Ratchet wrench and method of using the same, and method of adjusting the length of an expansion joint device.

Abstract

The aim is to improve the efficiency of tightening and loosening nuts and other fasteners without complicating the structure of the ratchet wrench. [Solution] A ratchet wrench comprising a rod-shaped handle (2), a head (3) provided at one end of the handle (2) in the longitudinal direction, a socket (5) held on the head (3) so as to be rotatable around a rotation centerline (O1) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle (2), and a ratchet mechanism that transmits rotational force in only one direction around the rotation centerline (O1) of the handle (2) to the socket (5), wherein the head (3) has an opening (1) larger than the outer diameter of the bolt (63) into which the nut (65) to be fitted into the socket (5) is screwed, and the socket (5) is removable from the head (3). Preferably, the socket (5) is composed of a pair of partial cylindrical members (5a, 5b).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a ratchet wrench that fits onto nuts and bolt heads, tightens or loosens them, and a method of using the same. Further, the present invention relates to a method for adjusting the length of a telescopic joint device using the ratchet wrench.

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a ratchet wrench has a rod-shaped handle, a head provided at one end of the handle, and a socket rotatably held in a socket holding hole of the head, and is equipped with a ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism basically transmits only the rotational force in one direction of the handle to the socket and rotates freely in the other direction. By reciprocally rocking the handle, the nut or bolt head can be continuously rotated, tightened, or loosened. Therefore, even in a situation where the space for handle operation is restricted, the nut or the like can be continuously rotated by reducing the rocking range. As a prior art document, there is Patent Document 1.

[0003] By the way, the socket of a ratchet wrench is usually formed in a cylindrical shape with its entire circumference closed, and the socket holding hole is also closed at its entire circumference. Therefore, for example, when connecting members are connected to both ends in the length direction of a stud bolt, it is impossible to fit the cylindrical socket onto the nut, and it was necessary to use a wrench with a U-shaped opening head instead of the ratchet wrench. When using a wrench, the wrench had to be removed from the nut and reinserted every time the nut was rotated slightly, which made the tightening or loosening work time-consuming.

[0004] Patent Document 2 discloses a ratchet wrench in which openings 210 and 211 are formed in a head 202 and a socket 203, respectively, as shown in FIG. 26. According to this configuration, even in a device in which connecting members are connected to both ends of a stud bolt, the socket can be fitted onto the nut by covering the stud bolt with the socket from the outer side in its radial direction and moving the ratchet wrench in the axial line direction of the bolt. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2007-44829 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-7869 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] As mentioned above, the ratchet wrench disclosed in Patent Document 1 cannot access the nut from the radially outside of the bolt using the socket, and therefore cannot be used when both ends of a stud bolt or the like are blocked by a connecting member.

[0007] The ratchet wrench shown in Figure 26 has an opening 210 formed in the head 202 and an opening 211 formed in the socket 203. The socket 203 is not a perfect cylinder, and there is a gap in the ratchet teeth 205 formed on the outer circumference of the socket 203 that corresponds to the opening 211. Therefore, in order to allow the socket 203 to rotate continuously, it is necessary to have two intermediate gears 212 and 213 that mesh with the ratchet teeth 205, and a large operating gear 214 that meshes with both intermediate gears 212 and 213. In other words, it is necessary to have three gears 212, 213 and 214 between the ratchet teeth 205 and the ratchet pawl 215, which increases the number of parts in the ratchet mechanism and leads to the problem of the ratchet mechanism becoming complex.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a ratchet wrench that can be easily operated to continuously rotate nuts and the like, even in situations where the working space is limited, without complicating the structure of the ratchet mechanism. Another object is to provide a ratchet wrench that allows the user to select an appropriate method of accessing the nut depending on the arrangement of the nut being worked on. Furthermore, another object is to provide a ratchet wrench that allows the socket to be easily placed over the bolt and fitted onto the nut, even when the nut is screwed onto a stud bolt with both ends closed, from the radially outward direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To solve the above problems, the ratchet wrench according to the present invention comprises a rod-shaped handle, a head provided at one end of the handle in the longitudinal direction, a socket rotatably held on the head around a rotational centerline substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, and a ratchet mechanism that transmits rotational force of the handle in only one direction around the rotational centerline to the socket, wherein the head has an opening larger than the outer diameter of the bolt into which the nut to be fitted into the socket is screwed, and the socket is removable from the head.

