Ratcheting 3 jaw wrench

Abstract

The wrench 1 includes a head portion 300 to apply torque to a limited-access fastener (80, Figure 4), and a turning means 20. A first pivotal head portion 400 is attached to a second fixed head porti

Description

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to wrenches (also known as “spanners” in the United Kingdom), and in particular to opening box or ring wrenches used to circumvent obstructing tubes, pipes etc. attached to the fitting to be operated. Pipes or tubes utilise pipe or tube nuts or fasteners to connect the pipework to the various hydraulic, pneumatic or just fluid or air machines or controls. The tube nuts utilised are generally made from brass or other “soft” metals which can be easily damaged during dismantling especially when corrosion or the like causes the pipenut to be tighter than expected. When used on tight fasteners normal open ended or crowfoot wrenches tend to round off the corners of the flare nut drive flats often to a stage that they become inoperable. Background to the Invention In order to impart as much torque as possible to the worked flare nut or similar, various devices have been designed, in particular Buchanan US 7,073,413 consisting of a fold out flexible ring portion having an inner working surface for the engagement of the worked fastener. Buchanan US 7,073,413 denotes a very robust wrench, the spring steel wrench head designed to grip the worked fastener in a torque tightening manner, the more torque applied to the handle the greater the grip imparted by the wrench head upon the worked fastener. This wrench normally requires, to be removed from the flare nut hex drive then re-attached every time the wrench reaches the limit of its operational travel. A further ratcheting wrench being the commercial version of Buchanan US 6,978,701 as illustrated in Fig. 12 and 13, whereas in commercial production a compression spring is further utilised between segment 20d and 20c, the segments having further elongate portions with bores for the utilisation of the compression spring situated outwith the wrench head circumference in order that the resilient portion can impart an effective closing action upon the opening portion 20d, 20e, 20f the said segments opening in a cantilever like fashion, the said wrench head being capable of “ratcheting” 60 deg. from one fastener flat to the next when operated in the reverse direction.The resilient action shown in Fig. 13 is incorporated into the chain link like hinges or similar, although commercially very successful these wrenches could not be utilized in all situations. The appendages containing the compression spring resilient bias although very effective in closing the wrench segments curtails the use of the wrench when the gap between the fastener and any adjacent equipment is close. As the spring bores employed are inherently shallow the compression springs utilized are near or at their solid compression points when compressed which has in some circumstances led to kinking, bulging and premature failure. Furthermore the characterizing feature of US 6,978,701 upon which all claims are based is the wedge shaped flexible ring portion increases in width towards the free end of the said cantilevered - ring portion. An even further distinct disadvantage of this design is the opening of this wrench head design further normally requires the use of two hands. PCT / GB 2018 / 050702 Buchanan comprises a line wrench with a thumb switch operable pivotal ring portion and incumbent fastener engagement faces encompassing approximately 50% of the wrench head inner profile, the fixed ring portion encompassing approximately the other 50% of the wrench head inner profile. The said switch, pivotal and fixed ring portion substantial joint portions being at approximately 90deg to the handle portion, which in some circumstances can cause problems when operated near obstructions. The head portion fastener access opening at around 75% of the operated hexagonal fastener across the flat size, is substantially less than that of any operated hexagonal fastener across the flat measurement meaning like all prior art closing box or ring wrenches it requires to be fitted to the lesser width fastener elongate attachment first, then secondly placed in the operating position and the same operation in the removal procedure. The compression spring resilient closure means requires the use of elongate spring bores in both the pivotal and fixed head portions, the production process further requiring costly secondary drilling or a MIM (metal injection moulding) moving core in the moulding process. The undoubted inherent strength of the mechanism is derived from the closure mechanism, in use the pivotal ring portion free end engages in a locking procedure with the fixed cam face, the greater the torque applied to the wrench head portion the greater the locking and head compression force, the construction requires the implementation of high grade spring steel as the head segments require to flex at their incorporated sprung hinge like intersections as the head portion torque tightens upon the fastener head driven half faces. US 9884409 as claimed, by the Chinese manufacturers for over 10 years at that point of the US 6,978,701 manufactured device, is in essence an upside down near carbon copy version of the US 6,978,701 manufactured product, including the driving face profiles 12, 42, the cantilever links 20, the locking members 31, 32, the resilient portion 50 and its recesses 16. However the forces produced in a device made to the US9884409 are now quite different and require the first and second protrusions 17,41 to remain locked together to work, as illustrated in Fig.5, this, the essential factor however is not claimed. As further shown in Fig.6 the drive face 12 near the first end portion 15 is clearly not in contact with the corresponding fastener 60 driven face as this space is required in order to allow the fastener to “ratchet” within the “hexagonal space”. The wrench head also has a pivoting head portion 40 that has a free end portion 44. As described in column 3, lines 32 to 35 of US9884409 and shown in Figs. 5 and 6, to close the wrench head around a fastener 60 the free end portion 44 of the pivoting head portion 40 is moved along the 2 inner side of the free end portion 15 of the fixed head portion 10 and “inserted into the recess 14”. Thus, with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 it can be seen that when the pivoting head portion 40 is pivoted towards the fixed head portion 10 to close the wrench head around a fastener 60, the free end 44 of the pivoting head portion 40 merely clicks into the recess 14 in the fixed head portion 10. When a torque is applied to tighten there is no camming action that will increase the engagement between the fixed head portion 10 and pivoting jaw portion 40. If the pivoting jaw portion 44 were allowed to move further into the fixed head portion 10 from the position shown in Figs. 5 and 6, there would be no increase in engagement between them. This is because two concave regions, the fixed head portion second recess 14 and the corresponding un- numbered concave region adjacent the second end portion 44 would move opposite one