JP4489895B2

JP4489895B2 - How to use an open-end wrench

Info

Publication number: JP4489895B2
Application number: JP2000047484A
Authority: JP
Inventors: 孝男柴山; 勝丸尾; 篤長田
Original assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-02-24
Filing date: 2000-02-24
Publication date: 2010-06-23
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-24
Also published as: JP2001232575A

Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、自動車のステアリング機構に組込むタイロッド等の軸状ワークの断面六角形の工具係合部に係合させてワークを正逆転させるのに用いるオープンエンドレンチに関する。
【０００２】
【従来の技術】
自動車のステアリング機構には、図１２に示す如く、ハンドルに連動するリレーロッドＡの動きをナックルアームＢに伝達するタイロッドＣが組込まれている。タイロッドＣは、リレーロッドＡにボールジョイントＡ１を介して連結されるロッド本体Ｃ１と、ナックルアームＢにボールジョイントＢ１を介して連結されるロッドエンドＣ２とで構成されている。ロッド本体Ｃ１の端部はロッドエンドＣ２にねじ込まれており、ロッド本体Ｃ１に形成した断面六角形の工具係合部Ｃ３にレンチを係合させてロッド本体Ｃ１を回転させることによりタイロッドＣの長さを変え、車輪のトーを調整し得るようにしている。そして、トー調整後は、ロッド本体Ｃ１に外挿したナットＣ４をロッドエンドＣ２側に締付け、ロッド本体Ｃ１を回り止めしている。
【０００３】
ところで、車種によっては、タイロッドＣが入り組んだ場所に配置されていて、レンチの操作スペースを確保できないことがある。そこで、レンチを定位置に保持したままタイロッドを正逆転し得るようにしたオープンエンドレンチが特開平１−２９５７６６号公報で知られている。このオープンエンドレンチは、レンチ本体の先端部に、工具係合部を径方向に挿入可能な第１と第２の１対の回転体を同一軸線回りに回転自在に軸支し、両回転体の一方、例えば、第２回転体に、図１３に示す如く、工具係合部Ｃ３の周囲３箇所に当接可能な３個のローラａを放射方向に移動自在に支持すると共に、第１回転体ｂの内周にこれらローラａに当接する３対のカム面ｃを形成し、第２回転体をブレーキ手段により制動した状態で第１回転体ｂを駆動手段により正転または逆転させたとき、３個のローラａが各カム面ｃにより放射方向内方に押動されて工具係合部Ｃ３に当接するように構成されている。工具係合部Ｃ３にローラａが当接すると、以後第２回転体がブレーキ手段の制動力に抗して第１回転体ｂと一体に回転し、タイロッドが第１回転体ｂと同方向に回転される。
【０００４】
【発明が解決しようとする課題】
上記オープンエンドレンチでは、３対のカム面ｃが１２０°の位相差で合同に形成されていないと、工具係合部Ｃ３が回転体に対し芯ずれした状態で把持されることになり、タイロッドをうまく回転できなくなる。そのため、３対のカム面ｃの寸法公差の許容範囲が狭くなり、カム面ｃの高精度の加工が必要になってコストが高くなる。
【０００５】
本発明は、以上の点に鑑み、工具係合部を回転体と同心に把持できるようにした低コストのオープンエンドレンチの使用方法を提供することを課題としている。
【０００６】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明は、軸状ワークの断面六角形の工具係合部に係合してワークを正逆転させるオープンエンドレンチの使用方法であって、該オープンエンドレンチは、レンチ本体の先端部に同一軸線回りに回転自在に軸支され、前記工具係合部を径方向に挿入可能な挿入溝を有する第１と第２の１対の回転体と、第１回転体に、該第１回転体の挿入溝の両側に位置させて該挿入溝の溝幅方向に揺動自在に軸支した１対のクランプアームと、第２回転体に対し第１回転体を両回転体の挿入溝が合致する位相から正逆転させたとき、両クランプアームを溝幅方向内方の所定のクランプ位置に揺動させるカム機構と、第１回転体を正逆転させる駆動手段と、第２回転体を制動するブレーキ手段とを備えたものであり、次の２つの形態を有する。
第１の形態では、前記レンチ本体の先端部に、前記工具係合部を径方向に挿入可能な挿入溝を有するワークガイドが固定され、このワークガイドの挿入溝の底部が、前記工具係合部の断面形状の外接円と等径で前記軸線と同心の半円形に形成される。第２の形態では、前記第２回転体の挿入溝の底部が、前記工具係合部の断面形状の外接円と等径で前記軸線と同心の半円形に形成される。
そして、上記第１又は第２の形態のオープンエンドレンチを使用するときには、1対のクランプアームを前記クランプ位置に搖動させた際に、前記工具係合部に対する両クランプアームの当接辺が、前記外接円と等径で前記軸線と同心の円における前記第１回転体の挿入溝の溝幅方向両側の弦のうち、該挿入溝の中心線に対し該挿入溝の開口端側に向って該挿入溝の溝幅方向内方に傾斜し、且つ前記円と前記両側の弦との該挿入溝の開口端側の交点間の距離が前記工具係合部の断面形状の対辺間の距離より大きくなる所定の弦に合致するようにして用いる。
【０００７】
ワークを回転させる際には、第１と第２の両回転体を、該両回転体の挿入溝が互に合致し且つワークガイドの挿入溝にも合致する位相にして、これら挿入溝にワークの工具係合部を挿入する。そして、ブレーキ手段により第２回転体を制動した状態で、駆動手段により第１回転体を正逆一方に回転させる。
これによれば、両クランプアームがカム機構の働きでクランプ位置に揺動されるが、クランプ位置において両クランプアームの当接辺が上記所定の弦に合致するため、図１０に関連して後で説明するように、第１回転体の回転方向前位のクランプアームの当接辺が工具係合部に当接する前に、回転方向後位のクランプアームの当接辺が、ワークガイド又は第２回転体の挿入溝の半円形底部から該挿入溝の開口端側に張り出す工具係合部の部分の角部に当接し、工具係合部が該挿入溝の半円形底部に押し付けられて両回転体と同心に芯決めされる。ここで、回転方向前位のクランプアームのクランプ位置が正規位置から溝幅方向内方に多少ずれても、回転方向後位のクランプアームの方が工具係合部に早く当接する。かくて、カム機構の精度がラフであっても、工具係合部を両回転体と同心に把持できる。
【０００８】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、タイロッド調整用のオープンエンドレンチに本発明を適用した実施形態について説明する。このオープンエンドレンチは、図１乃至図３に示す如く、レンチ本体１の先端部に、タイロッドＣのロックナットＣ４を回転するナット回転部２と、タイロッドＣの工具係合部Ｃ３に係合してロッド本体Ｃ１を正逆転するロッド回転部３とを設けた双頭式レンチで構成されている。
【０００９】
ナット回転部２は、レンチ本体１にタイロッドＣの軸方向に移動自在に支持した可動ケーシング２０に軸支される回転体２１を備えている。回転体２１は可動ケーシング２０の軸方向両側の側板部２０ａ，２０ａ間に挟み込まれており、両側板部２０ａ，２０ａに互に同心の円形孔２０ｂ，２０ｂを形成し、各円形孔２０ｂに回転体２１の軸方向両側に突設した各軸部２１ａを嵌合させて、回転体２１を円形孔２０ｂと同心の軸線Ｏ回りに回転自在に軸支している。
【００１０】
