GB2241456A

GB2241456A - Wrench apparatus, eg. for releasing overtightened vehicle wheel nuts

Info

Publication number: GB2241456A
Application number: GB9004525A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Arthur Yarnall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-02-28
Filing date: 1990-02-28
Publication date: 1991-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2010-02-28
Also published as: GB9004525D0; GB2241456B

Abstract

The apparatus comprising a wheelbrace (10) and a support (20) providing a bearing to support one end of the wheelbrace, arranged so that in use the support is inclined in order to thrust the wheelbrace axially towards a wheel nut as the wheelbrace is rotated, eg by foot pressure on a pedal extension (32). The support may comprise a pillar of rectangular- section tube with a number of bearing apertures (26) and a hollow steel base (22) which may have an extension member (24). <IMAGE>

Description

WRENCH APPARATUS This invention concerns wrenches apparatus for removing and tightening nuts, bolts and like threaded fasteners.

It is common to find fasteners which can not be released with ordinary hand tools because of siezure or overtightening; and major problems can arise when vehicle wheel securing nuts are found to be overtightened or siezed or where the wheelbrace provided with the vehicle is found to offer insufficient leverage for wheel nut removal.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved wrench apparatus, for reducing or avoiding the problems.

According to the present invention there is generally provided wrench apparatus including a fastener receiving head mounted on one end of a shaft, a cross member connected to the shaft between its ends, and a pillar or like support provided with bearing means to support the other end of the shaft so as to permit rotation of the latter by application of force to the cross member.

The pillar and bearing means are preferably arranged so that the angle between the axis of the shaft and the pillar therebelow is slightly more than 90 , e.g. is within the range of 91" to 1300, and is preferably about 95" to 125 ; and the arrangement thereof may permit said angle to be varied.

The pillar is preferably supported on a load spreading base.

The pillar and bearing means are preferably arranged to permit the position at which the shaft is supported to be shifted longitudinally of the pillar; or the pillar may be adjustably supported on the base so that the elevation of the pillar may be varied; or the pillar or like support may be adjustable to vary the position of the bearing means relative to the base.

The base may be provided with an extension which is preferably adjustable in a direction transverse to the pillar.

The or any of the connections between the head and the shaft, the shaft and the cross member, and the shaft and the bearing means may be releasable or otherwise arranged to permit disengagement.

An extension lever is preferably connected or selectively connectable to the cross member, and preferably has a handle or pedal at one end.

The invention further provides a wrench apparatus comprising a wheelbrace and a pillar or like support arranged to provide support for the wheelbrace as it is rotated about a substantially horizontal axis with its wheel nut receiving socket in engagement with a wheel nut, wherein the apparatus is arranged so that a thrust is imparted to the wheelbrace to urge the nut receiving socket onto the nut.

Said thrust may be generated when a torque is applied to the wheelbrace for untightening the wheel nut, or by a force applied to the wheelbrace by the support.

The invention includes a pillar or like support constructed to form part of said wrench apparatus of the invention.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 shows wrench apparatus of the invention, in front elevation, orientated for application of an anticlockwise torque to a wheel nut; FIGURE 2 shows wrench apparatus of the invention, in side elevation; and FIGURE 3 shows the wrench apparatus of the invention in plan.

The wrench apparatus primarily comprises a wheelbrace 10 and a support 20.

The wheelbrace 10 comprises a solid steel shaft 11 having at one end a wheelnut receiving socket 12 and at the other a trunnion 13 projecting axially from a collar 16 on the shaft, and a cross member 14 welded to an intermediate portion of the shaft.

The support 20 comprises a hollow steel pillar 21 of rectangular cross section with a short hollow steel base 22 welded across the lower end of the pillar. The pillar incorporates bearing means comprising pairs of co-axial apertures 26 arranged so that the axes 23 thereof intersect the longitudinal centre line 27 of the pillar at a predetermined angle A of about 105 . The base 22 is welded to the pillar so that said centre line is inclined at about said predetermined angle to the underside of the base. The geometry of the support, in particular, the pillar height, base breadth and said angle, is such that the pillar is unstable when the underside of the base is put onto a level surface, so that the pillar is inclined at an angle B of about 75 , and will topple in a predetermined direction, unless restrained.

The base 20 includes a base extension member 24 comprising a tubular body which is a sliding fit in the base, and a stop 25 at one end of the body. The length of the extension member is at least twice, and is preferably three to four, times that of the base.

