Adjustable ratchet wrench

Abstract

The invention provides an adjustable ratchet wrench, which comprises a ratchet assembly, an adjustment assembly, a return spring and a pair of pawls. Ratchet teeth are arranged on the outer periphery of the ratchet assembly, and an inner gear ring is arranged on the inner periphery. Each pawl is slidably mounted on the lower part of the ratchet assembly, and comprises a clamping portion and a rack. A positioning gear ring and a driving gear are arranged on the outer periphery of the adjustment assembly from top to bottom. The ratchet teeth, the positioning gear ring and the driving gear have a common axis extending in the up-down direction. The adjustment assembly can be operated to move up and down in the inner space of the ratchet assembly, so as to switch between a working position in which the positioning gear ring is meshed with the inner gear ring and an adjustment position in which the positioning gear ring is disengaged from the inner gear ring. The return spring is arranged between the adjustment assembly and the ratchet assembly. By pressing the adjustment assembly down to the adjustment position and then rotating the adjustment assembly, the two racks can be driven to slide in opposite directions to each other by means of the driving gear, so that the two clamping portions are closed or opened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a ratchet wrench, and more particularly to a socket-type ratchet wrench with adjustable clamping opening distance. Background Art

[0002] Socket wrenches are commonly used tools in industrial production. Their manufacturing processes are mature, they are easy to use and have high work efficiency. In recent years, socket wrenches have been combined with ratchet wrenches, so that when working, they can achieve the purpose of one-way load bearing and reverse idling. Common socket wrenches usually have a wrench body with a universal connector, and are configured with a series of sockets of different specifications. When working, select the corresponding socket according to the opposite side distance of the work object and fit it on the wrench body to work. Such a working method causes serious waste of resources, and once a socket of a certain specification is lost and the opposite side distance of this specification happens to be encountered during work, the work cannot be carried out. The large number of configurations, high prices, and difficulties in collection and storage are the main reasons restricting the popularization of socket wrenches in the household field. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In view of the above situation, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an adjustable ratchet wrench that can adjust the jaw opening distance. The adjustable ratchet wrench includes a wrench body assembly and a head assembly. The head assembly is fitted in a hole that penetrates in the up and down direction at one end of the wrench body assembly. The head assembly includes:

[0004] A ratchet assembly, which includes ratchet teeth located on the outer peripheral part of the ratchet assembly and cooperating with the pawl in the wrench body assembly. The ratchet assembly has an internal space that penetrates the ratchet assembly in the up and down direction, and an internal gear ring is provided on the inner peripheral part of the internal space;

[0005] A pair of jaws, which are installed at the lower part of the ratchet assembly and can slide along a sliding direction perpendicular to the up and down direction. Each jaw includes a clamping part and a rack. The pair of jaws are arranged such that their respective clamping parts face each other along the sliding direction of the jaws, and their respective racks are spaced apart from each other and face each other along a transverse direction perpendicular to the sliding direction and the up and down direction;

[0006] An adjustment assembly, which is fitted in the internal space of the ratchet assembly, and a positioning gear ring and a driving gear are provided on its outer peripheral part from top to bottom. The adjustment assembly can be operated to move in the up and down direction in the internal space, so as to switch between a working position where the positioning gear ring meshes with the internal gear ring and an adjustment position where the positioning gear ring disengages from the internal gear ring; and

[0007] A return spring, which is provided between the adjustment assembly and the ratchet assembly for returning the adjustment assembly in the adjustment position upward to the working position.

[0008] Wherein, the ratchet teeth, the positioning gear ring and the driving gear have a common axis extending in the up and down direction; the axial length of the driving gear is designed such that when the adjusting assembly is in the working position and the adjusting position, the driving gear always meshes with each of the racks between the spaced-apart racks; and when the adjusting assembly is in the adjusting position, operating the adjusting assembly to rotate about the common axis respectively drives the racks of the pair of jaws to slide in opposite directions along the sliding direction, so that the clamping portions of the pair of jaws move towards or away from each other along the sliding direction.

[0009] Optionally, the ratchet assembly includes:

[0010] A ratchet sleeve, on the outer peripheral portion of which the ratchet teeth are located. A first stepped hole section, a second stepped hole section and a third stepped hole section with decreasing dimensions in the lateral direction are formed in the ratchet sleeve from top to bottom. A ratchet upper step is formed between the first stepped hole section and the second stepped hole section; and

[0011] An internal gear block, in which an upper stepped hole section and a lower stepped hole section with increasing inner diameters are formed from top to bottom. An internal gear block step for restricting the upward movement of the adjusting assembly is formed between the upper stepped hole section and the lower stepped hole section. The outer peripheral portion of the internal gear block is fitted with the inner hole surface of the first stepped hole section so that the internal gear block cannot rotate relative to the ratchet sleeve. The lower end of the internal gear block is placed on the ratchet upper step, and the internal gear ring is arranged on the inner peripheral portion of the lower stepped hole section.

[0012] Optionally, the inner hole surface is formed with a plane, and the outer peripheral portion of the internal gear block is formed with an outer plane that cooperates with the plane.

[0013] Optionally, the adjusting assembly includes:

[0014] A central gear, which sequentially includes a neck portion, a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion from top to bottom. Wherein, the neck portion is configured to be able to pass through the upper stepped hole section of the internal gear block, the large-diameter portion is movably fitted in the lower stepped hole section of the internal gear block, the positioning gear ring is arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the large-diameter portion, and the driving gear is arranged on the outer peripheral portion of the small-diameter portion; and

[0015] A knob portion, which sequentially includes a crown portion and a column portion from top to bottom. The column portion is connected to the central gear. The outer diameter of the crown portion is larger than the outer diameter of the column portion, and the return spring is installed between the upper surface of the internal gear block and the lower surface of the crown portion.

[0016] Optionally, a counterbore is formed on the top surface of the neck of the central gear, and the lower end of the column portion of the knob portion is embedded in the counterbore.

[0017] Optionally, the column portion and the central gear are fixed together by screws.

