EP0963814A2 - Ratchet wrench - Google Patents
Ratchet wrench Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0963814A2 EP0963814A2 EP99104658A EP99104658A EP0963814A2 EP 0963814 A2 EP0963814 A2 EP 0963814A2 EP 99104658 A EP99104658 A EP 99104658A EP 99104658 A EP99104658 A EP 99104658A EP 0963814 A2 EP0963814 A2 EP 0963814A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- weight
- operation rod
- ratchet wrench
- receiving portion
- ratchet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
- B25B19/00—Impact wrenches or screwdrivers
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
- B25B13/00—Spanners; Wrenches
- B25B13/46—Spanners; Wrenches of the ratchet type, for providing a free return stroke of the handle
- B25B13/461—Spanners; Wrenches of the ratchet type, for providing a free return stroke of the handle with concentric driving and driven member
- B25B13/462—Spanners; Wrenches of the ratchet type, for providing a free return stroke of the handle with concentric driving and driven member the ratchet parts engaging in a direction radial to the tool operating axis
- B25B13/463—Spanners; Wrenches of the ratchet type, for providing a free return stroke of the handle with concentric driving and driven member the ratchet parts engaging in a direction radial to the tool operating axis a pawl engaging an externally toothed wheel
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B25—HAND TOOLS; PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN TOOLS; MANIPULATORS
- B25B—TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING OR HOLDING
- B25B13/00—Spanners; Wrenches
- B25B13/48—Spanners; Wrenches for special purposes
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a ratchet wrench. More particularly, the invention relates to a ratchet wrench for turning bolts and nuts disposed in narrow or inaccessible places in which conventional ratchet wrenches are not usable.
- the ratchet wrench of the invention is used for turning bolts and nuts disposed within an engine compartment of an automotive vehicle.
- Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 56-137969 Japanese Utility Model Application No. Sho 55-342778 discloses a ratchet wrench rotatably attached to an end of an operation rod.
- a ratchet wrench rotatably attached to an end of an operation rod, the ratchet wrench comprising a weight attached to the operation rod, the weight being slidable lengthwise along the operation rod, the operation rod being provided at a portion thereof in front of the weight with a front weight receiving portion against which the weight is struck.
- the operation rod may be provided at a portion thereof in the rear of the weight with a rear weight receiving portion against which the weight is struck.
- the operation rod may be provided with both the front weight receiving portion and the rear weight receiving portion.
- the ratchet wrench in which the operation rod is provided with only the front weight receiving portion is used as follows:
- a bolt or a nut is tightened up as follows: An engagement portion of the ratchet wrench is engaged with a bolt head or the nut with the ratchet wrench turned at a suitable angle in a proper direction with respect to the operation rod as shown by solid lines in Fig. 2. In this state, the weight is struck hard against the front weight receiving portion of the operation rod. Then, the operation rod is moved forward by the shock of the weight and strongly turns the ratchet wrench in a direction of tightening the bolt or the nut. The engagement portion of the ratchet wrench turns with the ratchet wrench by the action of a ratchet. Therefore, the bolt head or the nut is turned in a direction of being tightened.
- the ratchet wrench is turned back to the original angle by pulling the operation rod backward, and the bolt or the nut is tightened again by striking the weight hard against the front weight receiving portion of the operation rod. Needless to say, when the ratchet wrench is turned back to the original angle by pulling the operation rod backward, the ratchet prevents the engagement portion of the ratchet wrench from turning.
- the bolt or the nut is loosened as follows:
- the ratchet wrench rotatably attached to an end of the operation rod is turned upside down and the same operation as mentioned above is made.
- the ratchet wrench in which the operation rod is provided with only the rear weight receiving portion is used as follows:
- the bolt or the nut is tightened as follows: The engagement portion of the ratchet wrench is engaged with the bolt head or the nut with the ratchet wrench turned at a suitable angle in a proper direction with respect to the operation rod as shown by chain lines in Fig. 2. In this state, the weight is struck hard against the rear weight receiving portion of the operation rod. Then, the bolt or the nut is tightened as mentioned above.
- the bolt or the nut is loosened as follows:
- the ratchet wrench rotatably attached to the end of the operation rod is turned upside down and the same operation as mentioned above is made.
