Ratchet mechanism and wrench

Abstract

A ratchet mechanism comprising: a first member having an annular surface with a plurality of teeth parallel to its axis disposed thereon; a second member rotatably disposed within the annular surface of the first member; at least two ratchets disposed on at least one drive transmission member movably disposed on the second member, the ratchets configured to engage with the teeth to transmit motion between the first member and the second member, wherein the ratchets and the teeth have at least two different engagement states.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of hand tool technology, and more particularly to a ratchet mechanism and a wrench. Background Technology

[0002] When using hand tools like screwdrivers and torque wrenches, the hand's movement in the direction of rotation is limited; it cannot be done continuously in one direction. Therefore, it is necessary to rotate the hand in the opposite direction or remove the hand tool from the screw being rotated, adjust its position, and then rotate again. In some confined spaces, due to limited operating space, it is also necessary to constantly adjust the position of the hand or the tool.

[0003] The advent of ratchet wrenches and ratchet screwdrivers allows the hand to rotate the tool's handle along with the wrench during operation, effectively overcoming the aforementioned problems. In existing ratchet wrenches or ratchet screwdrivers, when the ratchet and pawl transmit force, the torque applied to the handle is transmitted to the output end via the ratchet and pawl transmission mechanism. When the handle returns to its original position, the ratchet and pawl transmission mechanism idles, and with each turn of a tooth, the pawl slides across the ratchet, producing a "click" sound. Therefore, during the process of applying force and resetting the handle, there is always a gap of one tooth. That is, after the handle reaches its limit, further force can only be applied when the handle rotates at least 6° after resetting. For example, with 60 teeth evenly distributed on the circumference of a ratchet, the central angle corresponding to one tooth is 6°. Thus, after the handle reaches its limit, further force can only be applied when the handle rotates 6° after resetting. Similarly, with 72 teeth evenly distributed on the circumference of a ratchet, the central angle corresponding to one tooth is 5°. Therefore, after the handle reaches its limit, further force can only be applied when the handle rotates 5° after resetting. To reduce the angle of the handle's resetting rotation, the number of teeth can be increased. However, while maintaining tooth size and product strength, increasing the number of teeth inevitably increases the overall size of the ratchet. If the number of teeth is increased while keeping the overall size of the ratchet unchanged, the teeth will be smaller, reducing the reliability of the pawl-tooth engagement and decreasing the force transmission capacity. Furthermore, a smaller number of teeth results in greater rotational resistance, which can easily lead to ratchet failure and excessive wobble. Therefore, given a fixed outer diameter, the number of teeth on a ratchet cannot be increased indefinitely to ensure product strength. Conversely, a smaller number of teeth results in a larger rotation angle, hindering its use in confined spaces.

[0004] Therefore, those skilled in the art are dedicated to providing a ratchet mechanism and a wrench using the ratchet mechanism, which can ensure the strength of the product under a certain outer diameter, reduce rotational resistance, reduce wobbling, better eliminate the effect of tooth backlash, and improve transmission efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides a ratchet mechanism, the ratchet mechanism comprising:

[0006] The first component has an annular surface on which a plurality of teeth parallel to its axial direction are provided;

[0007] The second component is rotatably disposed within the annular surface of the first component;

[0008] At least two ratchet teeth are disposed on at least one drive transmission member, the drive transmission member being movably disposed on the second member, the ratchet teeth being configured to engage with the teeth to transmit motion between the first member and the second member, wherein the ratchet teeth and the teeth have at least two different engagement states.

[0009] Furthermore, the ratchet mechanism includes a plurality of drive transmission members, each of the plurality of drive transmission members having at least one ratchet tooth.

[0010] Furthermore, each of the plurality of drive transmission components has at least two ratchet teeth, wherein the ratchet teeth of each drive transmission component have at least two engagement states with the teeth.

[0011] Furthermore, the ratchet teeth of each drive transmission member are distributed sequentially along the sliding direction of the drive transmission member in which they are located, and the distance between the tooth tip and the tooth groove of the ratchet teeth decreases sequentially, so that the contact area between the ratchet teeth and the teeth decreases sequentially.

[0012] Furthermore, the second member has at least one receiving groove arranged circumferentially, and one of the drive transmission members is disposed in one of the receiving grooves. The drive transmission member is configured to slide along the receiving groove, such that the ratchet extends from the opening of the receiving groove.

[0013] Furthermore, each of the drive transmission components is provided with a clearance portion, which is located on the side of the drive transmission component opposite to the ratchet.