また、可動ケーシング２０各側板部２０ａの先端に、ロッドエンドＣ２の挿入用切欠き２０ｃを円形孔２０ｂに達するように形成すると共に、回転体２１に、図４に示す如く、外周面に開口するロッドエンドＣ２用の挿入溝２１ｂを形成している。かくて、回転体２１を切欠き２０ｃに挿入溝２１ｂが合致する位相にすれば、挿入溝２１ｂにロッドエンドＣ２を切欠き２０ｃを通して径方向に挿入できる。また、可動ケーシング２０の軸方向外側の側板部２０ａの外側面に板状のワークガイド２２をねじ止めし、このワークガイド２２にもロッドエンドＣ２を径方向に挿入可能な挿入溝２２ａを形成している。そして、この挿入溝２２ａの底部を、ロッドエンドＣ２の外径と等径で回転体２１の回転軸線たる円形孔２０ｂの中心と同心の半円形に形成し、ロッドエンドＣ２を挿入溝２２ａの半円形底部に押し込むことにより、ロッドエンドＣ２が回転体２１と同心に芯決めされるようにしている。
【００１１】
回転体２１には、ロックナットＣ４を軸方向に挿入可能なソケット部２１ｃが設けられている。そして、ソケット部２１ｃ内に、ロックナットＣ４に係合可能な複数の駒２１ｄを取付け、回転体２１の回転でロックナットＣ４を回転し得るようにしている。ここで、回転体２１は駆動手段２３により正逆両方向に回転駆動される。駆動手段２３は、レンチ本体１の基端部に搭載した駆動源たるナットランナ２３０と、レンチ本体１の可動ケーシング２０の近傍部分に軸支した、ナットランナ２３０によりチェーン２３１を介して駆動されるドライブギア２３２と、回転体２１の外周に形成した歯部２１ｅに噛合するように可動ケーシング２０に軸支した１対のドリブンギア２３３，２３３と、ドライブギア２３２とドリブンギア２３３，２３３とを連結するように可動ケーシング２０に軸支した第１と第２の２個の中間ギア２３４，２３５とで構成されている。
【００１２】
レンチ本体１には、ナット回転部２の軸方向外側に位置するブラケット１０が取付けられており、このブラケット１０と後記する固定ケーシング３０との間に、ドリブンギア２３３，２３３用の１対の支軸１１，１１と第１中間ギア２３４用の支軸１２とを可動ケーシング２０を貫通させて横設し、これら支軸１１，１１，１２を介して可動ケーシング２０が軸方向に移動自在に支持されるようにしている。そして、可動ケーシング２０の軸方向外側の側板部２０ａにシリンダ２４を取付け、このシリンダ２４のピストンロッド２４ａを第２中間ギア２３５の支軸に兼用した状態で固定ケーシング３０に連結している。かくて、シリンダ２４により可動ケーシング２０をロックナットＣ４に向けて軸方向内方に進退させ、この進退動作でソケット部２１ｃをロックナットＣ４に係脱させることができる。尚、前記ドライブギア２３２は、可動ケーシング２０が軸方向に移動しても第１中間ギア２３４がドライブギア２３２から離脱しないように、軸方向に長手に形成されている。
【００１３】
ロッド回転部３は、レンチ本体１に固定した固定ケーシング３０に軸支される第１と第２の１対の回転体３１，３２を備えている。両回転体３１，３２は、図１及び図７に示す如く、互に嵌り合った状態で固定ケーシング３０の軸方向両側の側板部３０ａ，３０ａ間に挟み込まれている。そして、両側板部３０ａ，３０ａに可動ケーシング２０の円形孔２０ｂと同心の円形孔３０ｂ，３０ｂを形成し、各円形孔３０ｂに各回転体３１，３２の軸方向外側面に突設した軸部３１ａ，３２ａを嵌合させて、両回転体３１，３２をナット回転部２の回転体２１の回転軸線と同一の軸線Ｏ回りに回転自在に軸支している。
【００１４】
また、固定ケーシング３０の各側板部３０ａの先端に、軸状ワークたるタイロッドＣの工具係合部Ｃ３の挿入用切欠き３０ｃを円形孔３０ｂに達するように形成すると共に、両回転体３１，３２に、図５及び図６に示す如く、外周面に開口する工具係合部Ｃ３用の挿入溝３１ｂ，３２ｂを形成している。かくて、両回転体３１，３２を切欠き３０ｃに挿入溝３１ｂ，３２ｂが合致する位相（原点位相）にすれば、挿入溝３１ｂ，３２ｂに工具係合部Ｃ３を切欠き３０ｃを通して径方向に挿入できる。また、固定ケーシング３０の軸方向外側の側板部３０ａの外側面に板状のワークガイド３３をねじ止めし、このワークガイド３３にも工具係合部Ｃ３を径方向に挿入可能な挿入溝３３ａを形成している。そして、この挿入溝３３ａの底部を、工具係合部Ｃ３の断面形状の外接円と等径で前記軸線Ｏと同心の半円形に形成し、工具係合部Ｃ３を挿入溝３３ａの半円形底部に押し込むことにより、工具係合部Ｃ３が軸線Ｏと同心に芯決めされるようにしている。
【００１５】
第１回転体３１は駆動手段３４によって正逆両方向に回転駆動される。駆動手段３４は、レンチ本体１の基端側に搭載した駆動源たるサーボモータ３４０と、レンチ本体１の固定ケーシング３０の近傍部分に軸支した、サーボモータ３４０によりチェーン３４１とギア３４１ａとを介して駆動されるドライブギア３４２と、第１回転体３１の外周に形成した歯部３１ｃに噛合するように固定ケーシング３０に支軸１１，１１を介して軸支した１対のドリブンギア３４３，３４３と、ドライブギア３４２とドリブンギア３４３，３４３とを連結するように固定ケーシング３０に夫々支軸１２とピストンロッド２４ａとを介して軸支した第１と第２の２個の中間ギア３４４，３４５とで構成されている。
【００１６】
また、第２回転体３２はブレーキ手段３５によって制動し得るように構成されている。ブレーキ手段３５は、固定ケーシング３０内に、第２回転体３２の外周に接離するように夫々ピン３５０を介して揺動自在に軸支した１対のブレーキシュー３５１，３５１と、両ブレーキシュー３５１，３５１にワイヤ３５２，３５２を介して連結される、レンチ本体１に取付けたシリンダ３５３とで構成されている。そして、シリンダ３５３によりワイヤ３５２，３５２を介してブレーキシュー３５１，３５１を引張ることにより、ブレーキシュー３５１，３５１が第２回転体３２の外周に圧接して、第２回転体３２が制動されるようにしている。
【００１７】
第１回転体３１には、第１回転体３１に形成した挿入溝３１ｂの両側に位置させて、１対のクランプアーム３６，３６が夫々ピン３６ａを支点にして挿入溝３１ｂの溝幅方向に揺動自在に設けられている。そして、第２回転体３２に対し第１回転体３１を両回転体３１，３２の挿入溝３１ｂ，３２ｂが合致する基準位相から正逆転させたとき、カム機構３７により両クランプアーム３６，３６が溝幅方向外方のアンクランプ位置から溝幅方向内方のクランプ位置に揺動されるようにしている。
【００１８】
カム機構３７は、各クランプアーム３６の外側縁に形成したカム部３７０と、第２回転体３２に両クランプアーム３６，３６に対応させて１対に固設した、カム部３７０に当接するカムピン３７１とで構成されている。カム部３７０には、クランプアーム３６がアンクランプ位置に存する状態で軸線Ｏと同心の円弧に合致する第１円弧部３７０ａと、第１円弧部３７０ａからクランプアーム３６の先端側に向けて径方向外方に傾斜してのびる第１斜辺部３７０ｂと、第１斜辺部３７０ｂからクランプアーム３６の先端側にのびる、クランプアーム３６がクランプ位置に存する状態で軸線Ｏと同心の円弧に合致する第２円弧部３７０ｃと、第１円弧部３７０ａからクランプアーム３６の尾端側に向けて径方向外方に傾斜してのびる第２斜辺部３７０ｄと、第２斜辺部３７０ｄからクランプアーム３６の尾端側にのびる、クランプアーム３６がクランプ位置に存する状態で軸線Ｏと同心の円弧に合致する第３円弧部３７０ｅとが形成されている。カムピン３７１は、第２回転体３２に対する第１回転体３１の位相が上記基準位置であるときに、第１円弧部３７０ａの中央に当接するように設けられている。かくて、第２回転体３２に対し第１回転体３１を基準位相から正逆転させると、第１円弧部３７０ａの中心角の半分の角度α分回転したところで、回転方向前位（回転方向が図５の時計方向であれば右側、反時計方向であれば左側）のクランプアーム３６の第１斜辺部３７０ｂと回転方向後位のクランプアーム３６の第２斜辺部３７０ｄとが夫々カムピン３７１に当接し、以後、回転方向前位のクランプアーム３６の第２円弧部３７０ｃと回転方向後位のクランプアーム３６の第３円弧部３７０ｅとが夫々カムピン３７１に当接するまでの回転で各クランプアーム３６が各斜辺部３７０ｂ，３７０ｄに案内されてアンクランプ位置からクランプ位置に揺動される。
