GB2351688A

GB2351688A - Strap wrench

Info

Publication number: GB2351688A
Application number: GB9915777A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Wu Sheng Huang
Original assignee: YUNG CHI IND CO Ltd
Current assignee: YUNG CHI IND CO Ltd
Priority date: 1999-07-07
Filing date: 1999-07-07
Publication date: 2001-01-10
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-07
Also published as: GB2351688B; FR2797795B3; GB9915777D0; DE29913082U1; FR2797795A3

Abstract

A strap wrench comprises a handle 11 with a channel 17 formed therein and a strap 31 slideably received in the channel 17, one end of the strap 31 is attached near to a first end of the handle 11, the strap 31 then forming a loop 33 with the other end of the strap being fed along the channel, the handle 11 further comprises means for unidirectionally clamping the belt 31 to the handle 11. The size of the loop is adjustable by moving the second end of the strap 31 relative to the handle 11. The unidirectional clamping means preferably comprises a cam 23 pivotally secured to the first end of the handle 11 and including at least one tooth and biasing means 25 (preferably a spring) for biasing the tooth into engagement with the strap 31. The cam 23 may be eccentrically secured to the handle 11.

Description

2351688 DRIVING DEVICE FOR TUBULAR MEMBER The invention relates to a

driving device f or driving tubular members.

Typical adjustable wrenches are provided for driving the tubular members. However the tubular members will normally be deformed or damaged by the wrenches after driven by the wrenches.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a driving device for driving tubular members without damaging the tubular members.

According to the present invention there is provided a driving device for engaging with and for driving a tubular member, the driving device comprising:- a) a handle including a first end and is a second end, and including a channel formed therein, b) a clamping belt slidably received in the channel of the handle and including a first end secured to the f irst end of the handle and including a loop formed close to the first end of the clamping belt and located close to the f irst end of the handle f or engaging onto the tubular member, and the clamping belt including a second end, and c) means for unidirectionally clamping the clamping belt to the handle, 25 the clamping belt being forced to engage with the tubular member when the second end of the clamping belt is moved relative to the unidirectionally claynping - 1) - means and is pulled away from the handle.

The unidirectionally clamping means includes a cam pivotally secured to the f irst end of the handle, the cam includes at least one tooth engaged with the clamping belt, and means for biasing the tooth of the cam to engage with the clamping belt and to secure the clamping belt to the handle.

The cam is eccentrically and rotatably secured to the first end of the handle at a shaft. The cam includes a slot formed therein, the handle includes a peg extended therefrom and slidably received in the slot of the cam, the biasing means includes a spring received in the slot of the cam and engaged between the peg and the cam for biasing the tooth of the cam to engage with the clamping belt. The cam includes a knurled portion for facilitating a rotation of the cam and for disengaging the tooth of the cam f rom the clamping belt.

The first end of the handle includes a slit formed therein and includes a pin extended therefrom, the first end of the clamping belt is received in the slit of the handle and engaged around the pin. A securing device is further provided for securing the first end of the clamping belt to the f irst end of the handle.

The first end of the handle further includes a pawl having at least one tooth formed thereon for engaging with the clamping belt.

- 3 In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a driving device; FIG. 2 is a partial exploded view of the driving device; FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view illustrating the attachment of a clamping belt to the handle of the driving device; and FIGS. 4 and 5 are plane views illustrating the operation of the driving device.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a driving device, particularly designed for driving the tubular members, comprises a handle 11 including a channel 17 longitudinally formed therein for slidably receiving a clamping belt 31. The handle 11 includes a slit 14 formed in one end and includes a pin 15 extended in the root portion of the slit 14 of the handle 1 1. The clamping belt 31 includes a loop 32 formed in the upper end thereof and defined by a bent segment 34 for engaging onto the pin 15. A fastener 161 may be engaged through a hole 16 of the handle 11 and may be engaged through the bent segment 34 and the clamping belt 31 for securing the end portion of the clamping belt 31 to the handle 11. The clamping belt 31 may be used to form an opening or a loop 33 for engaging with the tubular member 41 (FIG. 5) to be clamped and driven by the driving device.

The handle 11 includes a pawl 12 provided on the upper end thereof and having one or more ratchet teeth 13 formed thereon for engaging with the clamping belt 31 (FIG. 5) and for preventing the clamping belt 31 from becoming loose. The pawl 12 may include a hand grip 121 formed in the free end thereof for disengaging the teeth 13 thereof from the clamping belt 31 when the hand grip 121 is depressed away from the tubular member 41. The handle 11 includes a chamber 18 formed in the upper end thereof and communicating with the channel 17 of the handle 11, and includes a shaft 19 and a peg 22 extended inward of the chamber 18 and includes a screw hole 21 formed in the shaft 19.