[0014] Furthermore, one side of the receiving groove has a first guide groove extending along the sliding direction of the drive transmission member, and the drive transmission member has a first guide block that cooperates with the first guide groove, the first guide block being located within the first guide groove.

[0015] Furthermore, the ratchet mechanism includes a cover that covers the end face of the second member where the receiving groove is provided.

[0016] Furthermore, the cover is provided with a positioning groove, and the second component is provided with a protrusion that mates with the positioning groove.

[0017] Furthermore, the cover includes a second guide groove extending along the sliding direction of the drive transmission member, and the drive transmission member has a second guide block that cooperates with the second guide groove, the second guide block being located within the second guide groove.

[0018] Furthermore, the width of the drive transmission member is equal to or greater than the dimension of the tooth along the axial direction of the first member.

[0019] Furthermore, the ratchet mechanism includes at least two sets of drive transmission mechanisms, each set of drive transmission mechanisms including at least two drive transmission mechanisms, and the at least two drive transmission mechanisms have the same meshing state as the teeth.

[0020] Furthermore, each set of the drive transmission mechanisms is symmetrically distributed along the circumference of the second component.

[0021] Furthermore, the second component is provided with a drive unit, which is configured to cooperate with an external element to transmit torque to the external element.

[0022] Furthermore, an elastic element is provided between the drive transmission member and the second member, the elastic element being configured to apply a force to the drive transmission member, the force causing the drive transmission member to move in the direction of the tooth.

[0023] Furthermore, the elastic element is a spring, one end of which is sleeved on the boss of the drive transmission member, and the other end of which is connected to the side wall of the receiving groove.

[0024] Furthermore, the sidewall of the receiving groove has a channel for receiving the spring.

[0025] Furthermore, the ratchet mechanism includes multiple drive transmission components, the second component includes multiple receiving grooves, one drive transmission component is disposed in one receiving groove, each drive transmission component has multiple ratchet teeth, and the contact area between each ratchet tooth and the tooth is different.

[0026] This application also provides a wrench, the wrench including a handle, one end of which is provided with a ratchet mechanism as described above.

[0027] Furthermore, the first component of the ratchet mechanism is integrally formed with the handle.

[0028] The ratchet mechanism provided in this application, with its different meshing states between the ratchet and the drive transmission component, increases the number of transmission gears while maintaining the same number of teeth, resulting in higher transmission efficiency. The precise fit provides less wobble and better eliminates the effect of backlash. During retraction, the increased number of gears allows for a smaller retraction angle while maintaining strength, making it suitable for smaller installation spaces. Furthermore, it reduces the resistance during rotation between the ratchet and pawl, effectively minimizing wear.

[0029] The following will further explain the concept, specific structure, and technical effects of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, so as to fully understand the purpose, features, and effects of the present invention. Attached Figure Description

[0030] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the ratchet mechanism in Example 1;

[0031] Figure 2 This is a fully exploded schematic diagram of the ratchet mechanism in Example 1;

[0032] Figure 3 This is a top view of the ratchet mechanism in Embodiment 1;

[0033] Figure 4 This is a side view of the ratchet mechanism in Embodiment 1;

[0034] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 A sectional view of section AA in the image;

[0035] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 Enlarged view of region B in the middle;

[0036] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 Enlarged view of region C in the middle;

[0037] Figure 8 yes Figure 5 Enlarged schematic diagram of region D in the middle;

[0038] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the second component of the ratchet mechanism after assembly with the cover and drive transmission component in Embodiment 1;

[0039] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 A schematic diagram of the decomposition process;

[0040] Figure 11 This is a structural diagram of the second component;

[0041] Figure 12 This is the top view of the second component;

[0042] Figure 13This is a schematic diagram showing the second component after the drive transmission component has been assembled on it.

[0043] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the cover structure;

[0044] Figure 15 This is a structural schematic diagram of the drive transmission component;

[0045] Figure 16 yes Figure 15 The main view;

[0046] Figure 17 yes Figure 15 A diagram from another perspective;

[0047] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the meshing state between the drive transmission component and the teeth in Example 2;

[0048] Figure 19 yes Figure 18 Enlarged schematic diagram of region E in the middle;

[0049] Figure 20 yes Figure 18 Enlarged schematic diagram of region F in the middle;

[0050] Figure 21 yes Figure 18 Enlarged schematic diagram of region G in the middle;

[0051] Figure 22 This is a structural diagram of a wrench;

[0052] Figure 23 This is an exploded diagram of a wrench.