【００１９】
また、各クランプアーム３６にカム部３７０と相似形状のカム溝３７２を形成すると共に、第２回転体３２にカム溝３７２に係合する係合ピン３７３を固設し、第１回転体３１を第２回転体３２に対し上記方向とは反対方向に回転させて基準位相に戻すときに、係合ピン３７３とカム溝３７２との相互作用で各クランプアーム３６がアンクランプ位置に復帰されるようにしている。また、第２回転体３２に対する第１回転体３１の相対回転角度範囲を、カム溝３７２の端部への係合ピン３７３の当接により、基準位相からクランプアーム３６をクランプ位置に揺動させるまでに必要な回転角度より若干大きな範囲に規制し得るようにしている。図９は、第２回転体３２に対する第１回転体３１の相対回転角度とクランプアーム３６の溝幅方向への揺動角とを示しており、第１回転体３１の相対回転角度が上記角度α以内の範囲ではクランプアーム３６がアンクランプ位置に保持され、αを越えたβの角度範囲でクランプアーム３６がアンクランプ位置からクランプ位置に揺動され、βを越えてから相対回転が規制されるまでのγの角度範囲でクランプアーム３６がクランプ位置に保持される。
【００２０】
両クランプアーム３６，３６の内側縁の工具係合部Ｃ３に対する当接辺３６ｂ，３６ｂは、クランプ位置において、図１０（Ａ）に示すように、工具係合部Ｃ３の断面形状の外接円と等径で前記軸線Ｏと同心の円Ｓにおける第１回転体３１の挿入溝３１ｂの溝幅方向両側の所定の２つの弦に合致するように形成されている。この２つの弦は、挿入溝３１ｂの中心線Ｔに対し挿入溝３１ｂの開口端側に向って挿入溝３１ｂ溝幅方向内方に傾斜し、且つ、前記円Ｓと両弦との挿入溝３１ｂの開口端側の交点間の距離Ｌ１が工具係合部Ｃ３の断面形状の対辺間の距離Ｌ２より大きくなる弦である。当接辺３６ｂをこのように形成すると、図１０（Ｂ）に示す如く、第１回転体３１の回転で回転方向後位（図１０（Ｂ）では右側）のクランプアーム３６の当接辺３６ａが工具係合部Ｃ３の角部に係合した時点において、回転方向前位（図１０（Ｂ）では左側）のクランプアーム３６の当接辺３６ａと工具係合部Ｃ３との間に未だ隙間が明いている状態になり、かくて、カム機構３７の加工誤差等で回転方向前位のクランプアーム３６のクランプ位置が溝幅方向内方に多少ずれても、回転方向後位のクランプアーム３６が回転方向前位のクランプアーム３６に先行して工具係合部Ｃ３を把持するようになる。
【００２１】
前記各ドリブンギア３４３は、図８に示す如く、これを軸支する支軸１１に固定したピストン１１ａを受容するシリンダ部３４３ａを備えている。そして、支軸１１のブラケット１０側の端部に取付けたエアジョイント１１ｂから支軸１１内のエア通路１１ｃを介してシリンダ部３４３ａ内にエアを供給することにより、ドリブンギア３４３が第２回転体３２の配置部側に向けて軸方向に前進され、エア供給を停止したとき、戻しばね３４３ｂにより第１回転体３１の配置部側に後退されるようにしている。そして、第２回転体３２の外周に歯部３２ｃを形成し、ドリブンギア３４３を軸方向に上記の如く進退させることで、ドリブンギア３４３が歯部３２ｃに係脱されるようにしている。尚、ドリブンギア３４３の歯の端部にはチャンファン部３４３ｃが形成されており、第１回転体３１の歯部３１ｃに対し第２回転体３２の歯部３２ｃの位相が多少ずれていても、チャンファン部３４３ｃで位相ずれを矯正して、ドリブンギア３４３を歯部３２ｃに係合し得るようにしている。また、固定ケーシング３０に、ドリブンギア３４３の前進側の端面に装着した反射板３４３ｄに対するレーザ光の入反射でドリブンギア３４３の位置を検出するレーザ測距器３８を取付けている。
【００２２】
車輪のトー調整に際しては、先ず、ナット回転部２の回転体２１をその挿入溝２１ｂが可動ケーシング２０の切欠き２０ｃに合致する原点位相にすると共に、ロッド回転部３の第１と第２の両回転体３１，３２を両者３１，３２の挿入溝３１ｂ，３２ｂが固定ケーシング３０の切欠き３０ｃに合致する原点位相にし、この状態でタイロッドＣのロッドエンドＣ２と工具係合部Ｃ３とを各切欠き２０ｃ，３０ｃを通して各回転体２１，３１，３２の挿入溝２１ｂ，３１ｂ，３２ｂに挿入する。この際、ロッドエンドＣ２と工具係合部Ｃ３は可動ケーシング２０と固定ケーシング３０に固定したワークガイド２２，３３の挿入溝２２ａ，３３ａにも挿入され、ロッドエンドＣ２と工具係合部Ｃ３とを挿入溝２２ａ，３３ａの半円形底部に押し付けることで、タイロッドＣ全体が回転体２１，３１，３２の回転軸線Ｏと同心になる。
【００２３】
次に、可動ケーシング２０を軸方向に移動して、回転体２１のソケット部２１ｃをロックナットＣ４に嵌合させ、回転体２１の回転でロックナットＣ４を緩める。また、第２回転体３２をブレーキ手段３５により制動した状態で第１回転体３１を駆動手段３４により所要の方向、例えば、図１１の反時計方向に回転させる。これによれば、第２回転体３２に対し第１回転体３１が基準位相から相対回転され、カム機構３７の働きで１対のクランプアーム３６，３６が軸線回りに公転しつつアンクランプ位置からクランプ位置に揺動される。
【００２４】
ここで、工具係合部Ｃ３が挿入溝３３ａの底部の半円形の弦ｘに工具係合部Ｃ３の断面形状の何れか１つの対角線が合致する位相に存する場合は、図１１（Ａ）に示す如く、回転方向後位のクランプアームたる右側のクランプアーム３６の当接辺３６ｂが挿入溝３３ａの底部から外れた工具係合部Ｃ３の右上方の角部Ｃ３ａに係合する。
【００２５】
また、工具係合部Ｃ３が挿入溝３３ａの底部に下側３つの角部で接する位相に存する場合は、右側のクランプアーム３６がクランプ位置に達する前に、図１１（Ｂ）に示す如く、右側のクランプアーム３６の当接辺３６ｂが挿入溝３３ａの底部から外れた工具係合部Ｃ３の右側の角部Ｃ３ｂに当接することがある。この場合、当接辺３６ｂが工具係合部Ｃ３の断面形状の外接円に対する接線にほぼ合致していると、当接辺３６ｂは角部Ｃ３ｂに対し滑る。この際、クランプアーム３６の溝幅方向内方への揺動が角部Ｃ３ｂによって規制されるため、第２回転体３２に対する第１回転体３１の相対回転が中断される。即ち、第２回転体３２がカム機構３７を介して伝達される第１回転体３１からの回転力によりブレーキ手段３５の制動力に抗して第１回転体３１と一緒に回転する。そして、右側のクランプアーム３６の当接辺３６ｂが角部Ｃ３ｂを乗り越えたところで、第２回転体３２に対する第１回転体３１の相対回転が再開されて、クランプアーム３６がクランプ位置に揺動され、図１１（Ｃ）に示す如く、工具係合部Ｃ３の最上方の角部Ｃ３ｃに右側のクランプアーム３６の当接辺３６ｂが係合する。
【００２６】
かくて、工具係合部Ｃ３がどのような位相に存していても、挿入溝３３ａの底部から外れた工具係合部Ｃ３の角部に回転方向後位のクランプアーム３６の当接辺３６ｂが係合することになり、工具係合部Ｃ３が挿入溝３３ａの底部との間に挟み込まれて両回転体３１，３２の軸線Ｏと同心に芯決めされる。そして、回転方向後位のクランプアーム３６を介して工具係合部Ｃ３が第１回転体３１に対し回り止めされ、以後、ロッド本体Ｃ１が第１回転体３１と一体に回転され、この回転でタイロッドＣの長さが変化して、トーが調整される。
【００２７】
