IL29439A - Adjustable spanner - Google Patents

Description

failansa nm® Adjustable spanner OESTEBH TOOL C0H∞Y, C:-47203 . e handle and being open at one side of the handle, the cavity communicating at one end with the recessed portion in the head, an elongate screw-actuating member mounted in the cavity, bearing members supporting opposite ends of said screw-actuating member, said screw-actuating member rotatably engaging said screw for advancement of the slidable jaw portion toward and away from the fixed jaw portion, and a cover plate removably attached to the side of said handle over the cavity, said cavity being formed in the forward end portion of said handle and being shorter in length than said handle and the screw-actuating member being dimensioned for lateral insertion into said cavity, and at least one of the bearing members being removably mounted in the cavity and being retained therein by the cover plate.

Further according to the present invention, there . is provided an adjustable spanner comprising a handle terminat- jaw portion, a ing at one end in a head having a recessed portion and a fixed/ slidable jaw adjustable under the control of a screw in the recessed portion of the head toward and away from the fixed jaw portion, an elongate cavity formed in one side of the handle and communicating at one end with the recessed portion in the head, an elongate screw-actuating member mounted in the cavity, axially aligned bearing members supporting opposite ends of said screw-actuating member, said screw- actuating member rotatably engaging said screw for advancement of the slidable jaw toward and away from the fixed jaw portion,- and a cover plate removably attached to the side of said handle over the cavity, the cavity being formed in the forward end portion of said handle and being shorter in len th than said h ndle nd th r ¾einp-carried by the cover plate, and the screw-actuated member and bearing members form/a unit with said cover plate andbeinginserted laterally into the cavity when the cover plate is applied to the handle.

Three embodiments of adjustable spanners in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment; Figure 2 is a similar view, partially in section and with a side plate removed to illustrate the internal construction of the first embodiment; Figure 3 is a top plan view of the spanner of Figure 1; Figure is a fragmentary, longitudinal section of the handle and cover plate assembly of the spanner of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the inner face of the cover plate; Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 1; Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Figure 1; Figure 8 is a side elevation of a second embodiment; Figure 9 is a side elevation with the cover plate removed to show the internal construction of the spanner of the second embodiment; Figure 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Figure 8; Figure 11 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of an insertable bearingblock employed in the second embodiment ; Figure 12 is a side elevation of a third embodiment; Figure 13 is a longitudinal section of the embodiment shown in Figure 12; and Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustrative example in Figures 1 to 7 a preferred form of spanner construction which may be die-cast or forged in the form of an elongate handle 10 terminating at one end in an enlarged head 11 having an upper ( as shown in the drawing), forwardly projecting, fixed jaw portion 12 and a downwardly or cylindrical bore 15 extending from the lower end oh an axis parallel to the downwardly inclined face 14· to receive a jaw-actuating gear or screw member 16. The socket terminates just short of the upper extremity of the head directly behind the upper fixed jaw portion in a closed end 17 to prevent axial movement of the member 16, and in turn a vertical slot 18 extends forwardly from communication with the socket and opens into the face 14- to provide a slide passage for an inverted, generally L-shaped tongue 20 extending rearwardly from a slidable lower jaw portion 22.

The tongue 20 is provided with rearwardly-directed vertically spaced teeth or ribs 23 which intermeshingly engage with the thread on the screw member 16. Here the socket 15 must be die-formed or drilled upwardly through the head, and screw member 16 is dimensioned to be of an outer diameter to freely rotate in the socket 15 without side play. Further, the member 16 has a vertical length to freely rotate whilst axially restrained between the upper closed end 17 of the socket and a thrust plug 24 which is inserted in the lower open extremity of the socket and is seated against a snap ring 25 inserted in a groove in the wall of the socket thus eliminating the usual threaded bearing structure.

The member 16 is also provided with a driven bevel-gear . 26 fixed at the lower extremity and disposed in upwardly facing relation for rotative engagement by an elongated gear-actuating member 30, the latter being mounted in the handle portion 10 to reversibly rotate the screw member 16 for slidable movement of the jaw portion 22 towards and away from the upper fixed ja 12.

