US3616714A

US3616714A - Rack and pinion squeeze action wrench

Info

Publication number: US3616714A
Application number: US852807A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerrett W Gregory
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1969-08-25
Filing date: 1969-08-25
Publication date: 1971-11-02
Anticipated expiration: 1988-11-02

Abstract

A SOCKET TYPE WRENCH HAS A FIXED HANDLE AND A MOVABLE HANDLE FOR ONE HANDED OPERATION BY SQUEEZING, THE SOCKET ELEMENT HAVING A RATCHET PINION DRIVEN BY A SLIDING MULTIPLE TOOTHED RACK BAR WHICH IS CAM ACTUATED IN THE DRIVING STROKE AND SPRING RETURNED. A READILY READABLE TORQUE INDICATOR IS INCORPORATED INTO THE MOVABLE HANDLE.

Description

- NOV. 2,1971 3, w, GREGORY 3,616,714

RACK AND PINION SQUEEZE ACTION WRENCH Filed Aug. 25, 1969 INVENTOR. GERRETT W. GREGORY jaw-18.1614

United States Patent 3,616,714 RACK AND PINION SQUEEZE ACTION WRENCH Gerrett W. Gregory, 68 Casselman Place, Chula Vista, Calif. 92010 Filed Aug. 25, 1969, Ser. No. 852,807 Int. Cl. B25b 13/00, 13/46 U.S. Cl. 81-5739 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A socket type wrench has a fixed handle and a movable handle for one handed operation by squeezing, the socket element having a ratchet pinion driven by a sliding, multiple toothed rack bar which is cam actuated in the driving stroke and spring returned. A readily readable torque indicator is incorporated into the movable handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Squeeze action wrenches usually have a pawl and ratchet action with a pivoted, spring biased pawl driven by a sliding or rotary action. The pawl is often the weak point of the wrench and motion is limited by the effective range of secure engagement of the pawl in the ratchet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the wrench;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the wrench;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but with pressure applied to the wrench; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION 'OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The wrench is constructed in an elongated frame 10 having an integral fixed handle 12 extending from one end, and a movable handle 14 pivotally mounted in the frame on a hinge pin 16. Frame 10 comprises a pair of similar side plates 18 secured on opposite sides of a spacer block 20 to form fixed handle 12. Spacers 22, secured by rivets 24 or the like, hold the side plates in parallel alignment forward of the handle. At the forward end of the frame is a socket element 26 having opposed axially projecting hub portions 28 which are rotatably held in close fitting openings 30 in the side plates 18. The socket element 26 has a multi-sided bore 32 to receive square or hexagonal drive studs of interchangeable sockets and other such tools. Around the periphery of socket element 26, between side plates 18, are ratchet teeth forming a pinion 34 integral with the socket element.

Movable handle 14 swings between an open position extending angularly outwardly from the frame, and a closed position substantially parallel to fixed handle 12. To limit the outward extension and facilitate gripping, the movable handle has an inwardly offset stop portion 36 which bears against a stop face 38 formed by the for- Patented Nov. 2, 1971 "ice ward end of spacer block 20. Forward of stop portion 36 the movable handle has a substantially arcuate cam face 40, eccentric in relation to hinge pin 16 and increasing in throw inwardly from the hinge pin.

Slidably mounted in frame 10 is an elongated rack bar 42, the rear end of which has a curved bearing face 43 which rides against cam face 40. At the forward end the rack bar has multiple teeth 44 which engage the teeth of pinion 34. The rack bar is held in the frame by a guide pin 46 fixed between side plates 18, and against which the outer edge of the rack bar slides. On the inner edge of rack bar 42 is a recessed or bevelled lug portion 48, through which is a small attachment hole 50. At the forward outer corner of movable handle 14 is another recessed lug portion 52 with a small attachment hole 54. A tension type return spring 56 has its ends secured in the

holes

50 and 54 and is stretched between the rack bar and movable handle. The single spring thus biases the movable handle 14 to its open position and holds the rack bar 42 in contact with cam face 40 and pinion 34 and, due to the two-way stretch during the power stroke gives progressively greater pressure between the engaged teeth and thus prevents slippage particularly near the end of the power stroke.

When movable handle 14 is squeezed to the closed position, as in FIG. 5, cam face 40 drives the rack bar 42 longitudinally, causing teeth 44 to drive pinion 34 and rotate the socket element 26. It can be seen that several teeth 44 are in simultaneous engagement with the teeth of pinion 34, which provides a very strong drive arrangement. Also, by using a multiple toothed rack, effective driving engagement can be maintained for a greater degree of rotation of the socket element, than is possible with the usual single pawl. On release of pressure from the movable handle 14, return spring 56 pulls the handle to the open position and pulls back the rack bar 42, the teeth 44 sliding over pinion 34 with a ratchet action.

