US2206802A

US2206802A - Wrench

Info

Publication number: US2206802A
Application number: US252459A
Authority: US
Inventors: Brenning Reuben
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1939-01-23
Filing date: 1939-01-23
Publication date: 1940-07-02
Anticipated expiration: 1957-07-02

Description

R. BRENNING July 2, 1940.

WRENCH Filed Jan. 23, 1939 vOQQbOOOOQOOO Feuba? B www@ - Patented July 2, 1940 UNITEDA STATES WRENCH Reuben Brenning, Cheyenne, Wyo. `Application January 23, 1939, Serial No. 252,459

, 7 Claims.

r'I'his invention relates to wrenches, and has particular reference to ratchet Wrenches.

The primary objects of the invention are, to provide a wrench having operating means which n 4may be oscillated to cause intermittent rotation `in one direction of the wrench head; to provide such a wrench which may also be operated by lateral swinging movement of the handle in the manner of the ordinary ratchet wrench and in l-o which, when so used, the forcesl automatically balance so that there is no tendency of the handle to rotate in the operators hand; and'to provide such a wrench whicir may be compactly constructed of few and simple parts, may be easily l5 and cheaply manufactured and assembled, and is particularly adapted and intended for easy and efficient operation on articles disposed in ex tremely inaccessible places.

In the accompanying drawing:

section, of the preferred embodiment of the invention; L y

Figure 2, a side elevation, also partly in section, of the device shown in Figure 1;

tion, of one of the vrings or rotary drive members of the preferred form of the invention;

`Figure 4, a detail top plan view of the wrench head or cylinder of the preferred embodiment of the invention; and,

Figure 5, a detail fragmentary view showing a lever or crank fitted into the socket of the 'operating handle.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying 35, drawing, thebody or housing or frame of the preferred embodiment of the invention in which the various moving parts, hereinafter described, are

housed or mounted consists of a gear case or housing I formed with a preferably cylindrical open ended cavity, said gear case I preferably being annular in shape, and a preferably substantially radially extending integral tubular handle casing or housing 3 carried by said gear. case I.

The bore of said tubular handle housing or cas- ;,5 ing 3 extends through the side of the gear case I,

opening into the cylindrical cavity or bore thereof. Preferably the axis of said handle casing 3 lies at right angles to, and medially intersects, the axis of the cylindrical cavity of casing I.

Said gear casing or case Iis formedat either end of its cylindrical gear cavity or bore with means such as radially inwardly extending axially spaced annular bearing shoulders 4 and 6. In the preferred form-of the invention the bottom shoulder `or abutment 4 is integral with the Figure 1 represents a top plan view, partly in` Figure 3, a detail top plan view, partly in seccase I, vwhile the top bearing shoulder or cover 6 is formed in a separate piece to be applied bysuitable means, such `as cooperating screwthreaded portions 29 formed on said cover 6 and said case I respectively, or by spot welding, after 6 the rest of the device has been assembled.

Journalledpreferably at its respective ends in said shoulders 4 and 6 so as ,to extend preferably coaxially through the cylindrical cavitied portion of casing I is a cylindrical wrench head i9 formed l0 with a wrench socket 23 preferably extending axially therethrough and being of square or any suitable cross-section, and provided on its exte-v rior curved sides with longitudinally extending integral ratchet teeth 2|, the ends of said teeth s lidably engaging `or* abutting against the inner faces of said annular shoulders 4 and 6 respec`` tively to prevent relative axial movement of said wrench head I9 in casing I.

Freely rotatably journalled in the gear case I in the annular space between the outside circumference of wrench head I9 and the radially inner wall of gear easel are a pair of rings or ring gears 8 preferably in free sliding contact 'with each other at their adjacent inner faces, their opposed outer faces being in sliding engagement with the respective inner faces of the annular bearing or retainershoulders 4 and 6 respectively, it being noted that said shoulders 4 and 6 serve to prevent axial movement both of the ring gears or Wheels 8 and of the wrench head I9` in said gear case I. In the preferred form of the invention the rings or wheels 8 are provided on their respective adjacent faces with sunken preferably bevelled gear teeth 2, said gear teeth 2 being cut into said rings 8 for only a portion, preferably about a third, of their respective circumferences. vThe remaining portions of the respective adjacent faces of said gears 8 are preferably formed fiat and smooth to slidably contact each other and in operation act as bearing surfaces.

