US3191465A

US3191465A - Ratchet device

Info

Publication number: US3191465A
Application number: US333577A
Authority: US
Inventors: Earl B Parker
Original assignee: Ingersoll Rand Co
Current assignee: Ingersoll Rand Co
Priority date: 1963-12-26
Filing date: 1963-12-26
Publication date: 1965-06-29
Anticipated expiration: 1982-06-29

Description

June 29, 1965 E. B. PARKER 3,

RATCHET DEVICE Filed Dec. 26, 1963 INVENTOR. EARL B. PARKER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,191,465 RATCHET DEVICE Earl B. Parker, Plainfield, N.J., assignor to Ingersoll- Rand Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Dec. 26, 1963, Ser. No. 333,577 2 Claims. (Cl. 81-5235) This invention relates to ratchet devices and more particularly to an improved Wrench.

Heretofore, it has been known that ratchet wrenches when connected to a rotary impacting device, an arm or means would be present in the ratchet to translate the rotary motion to reciprocating motion. It was found that the means for translating the rotary motion to reciprocating motion would not perform properly when it was connected to a high speed tool.

It had been thought that a most desirable and convenient ratchet wrench could be utilized with an impact tool such as the Ingersoll-Rand Impactutter, wherein the tool itself delivers a reciprocating mot-ion rather than a rotary motion. This cooperation of tool and accessory would be most desirable since a more compact accessory could be utilized with a minimum of moving parts.

It is the general object of the present invention to avoid and overcome the foregoing and other difiiculties of and objections to prior art practices by the provision of study and-reliable ratchet wrench.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet device which may be connected to a power tool providing reciprocating motion.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet device which is more compact than those heretofore used.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet device which is reversible thereby allowing the device to both tighten and loosen fastening means.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet device utilizing a minimum number of parts thereby eliminating malfunctions.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet device which may be used in conjunction with high speed power tools.

The aforesaid objects of the present invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing a ratchet device for providing rotary motion at one end thereof in response to reciprocating movement from a power tool connected thereto. A frame is provided having one end adapted to be connected to the output end of the power tool, and having a ratchet disposed in the other end of the frame. The ratchet has a hole therein to accept a fastening means and an elongated means extends between the power tool and the ratchet to transmit the reciprocating motion of the power tool to the ratchet. A pawl is connected to the frame and is in contact with the ratchet and a resilient means is connected to the elongated means to bias the elongated means in the direction of the power tool.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein line numerals of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a representation of the ratchet device as connected to a power tool,

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the ratchet device and a portion of the power tool, and

FIGURE 3 is an exploded view of the point of connection between the anvil and push rod.

Although the principles of the present invention are broadly applicable to ratchet devices the present invention is particularly adapted for use in conjunction with ratchet wrenches as connected to power tools having a reciprocating motion at its power delivery end, and hence it has been so illustrated and will be so described.

With specific reference to the form of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, and referring particulariy to FIG. 2, a ratchet device is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10.

In order to use the ratcheting device 10, a power tool 12 which delivers a reciprocating motion at its power delivery end 14 is provided. The power tool 12 has a barrel 16 and is provided with' a reduced end portion 18 to which the ratching device may be connected.

' Structurally, the' power tool 12 has within the barrel 16 a reciprocating piston 20 which is driven in a manner Well known to those skilled in the art such that a reciprocating action is present at the power delivery end 14 and the reduced end portion 18 of the barrel 16.

structurally, the ratcheting device 10 is housed within a frame 22 which has ratchet end 24 and a coupling end 26. The ratchet end 24 is rotatably connected to the coupling end 26 such that the ratchet end 24 may be rotater when it is so desired.

The rear end 28 of the coupling end 26 of the frame 22 is connected to the reduced end portion 18 of the barrel, and is held thereon in a fixed position. The means for attaching the coupling end 26 to the barrel 16 is Well known to those skilled in the art and may be accomplished by threadably mounting the coupling end 26, or by using a keying means.

As shown in FIGURE 2 the coupling end 26 is gen erally shaped like a cup having its open end or rear end 28 engaging the reduced end portion 18 of the barrel 16; The front end is provided with an aperture 39 through which an extended portion 32 of the ratcheting end 24 may fit. The extended portion 32 is provided with a retainer ring 34 so that the ratchet end cannot be separated from the coupling end 26 and yet the ratchet end 24 may be rotated in relation to the fixed coupling end 26. In this connection a retaining ring 34 may be used, or in its place, a plurality of lugs (not shown).

