Adjustable Ratchet Wrench

Abstract

A hand operated ratchet wrench employs a single handle pivoted at one end in a head, the handle end having pinion teeth engaging rack teeth on a movable jaw to urge the latter toward a fixed jaw when the handle is pivoted relative to the head. The handle is retained in the head by means which permit the two sets of teeth to be optionally disengaged so that the spacing between the two jaws can be adjusted independently of the angle of the handle with respect to the jaws, and the handle can be positioned relative to the head for optimum efficiency of operation regardless of the spacing between the jaws. A spring between the handle and the head permits ratcheting action.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The number of adjustable hand wrenches in the art is legion. Some are self-adjusting, others are locking only, while some also ratchet; some are cam or toggle operated, others are pinion or screw operated, while some have one handle which is pulled and others two handles which must be squeezed. What is lacking in the prior art is, essentially, a single handle wrench which is readily adjustable independently of the angle of the handle with respect to the jaws, which exerts a clamping action on the work proportional to the pull on the handle, and in which the handle can always be positioned relative to the jaws to provide maximum torque upon the work or the most convenient working angle of the handle relative to the faces of the jaws. Preferably, the wrench should also ratchet.

The chief object of the present invention, therefore, is to combine the desirable features of the wrenches referred to above, but eliminate their deficiencies.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accomplishing the foregoing the head of the wrench, which includes a fixed jaw, is provided with a sliding jaw having a set of rack teeth. The latter are engaged by a set of pinion teeth integrally formed on the end of a single handle which is pivoted in the head so that upon rotation of the handle relative to the head the two sets of teeth urge the sliding jaw toward the fixed jaw. Hence, the grip of the jaws upon the work is proportional to the pull on the handle. In order to provide for adjustment of the spacing of the jaws independently of the angle of the handle relative to the jaws, as well as to permit the handle to be positioned relative to the jaws for maximum efficiency or convenience under particular working conditions, the head is slotted below the rack teeth so that the two sets of teeth can be disengaged for adjustment of the handle and the sliding jaw independently of each other. The long axis of the slot forms an acute angle with the rack teeth, and the end of the handle is formed with a pair of opposite bosses which engage the walls of the slot to provide a fulcrum point about which the handle rotates when the two sets of teeth are engaged to grip the work piece.

A spring within the head resiliently urges the handle and the head to the position in which the two sets of teeth are engaged and additionally tends to rotate the head and handle relative to each other so that the sliding jaw is urged toward the fixed jaw. After turning the handle in one direction to clamp, say, a bolt head, if the handle is then turned in the opposite direction to release the work, the spring functions to provide a ratcheting action inasmuch as the jaws will slip resiliently around the bolt head to a new position, whereupon the handle is moved in the first direction to reclamp the bolt head. Simply by pushing on the head with the thumb of his hand against the pressure of the spring, the workman can readily disengage the two sets of teeth to adjust the spacing of the jaws, as well as the operating angle of the handle relative to the jaw faces to the best position for the circumstances.

Other features and advantages of the wrench of the present invention will become apparent from the drawing and from the more detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric, partly exploded view of a wrench according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of FIG. 1 illustrating the action of the parts of the wrench when clamping a bolt head.

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2 but illustrates the ratcheting action of the wrench.

FIG. 4 illustrates how the wrench is adjusted by the workman's hand and thumb.

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view longitudinally through the wrench to illustrate further details of the articulation between the head and the handle of the wrench.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The head 10 of the wrench is of somewhat oval overall shape having a pair of flat sides of generally plate-like configuration, one of which sides 11 includes an integrally formed, tooth shaped fixed jaw 12 having a transverse jaw face 13. The remainder of the side plate 11 is relieved as shown in the drawings to receive a movable jaw 14, complementary to the fixed jaw 12, having a jaw face 15 opposing the fixed jaw face 13, the two jaws 12 and 14 thus forming the outer end of the head 10. The movable jaw 14 is slidable toward and away from the fixed jaw 12 upon a pair of complementary, interlocking ways 16 formed as shown on the relieved face of the side plate 11 and on an elongated, integral foot 17 of the jaw 14 extending transversely of the jaw faces 13 and 15. The edge of the foot 17 opposite the jaw 14 is provided with a set of transverse rack teeth 18 facing away from the jaws 12 and 14 toward the opposite or inner end of the head 10. The lower side portion of the jaw 12 and the exposed side of the foot 17 are both relieved as shown to receive a separate side plate 19, congruent with the side plate 11, which is screwed at 20 to the fixed jaw 12 and at 21 to the side plate 11 through a bushing 22 which maintains the side plates 11 and 19 in parallel spaced relation. Alternately, of course, the side plate 19 could be riveted in position. The movable jaw 14 thus operatively slides between the plates 11 and 19 and is retained by the latter on the ways 16.