Both of said gears or ring gears 8 of the preferred embodiment are provided with suitable ratchet dogs or pawls I5 having their free or operative ends disposed in the same direction of rotation to in operation engage ratchet teeth 2l of wrench head I9 to cause rotation thereof in that I direction, and to respectively disengage said teeth 2| during rotation of said gears 8 in the opposite 50 direction.

The ratchet pawls I5 ofthe preferred embodiment are each pivotally mounted at one end in cavities I3 formed in the radially inner sides of their respective rings or. ring gears 8, the free or 55 i operative ends of saidpawls I5 being resiliently pressed into operative engagement with said ratchet teeth 2l by any suitable means, such as small helical or coil springs I1 mounted in said cavities I3. v

The operating means of the invention preferably consists of an operating handle or shaft 5 freely rotatably journalled in tubular handle housing or casing 3 and terminating at its inner end with a preferably integral drive pinion I0. Pinion I0 extends redially into the cavitied portion of casing I between, and in mesh with, the toothed portions 2 of ring gears 8. Y

The outer or gripping end of said handle 5 preferably projects outward from said casing 3 for a substantial distance and if desired may be suitably knurled or roughened, as shown, to provide a comfortable hand grip for the operator. Also, said handle 5 if desired maybe formed at its outer end with suitable means such as an irregular or square cross-sectional crank socket 'I to removably receive the correspondingly shaped end or portion of a suitable lever or crank A, which may be employedto rotate or oscillate said handle 5 inorder to obtain powerful 'leverage and consequent ease of operation.

In order to prevent handle 5` from moving axially too far into the handle casing 3 so that drive pinion IIJ carried thereby jams the ring gearsor Wheels 8, it is desirable to provide means such as stop shoulders 9 and II on said handle 5 to abut against the end of handle casing 3 and shoulder I2 respectively of said casing.

Also, if desired, means such as a set screw 25 may be disposed through the side of handle casing 3 to extend into an annular groove 241 formed in handle 5 to prevent relative axial movement of said handle 5 in the opposite direction out of said casing 3, or such a set screw may be employed to prevent relative axial movement of vsaid handle 5 in either direction.

The device may be operated in either of two ways, as desired.

In one` method of operation, particularly adapted for use where the bolt or other article to be operated on is inaccessible, and it would not be practicable due to lack of room to operate in the manner of the usual ratchet wrench `by laterally swinging the handle 5, the operation is as follows:

The socket 23 of the wrench head I9 is `placed over the nut or bolt head or other article which is to be rotated or operated upon. ,Then the handle 5 is vibrated or oscillated, preferably by means of the lever or crank A.

Oscillation of the handle 5 and the drive pinion I8 carried thereby inmesh with ring gears 8 causes simultaneous oscillation in opposite directions of ring gears 8. Thus said rings or ring gears 8 are rotated or partially rotated or oscillated in opposite vdirections sc that the pawls I5 carried thereby will alternately engage ratchet teeth 2| of the wrench head I9 to cause intermittent rotation in one direction of said wrench head I9. y

Thus at all times during partial rotation or oscillation of the handle or shaft 5 in either direction one of said ring gears 8 is rotating in the proper direction with its pawl I5 in operative engagement with the wrench head I9 to rotate the same in that direction, while the other of said ring gears 8 is`rotating in the opposite direction with its pawl I5 disengaged.