A cam 23 includes an off-center aperture 24 formed therein for rotatably receiving the shaft 19 and for allowing the cam 23 to be eccentrically secured to the handle 11 at the shaft 19. A fastener 28 is threaded to the screw hole 21 of the shaft 19 for rotatably securing the cam 23 to the shaft 19. The cam 23 includes one or more ratchet teeth 26 formed in the peripheral portion thereof and located adjacent to the clamping belt 31 for engaging with the clamping belt 31. The cam 23 includes a curved slot 25 formed therein for slidably receiving the peg 22 and for limiting the rotational movement of the cam 23 relative to the handle 11. The curved slot 25 includes a center of curvature located at the aperture 24 thereof or at the shaft 19. A spring 27 is received in the curved slot 25 of the cam 23 and has one end secured to the peg 22 for biasing the teeth 26 of the cam 23 to engage with the clamping belt 31 (FIGS. 1, 4) and for preventing the clamping belt 31 from becoming loose. The cam 23 thus forms a unidirectionally clamping device for the clamping belt 31. The cam 23 includes an embossed or knurled outer peripheral portion 29 located opposite to the teeth 26 for allowing the user to rotate the cam 23 in order to disengage the teeth 26 from the clamping belt 31.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 4, the loop 33 of the clamping belt 31 may be enlarged by disengaging the teeth 26 of the cam 23 from the clamping belt 31, for allowing the loop 33 of the clamping belt 31 to be easily engaged onto the tubular member 41 (FIG. 5). The tubular member 41 may then be tightly secured in the loop 33 of the clamping belt 31 by pulling the lower end of the clamping belt 31 from the handle 11 and by pulling the clamping belt 31 relative to the teeth 26 of the cam 23. The tubular member 41 may be solidly secured to the handle 11 by the teeth 26 of the cam 23 even when the lower end of the clamping belt 31 is released, such that the tubular member 41 may be driven or rotated by the handle 11 at this moment. The tubular member 41 and the clamping belt 31 engaged on the tubular member 41 may then both be forced to engage with the teeth 13 of the pawl 12 when the lower end of the clamping belt 31 is further pulled away from the handle 11. Or, alternatively, the teeth 13 of the pawl 12 may be forced to engage with and to further secure the clamping belt 31 in place and to prevent the clamping belt 31 from becoming loose when the tubular member 4 1 is rotated by the handle 11 and is forced toward the pawl 12. The tubular member 41 may thus be further solidly clamped in place by the clamping belt 31 and may be driven or rotated by the handle 11. The loop 33 of the clamping belt 31 may apply a uniform clamping force against the tubular member 41 when the tubular member 41 is rotated by the handle 11 such that the tubular member 41 may be prevented from being damaged by the driving device of the present invention.

When it is required to release the tubular member 41, it is only required to rotate the cam 23 in order to disengage the teeth 26 of the cam 23 from the clamping belt 31. The clamping belt 31 may thus become loose before the teeth 26 of the cam 23 are biased to engage with the clamping belt 31 again.

The tubular member 41 will not be deformed and damaged by the clamping belt 31 when the tubular member 41 is rotated by the driving device.

7

Claims

CLAIMS:-

1. A driving device for engaging with and for driving a tubular member comprising:

a) a handle including a first end and a second end, and including a channel formed therein, b) a clamping belt slidably received in the channel of the handle and including a first end secured to the f irst end of the handle and including a loop formed close to the first end of the clamping belt and located close to the f irst end of the handle f or engaging onto the tubular member, and the clamping belt including a second end, and c) means for unidirectionally clamping the clamping belt to the handle, the clamping belt being forced to engage with the tubular member when the second end of the clamping belt is moved relative to the unidirectional ly clamping means and is pulled away from the handle.

2. The driving device according to claim 1, wherein the unidirectionally clamping means includes a cam pivotally secured to the first end of the handle, the cam includes at least one tooth engaged with the clamping belt, and means for biasing the tooth of the cam to engage with the clamping belt and to secure the clamping belt to the handle.

3. The driving device according to claim 2, wherein the cam is eccentrically and rotatably secured to the first end of the handle at a shaft.

4. The driving device according to claim 2, wherein the cam includes a slot formed therein, the handle includes a peg extended therefrom and slidably received in the slot of the cam, the biasing means includes a spring received in the slot of the cam and engaged between the peg and the cam for biasing the tooth of the cam to engage with the clamping belt.

5. The driving device according to claim 2, wherein the cam includes a knurled portion for facilitating a rotation of the cam and for disengaging the tooth of the cam from the clamping belt.

6. The driving device according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the handle includes a slit formed therein and includes a pin extended therefrom, the f irst end of the clamping belt is received in the slit of the handle and engaged around the pin.

7. The driving device according to claim 6 further comprising means for securing the f irst end of the clamping belt to the first end of the handle.

8. The driving device according to claim 1, wherein the first end of the handle further includes a pawl having at least one tooth formed thereon for engaging with the clamping belt.

9. The driving device substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.