[0010] With this configuration, the head, with the socket removed, can be placed over the bolt from the radially outward direction using the opening, and the socket can be fitted onto the nut by moving it together with the socket in the direction of the bolt axis.

[0011] In one embodiment of the above configuration, the socket is formed by detachably connecting a plurality of partial cylindrical members.

[0012] With this configuration, the socket removed from the head can also be fitted onto the bolt by placing it over the bolt from the radially outward direction and moving it in the direction of the bolt's axis, thereby engaging with the nut.

[0013] In one embodiment of the configuration having multiple partial cylindrical members, the socket is formed by a pair of the partial cylindrical members.

[0014] In one embodiment of the configuration having a pair of partial cylindrical members, the pair of partial cylindrical members are formed to be the same shape. This structure allows for efficient manufacturing of the pair of partial cylindrical members.

[0015] In one embodiment of the above configuration having multiple partial cylindrical members, the multiple partial cylindrical members are positioned relative to each other by convex and concave portions and joined in a manner that prevents misalignment.

[0016] In one embodiment of the above configuration having a plurality of partial cylindrical members provided with the convex portion and the concave portion, the convex portion and the concave portion are composed of a pin and a pin hole.

[0017] In one embodiment of the configuration having multiple partial cylindrical members, a head cover that covers the opening of the head is detachably attached to the head. Preferably, the head cover is formed in a U-shape.

[0018] In one embodiment of the configuration having a plurality of partial cylindrical members, a socket cover that covers the exposed portion of the socket protruding from the head is detachably attached to the socket. Preferably, the socket cover is composed of a pair of half-shaped partial annular members.

[0019] Furthermore, in order to solve the above problems, a method for using a ratchet wrench as described in any one of the above is provided, comprising the steps of: placing the socket removed from the head onto the bolt onto which the nut is screwed; placing the head onto the bolt so that the bolt passes through the opening of the head and is inserted into the head; bringing the head and the socket closer to each other in the longitudinal direction of the bolt to hold the socket inside the head; and fitting the socket held in the head onto the nut.

[0020] In the step of covering the socket removed from the head with the bolt, a plurality of the partial cylindrical members constituting the socket are arranged so as to surround the bolt from the outer side in the radial direction, and by connecting the partial cylindrical members to each other, the socket can be formed into a cylindrical shape.

[0021] Furthermore, in a method for adjusting the length of a telescopic joint device in which connecting members are arranged at both ends of a bellow, and both connecting members are fastened by a plurality of nuts at both ends of a stud bolt, the ratchet wrench according to any one of the above is used, and by rotating the nut screwed onto the portion of the stud bolt between the both connecting members, a method for adjusting the length of a telescopic joint device is provided, which adjusts the width between the both connecting members.

