EP2617526B1 - Wrench - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a wrench according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a wrench is equipped with a handle and a swing-open ring for the positive and in particular rotationally fixed grip a screw head or a nut, wherein the ring, a first segment which is arranged on the handle a free second segment and a connecting member which connects the second segment hingedly connected to the first segment, wherein the connecting member is pivotally connected about a first pivot axis on the first segment, wherein the second segment is pivotally connected about a second pivot axis to the connecting member, and wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis parallel and spaced from each other.

A generic wrench is from the EP 1 165 291 A1 known. This document teaches a wrench with a swing-up ring which provides a ratchet function.

The US 2010/0122610 A1 describes another wrench with swivel ring.

The US 3,097,552 A and the US 746 705 A describe different pipe clamps.

The object of the invention is to develop a generic wrench so that a particularly high level of user-friendliness and a particularly high versatility is given with a particularly high reliability and simple design.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a wrench with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

A wrench according to the invention is characterized in that a lever for pivoting the ring is arranged on the connecting member.

A first basic idea of the invention can be seen to provide a lever on the swing-open ring. By means of this lever, the ring can be pivoted into an open position, so that it can be pushed laterally in the radial direction onto a threaded rod. An awkward threading of the wrench from the end of the threaded rod ago can therefore be omitted and the wrench can in particular at the middle of the threaded rod are used even if the threaded rod is blocked at one or both ends for the ring. The invention is based inter alia on the idea that the Aufschwenkbarkeit of the ring can not only cause a ratchet function for loosening and / or tightening a nut or a screw, but that it additionally allows opening of the ring and thus a radial sliding onto a threaded rod. The invention is based on this and provides a lever with which the pivoting mechanism can be actuated in a particularly simple manner. In particular, it is no longer necessary according to the invention for opening the ring to grip the ring itself, as it allows the inventive lever to operate the Aufschwenkmechanismus in a remote location from the ring. Thus, according to the invention, the ring can be opened in a particularly simple manner even in poorly accessible positions and advantageously with the same hand, which also holds the handle. Thus, according to the invention a particularly high level of user-friendliness and a particularly high versatility is given.

Another basic idea of the invention is to fasten the lever to the connecting member, which is arranged between the free second segment and the relative first segment fixed to the handle. This can ensure that the ratchet function is not affected by the lever. Moreover, since the connecting member covers a comparatively short distance when the ring is opened, the lever travel required to open the ring can also be small. According to the invention thus a particularly compact wrench can be obtained, which further increases the versatility.

According to the invention, the handle, the first segment, the connecting link and the second segment form a chain. Viewed along this chain, the first segment is located closer to the handle than the second segment. In other words, according to the invention, the second segment can be fastened to the handle only indirectly, namely via the connecting member and the first segment. The two segments and the connecting member are expediently rigid, in particular formed of a metal material. According to the invention, the ring has a ratchet function which is suitable for loosening and tightening one of the nuts. The ring is attached to the handle, especially at the end of the handle.

It is particularly preferred that a pressing of the lever causes the ring to open towards the first segment. According to this embodiment, an opening of the ring is effected by a particularly space-saving compression movement, so that the wrench can be used under even cramped space conditions and the range of use is thus further increased.

A structurally particularly simple and at the same time user-friendly embodiment can be provided in that the lever extends, at least in sections, along an outer side of the first segment facing away from the second segment and / or the interior of the ring. In particular, it can be provided that the first segment extends at least partially between the lever and the second segment.

According to the invention, the lever may have a pressure range. This pressure area can be used to rest a finger for pressing the lever towards the first segment, ie for opening the ring.

It is particularly preferred that the lever in the pressure range with the handle forms an angle of less than 60 °, in particular less than 45 °. As a result, the dimensions of the wrench can be further reduced with good usability and thus the range of applications can be extended.

Furthermore, it is expedient that the intermediate space between the pressure region of the lever and the first segment is free. Since, according to this embodiment, no further elements are present between the pressure region and the first segment, the available lever travel is particularly large. As a result, a reduction of the dimensions is possible again.

According to the invention it is provided that the connecting member is pivotally connected about a first pivot axis on the first segment, and that the second segment is pivotally connected about a second pivot axis on the connecting member, wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis parallel and spaced from each other. This can be given a particularly large opening angle for the ring with a particularly high reliability and a particularly simple design. In particular, it may be provided that the first segment, the link and the second segment are a one-dimensionally movable chain, i. form a joint chain. Between the first segment and the handle, another joint may be arranged, which allows a pivoting in a further spatial direction. But the first segment and the handle can also be rigidly connected and / or be made in one piece.

