US2288217A

US2288217A - Double ratchet wrench

Info

Publication number: US2288217A
Application number: US353287A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edmund C Trautman
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-08-19
Filing date: 1940-08-19
Publication date: 1942-06-30
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-30

Description

Patented June 30, 1942 UNITED STliTfliS :PATENT QFFICE 2,288,21? boum-'E RA'ronr Wannen Edmund CQTrautman, Seattle, Wash. Ape'ucatin Aug-ust 19, 1940, semi No; 353,287

z claims. (o1. sig-57) My invention fastest@ new and useful imprvefnents 'in tvrenenes..

An nptatbjct-ofiy invencin is to pfovide a wrench that lilas provision for rapidly rotating a Vspindle on whicha socket is adapted to be detacliably mounted fv vhereby relatively loose nuts, screws, or bolts may be tightened.

y Another object of "Inv invention is to provide a wrench that includes means for tightening a nut after the same has been vthreaded onto the bolt, which wrench requires no adjustment to render the tightening Ymeans operative after the st means has been used to initially thread the 'nut or bolt'into the tightening position.

Still another object'of my invention is to pro'- vide a wrench of the abovegmntioned character that operates withequal efficacy for unthreading the nut or bolt `vvhich'ur'ithreading' operation requires no adjiisting or'intchangin'g of the parts of the wrench.v l Y VOther objects and advantages'- of my invention, will be apparent during the 'course of the following description.

1n the drawing, renting part of this jspecii cation, and wherein like 'numerals are vernployed to designate like partstlirougliout the Same,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a wrench embodying my invention taken on the bodiment of my invention, the numeral I designates a body for receiving the operating parts of the v"wrench, which lodS7 comprises an elongated handle portion II provided at one end with an enlarged integral head portion I2. In side elevation, the side walls I2 and I3 of the head diverge outwardly from the handle, which outwardly diverging sides are connected by an integral arcuate end wall I3. In plan, the substantially knob-like head thus formed is provided with flat rear and front surfaces I4 and I5, which face I5 tapers outwardly from the body, as at I6, to provide an essentially thick front wall I1. The front wall I5, side walls I2' and I3' and end wall I3 of the body are preferably formed integrally while the rear wall I4 is in the nature of a panel xedly secured within the side fro and end walls and ush with the edges thereof. 55

by the 'partition opens through the distal end of the handle land the other end thereof registers tangentially with an essentially circular opening '2| dened by the end Wall I3 and the last-mentioned end of the partition 23.

A spindle 22 extendsthrough the head at substantially the radius at the curved end I3 and the vessentially thick front wall Il of the head is formedwith a recess 24 which centrally receives the spindle. rlhe opening 2i accommodates a 'sprocket gear 25v which is loosely mounted for independent rotation about the spindle. rhe end of the partition 'confronting the sprocket is provided l'with a medial arcuate recess 26 which opens into the opening 2l and embraces the teeth of the sprocket gear.

The portion of the spindleextending through the sprocket is 'provided with a plurality of circunferentially spaced ratchet teeth 2l which are milled or otherwise cut into the periphery of the spindle. The 'sprocket is formed with a recess 2B which extends from and opens into the central spindle receiving bore and the spring Ypressed dog 23 is pivotally mounted therein to "engage With the ratchet teeth 2l.

Engagement of the dog with the ratchet teeth holds the 'sprocket xedly connected to the spindle when the handle is rotated about the spindle in the direction of the arrow in Figure 4. Conversely, if the handle is rotated about the spindle in a direction opposed to the direction indicated by the arrow, the dog 29 Will ratchet over the teeth 21 so that the spindle will not be rotated.

The chain 30 extends around the sprocket and has its ends received within the passages I8 and I9. The end 3| thereof disposed within the upper passage I8 is pivotally connected to one end of a rod 32, the other end of the rod being connected to the closed end 33 of a sleeve 34. The sleeve slidably receives the handle of the body and, when the sleeve is reciprocated relative to the body handle, the chain is caused to travel back and forth in the passages.

