Screwdriver/screw.

p0001The invention relates to a screwdriver in accordance with the preamble of the main claim.

p0002There are already joint compounds are known which consist of a first drive element at the end of a first rotary shaft and a second drive element at the end of a second rotatable shaft, which drive elements pivotally engage each other such that the axes of the shafts against each other are pivotable up to a certain angle. Such joints are referred to as universal joint.

p0003It is also already proposed a joint connection, consisting of a first traction element at the end of a first rotatable shaft and a second drive element at the end of a second rotatable shaft, wherein the driving elements are pivotally engaged with each other, in such a way that the axes of the shafts are pivotable against each other up to a certain angle. For this purpose, the first drive element has approximately the shape of a hollow cylinder on, parallel to the axis on the inner surface, uniformly distributed on the periphery, alternately convex and concave, merging into one another depressions and elevations are formed. The second drive member is constructed approximately spherically and, on its surface alternately troughs and ridges which extend in the longitudinal direction corresponding to a plane containing the axis of the second shaft and the one to the circumferential direction, in particular in the equatorial plane of the spherical second drive element have inner surface of the first drive element about complementary course. It is particularly intended that the transitions between the indentations and the elevations extend continuously, that on the spherical second drive element the depressions compared to the increases in the first drive element at least partly wider or rises to the wells on the first drive element are at least partly formed narrower in that on the ball-shaped drive element, the recesses and the elevations within the equatorial zone in its width the associated elevations or depressions of the first drive element approximately correspond and with increasing distance from the equatorial plane recesses broader or the same width and the ridges are narrower and that the center of the inner circle that is tangent with the minimum of the concave recess, depending on the half ball by a certain amount below or is placed above the ball center point. The drive elements in this case have six recesses between six elevations and it is provided that the center plane (plane of symmetry) of each recess or elevation comprises the axis of rotation of the respective drive element. This articulation is designed so that it can also be used as a screw and screwdriver (EP-A-0235183).

p0004However, it has been shown that partially under certain circumstances problems arise when the insertion portion is to be introduced as a kind of lobulares traction element into the receiving opening of a screw, so then are both driving elements engage with each other. Due to the complementary configuration of the two parts, it is easily obtained at a certain rotational angle position to one another - even without an angular pivoting is present to each other - that insertion is not possible, since the respective increases meet and thus an introduction is prevented. Often the introduction must also be blindly.

p0005On the other hand should the possible insertion of the positive engagement-engagement section - even in angled positions - do not interfere too much.

p0006It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a screwdriver so that a problem-free insertion of the male portion into the receiving opening of the second wave is possible, on the other hand in the inserted position - even in angled position - yet always remains a sufficiently large power flow.

p0007This object is achieved by claim 1. The dependent claims represent advantageous developments.

p0008Here therefore a certain leadership for the end of the shaft is provided which is used to introduce the aid in the screw in such a way that the axes of the shafts can perform axial rotation with each other, a high torque can be transmitted and a slight triaxial pivoting possible and given is.

p0009The leadership may be formed as hemispherical or frustoconical, said this is just a basic form, as well as a three-quarter sphere, a quarter of a sphere or a smaller spherical part or a short truncated cone comes into consideration and in particular the tip portion may be formed flattened. On the surface of the guide tip pits and projections are alternately arranged, extending in the longitudinal direction corresponding to a plane, the screw receiving opening has the shape of a lobular hollow cylinder and extending parallel to the inner surface to the axis, are uniformly distributed on the periphery, alternately convex and concave, merging into one another

p0010Depressions and elevations has having in circumferential direction a to the shaft surface as complementary course.

p0011The lobular parts of the hemisphere or the truncated cone of the top management are pointed from the equator to the pole, so that leaves the hemisphere or the frustum easily bring in the lobular hollow cylinder of the screw engages.

p0012According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that in the leadership<ul><li>a) the transitions between the ridges and the grooves are continuous,</li><li>b) the elevations and depressions of the male shaft and the peaks and valleys of the leaders remain the same up to the equatorial zone or lobular rod in its width and that the elevations on the leaders with increasing distance from the equatorial zone or lobular rod to the tip (Pol) narrower will.</li></ul>

p0013This slight dimensional pivoting given ia.