It is particularly advantageous that the lever, in particular over its entire length, runs parallel to the two pivot axes. Since the lever according to this embodiment is not twisted, it can be produced in a particularly simple manner.

Furthermore, it is preferred that the lever is angled at least simply, preferably around at least one bending axis running parallel to the pivot axes. The lever is thus preferably at least partially L-shaped. This can be advantageous in terms of size and at the same time the production cost. For example, to further improve the handling, it can also be provided that the lever is angled several times, in at least two spaced bending regions. As a result, the lever can be better adapted to the shape of the underlying segment and / or incorrect operation can be avoided. Preferably, the direction of curvature is the same in the various bending areas. In particular, the lever can be curved in all bending areas to the first segment.

Preferably, it may be provided that the lever consists of a bent sheet metal. This is advantageous in terms of manufacturing costs.

A particularly robust and reliable and at the same time structurally simple design can be given by the fact that the connecting member is a front bearing plate on which preferably the two segments are mounted, a rear bearing plate on which preferably the two segments are mounted, and a central web which supports the two bearing plates connects, has. In this case, the lever can be fastened in a particularly simple manner on the central web. The individual bearing plates can also have recesses and / or be designed in several parts, wherein the individual parts can also be connected only by the central web.

In particular, it can be provided that the connecting member has a first axle pin for the first segment and a second axle pin for the second segment. The axle bolts can in particular be designed as screws, that is to say with an external thread, since this allows a particularly simple fixing. It is particularly preferred that the two axle bolts each extend between the two bearing plates.

According to the invention, it is advantageous that the ring has a ratchet function. This ratchet function can for example be realized in that upon rotation of the wrench relative to the nut or the screw head in the release direction, a pivoting of the second segment from the first segment can take place, so that a rotationally fixed connection between the ring on the one hand and the mother or the screw head on the other is canceled, and that a restoring device is provided, which returns the second segment back to the first segment.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that a compression spring for closing the ring is arranged between the two segments. This compression spring forces the ring in a closed position. It can also form the restoring device required for the ratchet function.

Moreover, it is preferred that the first segment has a first tooth, and that the second segment has a second tooth, wherein the first tooth abuts the second tooth with its flank facing the interior of the ring. According to this embodiment, a partial toothing between the two segments is given. On the one hand, the teeth meshing in one direction of rotation ensure that the second segment is not only moved translationally but also rotationally relative to the first segment when the ring is opened by actuating the lever. As a result, the ring can open particularly wide even with a small lever travel, which facilitates inter alia the insertion of a threaded rod in the ring. On the other hand, swiveling of the second segment away from the first segment is not hindered by the teeth, so that the ratcheting function is not impaired.

A further advantageous embodiment of the invention lies in the fact that the wrench has a front side facing the observer and a rear side facing away from the observer when viewed through the ring, and that the front side has a colored or geometric marking so that it differs from the rear side. This embodiment takes into account that in a wrench according to the invention, the ratchet function is generally not reversible, so that tightening and loosening a nut may require different orientations of the wrench. The advantageous marking makes it possible to recognize particularly quickly for which direction of rotation the wrench is oriented.

Moreover, it is according to the invention that the first segment has at least one edge located inside the ring, and / or that the second segment has at least one edge located inside the ring. These edges serve to receive corresponding outer edges of the screw head or the nut.

The embodiments described above and below can basically be freely combined.

Figur 1:

eine erste perspektivische Darstellung einer Variante eines erfindungsgemässen Schraubenschlüssels;

Figur 2:

eine Frontansicht des Schraubenschlüssels aus Figur 1 mit Griff;

Figur 3:

eine zweite perspektivische Darstellung des Schraubenschlüssels aus Figur 1;

Figur 4:

den Schraubenschlüssel aus Figur 1 bei geschlossenem Ring in Frontansicht mit einem modifizierten Hebel;

Figur 5:

den Schraubenschlüssel aus Figur 1 bei geschlossenem Ring in Frontansicht, wobei das Verbindungsglied zum Zweck der Darstellung der Feder und der Zähne weggelassen ist;

Figur 6:

den Schraubenschlüssel aus Figur 1 bei aufgeschwenktem Ring in Frontansicht; und

Figur 7:

den Schraubenschlüssel aus Figur 1 bei aufgeschwenktem Ring in Frontansicht, wobei das Verbindungsglied zum Zweck der Darstellung der Feder und der Zähne weggelassen ist.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments, which are shown schematically in the accompanying figures. In the figures show schematically:

FIG. 1:

a first perspective view of a variant of an inventive wrench;

FIG. 2:

a front view of the wrench FIG. 1 with handle;

FIG. 3:

a second perspective view of the wrench FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4:

the wrench off FIG. 1 with closed ring in front view with a modified lever;

FIG. 5:

the wrench off FIG. 1 with the ring closed in front view, with the link omitted for the purpose of illustrating the spring and teeth;

FIG. 6:

the wrench off FIG. 1 with swung ring in front view; and

FIG. 7:

the wrench off FIG. 1 with swung-open ring in front view, wherein the connecting member for the purpose of representation of the spring and the teeth is omitted.