[0018] Optionally, the outer peripheral portion of the crown portion of the knob portion is engaged with the inner hole surface.

[0019] Optionally, when the adjusting assembly is in the adjusting position, the downward movement of the adjusting assembly is restricted by the contact between the upper surface of the internal gear block and the bottom surface of the outer peripheral portion of the crown portion, and / or by the contact between the lower step of the ratchet and the bottom surface of the large diameter portion of the central gear formed between the second stepped hole section and the third stepped hole section.

[0020] Optionally, scale lines are formed on the upper surface of the ratchet sleeve, and scale indicating marks are formed on the upper surface of the knob portion and are engaged with the scale lines.

[0021] Optionally, the change value of the opening distance L of the pair of pawls corresponding to each scale change of the scale line is 1 mm.

[0022] Optionally, a T-shaped groove is formed in the lower part of the ratchet assembly and penetrates through the ratchet assembly along the sliding direction and communicates with the third stepped hole section. The T-shaped groove includes a pair of groove surfaces extending in the up and down direction and a pair of groove bottoms extending in the sliding direction.

[0023] The clamping portion of the pawl includes two side surfaces, and each side surface is configured to cooperate with the corresponding groove surface of the T-shaped groove; and

[0024] A convex platform is provided on the side of the rack of the pawl facing away from the driving gear, and the convex platform is slidably engaged with the corresponding groove bottom of the T-shaped groove.

[0025] Optionally, the clamping portion of the pawl further includes two clamping surfaces, and the clamping surfaces are configured to form a 120° angle with each other, thereby forming a V-shaped groove that opens into the inner space of the ratchet sleeve.

[0026] Optionally, the end of the rack has a solid material larger than the tooth pitch of the rack.

[0027] Optionally, the teeth of the internal gear ring and the positioning gear ring both extend in the up and down direction, or both incline to the up and down direction, or both are perpendicular to the up and down direction.

[0028] Optionally, the number of teeth of the driving gear is an even number.

[0029] Optionally, the number of teeth of the internal gear ring and the positioning gear ring is 45, and the pitch diameter of the driving gear is 8.27 mm.

[0030] Optionally, an upper stepped hole section and a lower stepped hole section with increasing inner diameters are formed in the inner space of the ratchet assembly from top to bottom;

[0031] A part of the adjusting assembly is fitted with the upper stepped hole section; and

[0032] Another part of the adjusting assembly is fitted with the lower stepped hole section, and the positioning gear ring is formed on the other part.

[0033] Optionally, a chute extending along the sliding direction is formed on the side of the racks of the pair of pawls facing away from the driving gear; and

[0034] A pair of pins are arranged at positions corresponding to the chutes of the pair of pawls on the ratchet assembly, and the head parts of the pins are respectively embedded in the corresponding chutes, so that the pair of pawls are slidably connected to the ratchet assembly through the pair of pins.

[0035] Optionally, the adjustable ratchet wrench is a socket wrench.

[0036] With the adjustable ratchet wrench of the present invention, the opening distance of the pawls can be adjusted simply, quickly and accurately. After the adjustment is completed, there is no need to actively perform a locking operation, and the opening distance can be stably locked. In addition, when the adjustable ratchet wrench of the present invention is used as a socket wrench, there is no need to configure sockets of different specifications, which avoids waste of resources and reduces costs and storage space. Description of the Drawings

[0037] Figure 1A is a perspective view of the adjustable ratchet wrench according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed obliquely from below, and Figure 1B is a perspective view of the adjustable ratchet wrench according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed obliquely from above.

[0038] Figure 2A is a top view of the adjustable ratchet wrench according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2B is a side sectional view of the adjustable ratchet wrench according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2C is a bottom view of the adjustable ratchet wrench according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 3A is a perspective view of the wrench body assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3B is Figure 3A a perspective view of the wrench body assembly in a state where the upper plate is removed, and Figure 3C is Figure 3APerspective view of the wrench body assembly with the upper plate and handle removed.

[0040] Figure 4A is a top view of the wrench body assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 4B is a side cross-sectional view of the wrench body assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4C is according to the present invention Figure 3A bottom view of the wrench body assembly of the embodiment.

[0041] Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the head assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0042] Figure 6 is a perspective view of the ratchet sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0043] Figure 7A is a side view of the ratchet sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7B is a top view of the ratchet sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7C is according to the embodiment of the present invention along Figure 7A side cross-sectional view taken along line AA of the ratchet sleeve, and Figure 7D is a bottom view of the ratchet sleeve according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the internal gear block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Figure 9A is a side cross-sectional view of the internal gear block according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 9B is a top view of the internal gear block according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Figure 10 is a perspective view of the central gear according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure 11A is a side cross-sectional view of the central gear according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 11B is a top view of the central gear according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 12 is a perspective view of the internal gear block according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 13 is a perspective view of the central gear according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0050] Figure 14 is a perspective view of the knob portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0051] Figure 15Ais a side cross-sectional view of a knob portion according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 15B is a top view of a knob portion according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 16 is a perspective view of a pawl according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Figure 17A is a side view of a pawl according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 17B is a front view of a pawl according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 17C is a bottom view of a pawl according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] Figure 18A is a side cross-sectional view of an adjustable ratchet wrench according to a variant embodiment of the present invention, Figure 18B is a side cross-sectional view of a ratchet socket of an adjustable ratchet wrench of 18A, and Figure 18C is Figure 18A a perspective view of a pawl of an adjustable ratchet wrench. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0055] Next, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the up, down, left, right, etc. directions shown in the accompanying drawings (such as Figure 2B , Figure 3A , Figure 4B etc.) and described in the specification and claims are schematic, and their purpose is to facilitate description rather than to limit the scope of the present invention. In addition, in different embodiments, the same or similar components and structures will be represented by the same or similar reference numerals.

