US 11,890,728 B2
Concentrated longitudinal acoustical/ultrasonic energy fastener design and manipulation system
Gary Lee Ward, Pleasant Hill, OH (US); David Scott Diwinsky, West Chester, OH (US); David Joseph Stone, Dayton, OH (US); Marc Alan Metz, Enon, OH (US); and Tom Lawrence Clutter, Tipp City, OH (US)
Assigned to NEXTGEN AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Troy, OH (US)
Filed by NEXTGEN AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Troy, OH (US)
Filed on May 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/324,770.
Prior Publication US 2022/0371163 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B25B 21/02 (2006.01); B25B 23/00 (2006.01)
CPC B25B 21/023 (2013.01) [B25B 23/00 (2013.01)] 76 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fastener tool for loosening or tightening a fastener mounted on a structure, said fastener tool comprising:
a tool body;
a horn adapted and sized to apply an acoustic or ultrasonic energy into said fastener;
an acoustic/ultrasonic generator for generating said acoustic or ultrasonic energy that passes through said horn and into said fastener to facilitate fastening or loosening said fastener; and
wherein the fastener comprising fastener threads that mate with mating structure threads of said structure at a thread-engagement area of said structure and a first end that is directly or indirectly engaged by said horn during loosening or fastening when said acoustic or ultrasonic energy is applied thereto, said acoustic/ultrasonic generator generating said acoustic or ultrasonic energy that travels into said fastener and becomes concentrated or focused at a predetermined target location in said fastener;
wherein said horn is adapted to apply a rotational torque substantially simultaneously as said acoustic or ultrasonic energy passes into said fastener in response to a rotational torque being applied to said horn;
wherein said first end comprises a head and/or nut that becomes situated at a head and/or nut engagement area of said structure when said fastener is mounted to said structure; said predetermined target location being along a length of said fastener so that when said horn is caused to rotate, a friction or pressure between the head and/or nut and said head and/or nut engagement area and also between said fastener threads and said structure threads is at least partly reduced;
said predetermined target location of concentrated or focused energy being along a length of said fastener between said head and/or nut and a second end of said fastener that is opposite of said first end of said fastener.