Advantages of the Invention

[0022] According to the present invention, not only can the operation of rotating a nut or the like be performed with ease even in a place with a narrow working space, but also the head of a ratchet wrench can access a nut screwed onto a stud bolt whose both ends are blocked, from the outer side in the radial direction, and after covering the stud bolt, it can be fitted to the nut. Furthermore, the method of accessing the ratchet wrench to the nut as the work target can be selected from the conventional method of accessing from the end in the length direction of the bolt and the method of accessing from the outer side in the radial direction of the bolt, and the working efficiency is improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0023] [Figure 1] It is an overall perspective view of a ratchet wrench 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a front view of the ratchet wrench 1 in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a rear view of the ratchet wrench 1 in FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a plan view of the ratchet wrench 1 seen in the direction of arrow IV in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] It is an enlarged sectional view taken along line V-V of the ratchet wrench 1 in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] This is a front view (cross-sectional view along line VI-VI in Figure 7) of the head 3 with the socket 5 removed and the nut 65, which is the object being operated on. [Figure 7] Figure 1 shows a ratchet wrench 1 with the head 3 and socket 5 separated, and a side view of an expansion joint device 60 having a nut 65 on the object to be operated (however, the handle is in an upward position). [Figure 8] This is a side view of socket 5 in its disassembled state. [Figure 9] Figure 8 is a front view of socket 5 (viewed along the line IX-IX). [Figure 10] Figure 8 is a plan view (viewed along line XX) of the lower cylindrical member 5a of socket 5. [Figure 11] This is a diagram illustrating the process of fitting the ratchet wrench 1 of the first embodiment onto the nut 65. [Figure 12] This is a front view of a ratchet wrench 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention, with the head cover 70 separated. [Figure 13] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the ratchet wrench 1 in its separated state, taken along line XIII-XIII. [Figure 14] Figure 12 is a rear view of the ratchet wrench 1 with the head cover 70 attached. [Figure 15] Figure 14 is a plan view of the ratchet wrench 1 with the head cover attached. [Figure 16] This is a front view showing the socket cover 80 of the third embodiment in an disassembled state. [Figure 17] Figure 16 is a front view showing the socket cover 80 in its assembled state. [Figure 18] Figure 16 is a plan view of the socket cover 80. [Figure 19] Figure 16 is a plan view of the ratchet wrench 1 with the socket cover 80 attached. [Figure 20] Figure 19 is a front view of the ratchet wrench 1. [Figure 21] This is a front view of a modified version of head 3. [Figure 22] This is a side view of a modified example of socket 5. [Figure 23] This is a side view of another modified example of socket 5. [Figure 24] This is a side view showing an example of a facility equipped with an expansion joint device 60. [Figure 25] Figure 24 is an enlarged side view of the expansion joint device 60. [Figure 26] This is a schematic diagram of a conventional ratchet wrench. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0024] [First Embodiment of the Present Invention] Figures 1 to 11 show a first embodiment of the ratchet wrench of the present invention, and the first embodiment of this application will be described based on these drawings. Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of the ratchet wrench 1. In Figure 1, the ratchet wrench 1 is configured to include an elongated rod-shaped handle 2, a head 3 formed at one end of the handle 2 in the longitudinal direction, and a cylindrical socket 5 rotatably held in the head 3.

[0025] The socket 5 is held rotatably within the socket holding hole 4 of the head 3, around a rotational centerline O1 that extends approximately perpendicular to the length of the handle 2. The head 3 contains a ratchet mechanism that can switch between forward and reverse rotation, transmitting only the rotational force of the handle 2 around the rotational centerline O1 to the socket 3. The other end 2a of the handle 2 is formed in a tapered shape so that it can be used as a "spearhead". For the sake of explanation, one direction in which the rotational centerline O1 extends will be referred to as the "front" of the ratchet wrench 1, and the other direction as the "rear" of the ratchet wrench 1, as described below.

[0026] Figure 2 is a front view of the ratchet wrench 1, Figure 3 is a rear view of the ratchet wrench 1, and Figure 4 is a top view of the ratchet wrench 1 (viewed from arrow IV in Figure 2). In Figure 2, the socket 5 consists of a pair of half-shaped partial cylindrical members 5a and 5b, and is formed into a cylindrical shape by joining the two partial cylindrical members 5a and 5b. The inner circumferential surface of the socket 5 has 12 V-shaped grooves formed therein so that a hexagonal nut or the hexagonal head of a bolt can be fitted into it.

[0027] The head 3 has a circular socket holding hole 4, but an opening 10 is formed at the end opposite to the handle 2 side. The opening 10 will be described in more detail later.

[0028] In Figure 3, when the ratchet wrench 1 is viewed from the rear, a portion of the ratchet teeth 6 formed on the outer surface of the socket 5 is exposed inside the opening 10.

[0029] In Figure 4, the socket 5 is held on the head 3 so as to protrude from the head 3 in both the front and rear directions. The amount of forward protrusion and the amount of rearward protrusion of the socket 5 are set to be approximately the same.

[0030] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of line VV in Figure 4, showing the details of the ratchet mechanism. The ratchet mechanism comprises the aforementioned ratchet teeth 6 formed around the entire circumference of the outer surface of the socket 5, a switching lever 21 for switching between forward and reverse rotation having first and second ratchet pawls 21a and 21b, and a biasing means consisting of a ball 24 and a coil spring 25 that biases (presses) any one of the first and second ratchet pawls 21a and 21b toward the socket 5.