another so that there would in fact be a reduction in the engagement between the two parts. However any opening movement is effectively prevented by the engagement of the first protrusion 17 and second protrusion 47 (see figure 5 and column 3, line 37), thus the wrench head disclosed in US9884409 cannot tighten onto a fastener 60 as increasing torque is applied. This means that for slightly undersized fasteners or fasteners 60 whose sides have been worn away, damaged or rounded off, there is a considerable risk that the US9884409 wrench head will slip off or further damage said fastener 60. Sparling US 4,967,612 which is a combination of known open wrench and known socket has an inherent problem in that it requires to “lock onto” a workpiece or fastener before any useful work can be done. Particularly any device made according to patent US4,967,612 is the proportion of the supplied torque arm force required to sustain the gripping members useful grip upon the workpiece or fastener. If the proportion of locking force is incorrect the gripping members (flexible sockets) grip upon the fastener would be insufficient to prevent the gripping members (flexible socket) from opening under normally occurring torque levels leading to “slippage” between the workpiece and flexible socket. In practice a similar sized device made to patent US4,967,612 has less than 20% of the locking force for the same applied torque arm force compared to US 6,978,701. US 7,146,884 denotes a two jaw open end wrench, head 14, according to claim 1, 6, 10 andl4 comprising two adjacent bite surfaces 24, 32 “disposed at an angle (Ft, Fc) greater than or equal to about 15 degrees and less than or equal to about 30 degrees with respect to the body axis” Figs.2B, 2C, 2D and in particular 2E, “between them a throat (web)” 18. Further claimed in claim 2, “wherein the (single) bite edges 29, 31 are of sufficient sharpness to plow into the fastener 36 sides” 46, 48 in order to drive the operated fastener 36 as illustrated in Figs 2E and 2F depicting the actual operation. As further described in the detailed description, “Plowing” “refers to the jaw bite edges and surfaces digging into the fastener head so that fastener material builds up in front 3 of the bite surface”, “in order to achieve adequate plowing, the bite surfaces must be adequately sharp”. The operated fastener 36 if tight to operate would be damaged and in most circumstances leaving problematic sharp bur’s. Furthermore claim 3 is specific in no engagement with a third torque application point. All the associated patents were allowed to lapse during or after 2010 US 2019 / 0118354 denotes a ratcheting line wrench with two separate single tooth ratchet pawls according to the drawings one utilized for each switchable direction. The central socket being interchangeable, said socket being typical of that utilized in a ratcheting wrench but with a section removed to allow the fastener elongate attachment to be overcome and the fastener drive flats to be engaged, this device as depicted would be an innately low torque device the main reason being the minimally small possible level of pawl teeth engagement. It is an object of the present invention to provide an uncomplicated tool that can be easily remotely operated using one hand, capable of direct fastener access, needs no locking mechanism, working on nearsized metric / inch fasteners, capable of working on undersized or extremely worn / damaged fasteners whilst being intuitive and robust in use, yet less expensive to manufacture. It is a further object of the ratcheting three jaw wrench, to at least partially alleviate any of the aforementioned disadvantages, or to provide an alternative to existing products. Summary of the Invention The invention provides a ratcheting three jaw wrench incorporating a resilient closure bias and a protective location for the resilient closure bias utilized, in accordance with the invention there is provided a ratcheting three jaw wrench having a head portion adapted to engage and apply torque in particular but not exclusively to a fastener such as a brake pipe fitting, or flare nut attached to a tube or pipe and a turning means for operating said head portion. Said head portion being in two main pieces, a first pivotal head portion attached to a second fixed head portion by a pivot pin, the pivotal head portion further resiliently urged towards the closed position by a resilient bias means. The head portion having three equidistant torque application points within the head portion inner operating profile for engagement with a normally hexagonally faceted flare nut, hydro-vac, plain fastener or any nut type pipe connector fitting drive surfaces (hereinafter termed a fastener) to be worked, all the torque application points having radiused leading edges, all said radiused leading edges facing in the drive torque direction. In use the head portion is opened by the application of the head portion inwardly curved fastener access profiles at the point of the head portion access gap upon the fastener drive flats. As the ratcheting three jaw wrench head portion inwardly curved fastener access profile is urged against the fastener drive flats to be operated the pivotal head portion opens without the any requirement of a push switch actuation portion, against the resilience of the resilient bias means, the pivotal head portion opening sufficiently to allow the fastener drive flats to be directly circumnavigated, then encompassed by the head portion inner operating profile, in order to directly engage the fastener drive flats to be worked without first overcoming any associated fastener elongate attachment, this being extremely advantageous when the fastener to be worked has limited access. Further operation of the turning means in the drive direction urges the fastener drive flats into robust engagement with the head portion torque application points, only the hexagonal fastener head, driven half faces are therefore now engaged by the head portion torque application points. The fixed head portion with the second torque application point incorporated within its distil end as it pivots around the pivot pin is forced towards the pivotal head portion inner drive profile clamping the hexagonal fastener head fastener driven half faces between the three torque application points, resulting in a very robust engagement of the fastener to be worked by the head portion inner operating profile upon the incumbent hexagonal fastener head fastener driven half faces. The more lever arm force applied in the drive torque direction to the turning means the greater the clamping force applied to grip said incumbent hexagonal fastener head, the ratio between the length of the operated handle turning means to the head portion pivot pin and pivot pin to the second torque application point incorporated within the fixed head portion distil end in normal constructions being around fourteen to one. When the ratcheting three jaw wrench is operated in the reverse or reposition direction the pivotal head portion swivels open around the pivot pin against the resistance of the resilient bias means until the pivotal head portion torque application points lose their grip upon their corresponding fastener flats. The