- the ratchet wrench in which the operation rod is provided with both the front weight receiving portion and the rear weight receiving portion is used basically in the same way as mentioned above.
- the weight may be struck either against the front weight receiving portion of the operation rod or against the rear weight receiving portion of the operation rod according to the position of the bolt or the nut.
- a ratchet wrench 3 is rotatably attached, by means of a shaft 5, to an end (front end) 1a of an operation rod 1.
- a rear end 3b of the ratchet wrench 3 is connected with the shaft 5 on which the ratchet wrench 3 turns.
- the operation rod 1 is provided at another end (rear end) 1b thereof with a handle 2.
- the ratchet wrench 3 is provided at a front end 3a thereof with a ratchet (ratchet wheel) 7.
- the ratchet wrench 3 which may be the same as a conventional ratchet wrench, will be briefly described.
- the ratchet 7 is rotatably attached to the front end 3a of the ratchet wrench 3 with a suitable bearing means (not shown).
- the ratchet 7 is provided in the center thereof with an engagement portion 9 which is engaged with a bolt head or a nut.
- the engagement portion 9 shown in Figs.1 and 2 is a hexagonal opening.
- a pawl 11 is pivotally attached near the ratchet 7 by means of a shaft 13. Teeth 7a of the ratchet 7 catch and hold an end or ends 11a of the pawl 11 so as to allow the ratchet 7 to rotate in only one direction.
- Reference symbol 15 represents a return spring for the pawl 11.
- a weight 21 is attached to the operation rod 1 so as to be slidable lengthwise along the operation rod 1.
- the weight 21 may be a casting for example.
- the weight 21 may have a spherical shape, a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape or any other shape.
- the weight 21 shown in Fig. 3 has a cut 23 formed from an external surface of the weight 21 through the center of the weight 21.
- the operation rod 1 passes through the cut 23 of the weight 21 so that the weight 21 is detachable from the operation rod 1.
- the operation rod 1 is provided at a portion thereof in front of the weight 21 with a front weight receiving portion 25 against which the weight 21 is struck.
- the operation rod 1 may be provided at a portion thereof in the rear of the weight 21 with a rear weight receiving portion 27 against which the weight 21 is struck.
- the operation rod 1 may be provided with both the front weight receiving portion 25 and the rear weight receiving portion 27.
- the ratchet wrench according to the present invention makes it possible to firmly tighten up bolts and nuts which are disposed in narrow or inaccessible places. Also, the ratchet wrench makes it possible to loosen bolts and nuts which are disposed in narrow or inaccessible places and firmly tightened up.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Details Of Spanners, Wrenches, And Screw Drivers And Accessories (AREA)
- Placing Or Removing Of Piles Or Sheet Piles, Or Accessories Thereof (AREA)
- Conveying And Assembling Of Building Elements In Situ (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a ratchet wrench. More particularly, the invention relates to a ratchet wrench for turning bolts and nuts disposed in narrow or inaccessible places in which conventional ratchet wrenches are not usable. For example, the ratchet wrench of the invention is used for turning bolts and nuts disposed within an engine compartment of an automotive vehicle.
- Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Sho 56-137969 (Japanese Utility Model Application No. Sho 55-34278) discloses a ratchet wrench rotatably attached to an end of an operation rod.
- However, according to where bolts and nuts are disposed or how tight they are, it is often difficult to loosen the bolts and nuts by means of the above-mentioned conventional ratchet wrench rotatably attached to an end of an operation rod. Also, according to where the bolts and nuts are disposed, it is often difficult to tighten up the bolts and nuts by means of the above-mentioned conventional ratchet wrench.
- It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a ratchet wrench which has obviated the above-mentioned disadvantages of the conventional ratchet wrench.
- It is another object of the invention to provide a ratchet wrench which makes it possible to firmly tighten up bolts and nuts which are disposed in narrow or inaccessible places.
- It is a further object of the invention to provide a ratchet wrench which makes it possible to loosen bolts and nuts which are disposed in narrow or inaccessible places and firmly tightened up.