[0056] Figure 1A , Figure 1B , Figure 2A and Figure 2C respectively show views of an adjustable ratchet wrench according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from different directions. In addition, Figure 2B shows a side cross-sectional view of an adjustable ratchet wrench according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0057] Here, the side of the adjustable ratchet wrench for clamping the workpiece (the side facing the socket) is defined as "down", the side opposite to the side for clamping the workpiece is defined as "up", and the end of the adjustable ratchet wrench with which the head assembly H is engaged is defined as "left", and the other end opposite to the end of the adjustable ratchet wrench with which the head assembly H is engaged is defined as "right", as shown by the arrows in Figure 2B .

[0058] As Figures 1A to 2CAs shown, the adjustable ratchet wrench according to this embodiment includes a wrench body assembly 1 and a head assembly H. The wrench body assembly 1 is used for holding by hand and installing other functional parts. Refer to Figures 3A to 4C , the wrench body assembly 1 is in a long strip shape, which is riveted by an upper plate 11, a middle cushion plate 12 and a lower plate 13, and a handle 14 is press-fitted (sleeved) at the right end. The head assembly H is fitted in a circular hole 101 penetrating in the up-down direction at the left end of the wrench body assembly 1. Similarly to the known ratchet wrenches in the prior art, a pawl 15, a pawl dial 16, a positioning steel ball 17 and a pawl spring 18 are installed in the cavity of the middle cushion plate 12 on the right side of the circular hole 101. Among them, the pawl 15 cooperates with a ratchet tooth 202 which will be described below; the positioning steel ball 17 and the pawl spring 18 are used to assist the swing and reset of the pawl 15; the pawl dial 16 is used to control the meshing relationship between the pawl 15 and the ratchet tooth 202 to switch the load-bearing and no-load directions of the ratchet. Since the related structures of the pawl 15, the pawl dial 16, the positioning steel ball 17 and the pawl spring 18 are similar to those of a conventional ratchet wrench, the details thereof will not be described in detail. It should be understood that the wrench body assembly 1 may have other ratchet structures that cooperate with the ratchet tooth 202 different from this embodiment, and the present application does not make special restrictions on this.

[0059] As Figure 2B and Figure 5 shown, the head assembly H is generally columnar as a whole. The outer peripheral part of the head assembly H is fitted in the circular hole 101 on the wrench body assembly 1, and a circle of ratchet teeth 202 is provided on the outer peripheral part of the head assembly H. The ratchet teeth 202 are clamped between the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 13 and cooperate with the pawl 15.

[0060] The head assembly H includes: a ratchet sleeve 2 and an internal gear block 3 that constitute a ratchet assembly; a central gear 4 and a knob part 5 that constitute an adjustment assembly; a return spring 7; and a pair of claws 6.

[0061] Generally speaking, as Figure 2B shown, the ratchet sleeve 2 is the outermost peripheral component of the head assembly H. The internal gear block 3 is installed in the internal space of the ratchet sleeve 2 and is circumferentially fixed relative to the ratchet sleeve 2. The claws 6 are installed at the lower part of the ratchet sleeve 2. The central gear 4 is in the internal space of the internal gear block 3 in a state without external force. The central gear 4 (adjustment assembly) can be operated to move in the up-down direction, so as to switch between a working position meshing with the internal gear block 3 and an adjustment position disengaging from the internal gear block 3. The central gear 4 is always meshed with the claws 6. The knob part 5 is used to receive an external force to press the central gear 4 to the adjustment position, the knob part 5 is also used to rotate the central gear 4, and is used to receive the restoring force of the return spring 7 to reset the central gear 4 upward.

[0062] The specific structure of the head assembly H will be described in detail below.

[0063] Ratchet sleeve

[0064] As Figure 6 and Figures 7A to 7D shown, a circle of ratchet teeth 202 is provided on the outer peripheral portion 201 of the ratchet sleeve 2. The outer peripheral portion 201 of the ratchet sleeve 2 is fitted with the round hole 101 on the wrench body assembly 1, and the ratchet teeth 202 are clamped between the upper plate 11 and the lower plate 13 and cooperate with the pawl 15 to work.

[0065] As Figure 2A and Figure 6 shown, scale lines 206 are formed along the circumferential direction on the upper surface of the ratchet sleeve 2, and the scale interval is n°, which is used to cooperate with the scale indicating mark 502 (to be described in detail below) on the knob portion 5 to indicate the jaw opening distance L.

[0066] In addition, as Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7C shown, the ratchet sleeve 2 has an internal space penetrating in the up and down direction. Specifically, three stepped hole sections P1, P2, and P3 with gradually decreasing sizes in the left and right directions are formed in the ratchet sleeve 2 from top to bottom. In other words, the internal space of the ratchet sleeve 2 forms three parts with gradually decreasing sizes in the left and right directions from top to bottom. The inner peripheral surface of the part P1 forms an inner hole surface 203, and the inner hole surface 203 cooperates with the outer peripheral portion 501 of the knob portion 5 (see Figure 15A ) and the outer peripheral portion 303 of the internal gear block 3 (to be described in detail below). A substantially annular ratchet upper step S1 is formed between the part P1 and P2, and a bow-shaped ratchet lower step S2 is formed between the part P2 and P3 (see Figure 5 and Figure 7B ). The internal gear block 3 is placed on the ratchet upper step S1. The ratchet lower step S2 is used to limit the position of the central gear 4 when the central gear 4 moves downward. It should be understood that the ratchet upper step S1 and the ratchet lower step S2 can also have other shapes. For example, the ratchet lower step S2 can be annular (correspondingly, the part P3 is columnar).

[0067] A T-shaped groove T for cooperating with the jaw 6 is formed in the part of the ratchet sleeve 2 corresponding to the part P3. As Figures 6 to 7D shown, the T-shaped groove T is formed to be recessed upward from the lower end surface of the ratchet sleeve 2 and is formed to penetrate the ratchet sleeve 2 in the front and back direction (the direction perpendicular to both the up and down direction and the left and right direction in Figure 2B ). The T-shaped groove T includes two groove surfaces 205 extending in the up and down direction and a groove bottom 207 extending perpendicular to the up and down direction.