p0014According to a further preferred embodiment provides that the center of the inner circle that is tangent to the minimum of the concave recesses, with the center of the outer circle of the leadership is the same or is provided by a certain amount relative to the center above the equator in the insertion or the midpoints of the interior and the outer circle are put together by a certain amount relative to the center above the equator in the insertion section.

p0015Preferably, the end portion has six depressions (2, 3, 4, 5-lobular possible) between six increases, it can be provided that the central plane of each recess or elevation comprises the axis of rotation.

p0016The transitions between the depressions and elevations extend continuously so that they merge into each rounded and avoiding sharp edges. Thus it is achieved that the force is transmitted through surfaces (lobular edges). The depressions on the end section with the hemispherical or frustoconical tip are compared to the increases at least in part the same width or wider, or the increases are opposite the recesses of the first drive element to the top or to the pole formed smaller toward. This ensures that the required clearance is provided so that when inserting the end with the leadership no terminals or milling occurs in rotation and easy insertion is guaranteed even under rotation (even if the lobular projections and recesses are not in the longitudinal direction of an axis ). This makes such a screwdriver -. Eg as Screwdriver Bits - only for electric power tools - operational. Even with tolerance difficulties of each other in an axis standing bolt with the blowing elements and axial feed under non-observed axial tolerance, the hemispherical or frustoconical lobular tip leads easily into the screw under compensation of tolerances (leadership).

p0017Here, it is possible that in the insertion phase, the two shafts are each other out in a three-dimensional desaxialen state or low tilt angle.

p0018The desaxiale state of the two shafts can be optionally placed on the axial longitudinal direction after the introduction (merge), because the input hemispherical or truncated leadership with the three-dimensional pivoting angle in the insertion phase with each other leads them. This follows the hemisphere-blowing element one hand from the diminishing flank angles from the maxima of convex increases the tip or the constant or increasing flank angle of the minima of the concave depression and their turning points of the equatorial plane of polar cap or truncated tip and on the other hand the hollow-blowing element by the constant thread angle, which arise from the maxima of kovexen increasing and the minima of the concave depression and their turning points. The geometry of the screw receiving opening is congruent with the equatorial plane of the hemispherical geometry or lobular rod of the first drive element.

p0019The radius at the maximum of the convex land and the inner circle at the minimum of the concave recess defined in the drive elements "TORX" by A and B. The convex radius with F_wheel and the concave radius with E_wheel given. For TORX is F_wheel&lt;e_wheel, The centers of these radii form inflection points, in which the said convex and concave flank angle to the maximum of the convex elevation and the minimum of the concave depression.

p0020Starting from the equatorial plane of the bearing the hemispherical or frustoconical tip end portion of the pole of the hemisphere or truncated tip the increases are narrower or convex flank angle smaller (Fig. 5 and 6).

p0021For technical reasons, the hemispherical drive element is not pronounced to the Pole. The hemisphere-pole tip is omitted, so that a hemispherical layer remains.

p0022To shorten the hemispheric leadership, so that the two parts that engage with one another, form the highest possible conclusion to preferably take optimal entraining axial rotational movement, the center of the inner circle of the hemisphere that is tangent to the minimum of the concave depression or the midpoints the inner and the outer circle by a certain amount outside, that is provided above the ball center point. The semicircle or hemisphere beaten about this center with the same radius of the inner circle thus obtained, a larger difference between the semicircular or hemispherical outer diameter and the smaller hemisphere and hemispherical inner diameter, with from the new inner circle in miminum the concave depression the results by the particular amount above the hemispherical center of the outer circle. Thereby change the turning points of the convex and concave radii of their location in the interior of the hemisphere. Thus, the angle of the maximum of the convex elevation or the minimum of the concave pit to the inflection points are small. The game that created drive hemisphere compared to the hollow cylinder with the complementary geometry in the equatorial plane of the hemispherical end portion gives a three-dimensional angle of the driving element, which is achieved when panning. This corresponds to the game, which is necessary so that when assembling easy introduction is ensured under both axial rotation of a part or both parts, as well as under desaxialer supply and engagement of the two lobular blowing elements.