One convenient method of transmitting the reciprocating motion of the piston 20 to the ratchet end 24 of the frame 22 is to provide an anvil 38 which extends through the coupling end 26 of the frame 22 into the barrel 16 of the power tool 12. The anvil 38 also extends into the ratchet end 24 of the frame 22, so that the impacts of the piston 20 on anvil 38 will be transmitted into the ratchet end 24. The end 40 of the anvil 38 which extends iuto the ratchet end 24 is provided with a concave shape such that a push rod 42, held against the end 40 of the anvil the end of which has a convex shape, will be capable of moving transverse to the axis of the anvil 318 and push rod 40, thereby providing a pivot point 44 for the push rod 40.

As shown in FIGURE 2, the push rod 42 is provided with a post 46 which may be permanently thereto afiixed in in a manner well known to those skilled in the art.

In order to return the push rod 42 and anvil 38 to its position after such have been longitudinally displaced by the piston 20, a spring 48 is-connected between the post 46 and a point 50 rearward of the post 46. Consequently when the piston 20 strikes the anvil 38, the anvil 38 moves forward pushing the push rod 42 forward, and expanding the spring 48. After the blow has been struck and the piston 2h withdraws from anvil 38 the spring 48 will urge the push rod 42 and anvil 38 back toward the piston 20.

In order to limit the forward and rearward excursion of the anvil 38, the anvil 38 is provided with a flared portion 51 which is larger than the opening 52 through which the anvil 38 is fitted within the barrel 16 of the power tool 12. As shown in FIGURE 2 the forward excursion is limited by the contact of the flared portion 51 of the anvil 38 when it contacts the extended portion 32.

At the front of the ratchet end 24 of the frame 22 there is provided a ratchet 56 and holding pawl 54 arrangement which is well known to those skilled in the art. The center 58 of ratchet is provided with an opening 60 which accommodates the head of a fastening means such as a bolt (not shown) and in fact may be fitted with various fastening and loosening devices such as a screwdriver, reamer, and the like.

One convenient manner of rotating the ratchet 56 in one direction as shown by the arrow in FIGURE 2 is to provide the push rod 42 with a rounded point 62 such that the rounded point 62 fits into the space 64 between the teeth 66 of the ratchet 56. The holding pawl 54 is also provided with an element 68 which has a rounded point 70 that fits between teeth 66 and allows rotation of the ratchet 56 in one direction (as shown by the arrow) and prevents rotation in the opposite direction.

It may be seen therefore that when the piston 20 strikes the anvil 38, the anvil 38 will move forward, toward the ratchet 56, forcing the push rod 42 to move in the same direction. As the pushrod 42 moves forward the rounded point 62 fitted in the space 64 between the teeth 66 will force the ratchet 56 to rotate in the direction of the arrow. It should be noted that as the push rod 42 rotates the ratchet, the front end of the push rod moves forwardly and downwardly due to the rotation of the ratchet. This downward movement is not deleterious to the life of the push rod 42 because the push rod will pivot slightly about the pivot point 44 between the anvil 38 and push rod 42.

After the push rod 42 has rotated the ratchet 56, the spring 48 will pull the push rod 42 backwardly thereby forcing the anvil backwardly so that the anvil 38 is ready to accept the next blow of the piston 20. Further, the rounded point 62 is now in the space 64 one tooth back of its preceding position on the ratchet 56.

Since the push rod 42 pivots about the pivot point 44 there will be no fatiguing of the push rod 42 because the push rod 42 is not exposed to continuous flexing, as would be the case in the anvil v38 and push rod 42 were one piece.

Furthermore, as previously stated, the ratchet end 24 may be rotated 180 so that the ratchet 56 may be used for both tightening and loosening a fastening device (not shown) It will be recognized by those skilled in the art that the objects of the present invention have been achieved by providing a ratchet device which is compact and sturdy, while employing a minimum number of par-ts for translating the reciprocating motion of a power tool to rotational movement of a ratchet.

While in accordance with the patent statutes a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

I claim:

1. A ratchet attachment for connection to a reciprocatory power tool to provide rotary movement of a ratchet socket in response to reciprocatory movement from the output end of said power tool comprising:

(a) a frame havinga rear end portion adapted for dezl'i.

tachable connection to said output end of said power tool and a front end portion carried by said rear end portion for one-hundred and eighty degree rotation thereon for allowing the ratchet attachment to be used for both tightening and loosening a rotatably adjustable fastening means;

(b) a ratchet socket carried by said front end portion of said frame and rotatable thereto;

(c) said ratchet socket including circumferentially disposed teeth and having an opening therein for receiving said rotatably adjustable fastening means;

(d) an anvil carried. by said rear end portion of said frame and having an end extending into said output end of said power tool to be longitudinally displaced thereby;