[0068] Preferably, a plane 204 is further formed in the inner hole surface 203 of the partial P1 to cooperate with the outer plane 304 of the internal gear block 3, thereby restricting the rotation of the internal gear block 3 relative to the ratchet sleeve 2 (which will be described in detail below). The number of the planes 204 can be two, and the two planes 204 are formed parallel to the up-down direction and opposite to each other.

[0069] Internal gear block

[0070] As Figure 8 、 Figure 9A 、 Figure 9B shown and referring to Figure 5 、 Figure 7B , according to an embodiment, the internal gear block 3 is formed such that its outer peripheral portion is in tight fit with the inner hole surface 203 of the ratchet sleeve 2, the lower end surface can cooperate with the ratchet upper step S1, and the internal gear block 3 has an internal space penetrating in the up-down direction. When the internal gear block 3 is assembled with the ratchet sleeve 2, the two together define an internal space penetrating the ratchet assembly in the up-down direction.

[0071] Two outer planes 304 are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the internal gear block 3 to cooperate with the two planes 204 formed in the partial P1 of the aforementioned ratchet sleeve 2 for circumferential positioning. When the outer plane 304 and the plane 204 are aligned respectively to install the internal gear block 3 into the internal space of the ratchet sleeve 2, the outer plane 304 and the plane 204 play a positioning role, thereby preventing the internal gear block 3 from rotating relative to the ratchet sleeve 2. It should be understood that the number of the plane 304 and the plane 204 can be one or more than three. In addition, the ratchet sleeve 2 and the internal gear block 3 can also adopt other fixing methods such as pin fit, key fit, bonding, welding, etc., as long as the ratchet sleeve 2 and the internal gear block 3 are configured not to rotate relative to each other.

[0072] As Figure 9A shown, an upper stepped hole section M1 and a lower stepped hole section M2 with diameters (inner diameters) increasing successively from top to bottom are formed in the internal gear block 3. In other words, the internal space of the internal gear block 3 is formed into two (cylindrical) parts with diameters increasing successively from top to bottom. An internal gear block step S3 is formed between the upper stepped hole section M1 and M2.

[0073] The inner peripheral portion of the upper stepped hole section M1 cooperates with the outer peripheral portion of the neck 404 of the central gear 4 (which will be described in detail below).

[0074] The internal gear block step S3 abuts against the top surface (central gear step S4) of the large diameter portion Db of the central gear 4 (which will be described in detail below), and is used to restrict the upward movement of the central gear 4 (adjustment assembly).

[0075] The inner peripheral portion of the upper stepped hole section M2 mates with the outer peripheral portion of the large diameter portion Db of the central gear 4 and serves as the guiding surface of the central gear 4. An internal gear ring 301 is formed at the lower end of the upper stepped hole section M2, and the internal gear ring 301 meshes with the positioning gear ring 402 at the lower end of the large diameter portion Db of the central gear 4 (which will be described in detail below). The internal gear ring 301 is configured such that its teeth extend in the vertical direction (as shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9A ), that is, the internal gear ring 301 is formed as a straight gear ring. In another embodiment, the internal gear ring 301B is configured such that its teeth extend obliquely to the vertical direction (as shown in Figure 12 ), and at this time the internal gear ring can also be referred to as the end face gear ring 301B.

[0076] Central gear

[0077] As shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11A and Figure 11B , according to one embodiment, the central gear 4 is formed as a stepped columnar member whose outer peripheral portion mates with the inner peripheral portion of the internal gear block 3. The central gear 4 includes, from top to bottom, a neck portion 404, a large diameter portion Db, and a small diameter portion Ds. The outer peripheral dimension of the neck portion 404 is smaller than the dimension of the large diameter portion Db, and the outer peripheral dimension of the large diameter portion Db is larger than the outer peripheral dimension of the small diameter portion Ds. A central gear step S4 is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the neck portion 404 and the outer peripheral portion of the large diameter portion Db.

[0078] As shown in the figure, a counterbore 405 is formed at the center of the top of the neck portion 404, and the cross-sectional shape of the counterbore 405 is formed to match the mounting portion of the knob portion to be installed. For example, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the counterbore is a kidney shape (a rectangular shape with rounded ends). In addition, a mounting hole Ih coaxial with the neck portion 404 is also formed in the center of the central gear 4 to fasten the knob portion 5 by means of a screw 8.

[0079] As shown in Figure 5 , when the central gear 4 is installed in the internal space of the internal gear block 3, the neck portion 404 can pass through the upper stepped hole section M1 of the internal gear block 3 and thus protrude above the internal gear block 3. At this time, the outer peripheral portion of the large diameter portion Db mates with the inner peripheral portion of the upper stepped hole section M2 of the internal gear block 3, and under the action of the spring 7, the central gear step S4 abuts against the internal gear block step S3.

[0080] A positioning gear ring 402 is provided on the outer peripheral portion of the large diameter portion Db (preferably at the lower end). When the central gear step S4 abuts against the internal gear block step S3, the position of the positioning gear ring 402 in the vertical direction is such that the positioning gear ring 402 can mesh with the internal gear ring 301 of the internal gear block 3. In the case where the internal gear ring 301 extends in the vertical direction, the positioning gear ring 402 also extends in the vertical direction (as shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11Aas shown). In the embodiment where the internal gear ring is the end face gear ring 301B, the positioning gear ring 402 is configured as a positioning end face gear ring 402B whose teeth are inclined or perpendicular to the up-and-down direction (as Figure 13 shown). The number of teeth of the positioning gear ring 402 is the same as that of the internal gear ring 301 (or the end face gear ring 301B) (both are Z).

[0081] The diameter of the small-diameter portion Ds is smaller than the diameter of the portion P3 of the ratchet sleeve 2. A drive gear 401 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the small-diameter portion Ds. The drive gear 401 is sandwiched between the racks 604 of a pair of pawls 6 and meshes with the racks 604. The drive gear 401 is configured such that its teeth extend in the up-and-down direction, that is, the drive gear 401 is a spur gear. Preferably, the drive gear 401 is arranged over the entire length of the small-diameter portion Ds in the up-and-down direction. The length of the drive gear 401 in the up-and-down direction is designed such that the drive gear 401 can mesh with the racks 604 of the pair of pawls 6 whether the central gear is in the upper limit position (for example, the central gear step S4 abuts against the internal gear block step S3) or the lower limit position (for example, the large-diameter portion Db abuts against the ratchet lower step S2) (which will be described in detail below).