An elongate cavity or slot 31 is indented in the side of, and extends longitudinally of, the handle 10 into communication with the lower end of the socket 15 in the head. The cavity 31 is of a depth totraverse the greater width of the handle portion and the outer peripheral edge of the cavity is relieved along its sides and rearward end to define an outer seat or inset portion 32. An enlarged opening 33 is formed intermediately of the sides of the cavity for a purpose to be described and the leading end of the cavity has a channel or groove 34- extending along the sides forwardly of the enlarged area 33 in spaced relation beneath the seat 32 in order to facilitate mounting and support of a cover plate assembly 36.

As best seen from Figures 1, 4 and 5> the cover plate assembly 36 includes an elongate, relatively thin cover plate 38 which is dimensioned to conform to the size and configuration of the cavity with the outer peripheral edge of the cover plate resting against the seat 32. In order to facilitate assembly of the screw-actuating member 30 within the cavity, the cover plate 38 is provided with integrally formed, inwardly directed bearing blocks 39 and 40 at opposite ends of an elongate guide slot 42, the bearing blocks having aligned openings 43 and 44, respectively, for lengthwise insertion of the actuating member. The front bearing 39 is provided with laterally projectin ribs 45 , nted 60, before e ardly avity annels ching he el haft 6 the hat rse, or by stationary. The sliding jaw 22 may be readily loosened simply by retracting or withdrawing the slide button 60 in a rearward direction through the guide slot to impart a reverse rotation to the screw 16.

In the second embodiment shown in Figures 8 to 11, like parts are correspondingl referenced to those of the first embodiment. It will be noted that, in place of the cylindrical bore defining the socket 15 of the preferred embodiment, an elongate side socket 7 is indented or otherwise formed in one side of the face of the head for lateral insertion of an actuating screw 71· The screw is provided with an upper hemi-spherical pivot boss 72 which engages a bearing identation in the upper extremity of the socket 70 and with a lower semi-cylindrical pivot boss 73 which engages a suitable bearing indentation in a thrust screw 75screw threaded upwardly in a tapped bore in the bottom of the head 11. Thus, when the actuating screw 71 s rotated on its pivot bosses the lower jaw 22 will be advanced upwardly and downwardly toward and away from the upper fixed jaw 12. Rotation is imparted to the actuating screw 1 through the medium of a driven bevel gear 76 affixed in upwardly facing relation directly above its lower pivot boss and bearing against the lower wall of the cavity 70.

In a manner similar to that of the first embodiment, an elongate side cavity 80 is indented or otherwise formed in the side of and extends longitudinally of the forward end of the handle 10 into communication with the side socket 70 of the head to receive a helically screwed shaft 81. The intermediate portion of the helical screw shaft 81 is formed with a helical groove 82. The terminal helical groove 82 on the helically screwed shaft 81· As shown in Figure 10, rotation may "be imparted to the screwed shaft 81 by means of a button 92 having a shank portion 97 which extends through the guide slot to guide and support a disc 98 in slidable engagement with the inside surface of the cover plate when the button 96 is slid along the outer face of the. cover plate. A rounded inner end 99 is concentrically formed on the disc 98 to extend into and to slidably engage the helical groove of the shaft 91· Again, the button is inserted into the guide slot before the cover plate is secured in place by the screws 4-· It iill be seen that if the handle 10 is gripped in the head the upper jaw 12 can be placed over the head of a bolt with the thumb resting on the button 96. The button can then be advanced forwardly by the thumb to cause the inner end 99 to travel rapidly forwardly in the helical groove whereby to rotate the screwed shaft 81 and the actuating screw 71* thus causing the lower jaw 22 to advance towards the upper jaw 12 whereby to clamp the bolt head or nut therebetween, as in the preferred form. Again the bolt can be rotated by swinging the handle in the usual manner.

The pitch of the threads on the actuating screw may be less than the pitch of the helical groove 82 so that a reverse action will not be obtained as a result of the torque applied to the bolt or nut. Again, if desired, reverse action is also resisted by retaining the thumb upon the button 96.

