Setup ratchet key

Abstract

Setup ratchet key (10), which includes: a wrench body (20) with a head section (21), a handle section (22) connected to the head section (21) and a through hole (23) passing through the head section (21); a ratchet head (30) rotatably arranged in the through-hole (23) of the wrench body (20) and having a fitting hole (31) extending through the top and bottom of the ratchet head (30); and a rotary assembly (40) with a ratchet ring (41) mounted on the ratchet head (30) and a unidirectional actuating element (42) arranged between the ratchet ring (41) and the head section (21) of the wrench body (20) to restrict the rotation of the ratchet head (30) relative to the wrench body (20) in a single direction.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to setting ratchet wrenches and in particular to a setting ratchet wrench which has a simple design and is easy to assemble. 2. State of the art

[0002] When working within various complex mechanical structures, operators often have limited space to perform their tasks, or obstacles near the work area prevent them from turning a wrench smoothly and continuously to tighten or loosen a nut. This often results in significant wasted time. The unique feature of a ratchet wrench is its ability to rotate in one direction while freewheeling in the opposite direction, allowing the operator to perform the task with relatively continuous movements even in confined spaces.

[0003] To improve the ease of use of ratchet wrenches, most are designed for bidirectional operation. The user simply needs to operate the ratchet wrench's shift lever to change the engagement position between the pawl and the ratchet wheel, thereby reversing the direction of rotation. TW I807712 discloses a ratchet wrench design comprising a main body, a ratchet wheel, a pawl, a direction-switching device, a limiting element, and a first ring body. The limiting element is connected to the main body, the pawl, and the direction-switching device, allowing the user to change the direction of rotation of the ratchet wrench by flipping the direction-switching device. TW I865327 discloses a single-sided gear-driven ratchet wrench design comprising a wrench body, a brake unit, and a ratchet wheel.By using a first and second pawl on the brake unit, the operating accuracy of the first and second pawls can be improved, thus achieving the function of a drive with small tooth pitch. However, such bidirectional reversible ratchet wrenches require complex designs that not only pose machining difficulties but also present problems with the assembly of small parts, making them difficult to assemble. Accordingly, the question of how to provide a ratchet wrench with a simplified design is the direction being considered by the inventor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A principal object of the present invention is to provide a setting ratchet wrench that performs the function of setting rotation with a simplified design. To achieve this object, the setting ratchet wrench of the present invention comprises a wrench body, a ratchet head, and a rotating assembly. The wrench body has a head section, a handle section connected to the head section, and a through-hole extending through the head section. The ratchet head is rotatably mounted in the through-hole of the wrench body and has a locating hole extending through the top and bottom of the ratchet head.The rotating assembly comprises a ratchet ring slid onto the ratchet head and a one-sided actuating element positioned between the ratchet ring and the head section of the wrench body to restrict the rotation of the ratchet head relative to the wrench body in a single direction.

[0005] It is evident from the foregoing that the rotary assembly has a modular design, which makes the entire assembly process convenient and quick, and allows the ratchet head to perform the setup rotation function via the rotary assembly. The setup actuation element is only moved when the ratchet head is rotated in a specific direction. If the ratchet head is not rotated in the specified direction, the rotary assembly is in a mutually locked state and cannot be actuated, thus restricting the direction of rotation of the ratchet head. This allows a user to smoothly tighten or loosen a nut even in situations with limited space. Furthermore, the present invention has a simple design and can effectively reduce manufacturing costs.Preferably, an inner circumferential surface of the head section of the wrench body is further formed with a stop section that surrounds the ratchet head and abuts the ratchet ring. In this way, when the ratchet head is inserted through the through-hole of the wrench body, one end projects beyond the stop section, thereby exposing a clamping structure formed around the locating hole for engagement with a nut, while the stop section serves to limit the rotation of the assembly so that it can be actuated smoothly.

[0006] Preferably, the unidirectional ratchet wrench further comprises a positioning plate and a positioning lock. An outer circumferential surface of the positioning plate is formed with a first positioning groove, and an inner circumferential surface of the head section of the wrench body is formed with a second positioning groove. After the ratchet head has been inserted through the through-hole, the positioning plate is slid around one end of the ratchet head and supported on the rotating assembly, and the positioning lock is arranged in the first positioning groove and the second positioning groove to limit the positions of the ratchet head and the rotating assembly in the through-hole.Accordingly, the positioning lock engages simultaneously in the positioning plate and the wrench body, so that one end of the ratchet head is surrounded by the positioning plate and the clamping structure formed around the locating hole is exposed to engage a nut, allowing both sides of the setup ratchet wrench to be used.