[0053] Among them, 100-ratchet mechanism,

[0054] 110 - First component, 111 - First through hole, 112 - Tooth,

[0055] 120 - Second component, 121 - Second through hole, 122 - Drive unit, 123 - Receiving groove, 124 - Opening, 125 - First guide groove, 126 - Protrusion, 127 - First boss, 128 - First end face

[0056] 130-Drive transmission component, 130a-First drive transmission component, 130b-Second drive transmission component, 130c-Third drive transmission component, 130d-Fourth drive transmission component, 130e-Fifth drive transmission component, 130f-Sixth drive transmission component, 131-Ratchet, 132-Allowing part, 133-First guide block, 134-Second guide block, 135-Boss, 136-Elastic element

[0057] 140 - Cover body, 141 - Positioning groove, 142 - Second boss, 143 - Second guide groove

[0058] 200-Wrench, 210-Handle, 220-Wrench head, 230-Open wrench part, 231-Third through hole. Detailed Implementation

[0059] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrates several preferred embodiments of the present invention to make its technical content clearer and easier to understand. The present invention can be embodied in many different forms, and the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments mentioned herein.

[0060] In the accompanying drawings, components with the same structure are indicated by the same numerical designation, and components with similar structures or functions are indicated by similar numerical designations. The dimensions and thicknesses of each component shown in the drawings are arbitrary, and the present invention does not limit the dimensions and thicknesses of each component. To make the illustrations clearer, the thickness of some components has been appropriately exaggerated in the drawings.

[0061] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there may be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component present. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application's specification are for illustrative purposes only and do not indicate the only possible implementation. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified. In this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, "upper" or "lower" of a first feature and a second feature may mean that the first feature is in direct contact with the second feature, or that the first feature and the second feature are in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Furthermore, the terms "above," "over," and "on top" for "first feature" and "second feature" can mean that the first feature is directly above or diagonally above the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a higher horizontal level than the second feature. Similarly, the terms "below," "under," and "beneath" for "first feature" and "second feature" can mean that the first feature is directly below or diagonally below the second feature, or simply that the first feature is at a lower horizontal level than the second feature. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in this application is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the application. The term "and / or" as used in this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0062] I. Ratchet Mechanism

[0063] This application provides a ratchet mechanism, including a first component, a second component, and a drive transmission component. The first component is an annular component with teeth arranged on its entire circumferential surface. These teeth can be located on the outer or inner circumferential surface of the first component. The second component is rotatable relative to the first component in a circumferential direction. The second component carries the drive transmission component, which has at least two ratchet teeth capable of engaging with the teeth of the annular component. The drive transmission component can transmit unidirectional motion. Specifically, when an external force is applied to the first component, causing it to rotate in a first direction, the first component engages with the drive transmission component, thereby transmitting the motion to the second component, causing the second component to rotate in a predetermined direction. The first direction can be clockwise or counterclockwise. It should be understood that the second component can also be configured as the driving component, i.e., an external force is applied to the second component, causing it to move in the first direction, and then the motion is transmitted to the first component through the drive transmission component, thereby causing the first component to rotate in the predetermined direction. During motion transmission, the drive transmission component has different meshing states with the teeth on the first component. These meshing states include at least two types: the first, fully meshed state, refers to the ratchet of the drive transmission component being fully engaged with the teeth on the first component; the second, partially meshed state, refers to the ratchet of the drive transmission component being partially engaged with the teeth on the first component. The meshing state of the ratchet of the drive transmission component changes periodically with the rotation of the ratchet mechanism during motion transmission. It should be noted that the ratchet of the drive transmission component and the teeth on the first component have different meshing states, which can be in various forms: (1) There are multiple drive transmission components, in which all the ratchets on one drive transmission component have the same meshing state with the teeth of the first component, while each drive transmission component is in a different meshing state with the first component, thus realizing multiple meshing states. For example, the ratchet on the first drive transmission component is in a fully meshed state with the teeth of the first component, and the ratchet on the second drive transmission component is in a partially meshed state with the teeth of the first component. The partially meshed state also includes multiple meshing states with different contact areas; (2) The drive transmission component has At least two ratchet teeth, wherein the meshing state of each ratchet tooth with the teeth of the first component is different. For example, the first ratchet tooth on the drive transmission component is fully meshed with the teeth of the first component, and the second ratchet tooth is partially meshed with the teeth of the first component; or, the first ratchet tooth is half meshed with the teeth of the first component, and the second ratchet tooth is one-third meshed with the teeth of the first component. That is, the ratchet tooth in the partially meshed state can still have different contact areas; (3) The meshing state of each drive transmission component ratchet tooth with the teeth of the first component is different from that of other drive transmission components. At the same time, the meshing state of different ratchet teeth on the same drive transmission component with the teeth of the first component is also different.