pivotal head portion, inner operating profile adjoining the third torque application point front aspect and concave arcuate corner profile and the pivotal head portion proximal end, is scalloped out for the formation of an arcuate pathway for the required passage of the adjacent fastener comer point, allowing the pivotal head portion inner operating profile to be operated in the reverse or reposition direction in a ratchet like manner about the worked fastener driven half faces to different drive positions without removing the wrench head portion completely from the corresponding fastener head, as the said wrench head portion is reversed or repositioned upon the worked hexagonal fastener head, the abutting fastener corner point against the corresponding planar guide face situated between the first and third torque application point concave arcuate corner profiles further helps urge the adjoining fastener drive flat to pivot around the first jaw rolling face whilst the directly opposing fastener corner point can easily travel outwards from the confines of the pivotal head portion inner operating profile via the arcuate pathway until the first torque application point can engage the next available worked fastener driven half face, or any further worked fastener driven half face as required. In the first embodiment of the ratcheting three jaw wrench the head portion inner operating profile is notionally hexagonal in shape. This notionally hexagonal inner profile having as required indentations at the vertices in the shape of concave arcuate corner profiles, the radiused leading edge of the torque application points, formed at the point of convergence between the torque application point flat faces and concave arcuate corner profiles create the first and third low profile radiused leading edges, the second torque application point radiused leading edge is formed at the fixed head portion distil end, said radiused leading edges capable of engaging correspondingly sized fastener drive flat driven half faces in the direction of torque application, all inner operating profile radii chosen to prevent stress distortion or cracks under high torque use. In an even further embodiment of the ratcheting three jaw wrench, the ultimate opening of the pivotal head portion can result in a head portion access gap substantially over 100% of the corresponding fastener head width, allowing complete ease of direct fitment or removal of the head portion inner operating profile with regards to the worked hexagonal fastener head. In an even further embodiment of the ratcheting three jaw wrench, the first and third torque application points utilized, grip under tension the corresponding worked fastener driven half faces, acting to pull around said worked fastener drive flats in the direction of torque application, whereas the second torque application point acts under compression to push around its corresponding worked fastener driven flat face in the direction of the projected force application. The projected force applied to the fastener head driven half faces, is concentrated by the use of three equidistant sets of torque application points comprising flat faces, arcuate recesses and radiused leading edges gripping the corresponding fastener driven half faces of the fastener drive flats, all radiused leading edges facing in the drive torque direction. In best practice when used on properly sized undamaged fasteners the torque application points radiused leading edges are situated at similar generally equidistant points from the operated fastener comer points within the length of the operated fastener driven half faces, this is done in order to equalize the projected force or torque that can be applied to operate the fastener worked head, whilst minimizing the damage to either the head portion, torque application points, fastener driven half faces or corner points. The optimum point of engagement between the said radiused leading edges and the fastener corner points adjacent the fastener driven half faces, when used on properly sized undamaged hexagonal fastener heads is approximately 8-20 % of the length of the operated fastener drive flat from said fastener comer points and in best practice requires to be no more than 4mm in from the adjoining fastener corner points on even the largest ratcheting three jaw wrench, head portion sizes. An even further embodiment of the ratcheting three jaw wrench, whereas the head portion inner operating profile comprises three separate gripping points hereinafter termed torque application 6 points, one engaging each second corresponding fastener driven half face in the direction of the projected force application, the occurring force reactions within the head portion usefully projected into the deep robust head portion outer profile. The head portion, three torque application point inner operating profile purposely directs and tends to equalize its torque application point projected force similar in use to a known three legged stool, upon the worked fastener drive flats when operated in the chosen drive torque direction. In an even further embodiment of the ratcheting three jaw wrench, when a suitable hexagonal fastener head is already engaged within the pivotal head portion inner drive profile and operated in the drive torque direction, whereas as the pivotal head portion pivots closed around its pivot pin situated as near as practical to the fixed head portion second torque application point is the interaction of the corresponding remaining fastener head driven flat with the second torque application point incorporated within the fixed head portion inner drive profile. The greater the lever arm force applied to the handle turning means, the greater the clamping force between the pivotal head portion and fixed head portion, thus further greatly increasing the grip upon the incumbent worked fastener driven half faces by the triangular grip operating profile. In an even further embodiment of the ratcheting three jaw wrench, the head portion being in two main pieces, a pivotal head portion attached to a fixed head portion generally at the pivotal head portions central point by a pivot pin and further optionally operable by a push switch actuator incorporated towards the turning means end. In an even further embodiment of the ratcheting three jaw wrench the pivotal head portion is resiliently urged towards the closed position by a resilient bias means in best practice in the form of a U shaped wire torsion spring held around the pivot pin with the resilient bias means legs acting upon both the said fixed and opening portions of the said wrench head portion in order to resiliently bias the said pivotal head portion inner drive profile inwards towards the said fixed head portion, it is obvious that other types and profiles of springs can be used. In order to effect a ratchet like action between the head portion and the operated fastener, the pivotal head portion is resiliently biased into the closed position by the resilient bias means. This sprung hinge like mechanism allows the said pivotal head portion to swivel open, to not only allow the said wrench head inner profile to usefully access the fastener drive flats but allow the pivotal head portion to