トー調整が完了すると、ナット回転部２において、回転体２１の回転によりロックナットＣ４を締め付け、その後、可動ケーシング２０を移動して回転体２１をロックナットＣ４から離脱させ、次いで、回転体２１を原点位相に戻す。また、ロッド回転部３においては、第２回転体３２をブレーキ手段３５で制動したまま、第１回転体３１を駆動手段３４によりトー調整時とは反対方向に図７のαとβの合計角度分だけ回転させ、次に、ブレーキ手段３５による第２回転体３２の制動を解除した状態で各ドリブンギア３４３を軸方向に前進させ、第２回転体３２の歯部３２ｃに各ドリブンギア３４３を係合させる。
【００２８】
ところで、トー調整時における両回転体３１，３２の基準位相に対するずれ角は最大でα＋β＋γになり、第１回転体３１を上記の如くα＋βの角度分戻し回転させても、第２回転体３２に対する第１回転体３１の位相は基準位相からγ分ずれる可能性がある。また、クランプ位置に達する前にクランプアーム３６が工具係合部Ｃ３に係合する場合もあり、この場合も第１回転体３１をα＋βの角度分戻し回転すると、第２回転体３２に対する第１回転体３１の位相は基準位相からずれる。ここで、第１と第２の両回転体３１，３２の歯部３１ｃ，３２ｃのピッチ角をθとして、基準位相からの十側や一側へのずれ角がθ／２より小さければ、第２回転体３２の歯部３２ｃにドリブンギア３４３を係合させることで、基準位相に対するずれを無くすことができる。一方、基準位相からのずれ角がθ／２より大きければ、歯部３２ｃにドリブンギア３４３を係合させることで、基準位相に対するずれ角はθになってしまう。然し、基準位相に対するずれ角がα以下の範囲ではクランプアーム３６がアンクランプ位置に保持されるため、ずれ角がθになってもクランプアーム３６はアンクランプ位置から左程揺動しない。本実施形態では、α，β，γ，θを夫々１０°，１１°，３°，１２°に設定し、基準位相からθずれても、クランプアーム３６が第１回転体３１の挿入溝３１ｂの溝幅内に突出しないようにしている。
【００２９】
第２回転体３２の歯部３２ｃへのドリブンギア３４３の係合がレーザ測距器３８からの信号で確認されると、次に、駆動手段３４により第１回転体３１を回転させて原点位相に戻す。次に、ドリブンギア３４３を後退させて第２回転体３２の歯部３２ｃから離脱させ、この状態でレンチ本体１を切欠き２０ｃ，３０ｃの開口方向と反対方向に引いて、オープンエンドレンチをタイロッドＣから離脱させる。ここで、第１回転体３１を原点位相に戻す際は、ドリブンギア３４３を介して第２回転体３２も一体に回転されるため、第１回転体３１に対する第２回転体３２の位相ずれでクランプアーム３６が挿入溝３１ｂの溝幅内に突出することを確実に防止できる。従って、工具係合部Ｃ３に対するクランプアーム３６の引掛りを生ずることなく、オープンエンドレンチをタイロッドＣからスムーズに離脱できる。また、第１回転体３１に対し第２回転体３２の位相が基準位相からθずれていても、オープンエンドレンチをタイロッドＣから離脱させる際、第２回転体３２の挿入溝３２ｂの側縁に工具係合部Ｃ３が摺接して、第２回転体３２の基準位相からのずれが矯正され、オープンエンドレンチの離脱作業を支障なく行い得られる。
【００３０】
上記実施形態では、第１と第２の両回転体３１，３２の挿入溝３１ｂ，３２ｂの底部を、工具係合部Ｃ３の断面形状の外接円より大径の半円形に形成しているが、別の実施形態として、第２回転体３２の挿入溝３２ｂの底部を、前記外接円と等径で前記軸線Ｏと同心の半円形に形成してもよく、回転方向後位のクランプアーム３６により、工具係合部Ｃ３を挿入溝３２ｂの底部との間に挟み込んだ状態で、軸線Ｏと同心に把持できる。この場合、ワークガイド３３は不要である。
【００３１】
【発明の効果】
以上の説明から明らかなように、本発明によれば、カム機構の精度がラフであっても、工具係合部を両回転体の軸線と同心に把持して、ワークをスムーズに回転でき、３対のカム面の高精度の加工が要求される従来のオープンエンドレンチに比しコストを安くできる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明オープンエンドレンチの縦断面図
【図２】図１の左側面図
【図３】図１の右側面図
【図４】図１のIV-IV線拡大截断面図
【図５】図１のV-V線拡大截断面図
【図６】図１のVI-VI線拡大截断面図
【図７】図５のVII-VII線截断面図
【図８】図５のVIII-VIII線截断面図
【図９】第１と第２の両回転体の相対回転角度とクランプアームの揺動角との関係を示すグラフ
【図１０】（Ａ）クランプアームをクランプ位置に揺動させたときの当接辺の位置を示す図、（Ｂ）工具係合部に対する当接辺の係合状態を示す図
【図１１】（Ａ）工具係合部の把持状態を示す図、（Ｂ）図１０（Ａ）とは異なる位相に存する工具係合部を把持する前の中間状態を示す図、（Ｃ）この工具係合部の把持状態を示す図
【図１２】タイロッドの斜視図
【図１３】従来のオープンエンドレンチの要部の側面図
【符号の説明】
Ｃタイロッド（ワーク）Ｃ３工具係合部
１レンチ本体３０固定ケーシング（レンチ本体の先端部）
３１第１回転体３２第２回転体
３３ワークガイド３１ｂ，３２ｂ，３３ａ挿入溝
３４駆動手段３５ブレーキ手段
３６クランプアーム３６ｂ当接辺[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an open-end wrench used for forward / reverse rotation of a workpiece by engaging with a tool engagement portion having a hexagonal cross section of an axial workpiece such as a tie rod incorporated in a steering mechanism of an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 12, a tie rod C for transmitting the movement of the relay rod A interlocking with the steering wheel to the knuckle arm B is incorporated in the steering mechanism of the automobile. The tie rod C includes a rod body C1 connected to the relay rod A via a ball joint A1, and a rod end C2 connected to a knuckle arm B via a ball joint B1. The end of the rod body C1 is screwed into the rod end C2, and the length of the tie rod C is increased by rotating the rod body C1 by engaging a wrench with a tool engagement part C3 having a hexagonal cross section formed on the rod body C1. The wheel toe can be adjusted. After the toe adjustment, the nut C4 extrapolated to the rod body C1 is tightened to the rod end C2 side to prevent the rod body C1 from rotating.