(e) a rod carried by said front end portion of said frame in longitudinal alignment with said anvil to be longitudinally displaced thereby upon longitudinal displacement of said anvil;

(f) an end of one of said anvil and said rod having a convexly curved surface and the adjacent cooperating end of the other of said anvil and said rod having a coneavely curved surface ensuring longitudinal alignment of said anvil and said rod when said front end portion of said frame is rotated one-hundred and eighty degrees on said rear end portion thereof;

(g) said rod having a finger portion adjacent its end opposite to that having said curved surface and engaging said teeth upon said ratchet socket to trans mit reciprocating movement of said power tool into limited unidirectional movement of said ratchet socket upon longitudinal displacement of said rod;

(h) a pawl upon said front end portion of said frame engaging said ratchet socket and restraining rotary movement thereof in a direction opposite to the rotary movement provided by said rod; and

(i) resilient means connected to said rod and urging such away from said ratchet socket.

2. A ratchet attachment according to claim 1 wherein said rear end portion of said frame is threaded to said output end of said power tool .and said anvil carries a circumferential projection which cooperates with said output end of said power tool and said frame to limit longitudinal movement of said anvil on said frame.

References (Fited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 6,817 12/75 Dean. 2,086,261 7/37 Douglass 81--52.3 2,119,968 6/38 Shah" 8l52.3 X 2,210,811 8/40 Kelpsch.

FOREIGN PATENTS 662,409 12/51 Great Britain. 271,901 2/ 30 Italy.

OTHER REFERENCES I 7464, Ib/87b, 10/56, German printed application.

WILLIAM FELDMAN, Primary Examiner.

MILTON S. MEHR, Examiner.

Claims

1. A RATCHET ATTACHMENT FOR CONNECTION TO A RECIPROCATORY POWER TOOL TO PROVIDE ROTARY MOVEMENT OF A RATCHET SOCKET IN RESPONSE TO RECIPROCATORY MOVEMENT FROM THE OUTPUT END OF SAID POWER TOOL COMPRISING: (A) A FRAME HAVING A REAR END PORTION ADAPTED FOR DETACHABLE CONNECTION TO SAID OUTPUT END OF SAID POWER TOOL AND A FRONT END PORTION CARRIED BY SAID REAR END PORTION FOR ONE-HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DEGREE ROTATION THEREON FOR ALLOWING THE RATCHET ATTACHMENT TO BE USED FOR BOTH TIGHTENING AND LOOSENING A ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE FASTENING MEANS; (B) A RATCHET FASTENING MEANS; OF SAID FRAME AND ROTATABLE THERETO; (C) SAID RATCHET SOCKET INCLUDING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY DISPOSED TEETH AND HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN FOR RECEIVING SAID ROTATABLY ADJUSTABLE FASTENING MEANS; (D) AN ANVIL CARRIED BY SAID REAR END PORTION OF SAID FRAME AND HAVING AN END EXTENDING INTO SAID OUTPUT END OF SAID POWER TOOL TO BE LONGITUDINALLY DISPLACED THEREBY; (E) A ROD CARRIED BY SAID FRONT END PORTION OF SAID FRAME IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID ANVIL TO BE LONGITUDINALLY DISPLACED THEREBY UPON LONGITUDINAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ANVIL; (F) AN END OF ONE OF SAID ANVIL AND SAID ROD HAVING A CONVEXLY CURVED SURFACE AND THE ADJACENT COOPERATING END OF THE OTHER OF SAID ANVIL AND SAID ROD HAVIN A CONCAVELY CURVED SURFACE ENSURING LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT OF SAID ANVIL AND SAID ROD WHEN SAID FRONT END PORTION OF SAID FRAME IS ROTATED ONE-HUNDRED AND EIGHTY DEGREES ON SAID REAR END PORTION THEREOF; (G) SAID ROD HAVING A FINGER PORTION ADJACENT ITS END OPPOSITE TO THAT HAVING SAID CURVED SURFACE AND ENGAGING SAID TEETH UPON AND RATCHET SOCKET TO TRANSMIT RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT OF SAID POWER TOOL INTO LIMITED UNIDIRECTIONAL MOVEMENT OF SAID RATCHET SOCKET UPON LONGITUDINAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID ROD; (H) A PAWL UPON SAID FRONT END PORTION OF SAID FRAME ENGAGING SAID RATCHET SOCKET AND RESTRAINING ROTARY MOVEMENT THEREOF IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE ROTARY MOVEMENT PROVIDED BY SAID ROD; AND (I) RESILIENT MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ROD AND URGING SUCH AWAY FROM SAID RATCHET SOCKET.