[0007] Preferably, an outer circumferential surface of the ratchet ring has a ratchet tooth, and the unidirectional actuating element comprises an elastic element arranged on the ratchet tooth and a rolling element bearing against the elastic element. When the ratchet head is rotated in a first direction, the rolling element bears against an inner circumferential surface of the head section of the wrench body. When the ratchet head is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first, the elastic element is compressed, and the rolling element moves away from the inner circumferential surface of the head section of the wrench body. In this way, the unidirectional actuating element can only be actuated when the ratchet head is rotated in a specific direction, thus restricting it to a single direction of rotation.

[0008] Preferably, the unidirectional actuating element has two such rolling elements. The two rolling elements are a first rolling element, which bears against the elastic element, and a second rolling element, which bears against the first rolling element. The size of the first rolling element is larger than the size of the second rolling element, such that when the ratchet head is rotated in the first direction, both the first rolling element and the second rolling element bear against the inner circumferential surface of the head section of the wrench body, and when the ratchet head is rotated in the second direction, the elastic element is compressed, and both the first rolling element and the second rolling element are removed from the inner circumferential surface of the head section of the wrench body.In this way, by arranging roller elements of two different sizes, the braking force can be increased, making the ratchet head more resistant to rotation in a non-specific direction and preventing reverse rotation caused by wear of the roller elements.

[0009] Further advantages and features of the present invention will be fully understood with reference to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals denote the same components. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a perspective view of the present invention; Fig. Figure 2 is an exploded view of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the present invention, showing a state in which the ratchet head is rotated in a second direction; and Fig. Figure 5 is a sectional view of the present invention, showing a state in which the ratchet head is rotated in a first direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] It was on Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. Reference is made to Figure 3. A ratchet wrench 10 of the present invention comprises a wrench body 20, a ratchet head 30 and a rotating assembly 40.

[0011] The wrench body 20 is formed in one piece. The wrench body 20 has a head section 21, a handle section 22 connected to the head section 21, and a through-hole 23 that extends through the top and bottom of the head section 21. At the position of the through-hole 23, a stop section 24 and a second positioning groove 25 are also formed on the inner circumferential surface of the head section 21. The stop section 24 and the second positioning groove 25 are located at opposite ends of the head section 21.

[0012] The ratchet head 30 has a cylindrical outer shape and is hollow. The ratchet head 30 features a fitting hole 31 that extends through a top and a bottom surface of the ratchet head 30. A clamping structure is formed around the fitting hole 31, which can, for example, have a hexagonal or dodecagonal shape to fit most nuts, allowing the ratchet head 30 to engage with various nuts for tightening or loosening operations.

[0013] The rotary assembly 40 comprises a ratchet ring 41 and a unidirectional actuating element 42. An outer circumferential surface of the ratchet ring 41 is formed with several ratchet teeth 411. When the ratchet ring 41 is slid around the ratchet head 30, the ratchet teeth 411 are arranged at equal intervals around the ratchet head 30. The unidirectional actuating element 42 comprises several first rolling elements 421, several second rolling elements 423, and several elastic elements 422. The first rolling elements 421 and the second rolling elements 423 can be, for example, rollers or balls, with the first rolling elements 421 being larger than the second rolling elements 423. The elastic element 422 can be, for example, a spring. Each ratchet tooth 411 of the ratchet ring 41 is formed with a receiving groove 412 in which the elastic element 422 is received.One end of the elastic element 422 abuts the first rolling element 421, and the first rolling element 421 and the second rolling element 423 abut each other.

[0014] The setting ratchet wrench 10 further comprises a positioning plate 50 and a positioning lock 60. The positioning plate 50 has an annular hollow structure, and its outer circumferential surface is provided with a first positioning groove 51. The positioning lock 60 can, for example, be a C-shaped retaining ring that engages in the first positioning groove 51 of the positioning plate 50 and the second positioning groove 25 of the head section 21 of the wrench body 20.