[0031] The coil spring 25 is housed in the spring housing hole 23 and is compressed between the bottom surface of the spring housing hole 23 and the ball 24. The ball 24 abuts against a V-shaped projection 21c formed in the center of the selector lever 21. The selector lever 21 is pivotably supported on the head 3 via the lever shaft 22 and extends from the lever shaft 22 in a wing-like shape. The first and second ratchet pawls 21a and 21b are formed at both ends of the selector lever 21.

[0032] As shown in Figure 5, when the first ratchet pawl 21a engages with the ratchet teeth 6, the ball 24 presses the selector lever 21 clockwise in Figure 5 via the projection 21c. When the handle 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow Ra in this state, the rotational force is transmitted to the socket 5, and the head 3 and socket 5 rotate together in the direction of arrow Ra. Conversely, when the handle 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow Rb, the first ratchet pawl 21a overcomes the elastic force of the coil spring 25 and moves over the ratchet teeth 6, and the socket 5 does not rotate together with the head 3. In other words, the head 3 spins freely around the socket 5, making a "clattering" sound.

[0033] When the switching lever 21 is switched so that the second ratchet pawl 21b engages with the ratchet teeth 6, the rotational force of the handle 2 is transmitted to the socket 5 when the handle 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow Rb. When the handle 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow Ra, the head 3 spins freely relative to the socket 5.

[0034] Figure 6 is a front view of the head 3 with the socket 5 removed. In the figure, the nut 65 and stud bolt 63, which are the workpieces, are shown to the side of the opening 10 of the head 3. The nut 65 is a hexagonal nut having an outer diameter that can accommodate the socket 5 of the ratchet wrench 1 of this embodiment. The socket holding hole 4 of the head 3 has a small diameter portion 4a that fits onto the outer surface of the socket and a large diameter portion 4b that houses the ratchet teeth 6 (see Figure 5).

[0035] The opening 10 is formed at the end of the head 3 opposite to the handle 2 side, and the circumferential opening width W1 of the opening 10 is set to a size that allows the stud bolt 63, which is screwed into the nut 65 of the workpiece, to pass through. Specifically, the opening width W1 of the opening 10 is formed to be about 1 to several millimeters larger than the outer diameter D1 of the stud bolt 63. This allows the stud bolt 63 to pass through the opening 10 from the outside of the head 3 and be housed in the socket holding hole 4. Of course, it is also possible to remove it from inside the socket holding hole 4 through the opening 10 to the outside of the head 3. Note that the opening width W1 of the opening 10 only needs to be large enough for the bolt 63 to pass through, and does not need to be larger than necessary.

[0036] Figure 7 is a side view of the ratchet wrench 1 from Figure 1, with the head 3 and socket 5 separated, and an expansion joint device 60 having a nut 65 of the object to be operated (the handle is in an upward position). In Figure 7, the ratchet teeth 6 are formed around the entire circumference of the outer surface of the socket 5, approximately in the center in the front-to-back direction. A flange portion 7 with a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the ratchet teeth 6 is integrally formed with the socket 5 at the front end of the ratchet teeth 6. The socket 5 can be inserted into and removed from the socket holding hole 4 of the head 3 from the front. When the socket 5 is inserted into the socket holding hole 4, the ratchet teeth 6 and flange portion 7 are housed in the large-diameter portion 4b of the socket holding hole 4, and the rear half of the socket 5 protrudes rearward from the small-diameter portion 4a. When the socket 5 is inserted into the socket holding hole 4, the stepped surface at the boundary between the large-diameter portion 4b and the small-diameter portion 4a of the socket holding hole 4 faces the rear end surface of the ratchet teeth 6, which prevents the socket 5 from coming out of the head 3 rearward. The expansion joint device 60 will be explained in detail later.

[0037] Figure 8 is an exploded side view of the socket 5. In Figure 8, as described above, the socket 5 is composed of a pair of half-shaped partial cylindrical members 5a and 5b, and pin holes 51 for positioning during joining are formed in the flange portions 7 of both partial cylindrical members 5a and 5b. A positioning pin 52 that protrudes toward the other partial cylindrical member 5b is press-fitted into the pin hole 51 of one partial cylindrical member 5a. By inserting the pin 52 of one partial cylindrical member 5a into the pin hole 51 of the other partial cylindrical member 5b, misalignment between the two partial cylindrical members 5a and 5b can be prevented when the two partial cylindrical members 5a and 5b are joined in a cylindrical shape.