[0082] as Figure 5 shown, the ratchet teeth 202, the internal gear ring 301 (or the end face gear ring 301B), the positioning gear ring 402 (or the positioning end face gear ring 402B), and the drive gear 401 have a common axis Ax extending in the up-and-down direction.

[0083] It should be understood that the meshing of the positioning gear ring 402 (402B) of the central gear 4 with the internal gear ring 301 (301B) of the internal gear block 3 functions to restrict the relative circumferential rotation of the central gear 4 and the internal gear block 3 with respect to each other, thereby holding the central gear 4 and the internal gear block 3 integrally. Therefore, the positioning gear ring 402 and the internal gear ring 301 (or the end face gear ring 301B) do not necessarily have to be gears (such as involute gears). The teeth of the positioning gear ring 402 and the internal gear ring 301 (or the end face gear ring 301B) can be trapezoidal teeth, triangular teeth, etc. In addition, in order to facilitate the engagement of the positioning gear ring 402 with the internal gear ring 301, in the up-and-down direction, the cross-sectional shape of the teeth can be non-uniform. For example, the lower part of the teeth of the internal gear ring 301 can have a tapered cross-section (the tooth gap widens), so that as long as the teeth of the positioning gear ring 402 are basically aligned with the tooth gaps of the internal gear ring 301, the positioning gear ring 402 can be inserted into the internal gear ring 301.

[0084] Knob portion

[0085] as Figure 14 and Figure 15A and Figure 15BAs shown, the knob portion 5 is formed into an umbrella-shaped (or mushroom-shaped) structure, including a column portion R located at the center of the lower part and a crown portion G located at the upper part. The outer diameter of the crown portion G is larger than that of the column portion R. The crown portion G is used for the rotation and pressing operations of the operator, and operation indication marks are printed on its upper surface. Specifically, as Figure 15B shown, scale indication marks 502 and operation content 503 are printed or engraved on the upper surface of the crown portion G. Here, the operation content 503 is the character "Press" to indicate that the operator should perform a pressing operation when adjusting the spacing of the pawl 6, and double arrows indicating the rotation direction to indicate that the operator adjusts the spacing of the pawl 6 along the rotation direction, etc.; the scale indication marks 502 are arrows formed at the edge of the upper surface of the crown portion G, which point to the scale lines 206 formed circumferentially on the upper surface of the ratchet sleeve 2. In addition, a knob gripping handle 504 is further formed on the upper surface of the crown portion G. The knob gripping handle 504 is formed into a ridge extending radially along the upper surface of the crown portion G, which is convenient for the user to apply force when rotating the knob portion 5. Preferably, the outer peripheral portion 501 of the crown portion G cooperates with the inner hole surface 203 of the aforementioned ratchet sleeve 2. Preferably, when the central gear 4 is in the lower limit position (adjustment position), the bottom surface of the outer peripheral portion 501 of the crown portion G contacts the upper surface of the internal tooth block 3 to limit the further downward movement of the central gear 4.

[0086] The column portion R is used to mount the knob portion 5 above the central gear 4, specifically, to the counterbore 405 of the neck portion 404. Specifically, the cross-sectional shape of the lower end portion of the column portion R is the same as that of the counterbore 405 (as Figure 13 and Figure 14 shown, both are kidney-shaped), so that the lower end portion of the column portion R can be embedded in the counterbore 405. In addition, the column portion R is formed with a hole extending upward from the lower surface and located at the center, preferably a threaded hole, so that a screw 8 (as Figure 2B shown) passes through the mounting hole Ih of the central gear 4 and the hole on the lower surface of the column portion R, and the column portion R can be fastened to the neck portion 404, thereby fastening the knob portion 5 to the central gear 4. It should be understood that any conventional technical means can be used to mount the knob portion 5 to the central gear 4, and it is not limited to the above mounting structure. For example, the counterbore can also be opened on the knob portion 5, and correspondingly, the upper end portion of the central gear 4 is embedded in the counterbore of the knob portion 5; the mounting hole can be opened on the knob portion 5, and correspondingly, the screw 8 is screwed into the threaded hole in the central gear 4 from top to bottom; the knob portion 5 can not include the column portion R, and correspondingly, the neck portion 404 of the central gear 4 can have sufficient length and be directly fixedly connected to the crown portion G.

[0087] After the knob portion 5 is mounted on the central gear 4, the crown portion G is exposed above the upper surface of the ratchet sleeve 2. In this case, as described above, the scale lines 206 formed circumferentially on the upper surface of the ratchet sleeve 2 cooperate with the scale indication marks 502 on the knob portion 5 to indicate the pawl opening distance L, asFigure 2A as shown

[0088] return spring

[0089] as Figure 2B As shown, the return spring 7 is installed between the internal gear block 3 and the knob portion 5. Specifically, it is installed between the upper surface of the internal gear block 3 and the lower surface of the crown portion G of the knob portion 5, so that after the central gear 4 moves downward, it can return upward (reset) to the aforementioned working position under the action of the spring force of the return spring 7, that is, return upward to the position where the positioning tooth ring 402 of the central gear 4 meshes with the internal tooth ring 301 of the internal gear block 3.

[0090] Preferably, a chamber for installing the return spring 7 is formed at a position radially outside the column portion R at the lower part of the crown portion G.

[0091] a pair of pawls

[0092] A pair of pawls 6 are slidably installed at the bottom 207 of the T-shaped groove T of the ratchet sleeve 2. The sliding direction of the pawl 6 is perpendicular to the up-down direction. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the sliding direction is the front-back direction (i.e., the direction in which the T-shaped groove penetrates the ratchet sleeve 2).

[0093] as Figure 16 and Figures 17A to 17C As shown, each of the pair of pawls 6 includes a clamping portion J and a rack 604.