It should be noted that in such operation by,

lateral swinging movement of the handle 5 the ring gears 8, due to the simultaneous engagement of their pawls I5 with wrench head I9, tend to rotate in opposition to each other, the opposed equal rotational forces or torques of said gears 8 balancing each other through or by means of the pinion I0 so that there is no tendency of the handle 5 to rotate in the operators hand.

It may be seen from. the foregoingY that the device of the present invention, while comprising only a few simple parts,` which may be easily and cheaply manufactured and assembled, is capable of several advantageous modes of operation, and is especially adapted for use in a very limited space.

While the construction of the embodimentillustrated is preferred, this however is simply by way of illustration of my invention and it is not essential that the parts be as illustrated.

. More in detail, it is not essential that the illustrated arrangement of pawls I5 and ratchet teeth 2| respectively carried by rings 8 and wrench head I9 be employed, it being suflicient if there be provided apart such as head I8 to -be rotated, elements such as rings 8 to be .oscillated, and means of interengagement between each of said elements and said part whereby the latter may be given an intermittent rotary movement in a single direction due to the alternate oscillations of said elements.

Similarly it is not necessary thatv either of the flanges or shoulders 4 or 6 be integral, or arranged as hereinbefore described. All that is required is. that some suitable means be employed to prevent axial movement of the rings 8 and wrench head I9 while permitting the latter t rotate.

Nor are the stop shoulders 9 and II, or either of them, essential to the successful operation of the device, though the provision of stop shoulder 9 is highly desired. Y

I claim:

1. A ratchet wrench comprising, a gear case A formed with an open ended cylindrical cavity, integral radially inwardly extending axially spaced annular bearing shoulders formed at the respective ends of said cavity, a radially extending integral tubular handle casing carried by said gear. case, the bore of said tubular handle casing opening medially axially into the cavity of said gear case, a cylindrical wrench head extending coaxially through the cavity of said gear case and journalled at its respective ends in said annular shoulders, longitudinally extending ratchet teeth being formed on the exterior curved face of -said wrench head and slidably engaging with their respective ends the axially spaced bearing shoulders of said gear case to prevent relative axial movement of said wrench head, in combination with a pair of axially aligned ring gears rotatably journalled in the cavity of said gear case between and in slidable engagement with the annular shoulders thereof and also in slidable 75 lll aaoaeoa their circumferences, the remaining portions of said :faces being smooth and in slidable contact with each other to act as bearingsurfaces, ratchet pawls carried by said respective ring gears, the'free ends of all of said pawls being disposed in the same direction of rotation to in operation engage said ratchet teeth to rotate said wrench" head in one direction, and means for simultaneously oscillating said gears in opposite direc- A`tions so that one of said gears is always moving in the proper direction to rotate said wrench head, comprising an operating handle journalled for oscillation in said tubular handle casing, and a bevelled drive pinion integral with the inne! end of said handle and extending radially into the cylindrical cavity of said gear case between and in mesh with the teeth of said ring gears.

2. A ratchet wrench comprising, Va gear case formed with an open ended cylindrical cavity, integral radially inwardly extending axially spaced annular bearing shoulders formed at the `respective ends of said cavity, a radially extending tubular handle casing integral with said gear case, the bore of said tubular handle casing opening medially axially into the cavity of said gear case, a cylindrical wrench head extending coaxially through the cavity of said gear case and journalled at its respective ends in said annular shoulders, and longitudinally extending ratchet teeth formed on the exterior curved face of said Wrench head, in combination with a pair of axially aligned ring gears rotatably journalled in the cavity of said gear case between and in slidable engagement with the annular shoulders thereof and also in slidable engagement with each other and extending coaxially about said wrench head, said ring gears being provided on their respective adjacent faces with smooth portions in slidable contact with eachother to act as bearing surfaces, and sunken gear toothedportions respectively maintained in spaced relationship by said bearing surfaces, ratchet pawls carried by said respective ring gears. the free ends of all of said pawls being disposed in the same direction of rotation to in operation engage said ratchet teeth to rotate said 4wrench head in one direction, and means for lsimultaneously oscillating said gears in opposite directions so that one of said gears is lalways moving in the proper direction to rotate said wrench head, comprising an operating handle journalled `for oscillation in said tubular handle casing, and a drive pinion integral with the inner end of said handle and extending radially into the cylindrical cav.- ity of said gear case .between and in mesh with said ring gears.