- These and other objects have been attained by a ratchet wrench rotatably attached to an end of an operation rod, the ratchet wrench comprising a weight attached to the operation rod, the weight being slidable lengthwise along the operation rod, the operation rod being provided at a portion thereof in front of the weight with a front weight receiving portion against which the weight is struck.
- Alternatively, the operation rod may be provided at a portion thereof in the rear of the weight with a rear weight receiving portion against which the weight is struck.
- Also, the operation rod may be provided with both the front weight receiving portion and the rear weight receiving portion.
- In the specification and claims of the present invention, "front" means left in Fig. 1 and "rear" means right in Fig. 1.
- The operation of the ratchet wrench according to the present invention will now be described.
- The ratchet wrench in which the operation rod is provided with only the front weight receiving portion is used as follows:
- A bolt or a nut is tightened up as follows: An engagement portion of the ratchet wrench is engaged with a bolt head or the nut with the ratchet wrench turned at a suitable angle in a proper direction with respect to the operation rod as shown by solid lines in Fig. 2. In this state, the weight is struck hard against the front weight receiving portion of the operation rod. Then, the operation rod is moved forward by the shock of the weight and strongly turns the ratchet wrench in a direction of tightening the bolt or the nut. The engagement portion of the ratchet wrench turns with the ratchet wrench by the action of a ratchet. Therefore, the bolt head or the nut is turned in a direction of being tightened. Now the ratchet wrench is turned back to the original angle by pulling the operation rod backward, and the bolt or the nut is tightened again by striking the weight hard against the front weight receiving portion of the operation rod. Needless to say, when the ratchet wrench is turned back to the original angle by pulling the operation rod backward, the ratchet prevents the engagement portion of the ratchet wrench from turning.
- The bolt or the nut is loosened as follows: The ratchet wrench rotatably attached to an end of the operation rod is turned upside down and the same operation as mentioned above is made.
- The ratchet wrench in which the operation rod is provided with only the rear weight receiving portion is used as follows:
- The bolt or the nut is tightened as follows: The engagement portion of the ratchet wrench is engaged with the bolt head or the nut with the ratchet wrench turned at a suitable angle in a proper direction with respect to the operation rod as shown by chain lines in Fig. 2. In this state, the weight is struck hard against the rear weight receiving portion of the operation rod. Then, the bolt or the nut is tightened as mentioned above.
- The bolt or the nut is loosened as follows: The ratchet wrench rotatably attached to the end of the operation rod is turned upside down and the same operation as mentioned above is made.
- The ratchet wrench in which the operation rod is provided with both the front weight receiving portion and the rear weight receiving portion is used basically in the same way as mentioned above. The weight may be struck either against the front weight receiving portion of the operation rod or against the rear weight receiving portion of the operation rod according to the position of the bolt or the nut.
-
- Fig. 1 is a partially sectional plan view showing a ratchet wrench according to the present invention.
- Fig. 2 is a plan view showing the operation of the ratchet wrench according to the present invention.
- Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 1.
-
- The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.
- A
ratchet wrench 3 is rotatably attached, by means of ashaft 5, to an end (front end) 1a of anoperation rod 1. A rear end 3b of theratchet wrench 3 is connected with theshaft 5 on which theratchet wrench 3 turns. Theoperation rod 1 is provided at another end (rear end) 1b thereof with ahandle 2. - The
ratchet wrench 3 is provided at a front end 3a thereof with a ratchet (ratchet wheel) 7. - The
ratchet wrench 3, which may be the same as a conventional ratchet wrench, will be briefly described. Theratchet 7 is rotatably attached to the front end 3a of theratchet wrench 3 with a suitable bearing means (not shown). Theratchet 7 is provided in the center thereof with anengagement portion 9 which is engaged with a bolt head or a nut. Theengagement portion 9 shown in Figs.1 and 2 is a hexagonal opening. A pawl 11 is pivotally attached near theratchet 7 by means of a shaft 13. Teeth 7a of theratchet 7 catch and hold an end or ends 11a of the pawl 11 so as to allow theratchet 7 to rotate in only one direction.Reference symbol 15 represents a return spring for the pawl 11. - According to the present invention, a
weight 21 is attached to theoperation rod 1 so as to be slidable lengthwise along theoperation rod 1. Theweight 21 may be a casting for example. Theweight 21 may have a spherical shape, a cylindrical shape, a prismatic shape or any other shape. Theweight 21 shown in Fig. 3 has acut 23 formed from an external surface of theweight 21 through the center of theweight 21. Theoperation rod 1 passes through thecut 23 of theweight 21 so that theweight 21 is detachable from theoperation rod 1. - The
operation rod 1 is provided at a portion thereof in front of theweight 21 with a frontweight receiving portion 25 against which theweight 21 is struck. - Alternatively, the
operation rod 1 may be provided at a portion thereof in the rear of theweight 21 with a rearweight receiving portion 27 against which theweight 21 is struck. - Also, the
operation rod 1 may be provided with both the frontweight receiving portion 25 and the rearweight receiving portion 27. - The present invention has the following advantages:
- The ratchet wrench according to the present invention makes it possible to firmly tighten up bolts and nuts which are disposed in narrow or inaccessible places. Also, the ratchet wrench makes it possible to loosen bolts and nuts which are disposed in narrow or inaccessible places and firmly tightened up.