[0094] The clamping portion J is a block-shaped body. One side of the clamping portion J facing the inside of the ratchet sleeve 2 is formed by two clamping surfaces 601 (the intersection line extends in the up-down direction) that form an angle of 120° with each other, thus forming a V-shaped groove, thereby forming a good clamping of the working object. The two side surfaces 602 of the clamping portion J face the two groove surfaces 205 of the T-shaped groove T respectively. The side of the clamping portion J facing the outside of the ratchet sleeve 2 is preferably formed in an arc shape, so that when this side moves close to the outer peripheral portion of the ratchet sleeve 2, it smoothly transitions with the outer peripheral portion of the ratchet sleeve 2.

[0095] The rack 604 is configured to be perpendicular to the clamping portion J. Specifically, the rack 604 is perpendicular to the V-shaped groove and parallel to the side surface 602. More specifically, the rack 604 forms an L shape with the clamping portion J, and the side surface of the rack 604 is flush with one side surface 602. When the pawl 6 is installed in the ratchet sleeve 2, when viewed radially of the ratchet sleeve 2, as Figure 17AAs shown, the rack 604 extends vertically relative to the side where the V-shaped groove (clamping surface 601) is located from the corner above the side. In addition, a boss 603 is formed on the side of the rack 604 facing away from the driving gear 401 (i.e., the same side as the side surface 602), and the boss 603 extends from the end of the rack 604 to the end of the side surface 602. Each boss 603 is in sliding fit with the corresponding groove bottom 207 to prevent the claw 6 from falling off. Preferably, chamfers are formed at both ends of the boss 603 to facilitate the insertion of the boss 603 into the groove bottom 207. The teeth of the rack 604 face the side opposite to the side where the boss 603 is formed. Preferably, the end of the rack 604 has a solid material 605 with a length greater than one tooth pitch to prevent the claw 6 from withdrawing from the groove bottom 207 after excessive rotation.

[0096] A pair of racks 604 are respectively installed in two opposite groove bottoms 207, such that their respective clamping portions J (V-shaped grooves) face each other, and their respective racks 604 are parallel to each other and spaced apart in the front-rear direction to form a space. The small-diameter portion Ds of the central gear 4 extends into the space between the racks 604, so that the driving gear 401 of the small-diameter portion Ds meshes with the two racks 604. When the central gear 4 rotates relative to the ratchet assembly, the driving gear 401 drives the two racks 604 to slide in the corresponding groove bottoms 207 in opposite directions along the sliding direction, driving the claws 6 to close or open, that is, driving the claws 6 to move towards or away from each other along the sliding direction.

[0097] The adjustment principle of the adjustable ratchet wrench of the present invention will be described in detail below.

[0098] When it is necessary to adjust the opening distance L between a pair of claws, the user first presses down the knob portion 5 to disengage the positioning tooth ring 402 (or positioning end face tooth ring 402B) of the central gear 4 from the internal tooth ring 301 (or end face tooth ring 301B) on the internal tooth block 3, that is, to reach the adjustment position from the working position. Then, by rotating the knob 5, the rack 604 on the claw 6 can be driven through the driving gear 401, thereby changing the size of the opening distance L between the pair of claws 6. After the adjustment is in place, there is no need to perform a separate locking operation. Just loosen the knob portion 5, and the knob portion 5 and the central gear 4 connected thereto will move upward and reset to the working position under the action of the return spring 7, that is, to engage the positioning tooth ring 402 (or positioning end face tooth ring 402B) with the internal tooth ring 301 (or end face tooth ring 301B) again. In this way, the ratchet sleeve 2, the internal tooth block 3, the claw 6, and the central gear 4 become a relatively fixed whole again, and no relative movement will occur between them during the operation of the adjustable ratchet wrench, ensuring the stability of the opening distance L.

[0099] In addition, during operation, the wrench with the adjusted opening distance L can directly perform the work. At this time, the engagement relationship between the pawl 15 and the ratchet teeth 202 can be controlled through the pawl dial 16 to achieve the required one-way load-bearing and idling in the reverse direction.

[0100] Since the across flats of the standard screw head as the operation object are all integers, the change value of the opening distance L corresponding to each scale change of the present invention can be set to 1 mm. According to the embodiment of the present invention, turning the knob part 5 causes the driving gear 401 to drive the racks 604 on a pair of jaws 6, so that the pair of jaws 6 expand outward or contract inward at the same speed respectively. Therefore, when the change value of the opening distance of a single jaw 6 is 0.5 mm, it corresponds to the change value of the opening distance L of 1 mm.

[0101] For the scale pitch n° (such as Figure 7B shown) and the pitch diameter d of the driving gear 401, as long as πdn / 360 = 0.5 / cos30° is satisfied, it can achieve that when the knob part 5 rotates one scale, the opening distance L of the jaw 6 changes by 1 mm.

[0102] In the embodiment of the present invention, the number of teeth of the internal gear ring 301 (or the internal end face gear ring 301B) is preferably designed to be 45 teeth, and the number of teeth of the mating positioning gear ring 402 (or the positioning end face gear ring 402B) is also 45 teeth. In this way, when rotating one tooth, the corresponding rotation angle is 360 / 45 = 8 degrees. Therefore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the scale change amount is set to n = 8°. According to the relational expression πdn / 360 = 0.5 / cos30°, when n = 8°, the pitch diameter d of the driving gear 401 is calculated to be 8.27 mm.

[0103] It should be understood that when the knob part 5 of the present invention rotates one scale, the change value of the opening distance L of the jaw 6 is not limited to 1 mm, but can be any appropriate value. And the number of teeth of the internal gear ring 301 (or the internal end face gear ring 301B) and the number of teeth of the positioning gear ring 402 are not limited to 45 teeth. The scale change amount n is not limited to 8°. Appropriate numbers of teeth and modules can be selected according to needs. In addition, in order to make the jaws 6 completely symmetrical after installation, the number of teeth of the driving gear 401 should be an even number.