[0003]
By the way, depending on the vehicle model, the tie rod C is disposed in a complicated place, and the wrench operating space may not be secured. In view of this, an open-end wrench in which the tie rod can be rotated forward and backward while holding the wrench in a fixed position is known from JP-A-1-295766. This open-end wrench supports a first and a second pair of rotating bodies in which a tool engaging portion can be inserted in the radial direction at the front end of a wrench body so as to be rotatable about the same axis. On the other hand, for example, as shown in FIG. 13, the second rotating body supports three rollers a that can come into contact with three places around the tool engaging portion C3 so as to be movable in the radial direction and perform the first rotation. When three pairs of cam surfaces c contacting the rollers a are formed on the inner periphery of the body b, and the first rotating body b is rotated forward or reverse by the driving means in a state where the second rotating body is braked by the braking means. The three rollers a are configured to be pushed radially inward by the cam surfaces c and come into contact with the tool engaging portion C3. When the roller a comes into contact with the tool engaging portion C3, the second rotating body subsequently rotates integrally with the first rotating body b against the braking force of the brake means, and the tie rod is in the same direction as the first rotating body b. It is rotated.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above open end wrench, if the three pairs of cam surfaces c are not formed congruently with a phase difference of 120 °, the tool engaging portion C3 is gripped in a state of being misaligned with respect to the rotating body. Can not rotate well. Therefore, the allowable range of the dimensional tolerance of the three pairs of cam surfaces c is narrowed, and high-accuracy machining of the cam surfaces c is required, resulting in an increase in cost.
[0005]
This invention makes it a subject to provide the usage method of the low-cost open end wrench which enabled it to hold | grip a tool engaging part concentrically with a rotary body in view of the above point.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a method of using an open-end wrench that engages a tool engagement portion having a hexagonal cross section of a shaft-like work to forward and reverse the work , and the open-end wrench has the same axis line at the tip of the wrench body It is rotatably supported around a first and a rotary member of the second pair having an insertable insertion groove the tool engagement portion in the radial direction, the first rotary member, the first rotating body A pair of clamp arms positioned on both sides of the insertion groove and pivotably supported in the groove width direction of the insertion groove, and the insertion grooves of both rotary bodies coincide with the second rotary body. A cam mechanism that swings both clamp arms to a predetermined clamp position inward in the groove width direction when forward and reverse from the phase, driving means that forward and reverse the first rotating body, and a brake that brakes the second rotating body And has the following two forms.
In a first aspect, the the distal end of the wrench body, the workpiece guide having an insertable insertion groove the tool engagement portion in the radial direction is fixed, the bottom of the insertion groove of the workpiece guide, the tool engagement It is formed in a semicircular shape having the same diameter as the circumscribed circle of the sectional shape of the part and concentric with the axis. In the second embodiment, the bottom of the insertion groove of the second rotating body is formed in a semicircular shape having the same diameter as the circumscribed circle of the cross section of the tool engaging portion and concentric with the axis .
And when using the open end wrench of the said 1st or 2nd form, when a pair of clamp arm is swung to the said clamp position, the contact edge of both the clamp arms with respect to the said tool engaging part is Of the chords on both sides in the groove width direction of the insertion groove of the first rotating body in a circle having the same diameter as the circumscribed circle and concentric with the axis, toward the opening end side of the insertion groove with respect to the center line of the insertion groove The distance between the intersection of the insertion groove on the opening end side of the insertion groove between the circle and the chords on both sides is greater than the distance between opposite sides of the cross-sectional shape of the tool engaging portion. It is used so as to match a predetermined string that grows.
[0007]
When rotating the workpiece, both the first and second rotating bodies are in a phase in which the insertion grooves of the both rotation bodies are aligned with each other and the insertion groove of the work guide. Insert the tool engaging part . Then , in a state where the second rotator is braked by the brake means, the first rotator is rotated forward or reverse by the drive means.
According to this, both the clamp arms are swung to the clamp position by the action of the cam mechanism, but the contact sides of both clamp arms coincide with the predetermined string at the clamp position. in as described, before the contact side of the rotation direction front position the clamp arm of the first rotating body is in contact with the tool engagement portion, the abutting sides of the clamp arm in the rotational direction after the position is, the workpiece guide or the 2 Abutting against the corner of the tool engaging portion projecting from the semicircular bottom of the insertion groove of the rotating body to the opening end side of the insertion groove, the tool engaging portion is pressed against the semicircular bottom of the insertion groove It is centered concentrically with both rotating bodies. Here, even if the clamp position of the front clamp arm in the rotational direction slightly deviates inward in the groove width direction from the normal position, the rear clamp arm in the rotational direction comes into contact with the tool engaging portion earlier. Thus, even if the accuracy of the cam mechanism is rough, the tool engaging portion can be gripped concentrically with both rotating bodies.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an open-end wrench for adjusting a tie rod will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, this open-end wrench is engaged with a nut rotating portion 2 for rotating a lock nut C4 of a tie rod C and a tool engaging portion C3 of a tie rod C at a tip portion of a wrench body 1. The rod main body C1 is composed of a double-headed wrench provided with a rod rotating part 3 that rotates forward and backward.
[0009]
The nut rotating unit 2 includes a rotating body 21 that is pivotally supported by a movable casing 20 that is supported on the wrench body 1 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the tie rod C. The rotating body 21 is sandwiched between the side plate portions 20a and 20a on both sides in the axial direction of the movable casing 20, and concentric circular holes 20b and 20b are formed in the both side plate portions 20a and 20a. The shafts 21a projecting on both sides in the axial direction of the body 21 are fitted, and the rotating body 21 is rotatably supported around the axis O concentric with the circular hole 20b.
[0010]
In addition, an insertion notch 20c for the rod end C2 is formed at the tip of each side plate portion 20a of the movable casing 20 so as to reach the circular hole 20b, and opens to the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 21 as shown in FIG. An insertion groove 21b for the rod end C2 is formed. Thus, if the rotating body 21 is in a phase where the insertion groove 21b matches the notch 20c, the rod end C2 can be inserted into the insertion groove 21b in the radial direction through the notch 20c. Further, a plate-like work guide 22 is screwed to the outer surface of the side plate portion 20a on the outer side in the axial direction of the movable casing 20, and an insertion groove 22a into which the rod end C2 can be inserted in the radial direction is also formed in the work guide 22. ing. The bottom of the insertion groove 22a is formed in a semicircular shape having the same diameter as the outer diameter of the rod end C2 and concentric with the center of the circular hole 20b serving as the rotation axis of the rotating body 21, and the rod end C2 is formed in a semicircular shape. The rod end C2 is centered concentrically with the rotating body 21 by being pushed into the circular bottom.
[0011]
The rotating body 21 is provided with a socket portion 21c into which the lock nut C4 can be inserted in the axial direction. A plurality of pieces 21d that can engage with the lock nut C4 are attached in the socket portion 21c, and the lock nut C4 can be rotated by the rotation of the rotating body 21. Here, the rotating body 21 is rotationally driven in both forward and reverse directions by the driving means 23. The driving means 23 includes a nut runner 230 that is a driving source mounted on the base end portion of the wrench body 1 and a drive gear that is pivotally supported by the nut runner 230 in the vicinity of the movable casing 20 via the chain 231. 232, a pair of driven gears 233 and 233 that are pivotally supported on the movable casing 20 so as to mesh with a tooth portion 21e formed on the outer periphery of the rotating body 21, and a drive gear 232 and a driven gear 233 and 233 are connected to each other. The first and second intermediate gears 234 and 235 are pivotally supported on the movable casing 20.
[0012]
The wrench body 1 is provided with a bracket 10 positioned on the outer side in the axial direction of the nut rotating portion 2, and a pair of supporting gears 233 and 233 is supported between the bracket 10 and a fixed casing 30 described later. The shafts 11 and 11 and the support shaft 12 for the first intermediate gear 234 are horizontally disposed through the movable casing 20, and the movable casing 20 is supported by the support shafts 11, 11 and 12 so as to be movable in the axial direction. To be. A cylinder 24 is attached to the side plate portion 20 a on the outer side in the axial direction of the movable casing 20, and the piston rod 24 a of the cylinder 24 is connected to the fixed casing 30 in a state where the piston rod 24 a is also used as a support shaft of the second intermediate gear 235. Thus, the movable casing 20 is moved forward and backward in the axial direction toward the lock nut C4 by the cylinder 24, and the socket portion 21c can be engaged and disengaged with the lock nut C4 by this forward / backward movement. The drive gear 232 is formed to be long in the axial direction so that the first intermediate gear 234 does not separate from the drive gear 232 even when the movable casing 20 moves in the axial direction.