For clarity, the inventive handle is only in FIG. 2 indicated.

The figures show a variant of a wrench according to the invention in various views and operating states.

In particular FIG. 2 shows, the wrench on a handle 6, at the end a ring 3 is hinged. This ring 3 has (see in particular FIG. 1 ), a first segment 11, an approximately parallel thereto extending second segment 12 and a connecting member 20, which connects the two segments 11 and 12 together. On the first segment 11, an eye 15 is arranged, on which the handle 6 is articulated (compare, in particular Figures 1 and 2 ). The first segment 11 has two edges 17 in the interior of the ring 3, and the second segment 12 in the interior of the ring 3 has two edges 18 (cf. FIG. 3 ). The edges 17 and 18 are parallel to each other and take on the outer edges of a arranged in the interior of the ring 3 nut or arranged there screw head. In particular Fig. 4 shows, the segments 11 and 12 between the edges 17 and 18 convex portions 70, which serve for producing a positive rotationally fixed connection between the ring and 3 and arranged in the interior of the ring 3 nut or arranged there screw head.

In particular FIG. 1 shows, the connecting member 20 is pivotally mounted on the first segment 11 about a pivot axis 41 and the second segment 12 pivotally about a pivot axis 42, wherein the two pivot axes 41 and 42 are parallel and spaced from each other. The pivotability of the segments 11 and 12 about the two pivot axes 41 and 42 allows the ring 3 from a in the FIGS. 4 and 5 shown closed position in a in the FIGS. 6 and 7 to transfer illustrated open position. In the in the FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrated closed position, the ring 3, the mother or the screw head form fit rotatably grip. In particular, in the closed position, the second segment 12 abuts the first segment 11 at its end opposite the connecting member 20. In the open position shown in Figures 6 and 7, however, the second segment 12 is spaced at its opposite end of the connecting member 20 from the first segment 11, so that the ring 3 can be pushed radially onto a threaded rod.

The pivot axis of the eye, ie the pivot axis about which the handle 6 is pivotable relative to the ring 3, is perpendicular to the pivot axes 41 and 42.

As the FIGS. 5 and 7 show, between the two segments 11 and 12, a compression spring 28 is arranged, which is compressed when opening the ring 3, and thus forces the ring 3 in its closed position. The compression spring 28 may be arranged in particular in the interior of the connecting member.

As the FIGS. 5 and 7 further show, on the first segment 11, a tooth 51 protrudes radially, which abuts on its side facing the interior of the ring 3 flank on a second tooth 52 which projects radially on the second segment 12. The two teeth 51 and 52 meshing only in one direction of rotation ensure that the second segment 12 makes a rotational movement relative to the connecting member 20 about the pivot axis 42 and the ring 3 opens when the connecting member 20 relative to the first segment 11 about the pivot axis 41 is pivoted around.

The swing-ring 3 provides a ratchet function, which is realized in that the second segment 12 can escape from the first segment 11 during a rotation of the wrench in the release direction and is then reset by the compression spring 28 again. So that the user can quickly grasp which is the release direction, as in FIG. 4 shown on the viewing direction through the ring 3 front of the wrench a color mark 60 may be provided on the in FIG. 4 unrecognizable back of the wrench is missing.

In particular FIG. 1 shows, the connecting member 20 has a front bearing plate 21, a parallel to the front bearing plate 21 extending rear bearing plate 22 and a perpendicular to the bearing plates 21, 22 extending central web 23, the bearing plates 21 and 22 facing away from the interior of the ring 3 outer edges connects with each other. In particular FIG. 3 shows, the connecting member 20 further comprises two parallel and formed as a slotted screws axle bolts 25 and 26. The two axle bolts 25 and 26 are arranged in recesses of the front bearing plate 21 and in recesses of the rear bearing plate 22. At the axle 25, the first segment 11 and the axle 26, the second segment 12 is pivotally mounted.

