wright

Ronald L Ryder

Dennis M Luna

Terry A Crissinger

Olof Markus Ingemar Bergelin

A drive system including a bit with a bit end configured to provide targeted frictional engagement with a fastener. The bit end has an outer leading wall tapered with respect to the bit end longitudinal axis at a leading wall angle selected from leading wall angle values ranging within a leading wall angle tolerance band and the fastener has an inner recess wall tapered with respect to the fastener longitudinal axis at a recess wall angle selected from recess wall angle values ranging within a recess wall angle tolerance band, wherein the leading wall angle values within the leading wall angle tolerance band and the recess wall angles values within the recess wall angle tolerance band do not overlap when the outer leading wall contacts the inner pilot recess wall at a targeted focal area to achieve a desired level of frictional engagement between the pilot end and the fastener.

Drive system configured to provide frictional fit engagement

A drive system with full surface drive contact. The drive system tends to maximize the surface contact pattern or area at typical bit-recess reaction (drive) torque values, thereby tending to minimize bit-recess surface contact stresses, coating damage, recess ream and premature bit fatigue failure.

Drive system with full surface drive contact

A drive system with full surface drive contact. The drive system tends to maximize the surface contact pattern or area at typical bit-recess reaction (drive) torque values, thereby tending to minimize bit-recess surface contact stresses, coating damage, recess ream and premature bit fatigue failure. The drive system comprises a fastener and/or bit having drive surfaces formed of either polygon involutes or a single arc construction. A punch is also provided for forming a recess in either the fastener or the bit, wherein the punch has corresponding surfaces.

The invention provides a screw in which the screw head () has a slot () in the upper surface of the screw head, an upper peripheral wall () of regular planform extending down from the rim of the slot into the screwhead, the upper peripheral wall () being generally aligned with the axis of the screw to form a recess (), a sloping transition surface (), extending downwardly and inwardly with respect to the lower edge of the upper peripheral wall (), and a further recess () extending downwardly from the lower edge of the sloping transition surface (), in which the dimensions of the screw head are such that when the screwhead is engaged by a tool () having upper () and lower () engagement sections, and in which the upper engagement section () extends downwardly with respect to the axis of the screw to which the tool is to engage and the lower engagement section () extends further downwardly, and in which there is at least one protrusion (or rib) () on the inside wall () of the further recess (), so that there is a 'stick fit' between the protrusion () on the inside wall () of the further recess () and the lower engagement section () of the tool ().

Screw head and tool for use therewith

Disclosed is a screw head having a slot () in the upper surface of the screw head, an upper peripheral wall () of hexalobular planform extending down into the screw head, the upper peripheral wall () being parallel or near parallel to the axis of the screw, a sloping transition surface () extending downwardly and inwardly with respect to the lower edge of the upper peripheral wall (), and a tapered recess () extending downwardly from the lower edge of the sloping transition surface (), in which the dimensions of the screw head are such that when the screw head is engaged by a tool () having upper () and lower engagement () sections, there is a 'stick fit' between the surface of the tapered recess () and the external surface of the lower engagement section (), and there is no engagement with the sloping transition surface ().

In a preferred embodiment, a driver socket is configured to provide a visual indicator on a portion of a locknut upon application of a predetermined torque to the driver socket relative to the locknut. The driver socket has a member which is positioned proximate to the first end, with a portion thereof protruding into an aperture of the driver socket. The member is configured to engage a drive configuration of a locknut in order to apply nut torque to the locknut upon rotation of the drive socket and to form a mark on the drive configuration of the locknut in order to provide a visual indicator on the locknut that the locknut has been subjected to the desired torque during initial assembly. The driver socket is preferably attached to a ratchet arm of a fastening tool which provides a mechanical advantage in applying the desired torque.

Torque limiting socket and method of using same

A drive tool that includes a drive socket. The drive socket includes alternating flutes and lobes and has a conical portion. The lobes, rather than being tapered in the conical portion of the socket, are each uniform in width as they progress to an end of the socket. The fact that the lobes are uniform in width in the conical portion of the drive socket provides for better engagement with the flutes of a conical section of a fastener.

Drive socket design for hold and drive fastener

A device and method of removing a rivet which has been installed on a work piece. The method includes clamping a hand held device having springs onto the work piece, engaging a drill with a drill bit of the hand held device, the springs applying a pre-load force to the drill bit, operating the drill, thereby causing the springs to apply an increased load force to the drill bit and causing the drill bit to drill into a button of the rivet, unclamping and removing the hand held device from the work piece, and using a compression tool to remove the rivet from the work piece. The compression tool includes a push out portion configured to push out the rivet, and a recess is disposed generally opposite the push out portion for catching the rivet as the rivet is pushed out.