usefully open enough against the said resilient bias means to allow the head portion to be repositioned in the reverse direction onto the next fastener drive face or drive comer ready for the next drive sequence. The said pivotal head portion can be further optionally swivelled open against the force of the resilient portion, by a push switch actuator incorporated within the pivotal head portion, for the purpose of accessing or withdrawal from the fastener drive flats or the circumference of any fastener elongate attachment. In an even further embodiment of the ratcheting three jaw wrench, the notionally hexagonal shaped wrench head inner drive profile can be slightly oversized compared to the hexagonal fastener head worked, this allows the said worked fastener head to rotate very slightly bringing the torque application point radiused leading edges to grip the corresponding fastener driven half faces in an enhanced manner, this novel inner drive profile is further capable of robustly operating 5% undersized or near undersized inch / metric fastener sizes. In an even further embodiment of the ratcheting three jaw wrench, incorporates a turning means square drive for operation by known square drive extensions drive bars etc. (not shown). While one or more preferred embodiments of the preferred invention have been described above, it should have been understood that any and all equivalent realisations of the present invention are included within the scope and spirit thereof. The embodiments depicted are presented by way of example only and are not intended as limitations upon the present invention. Thus, it should be understood by those of ordinary skill in this art that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments since modifications can be made. Therefore, it is contemplated that any and all such embodiments are included in the present invention as may fall within the scope of appended claims. A Marshalling of Reference Numerals Utilized in the Drawings Following is a listing of the various components used in the best mode preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments. For the ready reference of the reader the reference numerals have been arranges in ascending numerical order. 1 / Ratcheting 3 Jaw Wrench 402 / Pivotal Head Portion Resilient Bias Face 403 / Pivotal Head Portion Rolling Face 20 / Turning Means 404 / Pivotal Head Portion Proximal End 405 / Pivotal Head Portion Outer Swivel Layer 300 / Head Portion 406 / Pivotal Head Portion Pivot Pin Bore 301 / Head Portion Outer Profile 407 / Push Switch Actuator 302 / Head Portion Inner Operating Profile 408 / Drive Profile Planar Guide Face 303 / Inner Notionally Hexagonal Profile 304 / Inwardly Curved Fastener Access Profile 500 / Fixed Head Portion 305 / Angled Fastener Access 501 / Fixed Head Portion Inner Drive Profile 306 / Head Portion Fastener Access Gap 502 / Inner Swivel Joint Layer 307 / First Jaw 503 / Fixed Head Portion Pivot Pin Bore 308 / Second Jaw 504 / Fixed Head Portion Resilient bias Recess 309 / Third Jaw 505 / Fixed Head Portion Distil End 310 / Triangular Grip Operating Profile 311 / Equi distant Torque Application Points 60 / Pivot Pin 312 / First Torque Application Point 70 / Resilient Bias Means 313 / Second Torque Application Point 71 / Resilient Bias Legs 314 / Third Torque Application Point 72 / Resilient Bias U Section Spring Wire 315 / Torque Application Point Radiused Leading Edges 80 / Fastener 316 / Torque Application Point Flat Faces 81 / Hexagonal Fastener Head 317 / Torque Application Point Arcuate Recesses 82 / Fastener Drive Flats 318 / Torque Application Point Leading Edge Front Aspect 83 / Fastener Driven Half Faces 319 / Torque Application Point Rear Aspect 84 / Fastener Corner Points 320 / Concave Arcuate Comer Profiles 85 / Fastener Elongate Attachment 321 / Arcuate Pathway D / Drive Torque Direction R / Reverse / Reposition Direction F / Lever Arm Force FR / Force Reaction PF / Projected Force 400 / Pivotal Head Portion CF / Clamping Force 401 / Pivotal Head Portion Inner Drive Profile Brief Description of the Drawings A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended drawings, in which: 5 Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the ratcheting three jaw wrench. In accordance with the present invention, the head portion inwardly curved profile fastener access abutting the fastener drive flats. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the ratcheting three jaw wrench head portion engaged upon a hexagonal fastener head in the lever arm force direction. Fig.3 is a plan view of the ratcheting three jaw wrench head portion engaged upon a hexagonal fastener head in the drive direction. Fig. 4 is a close- up plan view of the ratcheting three jaw wrench pivotal head portions grip upon corresponding fastener flats. Fig. 5 is a close- up plan view of the ratcheting three jaw wrench fixed head portions grip upon corresponding fastener flats. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the ratcheting three jaw wrench head portion engaged upon a hexagonal fastener head said wrench urged in the reverse direction, the head portion inner operating profile in the open position. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the ratcheting three jaw wrench head portion engaged upon a hexagonal fastener head in the reverse direction the head portion inner operating profile in the open position. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the ratcheting three jaw wrench, the head portion inwardly curved profile fastener access being prised apart by the fastener drive flats, in order to allow the head portion inner drive profile to directly access the fastener head. Fig.9 is a plan view of the ratcheting three jaw wrench, the topmost pivotal head portion outer swivel layer removed in order to display the resilient bias means. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the ratcheting three jaw wrench dismantled into its constituent parts for demonstration purposes. Detailed Description As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as one skilled in the art to variously employ the invention. The embodiments described herewith will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 10 and as further described and numbered in claims 1 to 10 of the claims, in accordance with the invention there is provided a three jaw ratcheting wrench 1 incorporating a resilient bias means 70 and a protective location for the resilient bias means 70 utilized. A three jaw ratcheting wrench 1 having a head portion 300 adapted to engage and apply torque in particular but not exclusively to a fastener 80 such as a brake pipe fitting, or flare nut attached to a tube or pipe hereafter termed a fastener elongate attachment 85 and a turning means 20 for operating said head portion 300. Said head portion 300 being in two main pieces, a first pivotal head portion 400 rotationally attached in the same plane to a second fixed head portion 500 by a pivot pin 60 and resiliently urged towards the closed position by a resilient bias means 70. The opening function optionally operable towards the open position against the resilient bias means 70, by a push switch actuator 407 incorporated within the pivotal head portion 400. The head