[0013]
The rod rotating unit 3 includes a first and a second pair of rotating bodies 31 and 32 that are pivotally supported by a fixed casing 30 fixed to the wrench body 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, both the rotating bodies 31 and 32 are sandwiched between the side plate portions 30 a and 30 a on both sides in the axial direction of the fixed casing 30 while being fitted to each other. And the circular hole 30b, 30b concentric with the circular hole 20b of the movable casing 20 is formed in both side plate part 30a, 30a, and the axial part which protruded from the axial direction outer surface of each rotary body 31, 32 in each circular hole 30b 31a and 32a are fitted, and both the rotary bodies 31 and 32 are rotatably supported around the same axis O as the rotational axis of the rotary body 21 of the nut rotating portion 2.
[0014]
In addition, an insertion notch 30c of the tool engaging portion C3 of the tie rod C, which is a shaft-like workpiece, is formed at the tip of each side plate portion 30a of the fixed casing 30 so as to reach the circular hole 30b. Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, insertion grooves 31b and 32b for the tool engaging portion C3 that are opened on the outer peripheral surface are formed. Thus, if the rotating bodies 31 and 32 are set to a phase (origin phase) in which the insertion grooves 31b and 32b coincide with the notches 30c, the tool engaging portion C3 is inserted into the insertion grooves 31b and 32b through the notches 30c in the radial direction. Can be inserted. Further, a plate-like work guide 33 is screwed to the outer surface of the side plate portion 30a on the outer side in the axial direction of the fixed casing 30, and an insertion groove 33a into which the tool engaging portion C3 can be inserted in the radial direction is also provided in the work guide 33. Forming. The bottom of the insertion groove 33a is formed in a semicircular shape having the same diameter as the circumscribed circle of the cross section of the tool engaging portion C3 and concentric with the axis O, and the tool engaging portion C3 is formed in a semicircular bottom of the insertion groove 33a. The tool engaging portion C3 is centered concentrically with the axis O.
[0015]
The first rotating body 31 is rotationally driven in both forward and reverse directions by the driving means 34. The drive means 34 includes a servo motor 340 as a drive source mounted on the base end side of the wrench body 1 and a servo motor 340 that is pivotally supported in the vicinity of the fixed casing 30 of the wrench body 1 via a chain 341 and a gear 341a. And a pair of driven gears 343 and 343 that are supported by the fixed casing 30 via the support shafts 11 and 11 so as to mesh with a tooth portion 31c formed on the outer periphery of the first rotating body 31. The first and second intermediate gears 344 and 345 that are supported by the fixed casing 30 via the support shaft 12 and the piston rod 24a so as to connect the drive gear 342 and the driven gears 343 and 343, respectively. It consists of and.
[0016]
Further, the second rotating body 32 is configured to be braked by the brake means 35. The brake means 35 includes a pair of brake shoes 351 and 351 pivotally supported via pins 350 in the fixed casing 30 so as to be in contact with and away from the outer periphery of the second rotating body 32, and both brake shoes. And a cylinder 353 attached to the wrench body 1 connected to the wires 351 and 351 via wires 352 and 352. Then, by pulling the brake shoes 351 and 351 through the wires 352 and 352 by the cylinder 353, the brake shoes 351 and 351 are pressed against the outer periphery of the second rotating body 32 so that the second rotating body 32 is braked. I have to.
[0017]
The first rotator 31 is positioned on both sides of the insertion groove 31b formed in the first rotator 31, and a pair of clamp arms 36, 36 are arranged in the groove width direction of the insertion groove 31b with the pin 36a as a fulcrum. It is provided so as to be swingable. When the first rotating body 31 is rotated forward and backward with respect to the second rotating body 32 from the reference phase in which the insertion grooves 31b and 32b of the both rotating bodies 31 and 32 match, both the clamp arms 36 and 36 are moved by the cam mechanism 37. It swings from the unclamping position on the outer side in the groove width direction to the clamping position on the inner side in the groove width direction.
[0018]
The cam mechanism 37 includes a cam portion 370 formed on the outer edge of each clamp arm 36, and a cam pin abutting on the cam portion 370 fixed to the second rotating body 32 corresponding to both the clamp arms 36 and 36. 371. The cam portion 370 includes a first arc portion 370a that coincides with an arc concentric with the axis O when the clamp arm 36 is in the unclamped position, and a radial direction from the first arc portion 370a toward the distal end side of the clamp arm 36. A first oblique side portion 370b extending obliquely outward, and a second portion extending from the first oblique side portion 370b to the distal end side of the clamp arm 36 and matching a circular arc concentric with the axis O in a state where the clamp arm 36 is in the clamp position. An arc portion 370c, a second oblique side portion 370d extending from the first arc portion 370a toward the tail end side of the clamp arm 36 in a radially outward direction, and a tail end side of the clamp arm 36 from the second oblique side portion 370d. A third arc portion 370e is formed, which extends along the arc concentric with the axis O in a state where the clamp arm 36 is in the clamp position. The cam pin 371 is provided to contact the center of the first arc portion 370a when the phase of the first rotating body 31 with respect to the second rotating body 32 is the reference position. Thus, when the first rotating body 31 is rotated forward and backward with respect to the second rotating body 32 from the reference phase, when the first rotating body 31 is rotated by an angle α which is half the central angle of the first arc portion 370a, The first hypotenuse 370b of the clamp arm 36 on the right side in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5 and the second hypotenuse portion 370d of the clamp arm 36 at the rear side in the rotation direction respectively contact the cam pin 371. Thereafter, each clamp arm 36 is rotated by rotation until the second arc portion 370c of the clamp arm 36 at the front in the rotation direction and the third arc portion 370e of the clamp arm 36 at the rear in the rotation direction abut on the cam pin 371, respectively. It is guided by the respective oblique sides 370b and 370d and swings from the unclamping position to the clamping position.
[0019]
In addition, cam grooves 372 having a shape similar to the cam portion 370 are formed in each clamp arm 36, and an engagement pin 373 that engages with the cam groove 372 is fixed to the second rotating body 32, and the first rotating body 31 is fixed. When the second rotating body 32 is rotated in a direction opposite to the above direction to return to the reference phase, the respective clamp arms 36 are returned to the unclamping position by the interaction between the engaging pin 373 and the cam groove 372. I have to. Further, the relative rotation angle range of the first rotating body 31 with respect to the second rotating body 32 is made to swing the clamp arm 36 from the reference phase to the clamp position by the contact of the engaging pin 373 with the end of the cam groove 372. The rotation angle can be restricted to a range slightly larger than necessary. FIG. 9 shows the relative rotation angle of the first rotating body 31 with respect to the second rotating body 32 and the swing angle of the clamp arm 36 in the groove width direction. The relative rotation angle of the first rotating body 31 is the above angle. In the range within α, the clamp arm 36 is held at the unclamping position, and in the angle range β exceeding α, the clamping arm 36 is swung from the unclamping position to the clamping position, and relative rotation is restricted after exceeding β. The clamp arm 36 is held at the clamp position within the angle range of γ up to.