[0038] Figure 9 is a front view of the socket 5 (viewed along the line IX-IX in Figure 8), and a pair of pin holes 51 are provided at both ends of the flange portion 7 of each of the partial cylindrical members 5a and 5b. A pair of pins 52 are also press-fitted into the pin holes 51 at both ends of one of the partial cylindrical members 5a.

[0039] Figure 10 is a view taken along the line X-X in Figure 8, where the V-shaped groove on the inner surface of the socket 5 is formed along the entire length of the socket 5.

[0040] [How to adjust the length of an expansion joint and how to use a ratchet wrench] The expansion joint device 60 shown in the lower half of Figure 7 has a bellows 68 that can expand and contract in the front-rear direction, with a front flange 61 and a rear flange 62 fixed to the front and rear ends of the bellows. A long stud bolt 63 is interposed between the two flanges 61 and 62 to adjust the front-rear distance between them and fix it at a desired distance. The rear end of the stud bolt 63 is screwed into the female thread 62a of the rear flange 62 and locked by a locking bolt 64. The front end of the stud bolt 63 is inserted through the bolt insertion hole 61a of the front flange 61 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The front flange 61 is fixed in the desired position by a pair of nuts 67, 67 located on the front side of the front flange 61 and a pair of nuts 65, 66 located on the rear side of the front flange 61. In other words, the front-rear distance between the two flanges 61 and 62 is fixed to a desired dimension.

[0041] In adjusting the length of the expansion joint device 60 in the front-rear direction, the ratchet wrench 1 according to this embodiment is efficiently used for rotating the nuts 64, 65, and 66, which are mainly located between the two flanges 61 and 62. Of course, it can also be used to rotate the nuts 67 at locations other than between the two flanges 61 and 62.

[0042] Figures 11(a), (b), (c), (d), and (e) show an example of the process of adjusting the length of the expansion joint device 60, specifically moving the front flange 61 to a desired front-rear position and fixing it in place. The method is described below.

[0043] In the uppermost step (a), the frontmost pair of nuts 67, 67 are moved to a position far forward from the front flange 61, and the pair of nuts 65, 66 at the rear of the front flange 61 are kept separated from each other. The separated portion cylindrical members 5a, 5b are placed over the portion of the stud bolt 63 between the separated nuts 65, 66 from the radially outside of the stud bolt 63. The two portion cylindrical members 5a, 5b are positioned so that their mating surfaces (split surfaces) face each other.

[0044] In step (b), the pin 52 of one partial cylindrical member 5a is inserted into the pin hole 51 of the other partial cylindrical member 5b, thereby positioning the two partial cylindrical members 5a and 5b and joining them in a cylindrical shape. Subsequently, the stud bolt 63 is inserted into the socket holding hole 4 of the head 3 by passing the opening 10 of the head 3 through the stud bolt 63 portion between the socket 5 and the rear nut 66.

[0045] In step (c), the head 3, which is placed over the stud bolt 63, is moved forward and placed over the socket 5 from the rear, integrating the socket 5 and the head 3.

[0046] In step (d), with the head 3 placed over the socket 5 at its center in the front-to-back direction and integrated, the integrated head 3 and socket 5 is moved forward, and the socket 5 is fitted onto the nut 65.

[0047] In step (e), with the socket 5 fitted onto the nut 65, the handle 2 is repeatedly rocked to rotate the nut 65 and move it forward or backward. For example, to widen the gap between flanges 61 and 62, the nut 65 is rotated to move forward, pushing the front flange 61 forward. Conversely, to narrow the gap between flanges 61 and 62, the nut 65 is rotated to move backward, and the flange 61 is moved backward.

[0048] Next, the front flange 61 is brought into contact with the positioned nut 65, the front nut 67 of the front flange 61 is tightened, and the rear locking nut 66 of the nut 65 is tightened.

[0049] Furthermore, the nuts 67, 67 on the front of the front flange 61 can be rotated without using a ratchet wrench, as is the case with this embodiment.

[0050] After the work is completed, remove the head 3 and socket 5 from the stud bolt 63 in the reverse order of the installation method described above.