portion 300 inwardly curved profile fastener access 304 when pushed against the worked fastener drive flats 82 can open against the resilient bias 70, the pivotal head portion 400 further pivoting around the pivot pin 60 allowing the hexagonal fastener head 81 to directly access the inner operating profile 302, when the fastener 80 is inserted, the pivotal head portion 400 automatically closes towards the fixed head portion 500, further operation of the turning means 20 in the drive torque direction D urging the fastener head 81 into engagement with the head portion inner operating profile 302 equidistant first 312, second 313 and third 314 torque application points 311 which form the triangular gripping profile 310, locking said hexagonal fastener head 81 within said head portion inner operating profile 302, all torque application point radiused leading edges 315 facing in the drive torque direction D, an arcuate pathway 321 is further formed between the second torque application point 313 and third torque application points 314 concave arcuate corner profile 320 and a further pivotal head portion 400 drive inner drive profile 401 planar guide face 322 further aiding and allowing passage of the adjacent fastener corner points 84 when the head portion is operated in the reverse or reposition R manner, in order to provide a further no extra cost, fastener drive flat 82 to said drive flat 82 ratcheting feature; characterised wherein the head portion 300 incorporates a fastener access gap 306 and in best practice an inwardly curved fastener access profile 304 approximately at 90 degrees to the turning means 20, as the ratcheting three jaw wrench 1, head portion 300 inwardly curved fastener access profile 304, is urged against the fastener drive flats 82 the pivotal head portion 400 opens without the any requirement of a push switch actuator 407, against the resilience of the resilient bias means 70, the pivotal head portion 400 opening sufficiently to allow the fastener drive flats 82 to be directly circumnavigated, then encompassed by the head portion inner operating profile 302, in order to immediately engage the fastener drive flats 82 to be worked by the head portion inner operating profile 302, without first overcoming any associated fastener elongate attachment 85, this being extremely advantageous when the fastener 80 to be worked has limited access. Fig.l further illustrates the head portion 300 inwardly curved fastener access profile 304 being urged against the fastener drive flats 82, the pivotal head portion 400 swivelling open around the pivot pin 60, allowing the hexagonal fastener head 81, drive flats 82 to directly access the head portion 300 inner operating profile 302 via the opening head portion fastener access gap 306. Further denoting the fixed head portion 500, fastener elongate attachment 85 and turning means 20. Fig.2 further illustrates the ratcheting three jaw wrench 1, whereas the head portion inner operating profile 302 comprises of equidistant torque application points these three separate gripping points hereinafter termed the first 312, second 313 and third 314 torque application points, one engaging each second corresponding fastener driven half face 83 urged in the drive torque direction D by the lever arm force F application to the handle turning means 20, the projected force PF occurring force reactions FR within the head portion 300 usefully projected into the deep robust head portion outer profile 301. The head portion 300, three torque application point first 312, second 313 and third 314, inner operating profile 302 purposely directs and tends to equalize its first 312, second 313 and third 314 torque application point projected force PF similar in use to a known three legged stool (not shown), upon the worked fastener drive flats 83 when operated in the chosen drive torque direction D. Further denoted are the First 307, second 308 and third 309 jaws and the torque application point recesses 317. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate the ratcheting three jaw wrench 1, head portion 300 comprising of a pivotal head portion 400, pivotal around a pivot pin 60 in the same plane as the fixed head portion 500 affixed to the handle turning means 20. The head portion 300 engaged upon a suitable sized hexagonal fastener head 81, further denoted are the fastener driven half faces 83 gripped by the first 312, second 313 and third 314 torque application points in the drive torque direction D. Wherein the lever arm force F applied in the correct drive torque direction D to the fastener head driven half faces 83, is concentrated by the use of a triangular grip operating profile 310 comprising of equidistant torque application points 311 to the fastener driven half face 83. The torque application point flat faces 316 with arcuate recesses 317 and radiused leading edges 315 gripping the matching fastener driven half faces 83 within the fastener drive flats 82. Further denoted are the first jaw 307, second jaw 308, thirdjaw 309, torque application point leading edge front aspect 318 and torque application point rear aspect 319. All head portion inner operating profile 302 radii chosen to diminish the chance of stress cracking. Fig. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate the head portion 300 operated in the reverse or reposition direction R the pivotal head portion 400 operated by the push switch actuator 307 (fig 7 only), swivelling around the pivot pin 60 against the resilient bias means 70 (not shown) as the fastener 80 hexagonal head 81, drive flats 82 and corner points 84 act against in particular the head portion inner operating profile 302, planar guide face 322 and arcuate pathway 321, an adjoining fastener drive flat 82 further rotating around the pivotal head portion rolling face 403. Further displayed are the concave arcuate corner profiles 320, the angled fastener access 305, torque application point leading edge front aspect 318, first 312, second 313 and third 314 torque application points, fixed head portion 500 and turning means 20. Fig. 9 illustrates the present invention 1 head portion 300 with the pivotal head portion 400 in section, whereas the topmost pivotal head portion outer swivel layer 405 is removed in order to display the resilient bias means 70, bias legs 71 and U section spring wire 72 held around the pivot pin 60 against the pivotal head portion resilient bias face 402 and the fixed head portion 500 5 resilient bias recess 504, inner swivel joint layer 502, inner drive profile 501 and pivotal head portion inner drive profile 401. Fig. 10 shows the ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 dismantled into its constituent parts for demonstration purposes. Displaying the turning means 20, first jaw 307, second jaw 308, third jaw 309, first 312, second 313 and third 314 torque application points. Pivotal head portion 400, 10 pivotal head portion inner drive profile 401, resilient bias face 402, rolling face 403, proximal end 404, outer swivel layer 405 and pivot pin bore 406. Fixed head portion 500, inner drive profile 501, inner swivel joint layer 502, pivot pin bore 503, resilient bias recess 504. Pivot pin 60 and resilient bias means 70, legs 71 and U section spring wire.

