GB2378146A

GB2378146A - Ratchet wrench with a reversible action

Info

Publication number: GB2378146A
Application number: GB0118598A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sunny Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-07-30
Filing date: 2001-07-30
Publication date: 2003-02-05
Also published as: GB0118598D0

Abstract

A ratchet wrench includes a head 10 having an inner gear 11. A barrel 20 rotatably received in the head and having a cut-off portion 22 for forming a channel and for receiving a pawl 30. The barrel includes an engaging hole for receiving fasteners. The pawl includes a number of teeth for engaging with the inner gear of the head and for increasing the driving torque for the head to the barrel. A spring 50 has an extension engaged into the pawl for moving the pawl along the channel of the head. A cover is secured to the spring for rotating the spring and for moving the pawl along the channel of the head. Thus enabling a reversable driving action of the wrench.

Description

RATCHET WRENCH HAVING SOLID CONTROL DEVICE The invention relates to a ratchet wrench having a dependable or effective control device.

Various kinds of typical ratchet wrenches have been developed and used today. U. S. Patent No.

5,568, 751 to Lee, and U. S. Patent No. 5,916, 339 to Dumont disclose two of the typical ratchet wrenches and comprise a driving head having an inner gear or having a number of teeth formed in the inner peripheral portion thereof, and a pawl selectively actuated to engage with the teeth and the driving head for controlling the driving directions of the driving head.

However, the control devices are disposed in the middle portion of the driving head, such that the driving head may not be excavated for receiving fasteners therein and for driving the fasteners.

U. S. Patent No. 6,044, 731 to Hsieh discloses the other typical ratchet wrench and comprises a driving barrel having an outer gear or having a number of teeth formed in the outer peripheral portion thereof, and a pawl pivotally or movably received in the driving head or in the handle and selectively actuated to engage with the teeth and the driving head for controlling the driving directions of the driving head. However, the pawl of the control device normally includes only about one or two teeth engaged with the teeth of the driving barrel such that the driving torque of the tool handle

to the driving barrel is bad.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a ratchet wrench having a dependable control device for effectively controlling the driving directions of the ratchet wrench and for increasing the driving torque of the ratchet wrench.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a ratchet wrench comprising :- a) a head including an inner gear formed therein, b) a barrel rotatably received in the head and including a cut-off portion formed therein for forming a channel between the head and the barrel, the barrel including an engaging hole formed therein, c) a pawl slidably received in the channel of the head and including a plurality of teeth for engaging with the inner gear of the head, and d) means for moving the pawl along the channel of the head.

The moving means includes a spring having an extension engaged into the pawl for moving the pawl along the channel of the head.

The moving means includes a cover secured to the spring for rotating the spring and for moving the pawl along the channel of the head.

The spring includes a socket provided therein, the cover includes a pin engaged into the socket of the

spring for rotating the spring relative to the head.

A device is further provided for retaining the cover to the head and includes a cap threaded to the barrel and engaged with the cover.

The pawl includes an orifice formed therein for receiving the extension of the spring.

The retaining device includes a peripheral flange extended from the barrel for engaging with the head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view of a ratchet wrench; FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the ratchet wrench; FIG. 3 is a top plane schematic view of the ratchet wrench, in which the upper cover has been removed for showing the inner structure of the ratchet wrench; and FIGS. 4,5, 6 are top plane schematic view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the operation of the ratchet wrench.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1-3, a ratchet wrench comprises a driving head 10 formed or provided on one end of a handle 1, and including an inner gear 11 formed therein. A driving barrel 20 is rotatably received in the driving head 10 and includes a peripheral flange 27 extended radially outward from the bottom portion

thereof for engaging with the driving head 10 and for rotatably securing the barrel 20 to the head 10 and for preventing the barrel 20 from being disengaged from the head 10. The barrel 20 includes an engaging hole 21 for receiving and for driving fasteners or the like, and includes an outer thread 23 formed in the outer portion thereof. The barrel 20 includes a cut off portion 22 formed therein for forming a channel 28 between the barrel 20 and the head 10 (FIGS. 3-6).

A pawl 30 is slidably received in the channel 28 of the head 10 that is formed between the barrel 20 and the head 10, and includes a number of teeth 31 formed on the outer portion thereof, and includes an orifice 32 formed in the upper portion thereof. A spring member 50, such as a spring 50 having a circular shape, includes an extension 51 extended therefrom for engaging into the orifice 32 of the pawl 30 and for rotating or moving the pawl 30 along channel 28 of the head 10, and includes a socket 52 formed therein. A cover 40 is rotatably engaged on the head 10 and includes a pin 41 extended therefrom and engaged in the socket 52 of the spring 50 for allowing the cover 40 to move the pawl 30 along channel 28 of the head 10 when the cover 40 is rotated relative to the head 10. A cap 60 is engaged on the cover 40 and includes an inner thread 61 for threading with the outer thread 23 of the barrel 20 and for rotatably securing the barrel 20 and

the cover 40 to the head 10.

In operation, as shown in FIG. 4, when the pawl 30 is moved to the right end of the channel 28 of the head 10, the barrel 20 may be rotated and driven clockwise by the head 10 and the handle 1, but may not be driven counterclockwise by the head 10. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the pawl 30 is moved to the left end of the channel 28 of the head 10, the barrel 20 may be rotated and driven counterclockwise by the head 10 and the handle 1, but may'not be driven clockwise by the head 10.

It is to be noted that the teeth 31 of the pawl 30 may all be engaged with the inner gear 11 of the head 10, such that the driving torque of the head 10 against the barrel 20 may be greatly increased. In addition, the pawl 30 may be received in the channel 28 that is received in the cut-off portion 22 of the barrel 20 such that the handle 1 or the head 10 is not required to be formed with a chamber therein for receiving the pawl 30. Furthermore, the barrel 20 may include the engaging hole 21 formed therein for receiving and driving the fasteners.

Accordingly, the ratchet wrench ratchet wrench having a dependable control device for effectively controlling the driving directions of the ratchet wrench and for increasing the driving torque of the ratchet wrench.

Claims

CLAIMS :-

1. A ratchet wrench comprising: a) a head including an inner gear formed therein, b) a barrel rotatably received in the head and including a cut-off portion formed therein for forming a channel between the head and the barrel, the barrel including an engaging hole formed therein, c) a pawl slidably received in the channel of the head and including a plurality of teeth for engaging with the inner gear of the head, and d) means for moving the pawl along the channel of the head.

2. A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving means includes a spring having an extension engaged into the pawl for moving the pawl along the channel of the head.

3. A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 2, wherein the moving means includes a cover secured to the spring for rotating the spring and for moving the pawl along the channel of the head.

4. A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spring includes a socket provided therein, the cover includes a pin engaged into the socket of the spring for rotating the spring relative to the head.

5. A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 3 further comprising means for retaining the cover to the head.

6. A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 5, wherein

the retaining means includes a cap threaded to the t barrel and engaged with the cover.

7. A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 2, wherein the pawl includes an orifice formed therein for receiving the extension of the spring.

8. A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for retaining the barrel to the head.

9. A ratchet wrench as claimed in claim 8, wherein the retaining means includes a peripheral flange extended from the barrel for engaging with the head.

10. A ratchet wrench substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.