[0064] This application will describe the ratchet mechanism in detail through several embodiments.

[0065] Example 1

[0066] Figure 1-17 Example 1 is shown.

[0067] like Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the ratchet mechanism 100 of this embodiment includes a first component 110, a second component 120, and a plurality of drive transmission components 130. The first component 110 and the second component 120 are coaxially arranged and can rotate relative to each other. The first component 110 has an axially extending first through hole 111, and a plurality of teeth 112 are provided on the sidewall of the first through hole 111. The teeth 112 extend along the axial direction of the first component 110 and are parallel to the axial direction of the first component 110. The second component 120 is disposed within the first through hole 111, and the drive transmission components 130 are movably disposed on the second component 120. The drive transmission components 130 have ratchet teeth 131, which can engage with the teeth 112 of the first component 110 to transmit unidirectional motion between the first component 110 and the second component 120. The second component 120 has an axially extending second through hole 121, and a drive portion 122 for engaging with nuts, screws, etc., is provided on the sidewall of the second through hole 121. The drive unit 122 can be hexagonal or wavy, and can be fitted onto the outside of external components such as nuts and screws. When the second component 120 rotates, the drive unit 122, in conjunction with the nut or screw, can drive the nut or screw to rotate. It should be understood that the drive unit 122 can also be configured as a drive shaft or a screwdriver. The drive shaft can be a solid shaft or a non-solid shaft. The drive shaft can be inserted into external components such as screws or sleeves, while other components can be installed inside a non-solid shaft.

[0068] The drive transmission component 130 transmits unidirectional movement between the first component 110 and the second component 120, and the direction can be as follows: Figure 5 The -X direction shown can also be the +X direction, which can be set according to actual needs. In this embodiment, the drive transmission member 130 transmits unidirectional motion in the -X direction between the first member 110 and the second member 120, that is, the teeth of the second member 120 and the first member 110 and the drive transmission member 130 do not move relative to each other.

[0069] The meshing state between the ratchet 131 of the drive transmission member 130 and the tooth 112 of the first member 110 is as follows: Figures 5-8As shown, the engagement state between these ratchet teeth 131 and the teeth 112 of the first component 110 has at least two different states: one is that the ratchet teeth 131 and the teeth 112 are fully engaged, and the other is that the ratchet teeth 131 and the teeth 112 are partially engaged. In the partially engaged state, the contact area between the ratchet teeth 131 and the teeth 112 can be set in various ways, such as one-third engagement, one-half engagement, etc. In existing hand tools using the ratchet mechanism 100, when the handle rotates in the reverse direction, at least one tooth groove of the ratchet needs to be rotated. However, when the operating space is too small to rotate even one tooth groove, the hand tool cannot be used, thus limiting its application range. The ratchet mechanism 100 provided in this application, when applied to a hand tool, has at least two ratchet teeth 131 with different engagement states with the teeth 112 of the first component 110. Thus, the first component 110, along with... Figure 5 When rotating in the +X direction as shown, you only need to rotate an angle smaller than one tooth groove of tooth 112 to rotate again in the -X direction as shown in the figure, so as to tighten or loosen components such as sleeves, nuts and bolts, achieving the effect of multiple teeth, thereby enabling the use of this manual tool in narrow operating spaces. Furthermore, compared to existing technologies that increase the ratchet volume and number of teeth, reduce the tooth profile to increase the number of teeth, or arrange two pawls with lateral angular offsets side by side along the ratchet axis, the ratchet mechanism 100 provided by the present invention does not require increasing the overall volume of the teeth or reducing the size of the tooth profile. Moreover, the drive transmission member 130 is arranged circumferentially along the second member 120. Therefore, the width of the drive transmission member 130 can be equal to or slightly larger than the width of the tooth 112, that is, the dimension along the axial direction of the tooth 112, thereby increasing the contact area between the ratchet and the tooth. While ensuring a certain outer diameter of the hand tool, the transmission strength between the ratchet 131 and the tooth 112 is guaranteed, avoiding tooth breakage due to insufficient torque between the ratchet 131 and the tooth 112, thereby ensuring the strength of the hand tool. The fully engaged state of ratchet 131 and tooth 112 refers to the state where the tip of ratchet 131 is opposite to the bottom of the tooth groove of tooth 112. The partially engaged state of ratchet 131 and tooth 112 refers to the state where the tip of ratchet 131 is misaligned with the bottom of the tooth groove of tooth 112, that is, the tip of ratchet 131 is opposite to the sidewall of the tooth groove of tooth 112, or the tip of ratchet 131 is opposite to the tip of tooth 112. The contact area between the sidewall of ratchet 131 and the sidewall of tooth groove of tooth 112 is different in different engagement states. In the fully engaged state, the sidewall of ratchet 131 and the sidewall of tooth groove of tooth 112 are almost completely in contact. In the partially engaged state, only a portion of the sidewall of ratchet 131 is in contact with the sidewall of tooth groove of tooth 112, or there is no contact at all.