Like, among other things Figures 1 and 2 show, the wrench also has a lever 30 which serves to open the ring 3 against the action of the compression spring 28. The lever 30 is fixed to the connecting member 20, for example, welded, and consists of a bent plate, which runs parallel to the two pivot axes 41, 42. The lever 30 is angled in an L-shape, wherein a first leg of the L-shaped lever 30 is formed by a pressure region 31 and a second leg by a connecting portion 32. In the connection region 32, the lever 30 is attached to the connecting member 20. The pressure region 31 extends along the outer side 13 of the first segment 11, which faces away from the interior of the ring 3. For a maximum lever travel between the outer side 13 of the first segment 11 and the pressure region 31, no further elements are arranged, that is, the gap 14 between the first segment 11 and the pressure region 31 of the lever 30 is free.

In particular FIG. 2 shows the pressure range 31 of the lever with the handle at an angle of about 3 °, ie the longitudinal axis 73 of the lever 30 in the pressure region 31 extends at an angle of about 3 ° to the longitudinal axis 76 of the handle. 6

As in FIG. 4 is indicated, the lever 30 may also be repeatedly bent, for example, twice, so that it is even better adapted to the shape of the underlying first segment 11. As a result of the second bend, which, like the first bend, is oriented toward the first segment 11, the lever 30 has on its side facing away from the connecting region 32 a back region 33 which is angled relative to the pressure region 31 located between the connecting region 32 and the back region 33.

To open the ring 3, the lever 30 is pressed in its pressure region 31 toward the interior of the ring 3, ie also towards the adjacent first segment 11. This can be done for example by the thumb of a user's hand, which surrounds the handle 6 of the wrench with the other fingers. Thus, according to the invention, a wrench designed as a ring wrench is provided which has both a ratchet function and an opening function.

Claims (12)

1. Spanner with
   a handle (6) and
   a swivelable ring (3) for grasping a screw head or a nut in a form-fitting way, in which the ring (3) has a first segment (11), which is arranged on the handle (6), a free second segment (12) and a connecting link (20), which connects the second segment (12) to the first segment (11) in an articulated way,
   in which the connecting link (20) is articulated to the first segment (11) so that it may swivel around a first swivel axis (41),
   in which the second segment (12) is articulated to the connecting link (20) so that it may swivel around a second swivel axis (42), and
   in which the first swivel axis (41) and the second swivel axis (42) run parallel and at a distance from each other,
   characterised in that
   a lever (30) for swivelling the ring (3) is arranged on the connecting link (20).
2. Spanner according to claim 1,
   the lever (30) extends at least in sections along an outer surface (13) of the first segment (11) facing away from the inside of the ring (3).
3. Spanner according to one of the previous claims,
   characterised in that
   the lever (30) has a pressure area (31), in which the lever (30) encloses an angle of less than 45° with the handle (6).
4. Spanner according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the intermediate space (14) between the pressure area (31) of the lever (30) and the first segment (11) is free.
5. Spanner according to one of the previous claims,
   characterised in that
   the lever (30) runs parallel to both swivel axes (41, 42) over its whole length.
6. Spanner according to one of the previous claims,
   characterised in that
   the lever (30) is made L-shaped at least in sections.
7. Spanner according to one of the previous claims,
   characterised in that
   the connecting link (20) connects a front bearing plate (21), a rear bearing plate (22) and a middle bar (23), which connects both bearing plates (21, 22), in which the lever (30) is fastened to the middle bar (23), and
   the connecting link (20) has a first king pin (25) for the first segment (11) and a second king pin (26) for the second segment (12),
   in which both king pins (25, 26) extend between both bearing plates (21, 22).
8. Spanner according to one of the previous claims,
   characterised in that
   the ring (3) has a ratchet function.
9. Spanner according to one of the previous claims,
   characterised in that
   a compression spring (28) for closing the ring (3) is arranged between both segments (11, 12).
10. Spanner according to one of the previous claims,
    characterised in that
    the first segment (11) has a first tooth (51), and the second segment (12) has a second tooth (52), in which the first tooth (51) lies on the second tooth (52) with its side facing towards the inside of the ring (3).
11. Spanner according to one of the previous claims,
    characterised in that
    with a viewing direction through the ring (3), it has a front face facing towards the observer and a rear face facing away from the observer, and the front face has coloured or geometric marking (60), so that it differs from the rear face.
12. Spanner according to one of the previous claims,
    characterised in that
    the first segment (11) has at least one edge (17) lying inside the ring (3), and
    the second segment (12) has at least one edge (18) lying inside the ring (3).

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