[0020]
As shown in FIG. 10A, the contact sides 36b and 36b of the inner edges of the clamp arms 36 and 36 with respect to the tool engaging portion C3 are, as shown in FIG. 10A, a circumscribed circle having a sectional shape of the tool engaging portion C3. It is formed so as to match two predetermined chords on both sides in the groove width direction of the insertion groove 31b of the first rotating body 31 in a circle S having the same diameter and concentric with the axis O. The two strings are inclined inward in the groove width direction of the insertion groove 31b toward the opening end side of the insertion groove 31b with respect to the center line T of the insertion groove 31b, and the insertion groove 31b of the circle S and both strings is inserted. This is a chord in which the distance L1 between the intersections on the opening end side is larger than the distance L2 between opposite sides of the cross-sectional shape of the tool engaging portion C3. When the contact side 36b is formed in this way, as shown in FIG. 10B, the contact side 36a of the clamp arm 36 at the rear side in the rotation direction (right side in FIG. 10B) by the rotation of the first rotating body 31. When the is engaged with the corner of the tool engaging portion C3, there is still a gap between the contact side 36a of the clamp arm 36 at the front in the rotation direction (left side in FIG. 10B) and the tool engaging portion C3. Thus, even if the clamp position of the clamp arm 36 at the front in the rotational direction is slightly shifted inward in the groove width direction due to a processing error of the cam mechanism 37 or the like, the clamp arm 36 at the rear in the rotational direction. Grips the tool engaging portion C3 prior to the clamp arm 36 at the front in the rotational direction.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 8, each driven gear 343 includes a cylinder portion 343a that receives a piston 11a fixed to a support shaft 11 that supports the driven gear 343. Then, air is supplied from the air joint 11b attached to the end of the support shaft 11 on the bracket 10 side into the cylinder portion 343a through the air passage 11c in the support shaft 11, whereby the driven gear 343 is moved to the second rotating body. When the air supply is stopped in the axial direction toward the arrangement portion side of 32, the return spring 343b is moved backward to the arrangement portion side of the first rotating body 31. And the tooth part 32c is formed in the outer periphery of the 2nd rotary body 32, and the driven gear 343 is made to engage / disengage with the tooth part 32c by advancing / retreating the driven gear 343 to an axial direction as mentioned above. A fan fan 343c is formed at the end of the tooth of the driven gear 343, so that the phase of the tooth portion 32c of the second rotating body 32 is slightly shifted from the tooth portion 31c of the first rotating body 31. The phase shift is corrected by the fan fan portion 343c so that the driven gear 343 can be engaged with the tooth portion 32c. In addition, a laser range finder 38 that detects the position of the driven gear 343 by attaching / reflecting laser light to the reflecting plate 343d attached to the forward end face of the driven gear 343 is attached to the fixed casing 30.
[0022]
When adjusting the wheel toe, first, the rotating body 21 of the nut rotating portion 2 is set to the origin phase where the insertion groove 21b matches the notch 20c of the movable casing 20, and the first and second of the rod rotating portion 3 are set. Both rotors 31 and 32 are set to the origin phase where the insertion grooves 31b and 32b of both 31 and 32 match the notch 30c of the fixed casing 30, and in this state, the rod end C2 of the tie rod C and the tool engaging portion C3 are connected to each other. It inserts in the insertion groove 21b, 31b, 32b of each rotary body 21,31,32 through the notches 20c and 30c. At this time, the rod end C2 and the tool engaging portion C3 are also inserted into the insertion grooves 22a and 33a of the work guides 22 and 33 fixed to the movable casing 20 and the fixed casing 30, and the rod end C2 and the tool engaging portion C3 are connected. By pressing against the semicircular bottoms of the insertion grooves 22a and 33a, the entire tie rod C is concentric with the rotation axis O of the rotating bodies 21, 31, and 32.
[0023]
Next, the movable casing 20 is moved in the axial direction, the socket portion 21c of the rotating body 21 is fitted into the lock nut C4, and the lock nut C4 is loosened by the rotation of the rotating body 21. Further, in a state where the second rotating body 32 is braked by the brake means 35, the first rotating body 31 is rotated by the driving means 34 in a required direction, for example, counterclockwise in FIG. According to this, the first rotating body 31 is rotated relative to the second rotating body 32 from the reference phase, and the pair of clamp arms 36 and 36 revolve around the axis line by the function of the cam mechanism 37 from the unclamping position. It is swung to the clamp position.
[0024]
Here, when the tool engaging portion C3 is in a phase where any one of the diagonal lines of the cross-sectional shape of the tool engaging portion C3 matches the semicircular chord x at the bottom of the insertion groove 33a, FIG. As shown, the contact side 36b of the right clamp arm 36, which is the rear clamp arm in the rotational direction, engages with the upper right corner C3a of the tool engagement portion C3 that is disengaged from the bottom of the insertion groove 33a.
[0025]
Further, when the tool engagement portion C3 is in a phase where the bottom three corners of the insertion groove 33a are in contact with each other, before the right clamp arm 36 reaches the clamp position, as shown in FIG. The abutting side 36b of the right clamp arm 36 may abut against the right corner C3b of the tool engaging portion C3 that is disengaged from the bottom of the insertion groove 33a. In this case, when the contact side 36b substantially matches the tangent to the circumscribed circle of the cross-sectional shape of the tool engagement portion C3, the contact side 36b slides with respect to the corner portion C3b. At this time, the swinging of the clamp arm 36 in the groove width direction inward is restricted by the corner portion C3b, so that the relative rotation of the first rotating body 31 with respect to the second rotating body 32 is interrupted. That is, the second rotating body 32 rotates together with the first rotating body 31 against the braking force of the brake means 35 by the rotating force from the first rotating body 31 transmitted through the cam mechanism 37. When the contact side 36b of the right clamp arm 36 gets over the corner C3b, the relative rotation of the first rotary body 31 with respect to the second rotary body 32 is resumed, and the clamp arm 36 is swung to the clamp position. As shown in FIG. 11C, the contact side 36b of the right clamp arm 36 engages with the uppermost corner C3c of the tool engaging portion C3.
[0026]
Thus, no matter what phase the tool engaging portion C3 is in, the contact edge 36b of the clamp arm 36 at the rear in the rotational direction is formed at the corner of the tool engaging portion C3 that is out of the bottom of the insertion groove 33a. The tool engaging portion C3 is sandwiched between the bottom of the insertion groove 33a and is centered concentrically with the axis O of both the rotary bodies 31 and 32. Then, the tool engaging portion C3 is prevented from rotating with respect to the first rotating body 31 via the clamp arm 36 at the rear side in the rotation direction, and thereafter, the rod body C1 is rotated integrally with the first rotating body 31. The length of the tie rod C changes and the toe is adjusted.
[0027]
When the toe adjustment is completed, the nut rotating unit 2 tightens the lock nut C4 by rotating the rotating body 21 and then moves the movable casing 20 to disengage the rotating body 21 from the lock nut C4. Return to the home phase. Further, in the rod rotating portion 3, the total angle of α and β in FIG. 7 is applied in the direction opposite to the time when the first rotating body 31 is adjusted by the driving means 34 while the second rotating body 32 is braked by the brake means 35. Next, each driven gear 343 is advanced in the axial direction in a state where the braking of the second rotating body 32 by the brake means 35 is released, and each driven gear 343 is moved to the tooth portion 32c of the second rotating body 32. Engage.
[0028]
By the way, the angle of deviation of the rotating bodies 31 and 32 with respect to the reference phase at the time of toe adjustment is a maximum of α + β + γ, and even if the first rotating body 31 is rotated back by an angle of α + β as described above, There is a possibility that the phase of the first rotating body 31 is shifted by γ from the reference phase. In addition, the clamp arm 36 may engage with the tool engaging portion C3 before reaching the clamp position. In this case as well, when the first rotary body 31 is rotated back by an angle of α + β, the first rotary body 32 with respect to the second rotary body 32 is rotated. The phase of the rotator 31 is shifted from the reference phase. Here, if the pitch angle of the tooth portions 31c, 32c of the first and second rotating bodies 31, 32 is θ, and the deviation angle from the reference phase to the tenth side or one side is smaller than θ / 2, the first By engaging the driven gear 343 with the tooth portion 32c of the two-rotating body 32, it is possible to eliminate the deviation from the reference phase. On the other hand, if the deviation angle from the reference phase is larger than θ / 2, the deviation angle with respect to the reference phase becomes θ by engaging the driven gear 343 with the tooth portion 32c. However, since the clamp arm 36 is held at the unclamped position in a range where the deviation angle with respect to the reference phase is equal to or smaller than α, the clamp arm 36 does not swing leftward from the unclamped position even when the deviation angle becomes θ. In the present embodiment, α, β, γ, and θ are set to 10 °, 11 °, 3 °, and 12 °, respectively, and the clamp arm 36 is inserted into the insertion groove 31b of the first rotating body 31 even if θ is deviated from the reference phase. So that it does not protrude into the groove width.