The wheelbrace has an extension lever 30 comprising a metal shank 31 cranked at one end to provide a pedal or handle 32, and a tubular socket 33 welded to the other end of the crank to receive either limb of the cross member 14.

For use, the wheelbrace is arranged so that the the shaft extends horizontally, or approximately horizontally, when the socket 12 is located around a wheelnut 40 of a wheel 41 and the trunnion 13 is inserted through that pair of apertures 26 which are closest to being level with the nut 40. If it found to be difficult or not possible to apply sufficient force directly to the cross member to tighten or release the nut 40, the extension lever 30 is laid over the cross members and is moved to engage the appropriate one of the limbs of the latter in the socket 33 according to the direction in which torque is to be applied to the nut by a downwardly directed force applied to the pedal 32; and to stabilise the apparatus, the extension member 24 is disposed to extend from the base on the same side of the shaft as the pedal, for example, as shown in the drawings.For application of a clockwise torque to the wheelnut (for retightening the nut), the orientation of the extension lever, and of the extension member, relative to the wheelbrace and the base, should be reversed.

As can best be appreciated from FIGURE 2, the inclination of the pillar at angle B causes the pillar to lean against the collar 16 to urge the shaft in the direction of arrow C towards the wheel. This axial thrust is supplemented in the illustrated orientation of the apparatus upon a downwardly directed force being applied to the pedal, because the extension lever will turn slightly about the cross member in the direction of arrow D so that the pedal becomes inclined thereby causing a component of the applied force to be applied to the shaft in said direction C. Furthermore, that side of an operators shoe or boot may contact the shaft adjacent the pedal to supplement said component. Tests have indicated that the axial thrust on the shaft keeps the nut firmly in the socket even when a load of 100 kilogrammes is applied to the pedal to release the nut.

Conversely, when the extension lever is reorientated for tightening the nut, the pedal extends towards the wheel so that said component acts against the thrust produced by the pillar, to tend to cause disengagement of the socket from the nut if an excessive downwards load is applied to the pedal.

In both orientations, the shaft is maintained substantially co-axial with the nut and the working load can be applied by foot without requiring the operator or an assistant to hold and/or support the apparatus thereby minimising the risk of the nut (or the wheel stud on which it is engaged) being damaged, and, more importantly, reducing the risk of an operator straining his or her back or arms in attempting to apply a sufficient torque to the wheelbrace.

The apparatus is easily dis-assembled for storage in an elongate bag, the component parts being generally of elongate form.

The invention is not confined to details of the foregoing example, and many variations are possible within the scope of the invention. The terms used herein are by way of example, and include mechanical equivalents. The invention includes and provides apparatus incorporating any novel part or functional arrangement of parts or features disclosed herein or in the drawings.

Claims

1. Wrench apparatus including a fastener receiving head mounted on one end of a shaft, a cross member connected to the shaft between its ends, and a pillar or like support provided with bearing means to support the other end of the shaft so as to permit rotation of the latter by application of force to the cross-member.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 arranged so that, in use, a thrust is imparted to the shaft to urge the fastener receiving head onto a fastener.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the pillar and bearing means are arranged so that the angle between the axis of the shaft and the pillar therebelow is slightly more then 90".

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said angle is within the range of 91" to 1300.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein said angle is about 95" to 125".

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein the pillar and bearing means are arranged to permit said angle to be varied.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pillar and bearing means are arranged to permit the position at which the shaft is supported to be shifted longitudinally of the pillar.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or any of the connections between the head and the shaft, the shaft and the cross member, and the shaft and the bearing means are releasable or otherwise arranged to permit disengagement.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein an extension lever is connected or selectively connectable to the cross member, and has a handle or pedal at one end.

10. Wrench apparatus comprising a wheelbrace and a pillar or like support arranged to provide support for the wheelbrace as it is rotated about a substantially horizontal axis with its wheel nut receiving socket in engagement with a wheel nut, wherein the apparatus is arranged so that a thrust is imparted to the wheelbrace to urge the nut receiving socket onto the nut.

11. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said thrust is generated when a torque is applied to the wheelbrace for untightening the wheel nut, or by a force applied to the wheelbrace by the support.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pillar is supported on a load spreading base.

13. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 wherein the pillar is adjustably supported on the base so that the elevation of the pillar may be varied.

14. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 12 or 13 wherein the pillar or like support is adjustable to vary the position of the bearing means relative to the base.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 11 to 14 wherein the base is provided with an extension which is preferably adjustable in a direction transverse to the pillar.

16. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.