As in the preferred form, the invention shown in Figures 8 to 11 may be easily assembled by location of the bearing blocks and actuating screw in the cavity and attachment of the cover plate. All internal boring of the handle and machining of bearings in the head and handle are eliminated. The lower jaw with the actuating screw in place is simply inserted upwardly in the bottom of the head and the thrust screw 85 is threaded into the head to maintain ) the actuating screw in rotating position. The helically IF screwed shaft with the bearing blocks and the drive pinion in place thereon is simply pressed into the side cavity and the cover plate assembly secured over the socket 80 in the cavity by means of the screws 9- to complete the spanner.

In the third embodiment shown in Figures 12 to 1 , once again like parts or sections are correspondingly referenced. One point of modification resides in the insertion of a jaw actuating screw 100 into a cylindrical bore 101 which is drilled upwardly through the head directly behind and parallel to the front face of the head beneath the upper fixed jaw. Here with socket is provided with internal threads at its lower open extremity to receive a screw-threaded thrust plug 102. The screw 100 has an outer diameter for free rotation in the socket without side play and has a vertical length between the upper closed end and the thrust plug 102 so that there is substantially no end play when the thrust plug is fully seated against a lock washer 103.

The screw 100 is formed with an integral toothed drive sprocket 10 at the lower extremity of the threads thereon about which an endless, flexible, uniformly perforated drive belt 105 is trained. The belt 105 is formed from any suitable material having long-lasting flexibility and l the upper jaw 12 can be placed on the head of a bolt or nut and the button slid forwardly by the thumb to cause the belt to rotate the screw 100 and to bring instantly the lower jaw against the work for conventional spanner uses. The pitch of the threads on the spanner screw is sufficiently small that the pressure on the lower jaw will not tend to rotate the screw and the jaw setting will remain until preset for the next job. Any looseness between the working jaws can be resisted by maintaining forward pressure of the thumb on the botton 60. Again, the third embodiment lends itself well to economical manufacture and accurate, rapid assembly. Substantially all machine work has been eliminated. The upper and lower jaw with all the cavities and passage's can be drop forged or die-cast. To assemble it is only necessary to slide the lower jaw upwardly in the slide passage and to push the screw upwardly through the forward loop of the belt into threaded engagement with the jaw and thence to the closed end of the screw socket. The thrust plug 102 is then tightened into riding engagement with the lower end of the screw and the belt is laid within its channel 106, the roller 10? is dropped into its bearing indentation 108 and the cover plate is secured in place with the end 62 of the button engaging a perforation in the belt selected to bring the jaws together as the button approaches the forward extremity of the guide slot, and to draw the jaws apart when the rear extremity of the slot is approached by the button.

It will be apparent that the perforated belt as s members of the first and second embodiments simply by modifying the form of bearing structure in the cover plate assembly. Similarly, the head portion of the preferred form may have a guide cavity in place of the cylindrical bore for reception of the jaw actuating screw member.

Thus the parts comprising the various embodiments may be readily interchanged with a minimum of modifications required and depending upon the size and intended application for the spanner.

Claims (1)

1. WHAT WE CLAIM an e A spanner according to claim wherein said cover plate further includes spaced laterally extending internal ribs at one end thereof for insertion in channels lying along opposite sides of the cavity for retention of said cover plate at one end of the and means for securing the opposite end of said cover plate to the handle in aligned relation to the A spanner according to any one of claims or wherein a guide slot extends longitudinally of said cover plate between said bearing and a slide member is secured in said guide slot for engagement with said member to impart rotational movement to said member upon longitudinal ment of said slide member along said guide said slide member including an shank portion extending through said guide an enlargement on said shank portion engaging the inner face of said cover plate to prevent outward movement of said shank and a protuberance at the inner end of the shank portion in sliding engagement with a helical groove on said actuating member to convert the sliding movement of said slide member along said guide slot into rotation of said For Applicants insufficientOCRQuality