[0104] Variant example

[0105] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been specifically described above, the present invention is not limited thereto, and those skilled in the art can make various modifications and variations to the embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

[0106] For example, although in the above embodiment, the ratchet sleeve 2 and the internal tooth block 3 constituting the ratchet assembly are formed as separate components, however, the ratchet sleeve 2 and the internal tooth block 3 can also be formed as an integral component.

[0107] In addition, although in the above embodiments, the pawl 6 is mounted in the ratchet sleeve 2 by slidingly mating the boss 603 with the bottom 207 of the T-shaped groove T, the pawl 6 can also be slidably mounted in the ratchet sleeve or the ratchet assembly in other ways.

[0108] For example, Figures 18A to 18C An adjustable ratchet wrench according to a variant of the present invention is shown. In this variant, the ratchet assembly (ratchet sleeve) 2' is not composed of a ratchet sleeve and an internal gear block, but is an integral part. Correspondingly, the ratchet teeth and the internal gear ring are respectively formed on the outer peripheral portion of the ratchet assembly 2' and the inner peripheral portion of the internal space. In addition, the ratchet assembly 2' does not have a ratchet upper step, a ratchet lower step, and a T-shaped groove. Instead, the ratchet assembly 2' has two pin holes 606 penetrating the ratchet assembly 2' in the left-right direction. The pawl 6' does not have a boss, but a groove 607 extending in the front-rear direction is formed on the side (outer side) of the rack of the pawl 6' facing away from the central gear 4. A pair of pins 202 respectively pass through the two pin holes 606, and the head portions of the pins 202 are respectively embedded in the corresponding sliding grooves 607. In this way, the pawl 6' is slidably connected to the ratchet assembly 2' through the pins 208. The operation of the adjustable ratchet wrench of this variant is the same as that of the adjustable ratchet wrench according to the above embodiments, and will not be described in detail here.

[0109] In addition, although in the above embodiments, the solid material 605 located at the end of the rack 604 is used to prevent the pawl 6 from withdrawing from the bottom 607 of the groove, other mechanisms can also be used to prevent the pawl 6 from withdrawing. For example, in the above variant, the sliding groove 607 is not arranged along the entire length of the rack, but only one end is open and the other end is blocked. When the pin 208 contacts the blocked end of the sliding groove 607, the rack 604 is prevented from further moving.

[0110] In addition, although in the above embodiments, the central gear 4 and the knob portion 5 constituting the adjustment assembly are formed as separate components, the central gear 4 and the knob portion 5 can also be formed as an integral component. In addition, although in the above embodiments, the central gear (adjustment assembly) has a large diameter portion Db and a small diameter portion Ds, these two portions can also be designed to have the same diameter.

[0111] Although in the above embodiments, the inner peripheral portion of the stepped hole section M2 of the internal tooth block 3 is engaged with the outer peripheral portion of the large diameter portion Db of the central gear 4; the inner peripheral portion of the stepped hole section M1 of the internal tooth block 3 is engaged with the outer peripheral portion of the neck portion 404 of the central gear 4; the outer peripheral portion 501 of the crown portion G of the knob portion 5 is engaged with the inner hole surface 203 of the ratchet sleeve 2; the side surface 602 of the clamping portion J of the pawl 6 is engaged with the groove surface 205 of the T-shaped groove T, however, the above engagement relationship is for making the movement, rotation of the adjustment assembly and the use of the wrench more stable and reliable, rather than being absolutely necessary. Some of the engagement relationships can be cancelled or relaxed to reduce the machining accuracy requirements or make the adjustment work smoother.

[0112] In addition, although the above embodiments and variant embodiments mainly describe the sleeve-type ratchet wrench, by changing the shape of the ratchet sleeve or the clamping portion of the pawl, the adjustable ratchet wrench according to the present invention can also be used for other types of ratchet wrenches.

[0113] Some exemplary embodiments and variant embodiments of the present invention are provided above for purposes of explanation and illustration. However, the foregoing description is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the specific forms disclosed. Obviously, various modifications and variations are possible for those skilled in the art of the present technology. For example, within the spirit and scope of the present invention, individual features can be arbitrarily combined, replaced, and omitted. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention is only defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An adjustable ratchet wrench, comprising a wrench body assembly (1) and a head assembly (H). The wrench body assembly (1) is in a long strip shape, and the head assembly (H) is fitted in a hole (101) penetrating in the up-and-down direction at one end of the wrench body assembly (1). Characterized in that the head assembly (H) includes: a ratchet assembly, which includes ratchet teeth (202). The ratchet teeth (202) are located on the outer peripheral part of the ratchet assembly and cooperate with a pawl (15) in the wrench body assembly (1). The ratchet assembly has an internal space penetrating the ratchet assembly in the up-and-down direction, and an internal gear ring (301, 301B) is provided on the inner peripheral part of the internal space; a pair of clamping jaws, which are installed at the lower part of the ratchet assembly and can slide in a sliding direction perpendicular to the up-and-down direction. Each clamping jaw includes a clamping part (J) and a rack (604). The pair of clamping jaws are arranged such that their respective clamping parts (J) face each other along the sliding direction of the clamping jaws, and their respective racks (604) are spaced apart and face each other along a transverse direction perpendicular to the sliding direction and the up-and-down direction; an adjusting assembly, which is fitted in the internal space of the ratchet assembly, and a positioning gear ring (402) and a driving gear (401) are provided on its outer peripheral part from top to bottom. The adjusting assembly can be operated to move in the internal space in the up-and-down direction, so as to switch between a working position where the positioning gear ring (402) meshes with the internal gear ring (301, 301B) and an adjusting position where the positioning gear ring (402) disengages from the internal gear ring (301, 301B); and a return spring (7), which is arranged between the adjusting assembly and the ratchet assembly and is used to make the adjusting assembly in the adjusting position return upward to the working position, wherein the ratchet teeth (202), the positioning gear ring (402) and the driving gear (401) have a common axis (Ax) extending in the up-and-down direction; the axial length of the driving gear (401) is designed such that when the adjusting assembly is in the working position and the adjusting position, the driving gear (401) always meshes with each of the spaced racks (604) between the racks (604); and when the adjusting assembly is in the adjusting position, the operation of rotating the adjusting assembly around the common axis (Ax) respectively drives the racks (604) of the pair of clamping jaws to slide in opposite directions along the sliding direction, so that the clamping parts (J) of the pair of clamping jaws move toward or away from each other along the sliding direction.

2. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 1, Characterized in that the ratchet assembly includes: A ratchet sleeve (2), with ratchet teeth (202) located on the outer peripheral part of the ratchet sleeve (2). A first stepped hole section (P1), a second stepped hole section (P2), and a third stepped hole section (P3) with decreasing dimensions in the transverse direction are formed from top to bottom inside the ratchet sleeve (2). A ratchet upper step (S1) is formed between the first stepped hole section (P1) and the second stepped hole section (P2); and An internal gear block (3), with an upper stepped hole section (M1) and a lower stepped hole section (M2) with increasing inner diameters formed from top to bottom inside the internal gear block (3). An internal gear block step (S3) that restricts the upward movement of the adjusting assembly is formed between the upper stepped hole section (M1) and the lower stepped hole section (M2). The outer peripheral part (303) of the internal gear block (3) is fitted with the inner hole surface (203) of the first stepped hole section (P1) so that the internal gear block (3) cannot rotate relative to the ratchet sleeve (2). The lower end of the internal gear block (3) is placed on the ratchet upper step (S1). The internal gear rings (301, 301B) are arranged on the inner peripheral part of the lower stepped hole section (M2).

3. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 2, characterized in that, a flat surface (204) is formed on the inner hole surface (203), and an outer flat surface (304) that cooperates with the flat surface (204) is formed on the outer peripheral part (303) of the internal gear block (3).

4. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 2, characterized in that, the adjusting assembly includes: a central gear (4), which successively includes a neck part (404), a large-diameter part (Db), and a small-diameter part (Ds) from top to bottom. Among them, the neck part (404) is configured to be able to pass through the upper stepped hole section (M1) of the internal gear block (3), the large-diameter part (Db) is movably fitted in the lower stepped hole section (M2) of the internal gear block (3), positioning gear rings (402, 402B) are arranged on the outer peripheral part of the large-diameter part (Db), and a driving gear (401) is arranged on the outer peripheral part of the small-diameter part (Ds); and a knob part (5), which successively includes a crown part (G) and a column part (R) from top to bottom. The column part (R) is connected to the central gear (4). The outer diameter of the crown part (G) is larger than the outer diameter of the column part (R), and a return spring (7) is installed between the upper surface of the internal gear block (3) and the lower surface of the crown part (G).

5. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 4, characterized in that, a counterbore (405) is formed on the top surface of the neck part (404) of the central gear (4). The lower end part of the column part (R) of the knob part (5) is embedded in the counterbore (405), and the column part (R) and the central gear (4) are fixed together by a screw (8).

6. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 4, characterized in that, the outer peripheral part (501) of the crown part (G) of the knob part (5) is fitted with the inner hole surface (203).

7. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 4, wherein, when the adjusting assembly is in the adjusting position, the downward movement of the adjusting assembly is restricted by the contact between the upper surface of the internal tooth block (3) and the bottom surface of the outer peripheral portion (501) of the crown portion (G), and / or by the contact between the ratchet lower step (S2) formed between the second stepped hole section (P2) and the third stepped hole section (P3) and the bottom surface of the large diameter portion (Db) of the central gear (4).

8. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 4, wherein, scale lines (206) are formed on the upper surface of the ratchet sleeve (2), and scale indicating marks (502) cooperating with the scale lines (206) are formed on the upper surface of the knob portion (5).

9. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 8, wherein, the change value of the opening distance L of the pair of jaws corresponding to each scale change of the scale lines (206) is 1 mm.

10. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 4, wherein, a T-shaped groove (T) is formed in the lower part of the ratchet assembly, penetrating the ratchet assembly along the sliding direction and communicating with the third stepped hole section (P3), and the T-shaped groove (T) includes a pair of groove surfaces (205) extending along the up and down direction and a pair of groove bottoms (207) extending along the sliding direction; the clamping portion (J) of the jaw includes two side surfaces (602), and each side surface (602) is configured to cooperate with the corresponding groove surface (205) of the T-shaped groove (T); and a boss (603) is provided on the side of the rack (604) of the jaw facing away from the driving gear (401), and the boss (603) is in sliding fit with the corresponding groove bottom (207) of the T-shaped groove (T).

11. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 10, wherein, the clamping portion (J) of the jaw further includes two clamping surfaces (601), and the clamping surfaces (601) are configured to form a 120° angle with each other, thereby forming a V-shaped groove opening towards the inner space of the ratchet sleeve (2); and a solid material (605) larger than the tooth pitch of the rack (604) is provided at the end of the rack (604).

12. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, the teeth of the internal gear ring and the positioning gear ring all extend along the up and down direction, or all incline to the up and down direction, or all are perpendicular to the up and down direction.

13. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, the number of teeth of the driving gear (401) is an even number.

14. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein, the adjustable ratchet wrench is a socket wrench.

15. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 1, wherein, an upper stepped hole section (M1) and a lower stepped hole section (M2) with increasing inner diameters are formed in the inner space of the ratchet assembly from top to bottom; A part of the adjusting assembly is engaged with the upper stepped hole section (M1); and Another part of the adjusting assembly is engaged with the lower stepped hole section (M2), and the positioning gear rings (402, 402B) are formed on the other part.

16. The adjustable ratchet wrench according to claim 1 or 15, characterized in that a chute (607) extending in the sliding direction is formed on a side of the racks of the pair of jaws facing away from the drive gear; and a pair of pins (208) are provided at positions corresponding to the chutes of the pair of jaws on the ratchet assembly, and the heads of the pins (208) are respectively embedded in the corresponding chutes (607), so that the pair of jaws are slidably connected to the ratchet assembly (2') through the pair of pins (208).

Images