[0015] During assembly, the ratchet ring 41 is slid directly around an outer circumferential surface of the ratchet head 30 and is positioned in a central position on the ratchet head 30. Since the height of the ratchet ring 41 is less than the height of the ratchet head 30, the two ends of the ratchet head 30 extend beyond the two ends of the ratchet ring 41, thus connecting the ratchet ring 41 and the ratchet head 30. Next, the ratchet head 30, with the swivel assembly 40 mounted on it, is inserted into the through-hole 23 of the wrench body 20, and one end of the ratchet ring 41 is pressed against the stop section 24 of the head section 21 of the wrench body 20, with one end of the ratchet head 30 extending beyond and surrounding the stop section 24, thus exposing the clamping structure around the fitting bore 31.Thus, the ratchet ring 41 and the ratchet head 30 are limited in their position by the stop section 24. At this point, the rotary assembly 40 is arranged between the head section 21 of the wrench body 20 and the ratchet head 30, and the unidirectional actuating element 42 of the rotary assembly 40 is arranged between the ratchet ring 41 and an inner circumferential surface of the head section 21 of the wrench body 20. In a state in which the ratchet head 30 is not rotated, as in . Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the first roller elements 421 and the second elements 423 abut the ratchet teeth 411 and the inner circumferential surface of the head section 21 of the wrench body 20. The positioning lock 60 then engages in the second positioning groove 25 of the head section 21 of the wrench body 20, and the positioning plate 50 is attached. The positioning plate 50 is slid around the other end of the ratchet head 30 and positioned against the ratchet ring 41, while the positioning lock 60 engages in the first positioning groove 51 of the positioning plate 50. At this point, an outer surface of the positioning lock 60 engages in the second positioning groove 25, and an inner surface of the positioning lock 60 engages in the first positioning groove 51. In this way, the setup ratchet wrench 10 is assembled.The head section 21 of the wrench body 20 and the positioning plate 50 are fastened to each other by means of the positioning lock 60. Together with the stop section 24 of the wrench body 20, the positioning plate 50 and the positioning lock 60 restrict the positions of the ratchet head 30 and the swivel assembly 40 in the through-hole 23, thus preventing the ratchet head 30 and the swivel assembly 40 from easily dislodging from the through-hole 23.

[0016] With reference to Fig. 4. In actual operation, a user fits the ratchet head 30 onto a nut and begins to turn the setup ratchet wrench 10 to tighten or loosen the nut. When the ratchet head 30 is rotated relative to the wrench body 20 in a second direction D2, the ratchet head 30 drives the rotating assembly 40 to rotate together in the second direction D2, thereby pressing the first rolling elements 421 and the second rolling elements 423 through the head section 21 of the wrench body 20, while the elastic elements 422 are compressed, with one end of them bearing on the ratchet teeth 411.At this point, the first roller elements 421 and the second roller elements 423 are displaced along the inclined surfaces 413 of the ratchet ring 41, creating a gap between the first and second roller elements 421, 423 and the inner circumferential surface of the head section 21 of the wrench body 20, so that the ratchet head 30 can be rotated smoothly.

[0017] In actual operation, a user generally rotates the unidirectional ratchet wrench 10 continuously, so that all elastic elements 422 are compressed simultaneously, creating gaps between the first and second rolling elements 421, 423 and the inner circumferential surface of the head section 21 of the wrench body 20. This allows the ratchet head 30 to rotate smoothly in the second direction D2 until the user has completed the tightening or loosening of the nut. However, if the user rotates the ratchet head 30 in a first direction D1 opposite to the second direction D2, as in Fig.As shown in Figure 5, the first and second roller elements 421, 423 simultaneously engage the ratchet teeth 411 and the inner circumferential surface of the head section 21 of the wrench body 20 in a pressed position, thereby locking the rotating assembly 40 against actuation and thus preventing rotation of the ratchet head 30. In this way, rotation is limited to a single direction, allowing the user to smoothly tighten or loosen nuts even in confined spaces.

[0018] After the ratchet head 30 is inserted through the through-hole 23 of the wrench body 20, one end of it projects beyond the stop section 24, exposing the clamping structure. When the other end is fitted with the positioning plate 50, the clamping structure is also exposed. Therefore, the nut can be engaged with the clamping structure of the ratchet head 30 from either side of the setup ratchet wrench 10. Although the setup ratchet wrench 10 of the present invention does not have a mechanism for reversing the direction of rotation, the user can change the direction of rotation of the setup ratchet wrench 10 by reversing the setup ratchet wrench 10.