[0070] In some implementations, see Figure 5The ratchet mechanism 100 employs six drive transmission components 130: a first drive transmission component 130a, a second drive transmission component 130b, a third drive transmission component 130c, a fourth drive transmission component 130d, a fifth drive transmission component 130e, and a sixth drive transmission component 130f. These six drive transmission components 130 are evenly spaced along the circumference of the second component 120. The second component 120 is provided with receiving grooves 123 for accommodating the drive transmission components 130, with each drive transmission component 130 located within one receiving groove 123. The receiving grooves 123 are evenly distributed along the circumference of the second component 120, and each receiving groove 123 has an opening 124 at one end facing the first component 110. The ratchet teeth 131 of the drive transmission components 130 located in the receiving groove 123 extend from the opening 124 and engage with the teeth 112 of the first component 110. The six drive transmission components 130 are divided into three groups. In each group, the two drive transmission components 130 have the same meshing state with the teeth 112 of the first component 110. Specifically, the first drive transmission component 130a meshes with the fourth drive transmission component 130d, the second drive transmission component 130b meshes with the fifth drive transmission component 130e, and the third drive transmission component 130c meshes with the sixth drive transmission component 130f. This ensures the stability and reliability of the meshing between the drive transmission components 130 and the teeth, preventing accidental slippage between one drive transmission component 130 and the teeth, which could lead to transmission failure. Preferably, the two drive transmission components 130 in each group are approximately symmetrically positioned on the second component 120. In other embodiments, the six drive transmission components 130 may each be in different meshing states with the teeth 112. Alternatively, there may be three, four, five, or more drive transmission components 130; no specific limitation is made here.

[0071] The structure of the drive transmission component 130 is as follows Figures 15-17As shown. In some embodiments, the drive transmission member 130 includes at least two ratchet teeth 131, each ratchet tooth 131 including a tooth tip 1311, and a tooth groove between two adjacent ratchet teeth 131. The distance between the tooth tip 1311 and the bottom of the tooth groove of each ratchet tooth 131 is different, so that the meshing state between different ratchet teeth 131 and teeth 112 of the same drive transmission member 130 is different. Preferably, as shown in the figure, the three ratchet teeth on the drive transmission member 130, namely the first ratchet tooth 131a, the second ratchet tooth 131b, and the third ratchet tooth 131c, are distributed sequentially from one end of the drive transmission member 130 to the other end, and the distance between the tooth tips 1311 also decreases sequentially, that is, the distance h1 between the tooth tip 1311 and the tooth groove of the first ratchet tooth 131a, the distance h2 between the tooth tip 1311 and the tooth groove of the second ratchet tooth 131b, and the distance h3 between the tooth tip 1311 and the tooth groove of the third ratchet tooth 131c decreases sequentially. Preferably, the tooth tips 1311 of the second ratchet 131b and the third ratchet 131c are set as planes to reduce the distance between the tooth tip and the tooth groove. See also Figure 6 Taking the first drive transmission member 130a as an example, the first ratchet 131a and tooth 112 are fully engaged, the contact area between the second ratchet 131b and tooth 112 is smaller than that between the first ratchet 131a, and the contact area between the third ratchet 131c and tooth 112 is smaller than that between the second ratchet 131b. That is, the contact areas between the first ratchet 131a, the second ratchet 131b, and the third ratchet 131c and tooth 112 on the first drive transmission member 130a decrease sequentially. The other drive transmission members 130 are in the same situation as the first drive transmission member 130a, that is, the contact areas between the three ratchets 131 and tooth 112 decrease sequentially.