Thus, when the handle is in the full line position illustrated in Figure l, the free end 35 of the chain will extend substantially all the way into the lower passage I9 and the guide 36 pivotally secured thereto will be disposed in abutting relation with the end 31 of the passage. If, however, the sleeve is moved to the dotted line position of Figure 1, the rod 32 will be substantially entirely retracted from the passage I8 and the end 3l of the chain will be moved to substantially the outer end of the passage. 'I'he lower end thereof will thus be caused to move substantially forwardly within the lower passage and by reason of the interengagement of the chain and sprocket, the sprocket will be caused to rotate. When the sleeve is being pulled outwardly from the handle to rotate the sprocket, the dog 29 will engage one of the ratchet teeth 21 whereby rotation of the sprocket will eiect the rotation of the spindle. When the sleeve is pushed onto the handle, the reversely moving chain will also effect rotation of the sprocket; however, the return rotation will not be transmitted to the spindle for the reason that the dog will move easily over the ratchet teeth 21.

The recess 24 receives the gear 38 which is fast on the spindle. The dog 39 is pivoted to the body by the bolt 44 in a manner whereby the free end thereof will be normally held in engagement with the teeth of the gear by the coil spring 40. The dog inclines downwardly from its pivot to engage the teeth of the gear in a manner whereby it will ratchet freely over the teeth when the handle is rotated about the spindle in a direction opposed to the direction of the arrow in Figure 4. If, however, the handle is rotated in the direction of the arrow, the dog will engage the teeth of the gear to connect the spindle to the body and to effect direct rotation therebetween. The ends 4| and 42 of the spindle Ythe bolt or screw which is to be loosely threaded on a nut or into an object and the sleeve 34 is rapidly reciprocated. At each outstroke of the sleeve the chain will effect rotation of the sprocket and the dog 29 will connect the sprocket with the spindle whereby the socket or screw driver attachment will be rapidly rotated. The rotation of the spindle during the outstroke of the sleeve will cause the dog 39 to ratchet' lfreely over the teeth of the gear 38. During the instroke of the sleeve the sprocket gear will again be rotated, however, the dog 29 will freely move over the ratchet teeth 21 whereby rotation of the socket or screw driver attachment at theI end of the spindle will not be eifected.

Reciprocation of the sleeve will thus permit the nut or screw to be rapidly rotated onto the bolt or into the mentioned object. As soon as the nut or screw begins to bind and reciprocaitself may be rotated about the spindle. The extending handle and sleeve offer substantial leverage and movement of the wrench in a direction to further tighten the bolt will cause the dog 39 to engage between adjacent teeth of the gear 38. Thus, further rotation of the body above the spindle will connect the body to the spindle and effect rotation of the socket.

It is not necessary that any parts be changed or adjusted when the wrench is converted from a rapid operating to a slow operating wrench. For rapid operation the body is held stationary and the sleeve is reciprocated, and for slow heavy duty the body and sleeve together are moved angularly about the spindle. 'Ihis simplicity of construction and operation is highly desirable in that there are comparatively few working parts to become broken or damaged. The wrench may be inexpensively manufactured and it is characterized by substantial practical utility when used under conditions where speed and dependability are of paramount importance.

It is to b e understood, that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of my invention, or scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a wrench, a body having guideways, a spindle mounted for rotation within the body at one end of the guideways, a sprocket loosely mounted on the spindle, a ratchet coupling the sprocket to the spindle, a chain connecting with the sprocket and having its ends received within the said guideways, reciprocative means carried by the body and connecting with one end of the chain, a gear fixed to the shaft, and a pawl coupling the gear to the body, both said ratchet and said pawl overriding their respective gears when the spindle is rotated in one direction.

2. In a wrench, an elongated body, a spindle formed with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ratchet teeth for a portion of its length mounted for rotation at one end of said body, a reeiprocative sleeve mounted at the other end of the said body, a gear loosely mounted on the spindle to cover the ratchet teeth, said gear having an inner recess opening against the ratchet teeth, a chain extending over the loose gear and connecting at one end with the said sleeve, a ratchet mounted within the gear recess for coupling the said gear and spindle, when the gear is rotated in one direction, a second gear xedly mounted on the spindle, and a pawl coupling the last gear and body.

EDMUND C. TRAUTMAN.