3. A ratchet wrench comprising, a gear case formed with a cylindrical cavity, radially vinwardly extending axially spaced bearing shoulders xedly disposed in said cavity, a tubular handle casing carried by said gear case, the bore of said handle casing opening into the cavity l of said gear case, and a cylindrical wrench head r extending coaxially through the cavity of said.V

gear case and journalled at its respective ends in said bearing shoulders, longitudinally extending ratchet teeth being formed on the exteriorand disposed coaxially about "said wrench headr said ring gears being provided with smooth bear-- ing portions in slidable contact with each other and sunken toothed portions respectivelymaintained in spaced relationship by said bearing portions, ratchet pawls carried by said respective ring gears, the free ends of all ofsaid pawls being disposed in the same direction of rotation to engage saidratchet teeth during. rotation o! their respective ring gears in that direction, and. means for simultaneously oscillating said gears in opposite directions comprising an operating handle journalled for oscillation in'said handle casing, and a drive pinion' carried by said handle and extending radially into `the cylindricalI cavity of said gear case between vand in mesh with said ring gears.

4. A ratchet wrench comprising, a gear case formed with a cylindrical cavity and a radially extending bore opening into saidcavity, a cylin- V' drical wrench head mounted for rotation in said cavity, andv ratchet teeth formed on said wrench head, in combination with a pair of axially aligned ring gears rotatably journalled in said gear case and disposed. coaxially about said wrench head, said ring gears being provided with) smooth bearing portions in slidable oo ntact with each other and spaced toothed portions, ratchet pawls carried by said respective ring gears, the'I free ends of all'of said pawls being disposed in the same direction of rotation to engage said ratchet teeth during rotation in that direction, and means for simultaneously oscillating said gears in opposite directions comprising an operating handle journalled for oscillation through said radially extending bore, and a drivek pinion carried by said handle and extending radially into the cylindrical cavity of said gear `case between and in mesh with said ring gears.

5. A ratchet wrench comprising, a wrench casing formed with a cavity and a bore opening into said cavity, a wrench head mounted for rota- Y tion in said cavity, and ratchet teeth formed on said wrench head, in combination with a pair ot ring gears rotatably journalled in said casing and disposed coaxially about said Wrench head, said ring gears being provided with opposed spaced.

adjacent faces with opposed spaced toothed portions and bearing portions slidably engaging each other to maintain said toothed portions in spaced relationship, and a drive pinion rotatably mount led between and in mesh with the toothed portions of said rings, in combination with a ro-l tatable nut engaging member mounted for rota-I tion vthrough said rings, and means carried byI said rings to alternately engage and rotate said member during oscillation of said rings.

'LA ratchet wrench comprising a gear case formed with an open ended` cylindrical cavity; radially inwardly extending bearing shoulders formed at the respective ends of said cavity, a cylindrical wrench head extending through said cavity and journalled at its respective ends in said bearing shoulders, and longitudinally extending ratchet teeth formed on the exterior. curved face of said wrench head and slidably engaging with their respective ends the axially spaced bearing shoulders of said gear case to prevent relative axial movement of said Wrench head, in combination with a pair of axially aligned ring gears rotatably journalled in the cavity of. said gear -case between and in slidable engage. ment with the annular shoulders thereof and also in slidable engagement with each other and.

extending coaxially about said wrench head, said ring gears being provided Aon their respective ad. jacentfaces with sunken gear teeth for a por-A tion of their circumferences, a bevelled drive pinion extending between and in' engagement with the gear toothed portions of said ring gearsr and ratchet pawls carried by said ring gears im engagement with the ratchet teeth of said wrench head. l

REUBEN BRENNING.