[0072] See Figure 10 , Figure 11 and Figure 12 The second component 120 includes a first end face 128, which has a plurality of receiving slots 123 corresponding to the number of drive transmission components 130. The openings 124 of the receiving slots 123 face the teeth 112. Each drive transmission component 130 is slidably disposed in one of the receiving slots 123. The ratchet of the drive transmission component 130 can extend out of the openings 124 of the receiving slots 123 and engage with the teeth 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the first end face 128 of the second component 120 has six receiving slots 123 evenly spaced along its axial direction. It should be understood that in other embodiments, the number of receiving slots 123 can be adjusted according to the number of drive transmission components 130, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0073] See Figure 10 and Figure 14The ratchet mechanism 100 also includes a cover 140 that covers the first end face 128 of the second member 120. The cover 140 prevents the drive transmission member 130 from dislodging from the receiving groove 123 along the axial direction of the second member 120. The cover 140 may be configured as a ring structure. Guide components are provided on the cover 140 and the second member 120 to ensure that the cover 140 can be quickly positioned when installed on the second member 120, thereby facilitating the installation of the cover 140. Preferably, the guide component includes a positioning groove 141 provided on the cover 140 and a protrusion 126 provided on the second member 120. When installing the cover 140, the protrusion 126 is aligned with the positioning groove 141, so that the protrusion 126 is inserted into the positioning groove 141, which can limit the relative position of the cover 140 and the second member 120, thereby achieving rapid positioning and installation of the cover 140. It should be understood that the guide assembly can also be other structures that can quickly position the cover 140 and the second component 120, such as snap-fit ​​fasteners, etc., without specific limitations. The number of protrusions 126 and positioning grooves 141 can be set according to actual needs, and they are distributed along the circumference of the second component 120 and staggered with the receiving groove 123, so as not to interfere with the drive transmission component 130.

[0074] The width of the receiving groove 123 is the same as the width of the drive transmission member 130, that is, the receiving groove 123 itself acts as a limiting groove to ensure that the drive transmission member 130 does not wobble or deviate when sliding in the receiving groove 123, and to ensure that the drive transmission member 130 can accurately re-engage with the tooth after each disengagement. The receiving groove 123 can be formed independently of the second member 120, or it can be formed together with the cover 140. In some embodiments, in order to allow the drive transmission member 130 to slide in the receiving groove 123 in a predetermined direction, a first guide groove 125 is provided on one side of the receiving groove 123 (the side away from the cover 140), and a first guide block 133 is provided on the corresponding side of the drive transmission member 130. The first guide block 133 extends outward from the drive transmission member 130, and when the drive transmission member 130 is installed in the receiving groove 123, the first guide block 133 is located within the first guide groove 125. In some embodiments, the cover 140 is provided with a second guide groove 143, and the drive transmission member 130 is provided with a second guide block 134 on the side opposite to the first guide block 133. When the cover 140 is closed on the second member 120, the second guide block 134 is located within the second guide groove 143. The first guide groove 125, the second guide groove 143, and the receiving groove 123 extend in the same direction. The first guide block 133 slides in conjunction with the first guide groove 125, and the second guide block 134 slides in conjunction with the second guide groove 143, which can limit and guide the sliding of the drive transmission member 130, ensuring that the drive transmission member 130 always slides along the extension direction of the receiving groove 123; at the same time, it can also improve the stability of the drive transmission member 130 during the sliding process and reduce shaking. It should be understood that only one of the inner walls of the cover 140 and the receiving groove 123 may have a guide groove, and a guide block may be provided on the side of the drive transmission member 130 corresponding to the guide groove, as long as the sliding direction of the drive transmission member 130 can be restricted.

[0075] In some embodiments, the drive transmission member 130 is provided with a clearance portion 132, which is located on the side opposite to the ratchet 131. By providing the clearance portion 132, the drive transmission member 130 can be prevented from being interfered with when sliding along the receiving groove 123, thereby improving the smoothness of the sliding of the drive transmission member 130.