[0019] The foregoing description shows that the present invention offers the following advantages compared to the prior art: 1. In contrast to a conventional ratchet wrench with a complicated ratchet mechanism and a switching mechanism, the unidirectional ratchet wrench 10 of the present invention combines the wrench body 20, the ratchet head 30 and the rotating assembly 40, thus offering the advantages of a simple structure and easy assembly, which can significantly reduce manufacturing costs while simultaneously meeting the requirement of unidirectional rotation. 2. The setup ratchet wrench 10 of the present invention allows the ratchet head 30 to be rotated in a single direction by the rotary assembly 40. The ratchet ring 41 is driven by the ratchet head 30, and the unidirectional actuating element 42 is displaced by a relative position between the ratchet ring 41 and the head section 21 of the wrench body 20 to restrict the ratchet head 30 so that it can only be rotated in a specific direction. Furthermore, the rotary assembly 40 has a modular design, which facilitates the assembly of the setup ratchet wrench 10.

[0020] The description of the invention indicates that it can be varied in many respects. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all modifications that are obvious to a person skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.

[0021] A ratchet wrench assembly comprises a wrench body, a ratchet head, and a rotating assembly. The wrench body has a head section, a handle section connected to the head section, and a through-hole extending through the head section. The ratchet head is rotatably mounted in the through-hole of the wrench body and has a locating hole extending through the top and bottom of the ratchet head. The rotating assembly comprises a ratchet ring slid onto the ratchet head and a unidirectional actuating element positioned between the ratchet ring and the head section of the wrench body to restrict the rotation of the ratchet head relative to the wrench body in a single direction.Accordingly, the single-sided ratchet wrench can achieve the function of one-sided rotation with a simplified structure, thus offering advantages such as easy assembly and low manufacturing costs.

Claims

[1] Setup ratchet key (10), which includes: a wrench body (20) with a head section (21), a handle section (22) connected to the head section (21) and a through hole (23) passing through the head section (21); a ratchet head (30) rotatably arranged in the through-hole (23) of the wrench body (20) and having a fitting hole (31) extending through the top and bottom of the ratchet head (30); and a rotary assembly (40) with a ratchet ring (41) mounted on the ratchet head (30) and a unidirectional actuating element (42) arranged between the ratchet ring (41) and the head section (21) of the wrench body (20) to restrict the rotation of the ratchet head (30) relative to the wrench body (20) in a single direction. [2] Ratchet wrench (10) according to claim 1, wherein an inner circumferential surface of the head section (21) of the wrench body (20) is further formed with a stop section (24) that surrounds the ratchet head (30) and abuts the ratchet ring (41). [3] Ratchet wrench (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a positioning plate (50) and a positioning lock (60), wherein an outer circumferential surface of the positioning plate (50) has a first positioning groove (51) and an inner circumferential surface of the head section (21) of the wrench body (20) has a second positioning groove (25); the positioning plate (50) is mounted on one end of the ratchet head (30) and abuts the ratchet ring (41); the positioning lock (60) is arranged in the first positioning groove (51) and the second positioning groove (25) to limit the positions of the ratchet head (30) and the rotating assembly (40) within the through hole (23). [4] Ratchet wrench according to claim 1, wherein an outer circumferential surface of the ratchet ring (41) has a ratchet tooth (411), and the unidirectional actuating element (42) has an elastic element (422) arranged on the ratchet tooth (411) and a rolling element (42) bearing against the elastic element (422), wherein when the ratchet head (30) is rotated in a first direction (D1), the rolling element (421) (423) bears against the head section (21) of the wrench body (20), and when the ratchet head (30) is rotated in a second direction (D2) opposite to the first direction (D1), the elastic element (422) is compressed and the rolling element (421) (423) is removed from the head section (21) of the wrench body (20). [5] Ratchet wrench (10) according to claim 4, wherein the unidirectional actuating element (42) has two such roller elements (421) (423), wherein the two roller elements (421) (423) are each a first roller element (421) bearing against the elastic element (422) and a second roller element (423) bearing against the first roller element (421), wherein the size of the first roller element (421) is larger than the size of the second roller element (423), wherein when the ratchet head (30) is turned in the first direction (D1), both the first roller element (421) and the second roller element (423) bear against the head section (21) of the wrench body (20), and when the ratchet head (30) is turned in the second direction (D2), the elastic element (422) is compressed, and both the first roller element (421) as well as the second roller element (423) are removed from the head section (21) of the wrench body (20).

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