Rivet removal tool and method

A drive tool which does not require any upper-body force from an operator to install a fastener. The drive tool includes a top portion which is engageable with a drive source and a lower portion which is engageable with a fastener. The drive tool includes springs which are configured to urge the lower portion and upper portion of the tool away from each other (i.e. relative movement) and provide that a generally axial force is applied to the fastener engaged with the lower portion of the tool. As a result, the operator does not need to apply any upper-body axial force to the drive tool to install the fastener. Preferably, the lower portion of the drive tool includes one or more foot pads on which an operator may stand, and the spring(s) become compressed when the operator stands on the foot pad(s). As a result of the spring(s) trying to expand, a generally axial force is applied to the fastener engaged with the lower portion of the tool, thereby reducing the amount of upper-body axial force an operator must apply to the drive tool to install the fastener. Hence, the operator can use his or her own body weight to apply an axial load during a drilling operation, and need not use any upper-body force.

Spring loaded drive gun

An adjustable end piece engagable with a drive tool and configured to deliver fasteners from the drive tool to a work piece. Assembly of the adjustable end piece can be varied by varying the assembly of the end piece components and thus varying the length of the end piece. The variation in the length of the end piece allows the end piece to accommodate fasteners of varying lengths.

Adjustable-length end piece for a fastener drive tool

The present invention provides novel structures for spin weld assemblies and a method for forming same. The spin weld assemblies are formed by attaching a fastener to a plastic insert which is then attached to a plastic workpiece. The fastener can take the form of many different structures, preferably a stud or a nut. The fastener is formed with a drive for driving the fastener into a bore of the plastic insert having first and second ends. Self-tapping threads on the fastener engage the fastener with the plastic insert when the fastener is driven into the bore of the insert. The insert, having the fastener threadedly engaged thereto, is then rotated and generally axially displaced into an opening of the plastic workpiece, thereby spin welding the insert to the workpiece. The first end of the insert provides proper alignment for the insert to be spin welded into the opening as the diameter of the first end is smaller than that of the opening. The second end of the insert provides the intimate engaging contact between the insert and a wall that defines the opening when the insert is spin welded into the opening as the diameter of the second end is larger than the diameter of the opening.

Spin weld assembly

A drive tool having a top portion which is engageable with a drive source and a lower portion engageable with a fastener. The drive tool includes an axial load assist mechanism configured to urge the lower portion and upper portion of the tool away from each other (i.e. relative movement) such that a generally axial force is applied to the fastener engaged with the lower portion of the tool. As a result, the amount of upper body axial force an operator must apply to the drive tool to install the fastener is reduced.

Axially loaded drive tool

A novel drive system includes a body, such as a threaded fastener body or a drive tool body, a tapered transitional portion at an end of the body, and a drive head at the end of the transitional portion, such that the transitional portion is between the drive head and the body. The transitional portion has structure thereon, such as a plurality of alternating curved lobes and flutes, for engagement with a corresponding socket. At least a portion of the lobes are threaded in the transitional portion. The drive head also has structure thereon for engagement with the socket, such as a plurality of alternating curved lobes and flutes. The flutes on the transitional portion are axially aligned with the flutes on the drive head and the lobes on the transitional portion are axially aligned with the lobes on the drive head.

Drive system having a strengthened drive system member for resisting

The present invention envisions a fastener and a blank for forming a fastener. Threads are formed on the fastener blank of the present invention to achieve the fastener of the present invention. The fastener and blank include a shank which defines a central axis of the fastener. A head is provided on one end of the shank and a leading end is provided on an opposite end of the shank distal the head. A plurality of lobes are provided on the shank and are generally axially aligned with the central axis. Flutes are defined between neighboring lobes. The plurality of lobes include at least three major lobes and three minor lobes. The major lobes are defined by a major arc which is struck by a major radius. The minor lobes are defined by a minor arc struck by a minor radius. The major and minor radii extend from different radial points of origin. An inner circle of origin is positioned outwardly from the central axis and an outer circle of origin is positioned outwardly from the central axis and said inner circle of origin. The minor radii extend from a point on the inner circle and the major radii extend from a point on the outer circle. Threads are formed on the outside surface of the fastener blank as described hereinabove to produce the threaded fastener of the present invention.

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Rockford, IL, United States of America

David Curtis Goss