Adjacent the inner end of the head 10 and below the rack teeth 18, the side plates 11 and 19 are provided therethrough with a pair of congruent, aligned slots 25 radiused at their ends, the respective opposite sides 26 and 27 of the slots 25 being parallel and forming an acute angle with the plane of the tops or lands of the rack teeth 18. Between the opposed faces of the plates 11 and 19 is disposed the end of a single, bar shaped handle 28 which extends from the inner end of the head 10. The inner end of the handle 28 is flattened parallel to the side plates 11 and 19 and its opposite faces are provided with integral bosses 29 which extend transversely outwardly therefrom through the respective slots 25. The bosses 29 are substantially the same diameter as the width of the slots 25 so that the arcuate portions of the bosses 29 facing the outer end of the handle 28 provide shoulders 30 which engage and rotatingly bear against the slot side surfaces 27. The bosses 29 conjoin in a single cylindrical surface to form the inner tip of the handle 28 which is integrally formed to provide a set of complementary pinion teeth 31 to engage and disengage the immediately adjacent rack teeth 18 when the head 10 is moved relative to the handle 28 along the slots 25. The bosses 29 thus serve to retain the head 10 on the handle 28, and, when the teeth 18 and 31 are engaged and the handle 28 moved as indicated in FIG. 2, the slot side surface 27 and the boss shoulders 30 provide fulcrum points so that the sliding jaw 14 is urged toward the fixed jaw 12 to grip the work.

The handle area adjacent one of the shoulders 30 is relieved at 35 to provide clearance for a length of spring wire 36 of the nature and shape illustrated which is wound at one end about a post 37 below the screw 20 and anchored at 38 in the side plate 11. The spring 36 extends through the relief 35 from the post 37, being cranked in two places along its length as shown, and its other end is anchored at 39 near the far edge of the relief 35 adjacent the bushing 22. The spring 36 is set so that it normally resiliently maintains the head 10 and handle 28 in the position shown in FIG. 2 and the teeth 18 and 31 in engagement. In this position, as previously explained, the jaws 12 and 14 clamp the work with a force proportional to that exerted on the handle 28 in the direction indicated in FIG. 2. When under these conditions the handle 28 is moved in the opposite direction as indicated in FIG. 3, the jaw 14 will be backed off from the work against the resiliency of the spring 36, whereupon the jaws 12 and 14 will slip around the work to a new position at which point the spring 36 will rotate the head 10 to reclose the jaws 12 and 14 upon the work ready for the next pull on the handle 28 in the direction indicated in FIG. 2. In short, the teeth 18 and 31 in cooperation with the spring 36 provide a ratcheting action, alternately clamping and releasing the work as the handle is moved in one direction and then the other. Of course, if the work is to be turned the other way, the wrench is merely flipped over whence it will operate in the reverse directions.