To extend the utility of the wrench, torque indicating means is incorporated into the movable handle 14 by pivotally separating the outer handle portion 58. The pivotal connection is made by a torque 60 formed on the inner portion of the movable handle, which fits into a slot 62 in the outer handle portion, the two portions being connected by a hinge pin 64, so that the outer portion 58 swings in the plane of the movable handle. Secured to the inner edge of handle portion 58 is a torque limiting leaf spring 66, the free end 68 of which extends past the hinge connection and rests against the inner edge of the inner handle portion. When the movable handle is squeezed against a resistance, the outer handle portion 58 will pivot and cause spring end 68 to bend, as in FIG. 5. Since the wrench is intended for one handle operation and is therefore limited in size, the leaf spring will be adequate for the torque forces encountered in the effective range of use. To provide visual indication of the torque, a pointer 70 is secured to hinge pin 64 by a screw 72 and fixed to move with handle portion 58 by a lock pin 74. A scale 76 is marked in a suitable manner on the inner portion of movable handle 14, with convenient increments against which pointer 70 can be read. The torque indicator structure does not interfere with normal use of the wrench, but it would be a simple matter to lock the movable handle against bending if desired.

In addition to the squeeze action, which can be pumped rapidly, the wrench can be swung in its entirety for additional leverage where clearance is sufficient. The rack and pinion will provide ratchet action in this form of use also.

I claim:

1. A rack-and-pinion squeeze action wrench, comprising:

an elongated frame comprising a pair of side plates and having a rearwardly extending fixed handle portion;

a movable handle at one side of and pivotally mounted in said frame and being movable between an open position extending angularly outwardly from said fixed handle and a closed position substantially parallel to the fixed handle;

a socket element having opposed axially projecting hu'b portions rotatably held in close fitting openings in said side plates and having a ratchet toothed pinion integral therewith;

a rack bar longitudinally slidably mounted in said frame, at the side thereof remote from said movable handle, the forward end of said rack having tooth structure engaging said pinion;

said movable handle having a driving cam portion engaging the other end of said rack bar in a cam drive relationship so that said rack bar is driven toward said pinion when said movable handle is pressed from said open position toward said closed position;

a single tension type return spring secured to and between said movable handle and said rack bar and biasing said movable handle to open position and said rack bar to a rearward position;

and a guide member (46) fixed in said frame at the side of said rack bar to restrain the same against transverse displacement and assuring properly directed camming of said rack bar;

said spring being on the side of said rack bar remote from said guide member and said single spring bridging said movable handle and rack bar with both ends of the single spring forced away from each other when the movable handle is depressed and causing a two-way or double stretching of spring giving accentuated pressure of the rack bar tooth structure on the toothed pinion and preventing slippage near the end of the power stroke of the rack bar.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein said movable handle has an outer portion and an inner portion in tandem relationship and having a hinged connection therebetween, said handle being pivoted to swing substantially in the plane of the frame, and a torque limiting spring bridging said hinged connection.

3. A rack-and-pinion squeeze action torque Wrench,

comprising:

an elongated frame having a rearwardly extending fixed handle portion;

a movable handle pivotally mounted in said frame and being movable between an open position extending angularly outwardly from said fixed handle and a closed position substantially parallel to the fixed handle;

a socket element rotatably mounted in the forward end of said frame and having a ratchet toothed pinion integral therewith;

a rack 'bar longitudinally slidably mounted in said frame, the forward end of said rack bar having multiple teeth engaging said pinion;

said movable handle having a driving cam portion engaging the other end of said rack bar;

return spring means biasing said movable handle to open position and said rack bar to a rearward position;

said movable handle having an outer portion hinged to the inner portion thereof to swing substantially in the plane of the handle; a torque limiting leaf spring on said outer portion and having a free end extending over and bearing on said inner portion, and torque indicating means on said movable handle.

4. The structure of claim 2, wherein said torque limiting spring comprises a leaf spring fixed on said outer portion and having a free end extending over and bearing on said inner portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,413,877 12/1968 Teichmeier 81--58.1 X 1,512,194 10/ 1924 Benko. 2,954,715, 10/1960 Wycech 81-5739 X JAMES L. JONES, 1a., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.