[0029]
When engagement of the driven gear 343 with the tooth portion 32c of the second rotator 32 is confirmed by a signal from the laser distance measuring device 38, the first rotator 31 is then rotated by the driving means 34 to thereby return to the origin phase. Return to. Next, the driven gear 343 is retracted to be detached from the tooth portion 32c of the second rotating body 32. In this state, the wrench body 1 is pulled in the direction opposite to the opening direction of the notches 20c and 30c, and the open end wrench is connected to the tie rod. Remove from C. Here, when returning the first rotator 31 to the origin phase, the second rotator 32 is also rotated integrally via the driven gear 343, so that the phase shift of the second rotator 32 with respect to the first rotator 31 is caused. It is possible to reliably prevent the clamp arm 36 from protruding into the groove width of the insertion groove 31b. Accordingly, the open-end wrench can be smoothly detached from the tie rod C without causing the clamp arm 36 to be caught with respect to the tool engaging portion C3. Even when the phase of the second rotator 32 is shifted from the reference phase by θ with respect to the first rotator 31, when the open end wrench is detached from the tie rod C, the side edge of the insertion groove 32b of the second rotator 32 is formed. The tool engagement portion C3 is brought into sliding contact, the deviation of the second rotating body 32 from the reference phase is corrected, and the open-end wrench can be removed without any trouble.
[0030]
In the above embodiment, the bottoms of the insertion grooves 31b and 32b of the first and second rotating bodies 31 and 32 are formed in a semicircular shape having a larger diameter than the circumscribed circle of the cross-sectional shape of the tool engaging portion C3. as another embodiment, the bottom of the insertion groove 32b of the second rotating member 32, the at circumscribed circle and equal diameter may be formed in semicircular the axis O concentric clamping in the rotational direction after the position arm 36 Thus, the tool engagement portion C3 can be gripped concentrically with the axis O in a state where the tool engagement portion C3 is sandwiched between the bottom portion of the insertion groove 32b. In this case, the work guide 33 is unnecessary.
[0031]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, even if the accuracy of the cam mechanism is rough, the tool engaging portion can be gripped concentrically with the axis of both rotating bodies, and the workpiece can be rotated smoothly. The cost can be reduced compared to a conventional open-end wrench that requires high-precision machining of three pairs of cam surfaces.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the open end wrench of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a left side view of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a right side view of FIG. 1. FIG. 5] Cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 1 [FIG. 6] Cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 1 [FIG. 7] Cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. FIG. 9 is a graph showing the relationship between the relative rotation angle of both the first and second rotating bodies and the swing angle of the clamp arm. FIG. 10A. Swing the clamp arm to the clamp position. The figure which shows the position of the contact edge at the time of contact, (B) The figure which shows the engagement state of the contact edge with respect to the tool engagement part. [FIG. 11] (A) The figure which shows the holding | grip state of a tool engagement part. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an intermediate state before gripping the tool engaging portion in a phase different from that in FIG. 10A. FIG. 12C is a diagram showing the gripping state of the tool engaging portion. FIG. ] Side view of the main part of a conventional open-end wrench [Explanation of symbols]
C Tie rod (workpiece) C3 Tool engaging part 1 Wrench body 30 Fixed casing (tip part of wrench body)
31 First Rotating Body 32 Second Rotating Body 33 Work Guide 31b, 32b, 33a Insertion Groove 34 Drive Means 35 Brake Means 36 Clamp Arm 36b Contact Side

Claims

And engaging the tool engagement portion having a hexagonal cross section of the shaft-like workpiece (C3) A method of using an open-end wrench to forward and reverse the workpiece, the open-end wrench,
Is rotatably supported coaxially (O) around the tip (30) of the wrench body (1), having the tool engagement portion (C3) can be inserted radially insertion grooves (31b, 32 b) First and second rotating bodies (31, 32);
The first rotating body (31), are positioned on both sides a pair clamp arm of which is swingably supported in the groove width direction of the insertion groove (31b) of the insertion groove of the first rotating body (31b) (36)
When inserting groove (31b, 32 b) of said second rotary member (32) with respect to the first rotating body (31) of both rotary bodies (31, 32) was reverse rotation from matching phase, both clamp arms A cam mechanism (37) for swinging (36) to a predetermined clamping position inward in the groove width direction;
The first rotating body (31) forward reversed to drive means (34),
And brake means (35) for braking said second rotary member (32),
The wrench body (1) has an insertion groove (33a) fixed to the tip (30) of the wrench main body (1) and capable of inserting the tool engagement portion (C3) in the radial direction, and the bottom of the insertion groove (33a) and a said axis at equal radial and circumscribed circle of the cross section (O) and concentric semicircular the formed work guide (33) of the tool engaging portion (C3),
Said open-end wrench is engaged with the tool engaging portion (C3) of the shaft-like workpiece, the clamp arm (36) of said pair when allowed to swing in the clamping position, the tool engaging portion (C3 ) abutting edges of both the clamp arm (36) with respect to (36b) is, the insertion groove of said axis with the circumscribed circle and equal diameter (O) and in concentric circles (S), said first rotating body (31) ( of the groove width direction on both sides of the strings 31b), said insertion groove (31b) center line (T) relative to said insertion groove (31b) toward the open end side groove width direction of the insertion groove (31b) of the The distance (L1) between the intersections on the opening end side of the insertion groove (31b) between the circle (S) and the strings on both sides is the opposite side of the cross-sectional shape of the tool engaging portion (C3) O, which comprises using manner to match the larger predetermined chord than the distance (L2) between How to use the down-end wrench.

And engaging the tool engagement portion having a hexagonal cross section of the shaft-like workpiece (C3) A method of using an open-end wrench to forward and reverse the workpiece, the open-end wrench,
Is rotatably supported coaxially (O) around the tip (30) of the wrench body (1), having the tool engagement portion (C3) can be inserted radially insertion grooves (31b, 32 b) First and second rotating bodies (31, 32);
The first rotating body (31), are positioned on both sides a pair clamp arm of which is swingably supported in the groove width direction of the insertion groove (31b) of the insertion groove of the first rotating body (31b) (36)
When inserting groove (31b, 32 b) of said second rotary member (32) with respect to the first rotating body (31) of both rotary bodies (31, 32) was reverse rotation from matching phase, both clamp arms A cam mechanism (37) for swinging (36) to a predetermined clamping position inward in the groove width direction;
The first rotating body (31) forward reversed to drive means (34),
And a brake means (35) for braking said second rotary member (32),
Said insertion groove of the second rotary member (32) (32b), the tool engagement portion (C3) of said at equal diameter and circumscribed circle of the cross section axis (O) and a bottom portion formed in a semicircular concentric Have
Said open-end wrench is engaged with the tool engaging portion (C3) of the shaft-like workpiece, the clamp arm (36) of said pair when allowed to swing in the clamping position, the tool engaging portion (C3 ) abutting edges of both the clamp arm (36) with respect to (36b) is, the insertion groove of said axis with the circumscribed circle and equal diameter (O) and in concentric circles (S), said first rotating body (31) ( of the groove width direction on both sides of the strings 31b), said insertion groove (31b) center line (T) relative to said insertion groove (31b) toward the open end side groove width direction of the insertion groove (31b) of the The distance (L1) between the intersections on the opening end side of the insertion groove (31b) between the circle (S) and the strings on both sides is the opposite side of the cross-sectional shape of the tool engaging portion (C3) O, which comprises using manner to match the larger predetermined chord than the distance (L2) between How to use the down-end wrench.