- As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims.
Claims (3)
- A ratchet wrench rotatably attached to an end of an operation rod, said ratchet wrench comprising a weight attached to said operation rod, said weight being slidable lengthwise along said operation rod, said operation rod being provided at a portion thereof in front of said weight with a front weight receiving portion against which said weight is struck.
- A ratchet wrench rotatably attached to an end of an operation rod, said ratchet wrench comprising a weight attached to said operation rod, said weight being slidable lengthwise along said operation rod, said operation rod being provided at a portion thereof in the rear of said weight with a rear weight receiving portion against which said weight is struck.
- A ratchet wrench rotatably attached to an end of an operation rod, said ratchet wrench comprising a weight attached to said operation rod, said weight being slidable lengthwise along said operation rod, said operation rod being provided at a portion thereof in front of said weight with a front weight receiving portion against which said weight is struck, said operation rod being further provided at a portion thereof in the rear of said weight with a rear weight receiving portion against which said weight is struck.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP463598 | 1998-06-10 | ||
JP46359898U | 1998-06-10 | ||
JP1998004635U JP3054836U (en) | 1998-06-10 | 1998-06-10 | Wrench with ratchet for remote control |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0963814A2 true EP0963814A2 (en) | 1999-12-15 |
EP0963814A3 EP0963814A3 (en) | 2000-08-16 |
Family
ID=11589474
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP99104658A Withdrawn EP0963814A3 (en) | 1998-06-10 | 1999-03-09 | Ratchet wrench |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0963814A3 (en) |
JP (1) | JP3054836U (en) |
CN (1) | CN1144656C (en) |
TW (1) | TW377312B (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4184552A (en) * | 1977-05-17 | 1980-01-22 | Marquette Metal Products Company | Manually actuated impact tool |
US5109739A (en) * | 1991-03-22 | 1992-05-05 | Hull Harold L | Slide hammer tool |
US5592860A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1997-01-14 | Woodsum; David A. | Ratchet socket brake and starter tool |
-
1998
- 1998-06-10 JP JP1998004635U patent/JP3054836U/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
1999
- 1999-03-05 TW TW088103406A patent/TW377312B/en active
- 1999-03-09 EP EP99104658A patent/EP0963814A3/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1999-04-10 CN CNB991057473A patent/CN1144656C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4184552A (en) * | 1977-05-17 | 1980-01-22 | Marquette Metal Products Company | Manually actuated impact tool |
US5109739A (en) * | 1991-03-22 | 1992-05-05 | Hull Harold L | Slide hammer tool |
US5592860A (en) * | 1995-12-15 | 1997-01-14 | Woodsum; David A. | Ratchet socket brake and starter tool |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN1144656C (en) | 2004-04-07 |
EP0963814A3 (en) | 2000-08-16 |
TW377312B (en) | 1999-12-21 |
JP3054836U (en) | 1998-12-18 |
CN1238255A (en) | 1999-12-15 |
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Legal Events
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RTI1 | Title (correction) |
Free format text: A COMBINATION OF A RATCHET WRENCH AND AN OPERATION ROD |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20060314 |