US 12,305,684 B2
Sequential torque application retention system
William M. Jackson, Tucson, AZ (US); and Raymond S. Lickson, Tucson, AZ (US)
Assigned to Raytheon Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA (US)
Filed on Dec. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/553,230.
Prior Publication US 2023/0193940 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. F16B 23/00 (2006.01); F16B 5/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16B 23/0069 (2013.01) [F16B 5/02 (2013.01); F16B 23/0023 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A sequential torque application retention system comprising:
a driver mechanism having a shaft with a shank end and a tip end opposite the shaft end;
a center drive coupled to the tip end;
a socket formed in the tip end, said socket configured to receive an insertable bit wherein said insertable bit is employed as the center drive;
an outboard drive coupled to the tip end;
a screw including a screw head;
a central receiver formed in said screw head, said central receiver corresponding to said center drive, said central receiver configured to receive said center drive;
a pair of outboard receivers formed in said screw head corresponding to said outboard drive, said pair of outboard receivers configured to receive said outboard drive;
wherein said center drive is engaged with said screw head at said central receiver responsive to an initial torque and said outboard drive is engaged with said screw head at said pair of outboard receivers responsive to a subsequent torque; and
wherein said outboard receivers are positioned so that they do not engage with said outboard drive responsive to the initial torque;
wherein the insertable bit includes a length dimension and a diameter dimension, being determined by a predetermined initial torque value and a predetermined subsequent torque value, such that the insertable bit flexes to limit the torque applied by the central drive bit responsive to the subsequent torque while applying the subsequent torque through the outboard drive.