[0076] like Figure 13As shown, the ratchet mechanism 100 also includes a plurality of elastic members 136 corresponding to the number of drive transmission members 130. The elastic members 136 are disposed between the drive transmission members 130 and the second member 120. The elastic members 136 can apply an elastic force to the drive transmission members 130, causing the drive transmission members 130 to tend to move towards the teeth 112. The elastic members 136 can also apply a preload force towards the teeth 112 to the drive transmission members 130, causing the drive transmission members 130 to tend to move towards the teeth 112, thus assisting the drive transmission members 130 in meshing with the teeth 112. The two ends of the elastic members 136 abut against the drive transmission members 130 and the second member 120, preferably against the inner wall of the drive transmission members 130 and the receiving groove 123, respectively. When the drive transmission members 130 disengage from the teeth 112, they move within the receiving groove 123 towards the side away from the teeth 112, further compressing the elastic members 136. The elastic element 136 can be a spring, rubber component, silicone component, or other elastic component. Figure 13 In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic element 136 is a spring, with one end abutting against the side wall of the receiving groove 123 and the other end sleeved on the boss 135 of the drive transmission member 130. In some embodiments, a channel for receiving the spring is provided on the side wall of the receiving groove 123 that contacts the spring. In some embodiments, see [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 11 and Figure 14 A first protrusion 127 is provided on the side wall of the receiving groove 123, and the end of the first protrusion 127 is set in an arc shape. A second protrusion 142 is provided on the cover 140, and the end of the second protrusion 142 is set in an arc shape. When the cover 140 is covered on the second component 120, the two arc-shaped ends of the first protrusion 127 and the second protrusion 142 surround to form a channel for receiving the spring.

[0077] Example 2

[0078] Figure 18-21 Example 2 is shown. Most features of this example are the same as those of Example 1; the differences between the two examples will be described below only.

[0079] In this embodiment, the ratchet 131 and tooth 112 of each drive transmission member 130 have the same meshing state, but the meshing state between different drive transmission members 130 and tooth 112 is different. For example... Figure 18As shown, the ratchet mechanism includes six drive transmission components: a first drive transmission component 130a, a second drive transmission component 130b, a third drive transmission component 130c, a fourth drive transmission component 130d, a fifth drive transmission component 130f, and a sixth drive transmission component 130e. The six drive transmission components are evenly spaced along the circumference of the second component 120. The meshing state of every two drive transmission components 130 with the teeth 112 is the same; that is, the first drive transmission component 130a and the fourth drive transmission component 130d are in the same meshing state, the second drive transmission component 130b and the fifth drive transmission component 130e are in the same meshing state, and the third drive transmission component 130c and the sixth drive transmission component 130f are in the same meshing state. Figures 19-21 In the indicated state, the first drive transmission member 130a and the fourth drive transmission member 130d are partially engaged with the tooth 112, for example, in a 1 / 3 engagement state; the second drive transmission member 130b and the fifth drive transmission member 130e are partially engaged with the tooth 112, for example, in a 2 / 3 engagement state; the third drive transmission member 130c and the sixth drive transmission member 130f are fully engaged with the tooth 112, at which point the tooth tips of the third drive transmission member 130c and the sixth drive transmission member 130f are opposite to the groove bottom of the tooth 112. When the ratchet mechanism is along... Figure 18 When rotating in the +X direction as shown, it will sequentially switch between three states: the third drive transmission member 130c and the sixth drive transmission member 130f are fully engaged with the tooth 112; the second drive transmission member 130b and the fifth drive transmission member 130e are fully engaged with the tooth 112; and the first drive transmission member 130a and the fourth drive transmission member 130d are fully engaged with the tooth 112.

[0080] II. Ratchet Wrench

[0081] The first part describes the ratchet mechanism of this application, and in this part, the application of the ratchet mechanism in a wrench will be described.

[0082] like Figure 22 and Figure 23As shown, the wrench 200 includes a handle 210, the end of which is provided with a corresponding wrench head 220. The wrench head 220 contains a ratchet mechanism 100 as described in any of embodiments 1-2. The first component 110 of this ratchet mechanism 100 can be integrally formed with the handle 210. In the example shown, the wrench head 200 is provided with a drive part 122, which can engage with the outer side of various nuts and screws. When the user operates the handle 210, applying torque, the first component 110 is driven to rotate. This motion is transmitted to the second component 120 via the drive transmission component 130, causing the drive part 122 to rotate as well, thus achieving the purpose of outputting torque. When the user rotates the handle 210 in the opposite direction, the ratchet mechanism 100 rotates, and the second component 120 does not rotate, allowing the user's hand to return to its original position, enabling continuous tightening of fasteners in confined spaces.