[0051] [Effects of the first embodiment] According to the first embodiment, as shown in Figures 7 and 11, even when rotating a nut 65 that is screwed onto a stud bolt 63 closed at both ends by flanges 61 and 62, the cylindrical socket 5 and head 3 can be easily placed over the stud bolt 63 from the radially outside of the stud bolt 63 and fitted onto the nut 65. Moreover, since the nut 65 can be rotated by the reciprocating motion of the handle 2, the nut 65 can be easily tightened or loosened even in situations where the workspace is narrow. Furthermore, for nuts 64, 65, and 66 located between the two flanges 61 and 62, and for nut 67 located outside the area enclosed by the two flanges 61 and 62, an operating method, i.e., an access method for each nut can be selected according to their respective arrangement, thereby improving work efficiency.

[0052] [Second Embodiment] Figures 12 to 15 show a second embodiment of the present invention, which is a ratchet wrench 1 of the first embodiment with a head cover 70 added. Figure 12 is a front view showing the head cover 70 removed from the head 3. The head cover 70 is formed in a U-shape (horseshoe shape), and the dimension (diameter) W2 of the inner circumferential end face 70a is set to be slightly larger than the outer diameter D2 of the socket 5. That is, the dimensions are set to allow relative rotation of the socket 5 with respect to the head cover 3. Stopper bolts 73 are screwed into both ends of the head cover 70 to lock it in place so that it cannot fall off when the head cover 70 is attached to the head 3.

[0053] In Figure 13, the cross-sectional shape of the head cover 70 is formed in a U-shape, and it can be placed over the head 3 from a direction perpendicular to the rotational center line O1.

[0054] Figure 14 is a rear view of the head cover 70 attached to the head 3, showing that the head cover 70 covers most of the front, rear, and radially outward sides of the head 3. In particular, the opening 10 is completely covered from the radially outward and front and rear sides, so that even a portion of the ratchet teeth 6 exposed in the opening 10 is completely covered by the head cover 70. In other words, the exposed portion of the ratchet teeth 6 can be eliminated, and the entire ratchet teeth 6 can be protected.

[0055] Figure 15 is a view taken along the XV line in Figure 14, and is a plan view taken along the XV line in the direction shown. With the head cover 70 attached, the socket 5 protrudes from both the front and rear of the head cover 70.

[0056] [Effects of the second embodiment] In addition to the effects of the first embodiment, the portion exposed within the opening 10 of the head 3, i.e., a part of the ratchet teeth 6, can be protected from the outside. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the operator of the ratchet wrench 1 from touching the ratchet teeth 6 inside the opening 10 with their fingers or other body parts.

[0057] Furthermore, the front and rear walls of the head cover 70 prevent the socket 5 from moving in the direction of the rotational centerline O1 relative to the head 3. In other words, it reliably prevents the socket 5 from coming loose.

[0058] [Third Embodiment] Figures 16 to 20 show a third embodiment of the present invention, which is the ratchet wrench 1 of the second embodiment described above with the addition of a socket cover 80. Figure 16 is a front view of the socket cover 80 in an exploded state, and is composed of a pair of halved annular members 80a and 80b. Bolt insertion holes 81 are formed at both ends of the two annular members 80a and 80b, and seating surfaces 85 are formed at the open ends of the bolt insertion holes 81, on which the heads of nuts 83 and bolts 82 are seated.

[0059] Figure 17 shows the assembled socket cover 80, where bolts 82 are inserted through each bolt insertion hole 81 and nuts 83 are screwed on to form the annular socket cover 80.

[0060] Figure 18 is a plan view of the socket cover 80 alone, and the seating surface 85 on which the nut 83 etc. sits is formed in approximately half of the area on one side in the direction of the rotational centerline O1. That is, the portion where the seating surface 85 is not formed is formed in a completely annular shape.

[0061] Figure 19 shows the socket cover 80 attached to the socket 5, and in this embodiment, a pair of socket covers 80 are used. That is, since the socket 5 protrudes from both the front and rear of the head 3, a socket cover 80 is attached to the front and rear protruding parts of each socket 5.