p0023In order to achieve an axial clamping, the lobular increases on the outer surface of the male under an angle alpha of 1 `-6`, mainly provided 2.5 -3.5 and both increases in their circle-moderation. Hereby is achieved that the optimal introduction parts can be clamped axially to one another and can be held and screwed in the horizontal plane. This ensures that after the result of the leadership relatively easy insertion of the male in the receiving opening upon further introducing a certain clamping effect occurs because of the widening insertion is introduced into the cylindrical receiving opening and clamped there. The screw can be plugged so firmly on the screwdriver. For users, this offers namely the possibility, for example aufzustecken which are provided with a Torx-head screws on the top of a screwdriver screwing machine and to keep this machine then with both hands when screwing. The workflow is thereby substantially accelerated.

p0024With respect to all embodiments discussed above is to be noted that the operation is given regardless of whether the insertion is a screwdriver or even a part of a screw itself. Namely, it is possible that the insertion forms the drive part on the head of a screw on a hohlzylinderisch trained head of a screwdriver is fitted. In this case, the screw head is provided with the top leadership of the invention. The new leadership can therefore serve both as leaders for the introduction of a shaft in a shaft connection, for the introduction of a screwdriver into a screw head or to facilitate placement of a hollow cylindrical head screwdriver on a screw head.

p0025Embodiments of the invention will be explained hereinafter with reference to the drawing. Show it<ul><li>FIG. 1 is a schematic, partially sectioned view of a plug-in connecting with a hemispherical or dome-shaped top management of a first wave in a hollow cylindrical receiving a second shaft</li><li>Fig. 1a a truncated top management,</li><li>Fig. 2 is a sectional view gem. Line 11-11 in FIG. 1,</li><li>FIG. 3 is a schematic, partially sectioned view of a further embodiment of a plug-in connecting,</li><li>Fig. 4 is a schematic, partially sectioned view of a further embodiment of a plug-in connecting,</li><li>Fig. 4a a truncated top management,</li><li>Fig. 5 + 6 in purely schematic representations the geometries of a top management,</li><li>Fig. 7 is a schematic, partially sectioned view of a further embodiment of a plug-in connecting for placing a screwdriver wrench on a screw head, and</li><li>Fig. 7a is a ball cone shaped guide tip.</li></ul>

p0026In Fig. 1, reference numeral 100 is a plug-in connecting a first shaft 10. Here 10, the shaft 11 of the shaft at its end 11 an insertion 12 which is provided with a guide tip 13, the 14 can be inserted into the hohlzylinderische headpiece 15 a second wave, for which the hollow cylindrical head piece 15 a comprises receiving opening 16th The shaft 10 with the insertion portion 12 forms the first drive element, while the shaft 14 forms the second drive element or the cylindrical hollow-blowing element to the hollow cylindrical head 15 correspond. Both the insertion section 12 and the interior of the receiving opening 16 correspond to the TORX geometry (Fig. 5 and 6), both driving elements 10, 14 correspond in the equatorial plane 17 with the TORX geometry. The insertion section 12 in this case has on its outer surface 18 six evenly distributed around the longitudinal axis L1 increases 19 between which regularly arranged in the same way six wells 20 are. Compared to a circular peripheral line, a wavy outer profile is thus formed.

p0027The hollow cylindrical head 15 is shown in Fig. 1 corresponding cut perpendicularly, while FIG. 2 is a plan view corresponding to line II-11. It has on its inner surface 21 on six correspondingly arranged elevations 23, between which six grooves 24 are such that also the comparison to a circular peripheral line results in a wave-shaped profile which extends from the upper edge 22 parallel to the longitudinal axis L2 inward. Here, the opposing portions of the cavities 24 at a distance a and the opposite points of the elevations 23 a smaller distance b (FIG. 2).

p0028The Einsteckbabschnitt 12 bears on the first shaft 10 in contrast narrower elevations 19, are between those wider depressions 20th As shown in Fig. 2, contact each other in the equatorial plane 17 of the insertion section 12 and the interior configuration of the hollow-cylindrical head part 15, as in the equatorial region 17 corresponding to the bottom end of the insertion section 12, the ridges 19 and the grooves 20 a to the ridges 23 and the recesses 24 of the inner surface 21 of the hollow cylindrical headpiece having 15 approximately complementary course.

p0029then the guide tip 13 adjoins the insertion portion 12, on the outer surface 25 toward narrowing the tip increases 26 lying between them wider or equal width depressions extending 27th As shown in FIG. 2, the upper pole cap to the tip 13a (Fig. 5) of the guide tip 13 cut off, so that a circular line 28 is visible in FIG. 2, toward which increases 26 and depressions run 27th

p0030In this embodiment, as with the embodiment of FIG. 1, the elevations 19 and the recesses 20 of the insertion section 12 and the elevations 26 and the recesses 27 of the guide tip 13 each go steadily into each other, as shown in the drawing.