[0083] The other end of the handle 210 away from the ratchet mechanism 100 may also include a fixed-end portion 230. The fixed-end portion 230 has a third through hole 231 at its center, allowing it to be fitted onto the outside of external components such as nuts. The third through hole 231 can be hexagonal, quadrilateral, or other structures capable of engaging external components like nuts, or other structures that can match external components like nuts. The sidewall of the third through hole 231 has an opening to facilitate inserting external components like nuts into it. Because the fixed-end portion 230 is stronger than the ratchet mechanism 100, it can be used when a larger force is required to tighten or loosen external components, and when there is ample operating space. This makes operation more convenient, thus broadening the applicability of the wrench 200.

[0084] The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above. It should be understood that those skilled in the art can make numerous modifications and variations based on the concept of the present invention without creative effort. Therefore, all technical solutions that can be obtained by those skilled in the art based on the concept of the present invention through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation on the basis of existing technology should be within the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

1. A ratchet mechanism, characterized in that, The ratchet mechanism includes: The first component has an annular surface on which a plurality of teeth parallel to its axial direction are provided; The second component is rotatably disposed within the annular surface of the first component; At least two ratchet teeth are disposed on at least one drive transmission member, the drive transmission member being movably disposed on the second member, the ratchet teeth being configured to engage with the teeth to transmit motion between the first member and the second member, wherein the ratchet teeth and the teeth have at least two different engagement states.

2. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The ratchet mechanism includes a plurality of drive transmission components, each of which has at least one ratchet tooth.

3. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the plurality of drive transmission components has at least two ratchet teeth, wherein the ratchet teeth of each drive transmission component have at least two engagement states with the teeth.

4. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The ratchet teeth of each drive transmission member are distributed sequentially along the sliding direction of the drive transmission member in which they are located, and the distance between the tooth tip and the tooth groove of the ratchet teeth decreases sequentially, so that the contact area between the ratchet teeth and the tooth decreases sequentially.

5. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second component has at least one receiving groove arranged circumferentially, and one of the drive transmission components is disposed in one of the receiving grooves. The drive transmission component is configured to slide along the receiving groove, such that the ratchet extends from the opening of the receiving groove.

6. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 5, characterized in that, Each of the drive transmission components is provided with a clearance portion, which is located on the side of the drive transmission component opposite to the ratchet.

7. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 5, characterized in that, One side of the receiving groove has a first guide groove extending along the sliding direction of the drive transmission member, and the drive transmission member has a first guide block that cooperates with the first guide groove, the first guide block being located within the first guide groove.

8. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The ratchet mechanism includes a cover that covers the end face of the second component where the receiving groove is provided.

9. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The cover is provided with a positioning groove, and the second component is provided with a protrusion that cooperates with the positioning groove.

10. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The cover includes a second guide groove extending along the sliding direction of the drive transmission member, and the drive transmission member has a second guide block that cooperates with the second guide groove, the second guide block being located within the second guide groove.

11. The ratchet mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The width of the drive transmission component is equal to or greater than the dimension of the tooth along the axial direction of the first component.

12. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The ratchet mechanism includes at least two sets of drive transmission mechanisms, each set of drive transmission mechanisms including at least two drive transmission mechanisms, and the at least two drive transmission mechanisms are in the same meshing state as the teeth.

13. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 12, characterized in that, Each set of drive transmission mechanisms is symmetrically distributed along the circumference of the second component.

14. The ratchet mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The second component is provided with a drive unit, which is configured to cooperate with an external component to transmit torque to the external component.

15. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 5, characterized in that, An elastic element is provided between the drive transmission member and the second member. The elastic element is configured to apply a force to the drive transmission member, which causes the drive transmission member to move in the direction of the tooth.

16. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The elastic element is a spring, one end of which is sleeved on the boss of the drive transmission member, and the other end of which is connected to the side wall of the receiving groove.

17. The ratchet mechanism as described in claim 16, characterized in that, The sidewall of the receiving groove has a channel for receiving the spring.

18. The ratchet mechanism as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The ratchet mechanism includes multiple drive transmission components, the second component includes multiple receiving slots, one drive transmission component is disposed in one receiving slot, each drive transmission component has multiple ratchet teeth, and the contact area between each ratchet tooth and the tooth is different.

19. A wrench, characterized in that, The wrench includes a handle, one end of which is provided with a ratchet mechanism as described in any one of claims 1-18.

20. The wrench as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that, The first component of the ratchet mechanism is integrally formed with the handle.

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