[0062] Figure 20 is a front view showing the socket cover 80 attached, and the socket cover 80 covers the entire circumference of the socket 5, and in particular completely covers the mating surfaces P of the two cylindrical parts 5a and 5b of the socket 5. [Effects of the third embodiment] As shown in Figure 20, the socket cover 80 covers the entire circumference of the outer surface of the socket 5, protecting the mating surface P of the socket 5 from the outside. In other words, it prevents the operator from touching the mating surface P. Furthermore, attaching the socket cover 80 to the socket 5 increases the rigidity of the socket 5.

[0063] [Modified head] Figure 21 shows a modified example of the head 3, where the size (width) W3 of the opening 10 of the head 3 is set to be approximately the same as the diameter of the small diameter portion 4a of the socket holding hole 4 of the head 3. That is, the small diameter portion 4a has a diameter that fits onto the outer surface of the socket, and since the opening is the size of that diameter, the head 3 can be directly placed over the socket 5 (see Figure 7) from the radial outside.

[0064] [First variation of the socket] Figure 22 shows a modified version of the socket 5, in which an auxiliary flange portion 91 with the same outer diameter as the flange portion 7 is formed at the rear end of the ratchet teeth 6 of the socket 5. With this structure, when the socket 5 is attached to the head 3 as shown in Figure 5, the switching lever 21 is sandwiched between the two flange portions 7 and 91, thereby restricting the movement of the socket 5 in the direction of the rotational centerline O1 relative to the head 3.

[0065] [Second variation of the socket] Figure 23 shows a second modification of the socket, in which the socket 5 protrudes only from the rear of the head 3.

[0066] [Examples of facilities equipped with expansion joints] Figures 24 and 25 show an example of a facility equipped with the expansion joint device 60 described in Figures 7 and 11. Figure 24 is a side view of the main busbar portion of a gas-sealed insulated switchgear. In Figure 24, the main busbar comprises a cylindrical first metal container 101 and a cylindrical second metal container 102 arranged on the same axis line C1, and an expansion joint device 60 according to the present invention connecting the two metal containers 101 and 102 (space Lw).

[0067] A container for housing, for example, a circuit breaker, is connected to the front end of the first metal container 101. A metal container for housing, for example, a switch, is connected to the rear end of the second metal container 102. Three conductors 111 for three-phase alternating current carrying high voltage are arranged inside the first metal container 101, the expansion joint device 60, and the second metal container 102. An insulating gas such as sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is sealed inside the first metal container 101, the second metal container 102, the expansion joint device 60, and each container for the circuits connected thereto.

[0068] Multiple pairs of sliding support members 105 are fixed to the lower surfaces of the first metal container 101 and the second metal container 102, respectively. Each sliding support member 105 is supported on a pair of common support beam members 106, positioned below them, so as to be adjustable for sliding in the front-rear direction. The pair of common support beam members 106 are installed on the foundation B by multiple frames 108.

[0069] Figure 25 is an enlarged side view of the expansion joint device 60. The structure of the expansion joint device 60 is the same as that of the devices described in Figures 7 and 11, so the same parts are numbered the same way. In Figure 25, there are some parts that overlap with the previously mentioned explanations, but they will be explained again. The expansion joint device 60 comprises a metal bellows 68 that can expand and contract in the direction of the axis C1, a metal front flange 61 fixed to the front end of the bellows 68, a rear flange 62 fixed to the rear end of the bellows 68, and a number of stud bolts 63 that adjust the distance between the two flanges 61 and 62. The rear end of each stud bolt 63 is screwed into the female threaded hole 62a of the rear flange 62. The front end of each stud bolt 63 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 61a of the front flange 61 and fixed to the desired position in the direction of the axis C1 by a pair of nuts 65, 66 and a pair of nuts 67, 67. The length in the direction of the axis C1, indicated by the symbol Lo, is the length of the expansion joint 60 at the time of manufacture. The length in the direction of the axis C1, indicated by the symbol Lmin, is the length of the expansion joint 60 when it is most contracted. The length in the direction of the axis C1, indicated by the symbol Lmax, is the length of the expansion joint 60 when it is most extended.

