US1903297A - Ratchet wrench - Google Patents

Description

April 4, 1933.

R. Bf PATTERSON RATCHET WRENCH Filed Oct. 25, 1930 Patented Apr. 4, 1.933

UNITED STATES PATENT ol-Flclal RICHARD B. PATTERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE AS,- SIGNMENTS, OF ONE-HALF TO PANSY H. MILLER, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND ONE- HALF TO H @c E STANDARD' AUTO PARTS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A :PARTNERSHIP` COMPOSED 0F FRANK S. HEIMBACH AND HAROLD J'. ELLSWORTH RATCHET WRENCH Application led October 25, 1930.

This invention relates to improvements in ratchet wrenches. One object is to provide a ratchet wrench which may be instantly adj usted to cause right or left hand rotation. A. further object is to provide a ratchet or socket Wren ch that is very simple in construction, of few parts, positive and efficient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Vvlith the foreOoing and other objects in View the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts to be herein.- after fully described, pointed out in the claim and illustrated in the accompanying drawing which forms a part of this application for patent and in which- Fig. 1 is a face view of a wrench embodying the present invention.

F ig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the wrench in side elevation.

Fig. 8 is an inverted face view of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4: is a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the chuck or head and work engaging member in section.

Figs. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views taken, respectively, upon the lines 5 5 and 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The present tool comprises a handle to one end of which a chuck is adjustably and releasably secured, the chuck carrying a rotary work engaging member which may be caused to rotate in one or the other direction accor-ding to the adjustment of the chuck with respect to the handle, the handle having one double-shouldered end, the shoulders thereof being alternately or selectively adapted for frictional engagement with the work engaging member whereby the direction of rotation thereof is determined.

The reference numeral 1 denotes the elongated handle which is preferably tapered slightly from its widest point 2 to its free end 3 which may be formed with the perforation 4 to permit the tool to be suspended from a hook or like support when not in use. The handle at its opposite end is formed with the oppositely disposed marginal straight shoulders 5, 6 connected by the plane edge or end 7. Spaced inwardly from the end 7 of Serial No. 491,204.

the handle the same is formed with the deep recess or cavity 8 for the small expansion coil spring 9 adapted to serve as a seat for the tiny ball 10 which is of such diameter as to permit it to snugly enter said recess, said handle being formed further, between said cavity 8l and end 7, with the perforation 11 through which the screw 12a extends that pivotally connects said handle to the parallel spaced ears 12, 13 between which said handle is received, said ears being integral with the hollow chuck or head 14, the perforation 15 in the ear 13'being threaded for engagement with the threads of the screw 12a, the perforation in the ear 12 being nonthreaded. The chuck is formed with a peripheral slot 13a of greater ext-ent than the width of the handle end to provide clearance for the same to engage the work engaging member to be hereinafter described.

The ear 12 is of greater length than the ear 13 and at its free end is formed with the adjacent cavities 16, 17 arranged in the circumference of a circle the center of which would be the handle perforation 11, said cavities being adapted to interchangeably receive the ball 10 whereby the ear 12 is releasably locked in adjusted position relative to the handle.

The chuck 14: is formed with one lateral face 18 having a central circular perforation 19 therein, the opposite side or face of said chuck being open to receive the rotary work engaging spool shaped member 20 formed upon one face with the boss 21 received in the said perforation 19, said spool being formed also with the large or wide flange 22 and with the narrow iange 23 between which members is the tread of the spool adapted for engagement with either of the shoulders 5, 6 of the handle. The spool is formed, further, with the stud 24, square in cross section or end elevation projecting from one end face and adapted for insertion in the socket or cavity of the work to be rotated or actuated.

When the ball l0 is seated in the cavity 16, as shown in Fig. 6, the shoulder 5 is in frictional engagement with the tread of the spool and eifectually'prevents rotation of the same in one direction so that when the stud is applied to the work it will move it in one direction. By manually moving the chuck and ears into such position that the ball 10 Will be disposed in the cavity 17 as shown in Fig. l the shoulder 6 is in frictional engagement with the tread of the spool and effectually prevents rotation of the same, with the stud, in the opposite direction. The shoulders 5, 6 also prevent lateral displacement of the spool member through Contact With the ianges thereof. Thus it is obvious that the Wrench may be employed to rotate the work in either a right or left hand direction and that the setting of the tool or changing of the same from right to left or vice versa is instantaneous.

While the preferred form and arrangement of the various elements comprising the Wrench have been shown and described, it Will be understood that the invention is susceptible of considerable modification Without departing from the essential feature or sacriicing any of the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed is In a ratchet Wrench, a hollow chuck open at one end and at its other end provided With an annular flange defining a central opening, an annular Wall for the chuck being formed with an opening, a spool in said chuck rotatable therein and having fianges at its ends fitting snugly in the chuck with one flangeclosing the open end of the chuck, ears extending from said chuck above and below the opening in the marginal Wall, one ear being longer than the other, a handle having its front end litting between said ears, a fastener extending through the ears and handle to pivotally mount the handle, the front end of the handle being cut straight across t0 form a flat end face and having its corners cut diagonally to form flat corner faces intersecting ends of the end face and forming teeth to be selectively moved into gripping engagement with the marginal face of the spool between its flanges by rocking the handle upon its pivot7 the longer arm being formed with recesses in its inner face spaced from each other transversely thereof and a latch carried by said handle to engage in said recesses and releasably secure the handle in a set position with a desired tooth in engagement with the spool.

In testimony that claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature.

RICHARD B. PATTERSON.

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