In order to provide for easy adjustment of the spacing of the jaws 12 and 14 to fit different sized work, a pair of seats 40 are formed on the edges of the side plates 11 and 19 opposite the ends of the slots 25 remote from the teeth 18 and 31. If desired some sort of pad could be provided also. As shown in FIG. 4, when the jaws 12 and 14 are to be adjusted, the head 10 is pushed by the thumb of the workman on the seats 40. The pinion teeth 31 thus move away from the rack teeth 18 as the bosses 29 move down the slots 25 against the action of the spring 36, thus freeing the jaw 14 for independent movement in one direction or the other on its ways 16. In order to prevent the jaw 14 from inadvertently falling out of the head 10, the toe of the foot 17 is formed with a tang 41 which is intercepted by the pinion teeth 31 even when the latter are furtherest from the rack teeth 18. Observe that at the same time as the jaws 12 and 14 are being adjusted, the angle of the jaw faces 13 and 15 relative to the handle 28 can also be adjusted so that the same are parallel for maximum torque or angled in one direction or the other in order to avoid obstructions adjacent the work which would impede turning of the wrench. In any case, when the workman releases his thumb, the teeth 18 and 31 are re-engaged by action of the spring 36, and the wrench can then function in the manner previously described to clamp and then to release the work and ratchet as the handle 28 is stroked in opposite directions, all regardless of the angle of the jaw faces 13 and 15 relative to the handle 28. For convenience in setting the jaw 14, it may be provided with an index line and the side plate 19 with a suitable scale.

The basic parts of the wrench, of course, are forged or cast and machined from suitable steel. Note that for the purpose of strength the pinion teeth 31 extend the full width of the bosses 29 and are formed within the cylinder of the latter and the shoulders 30. While the angle of the slots 25 with respect to the plane of the lands of the rack teeth 18 is not particularly critical, yet it must be such that the shoulders 30 do not slip or skid down the slot sides 27 when the work is clamped but provide fulcrums for leverage between the teeth 18 and 31. An angle of 45.degree. between the plane of the lands of the teeth 18 and the slot sides 27 has proved very satisfactory. Different shaped jaw faces 13 and 15 can be provided to accommodate round work, pipes and other configurations.

To sum up, the present invention provides a wrench having a single handle which clamps the work with a force proportionate to that applied to the handle. The jaws are readily adjustable to accommodate a variety of work, as is the angle of the handle relative to the jaw faces to provide maximum torque upon the work regardless of its size, or a convenient position of the handle under particular working conditions, and the wrench can ratchet under all circumstances. Other details of its operation and construction will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In any event, though the present invention has been described in terms of a particular embodiment, being the best mode known of carrying out the invention, it is not limited to that embodiment alone. Instead, the following claims are to be read as accomplishing all adaptations and modifications of the invention falling within its spirit and scope.

Claims

I claim:

1. A hand wrench comprising: a head having a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, the two jaws having opposed jaw faces operative to grasp a work piece, the movable jaw having a set of rack teeth and being slidable in the head for adjustment of the distance between the two jaw faces; a single elongated handle having one end provided with a set of pinion teeth operatively engageable with the rack teeth, the head including a pair of side members in opposed spaced relation to each other, the rack teeth and the handle end being disposed between the side members; means retaining the handle end in the head and permitting pivotal movement of the handle relative to the head, the retaining means comprising a pair of congruent aligned slots through the side members having extending wall portions forming an acute angle with and generally in facing spaced relation to the tops of the rack teeth, and a pair of arcuate shoulders extending laterally in opposite directions from the handle end, the shoulders being concentric with the pinion teeth and engaging respective ones of the slot wall portions effective to provide a fulcrum for the handle and to cause the pinion and rack teeth to urge the movable jaw towards the fixed jaw when the handle is pivoted in one direction relative to the head, the shoulders and handle being slidable in the slots effective to permit the pinion teeth to be optionally moved out of engagement with the rack teeth for adjustment of the movable jaw relative to the fixed jaw independently of both pivotal movement of the handle and the angular position thereof relative to the head; and means carried by and operative between the handle end and the head resiliently urging engagement of the pinion teeth with the rack teeth and rotation of the handle in said direction relative to the head.

2. The wrench of claim 1 wherein the handle end is provided with an integrally formed boss extending laterally from two opposite sides of the handle, the boss having a portion in adjacent facing relation to the rack teeth in which the pinion teeth are integrally formed and having two portions on opposite sides of the handle end in adjacent facing relation to the slot wall portions in which the arcuate shoulders are integrally formed.

3. The wrench of claim 2 wherein one of the side members is formed integrally with the head and the other comprises a separate plate secured to the head.

4. The wrench of claim 3 wherein the side member and plate are provided with thumb seat means disposed on the periphery thereof adjacent the ends of the two slots remote from the rack teeth.