p0031In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4 again meet all the essential parts of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, so that reference is made thereto. However, the top management 113 has a slightly different configuration, since it is provided here that the center 11 of the inner circle and the inner and outer circle, the inner circle with the minimum of the concave pits tangent 27 and the outer circle with the maximum of convex elevations tangent 26, is provided with the center I of the outer circle of the leaders 113 by an amount relative to the center I above the equator 17 in the insertion portion 12 along the longitudinal axis L1. This increases the possibility of the shaft 10 and the screw shaft 32 also results in greatly employed to introduce that at a large angle between the longitudinal axes L1 and L2 to each other, then an automatic alignment results even easier. Also in this embodiment, the guide tip 113a be formed as a truncated cone, as indicated in Fig. 4a.

p0032The relevant geometric relationships are shown here in FIGS. 5 and 6. This comes at a low hollow cylindrical head 15 of the cylindrical Torx drive fully into contact and a high torque is transferable. The guide tip 13, 113 is short.

p0033In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the shaft 10 with the insertion portion 12 is freely inserted into the hollow cylindrical head 15 of the shaft 14. Then, when both of the shafts 10, 14 is secured against axial displacement, a torque can be transmitted by means of the compound as shown. Here, the second shaft 14 may be designed as a screw, in which case the hollow cylindrical head portion 15 is disposed on a screw head 29, which for example, a screw shaft 30 connects with a thread 31st The shaft 11 of the shaft 10 is to be considered as a screwdriver shank 32nd

p0034The leaders 13a may also be frustoconical, as indicated in Fig. 1a. This results in the same advantageous properties, however, can be applied advantageously a simpler fabrication technique.

p0035In another embodiment, 3 dargstellten in Fig. Correspond all the essential parts of the above-explained embodiment, so that reference is made thereto. However, the insertion section 112 in this case has a slightly different design, since the elevations 19 and the recesses 20 are placed relative to the longitudinal axis L1 at an angle alpha of 1 ° -6 °, in particular 2.5 -3.5 so that both, starting from the top management have 13 widening circle degree. When inserting the shaft 10 in the X direction in the hollow cylindrical head 15 while an axial clamping is achieved, so that the second shaft 14 which indeed may be a screw, for example, is clamped to the shaft 10th

p0036As indicated in Fig. 7, it is also possible, the plug-in connecting reversed, that is to arrange a guide point 113 on a plug-in section 12 on a screw head 29, in which case the hollow cylindrical head 15 is assigned a screwdriver shank 132nd In this embodiment, there is the advantage that the screwdriver shaft 132 having a longitudinal axis L1 need not be flush mounted with the longitudinal axis L2 of the screw shaft 30, but that even with an oblique placement optimal merging is possible. Furthermore, it is ensured that even with a touch down so that the protuberances 23 are incident on the ridges 26, by the selected geometry of an automatic rotation of the screwdriver shaft 132 occurs, which leads to a sliding slipping into one another. It even more reliable coupling between the two shafts is thus obtained 10 and 14 so that regardless of how the rotational angular position of the shafts relative to one another and also independently of said shaft serves as a drive and which shaft constitutes the drive, a positive connection between the can be profiled surfaces easily produced, the special tread design greatly reduces the load of the materials, so that exposure to shear forces and cracks by stress concentrations, as for example it may also occur with normal Allen key arrangements, is reliably avoided. In this configuration, the 7 indicated in Fig. Frustoconical configuration of leadership apply. The bow line progression of the ridges 19, it is on the real insertion 12 or 112 or be it at the insertion tip 13 or 113 or at both areas, can facilitate insertion and bring some rear grip shape seat, whether in einschraubendem rotation or ausschraubendem rotation, depending on how the curved course ausladet circumferentially or in which direction the arc line runs in the area of ​​insertion.

p0037The features disclosed in the foregoing description, the drawings and the claims of the invention can be both individually and in any combination for implementing the invention is important. All disclosed features are essential to the invention. In the disclosure of the application of the disclosure content of the associated / accompanying priority papers (copy of the prior application) incorporated in full herein.