[0070] During manufacturing, the expansion joint device 60, which is set to the length indicated by the symbol Lo, is adjusted between the maximum length Lmax and the minimum length Lmin at the construction site of the gas-sealed insulated switchgear to match the actual dimension Lw between the first metal container 101 and the second metal container 102 in Figure 24, and is connected between the two metal containers 101 and 102. In this adjustment work, the aforementioned ratchet wrench 1 can be used in particular for rotating the nuts 65, 66, and 64 between the two flanges 61 and 62. The specific adjustment process has already been explained in Figure 11 and will be omitted here.

[0071] [Other embodiments] (1) As a means for aligning the partial cylindrical members 5a and 5b, instead of pin holes 51 and pins 52, a protrusion and a recess can simply be formed.

[0072] (2) The socket 5 can also be divided into three or more partial cylindrical members.

[0073] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0074] 1. Ratchet wrench 2 handles 3 heads 5 sockets 5a Partial cylindrical member 5b Partial cylindrical member 6. Ratchet teeth (components of the ratchet mechanism) 10 aperture 21a Ratchet pawl (component of the ratchet mechanism) 21b Ratchet pawl (component of the ratchet mechanism) 24 Balls (components of the ratchet mechanism) 25. Coil spring (component of a ratchet mechanism) 21. Switching lever (component of the ratchet mechanism) 51 Pin hole (recess) 52 pins (protruding part) 60 Expansion joints 61 Front flange (connected member) 62 Rear flange (connected member) 63 Stud bolts 64, 65, 66, 67 nuts 68 Bellow 70 Headcovers 80 Socket Cover 80a Partial annular member 80b Partial annular member

Claims

1. A rod-shaped handle, A head provided at one end of the handle in the longitudinal direction, The head is provided with a socket that is rotatably held around a rotational centerline substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, A ratchet wrench comprising a ratchet mechanism that transmits only a unidirectional rotational force about the rotational centerline of the handle to the socket, The head has an opening larger than the outer diameter of the bolt into which the nut to be fitted into the socket is screwed. The socket is detachable from the head of the ratchet wrench.

2. The ratchet wrench according to claim 1, wherein the socket is formed by detachably connecting a plurality of partial cylindrical members.

3. The ratchet wrench according to claim 2, wherein the socket is formed by a pair of the aforementioned partial cylindrical members.

4. The ratchet wrench according to claim 3, wherein the pair of aforementioned partial cylindrical members are formed to be the same shape.

5. A ratchet wrench according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a plurality of the aforementioned partial cylindrical members are positioned and joined together by convex and concave portions.

6. The ratchet wrench according to claim 5, wherein the convex portion and the concave portion are composed of a pin and a pin hole.

7. A ratchet wrench according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a head cover that covers the opening of the head is detachably attached to the head.

8. The ratchet wrench according to claim 7, wherein the head cover is formed in a U-shape.

9. A ratchet wrench according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a socket cover that covers the exposed portion of the socket protruding from the head is detachably attached to the socket.

10. The ratchet wrench according to claim 9, wherein the socket cover is composed of a pair of half-split partial annular members.

11. A method of using a ratchet wrench according to claim 1 or 2, The steps include: placing the socket removed from the head onto the bolt into which the nut is screwed; The steps include: placing the head over the bolt so that the bolt passes through the opening in the head and is inserted into the head; The steps include bringing the head and the socket closer to each other in the longitudinal direction of the bolt and holding the socket inside the head, The steps include fitting the socket held in the head onto the nut, How to use a ratchet wrench with a handle.

12. In the step of placing the socket, which has been removed from the head, onto the bolt, A method for using a ratchet wrench according to claim 11, wherein a plurality of the partial cylindrical members constituting the socket are arranged to surround the bolt from the radially outward direction, and the partial cylindrical members are joined together to form a cylindrical socket.

13. In a method for adjusting the length of an expansion joint device, connecting members are positioned at both ends of a bellows, and both connecting members are connected to both ends of a stud bolt by multiple nuts, A method for adjusting the length of an expansion joint, comprising using the ratchet wrench described in claim 1 or 2 and rotating the nut that is screwed onto the portion of the stud bolt between the two connected members to adjust the width between the two connected members.

14. The method for adjusting the length of an expansion joint according to claim 13, wherein the expansion joint device is an expansion joint device for a gas-sealed insulated switchgear that connects metal containers filled with insulating gas.

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