Claims

1. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 comprises:a head portion 300 adapted to engage and apply torque a fastener 80 such as a brake pipe fitting, or flare nut attached to a tube or pipe hereafter termed a fastener elongate attachment 85 and a turning means 20 for operating said head portion 300;said head portion 300 being in two main pieces, a first pivotal head portion 400 rotationally attached in the same plane to a second fixed head portion 500 by a pivot pin 60 and resiliently urged towards the closed position by a resilient bias means 70;the opening function optionally operable towards the open position against the resilient bias means 70, by a push switch actuator 407 incorporated within the pivotal head portion 400;whereas the head portion 300 inwardly curved profile fastener access 304 when pushed against the worked fastener drive flats 82 can open against the resilient bias 70, the pivotal head portion 400 further pivoting around the pivot pin 60 allowing the hexagonal fastener head 81 to directly access the inner operating profile 302, when the fastener 80 is inserted the pivotal head portion 400 automatically closes towards the fixed head portion 500, further operation of the turning means 20 in the drive torque direction D urging the fastener head 81 into engagement with the head portion inner operating profile 302 equidistant first 312, second 313 and third 314 torque application points 311 which form the triangular gripping profile 310, locking said fastener head 81 within said head portion inner operating profile 302, all torque application point radiused leading edges 315 facing in the drive torque direction D, an arcuate pathway 321 is further formed between the second torque application point 313 and third torque application points 314 concave arcuate corner profile 320 and a further pivotal head portion 400 drive inner drive profile 401 planar guide face 322 further aiding and allowing passage of their adjacent fastener corner points 84 when the head portion is operated in the reverse or reposition R manner, in order to provide a further no extra cost fastener drive flat 82 to said drive flat 82 ratcheting feature;wherein the head portion 300 incorporates a fastener access gap 306 and in best practice an inwardly curved fastener access profile 304 approximately at 90 degrees to the turning means 20, as the ratcheting three jaw wrench 1, head portion 300 inwardly curved fastener access profile 304, is urged against the fastener drive flats 82 the pivotal head portion 400 opens without the any requirement of a push switch actuator 407, against the resilience of the resilient bias means 70, the pivotal head portion 400 opening sufficiently to allow the fastener drive flats 82 to be directly circumnavigated, then encompassed by the head portion inner operating profile 302, in order to immediately engage the fastener drive flats 82 to be worked by the head portion inneroperating profile 302, without first overcoming any associated fastener elongate attachment 85, this being extremely advantageous when the fastener 80 to be worked has limited access.

2. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as in claimed in claim 1, comprises:a head portion 300 inwardly curved fastener access profile 304, wherein the curved fastener access profile 304 is replaced by an angled fastener access profile 305.

3. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as in claimed in claim 1 or 2, comprises;a resiliently closed head portion 300 characterised wherein as the ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 has no requirement for any closure locking arrangement, removal of the fastener head 81 from the head portion 300 is further facilitated by merely pulling the turning means 20 whilst the operator slightly biases the ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 in the reverse or reposition direction R and merely pulls the ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 outwardly from the engaged hexagonal fastener head 81.

4. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein:the projected force PF applied to the fastener head driven half faces 83 is: characterised wherein said projected force PF is concentrated by the use of three separate first 312, second 313 and third 314 equidistant torque application points 311 one per corresponding second fastener driven half face 83, the torque application point flat faces 316 and radiused leading edges 315 forming a triangular grip operating profile 310, gripping the matching fastener driven half faces 83 of the fastener drive flats 82;5. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the first 312 and third 314 torque application points utilized, grip the corresponding worked fastener driven half faces 83, acting under tension to pull around said corresponding fastener drive flats 82 in the drive torque direction D of the applied lever arm force F, whereas the second torque application point 313 acts under compression to push around its corresponding worked fastener driven flat face 83 in the direction of the projected force application PF, the projected force PF applied to the fastener head driven half faces 83, is concentrated by the use of three equidistant sets of torque application points 311 comprising torque application point flat faces 316 and radiused leading edges 315 gripping the corresponding fastener driven half faces 83 of the fastener drive flats 82, all radiused leading edges facing in the drive torque direction D, in best practice when used on properly sized undamaged fasteners 80 the torque application points radiused leading edges 315 are situated at generally equidistant contact points from the operatedfastener corner points 84 within the length of the operated fastener driven half faces 83, this is done in order to equalize the projected force PF applied to operate the worked hexagonal fastener head 81.

6. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: when a suitable hexagonal fastener head 81 is engaged within the pivotal head portion inner drive profile 401 and lever arm force F is applied in the correct drive torque direction D, the pivotal head portion 400 pivots closed around its pivot pin 60 situated as near as practical to the fixed head portion 500 second torque application point 313, the interaction of the corresponding fastener driven half face 83 with said second torque application point 313 incorporated within said fixed head portion inner drive profile 501 is proportional in that the greater the lever arm force F applied to the handle turning means 20, the greater the clamping force CF between the pivotal head portion 400 and fixed head portion 500, thus further greatly increasing the grip upon the incumbent worked fastener driven half faces 83 by the triangular grip operating profile 310 while simultaneously automatically providing robust inward adjustment on worn or slightly smaller hexagonal fastener heads 81, the ratio between the length of the operated handle turning means 20 to the head portion 300 pivot pin 60 and said pivot pin 60 to the second torque application point 313 incorporated within the fixed head portion distil end 505 in normal constructions being around fourteen to one.

7. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: when used on properly sized undamaged hexagonal fastener heads 81 at generally equidistant points from the operated fastener corner points 84 within the length of the operated fastener driven half faces 83, in order to equalize the drive torque D projected force PF that can be applied to operate the worked fastener head 81, whilst minimizing the damage to either the said head portion three torque application points 312, 313 and 314 or fastener driven half faces 83 or comer points 84, the optimum point of engagement between the torque application points radiused leading edges 315 and the driven half faces 83 of the operated fastener drive flats 82, when used on properly sized undamaged fastener heads 81 being approximately 8 -20 % of the length of the operated fastener drive flat 82 from said fastener corner points 84 and in best practice requires to be no more than 4mm in from the adjoining fastener hex corner points 84 on even the largest wrench head portion 300 sizes.

8. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein:the pivotal head portion 400 when engaged and operated in the drive torque direction D upon a correspondingly sized hexagonal fastener head 82;is characterised wherein the pivotal head portion 400, first 312 and third 314 torque application points can grip and lock onto approximately 66% of the fastener driven half faces 83 within the head portion inner operating profile 302, further operation of the turning means 20 in the drive torque direction D, robustly pivots around the pivot pin 600 the pivotal head portion 400 against hexagonal fastener head 81 corresponding fastener driven half face forcefully urging the fixed head portion 500 second torque application point 313 against the corresponding fastener driven half faces 83 substantially further increasing by approximately 33% the possible applied grip and therefore projected force PF available to operate the worked fastener 80, the greater the lever arm force F applied to the turning means 20 in the drive torque direction D the greater the clamping force CF applied between said fixed head portion 500 and said pivotal head portion 400.

9. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: in order to further install a ratchet like facility in the reverse or reposition direction R the majority of the pivotal head portion inner drive profile 401 adjoining the second torque application point 313 flat face 316 or torque application point rear aspect 319 and third torque application point 314 concave arcuate comer profile 320, is scalloped out for the formation of the arcuate pathway 321 allowing the required passage of the adjacent fastener comer point 84, permitting the ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as the turning means 20 is operated in the reverse or reposition direction R to resiliently pivot open the pivotal head portion 400 about the worked fastener driven half faces 83 to different drive positions without removing the head potion 300 completely from the corresponding hexagonal fastener head 81;characterized wherein, as the said head portion 300 is reversed or repositioned R upon the worked hexagonal fastener head 81, the abutting fastener comer point 84 against the corresponding pivotal head portion inner drive profile 401 planar guide face 322 helps urge the adjoining fastener drive flat 82 to pivot around the pivotal head portion rolling face 403 whilst the opposing fastener corner point 84 can easily travel outwards from the confines of the pivotal head portion inner drive profile 401 via the arcuate pathway 321 until the first torque application point 312 can engage the next available worked fastener driven half face 83, or any further worked fastener driven half face 83 as required.

10. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the head portion inner operating profile 302 is notionally hexagonal in shape 303, this head portion 300 inner notionally hexagonal profile 303 having indentations at its vertices in the shape 17of concave arcuate comer profiles 320, characterised by the torque application point radiused leading edges 315 of said concave arcuate comer profiles 320, formed at the point of convergence between the torque application point flat faces 316 and concave arcuate corner profiles 310 creating the, low profile, first 312 and third 314 torque application point radiused leading edges 315, said radiused leading edges 315 capable of engaging correspondingly sized fastener drive flat 82 driven half faces 83 in the direction of drive torque application D, further said torque application point radiused leading edges can be formed by the use of additional torque application point arcuate recesses 317.

11. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the head portion inner operating profile 302 is capable of robustly operating approximately 5% undersized or near sized inch / metric fastener 80 sizes.

12. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1 as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the ultimate opening of the pivotal head portion 400 can result in a head portion access gap 306 substantially over 100% of the corresponding hexagonal fastener head 82 width, allowing complete ease of direct fitment or removal of the head portion inner operating profile 302 with regards to the worked hexagonal fastener head 82.

13. A ratcheting three jaw wrench 1, as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein: the head portion inner operating profile 302 is further configured to work on differing types of fastener driven half faces 83.

14. A wrench compri sing:a head portion comprising three surfaces defining a fastener receiving recess to receive and engage a polygonal fastener mounted on an elongate object; anda handle having a length defining a lengthways direction, said handle configured to apply an input torque to said head portion to turn an object received in said fastener receiving recess about an axis of rotation extending transverse to said lengthways direction,wherein said head portion comprises a fixed portion fixedly connected with said handle and a movable portion pivotally connected with said fixed portion,wherein said fixed portion has a fixed portion tip and said movable portion has a movable portion tip and said movable portion tip is movable away from said fixed portion tip against a resilient member by pivoting movement of said movable portion relative to said fixed portion andsaid resilient biasing member is configured to provide a biasing force that biases said movable portion towards said fixed portion,wherein at least one of said movable portion tip and said fixed portion tip is profiled to define a camming surface, the arrangement being such that when said movable portion is pushed against a said fastener in a direction transverse to said lengthways direction, engagement of said fastener with said camming surface causes said movable portion to pivot relative to said fixed portion to move said movable portion tip away from said fixed portion tip against biasing force to allow said fastener to enter and be received in said fastener receiving recess and when said fastener is disengaged from said movable portion tip and said fixed portion tip, said biasing force causes movable tip portion to move towards said fixed portion tip so that said fastener is engaged by said head portion,wherein said surfaces define a first torque applying projection, a second toque applying projection and a third torque applying projection, said torque applying projections being configured to engage said fastener and to lie at respective corners of an imaginary equilateral triangle formed by drawing imaginary lines to connect said first, second and third torque applying projections.

15. A wrench as claimed in claim 14, wherein said resilient member is a U-shaped spring.

16. A wrench as claimed in claim 14 or 15, wherein said movable portion is provided with auser operable actuator arm for moving said movable portion tip away from said fixed portion tip against said biasing force.T +44(0)30 0300 2000A

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