Ratchet wrench

Abstract

To provide a ratchet wrench that offers superior structural strength and cost reduction. [Solution] The end face 121 of the main body is provided with a reverse claw 13 and a forward claw 14, forming an opening that allows the engaging portion of the bolt and nut to move in and out. The end face of the main body and the reverse claw are provided with a curved surface 16 and a housing groove 160, into which a locking block 20 is slidably fitted. The locking block has a pressing surface 21 that can reciprocate along the curved surface and is held in its original position by the action of a spring 30. The locking block is also provided with a first jaw and a second jaw having an opening angle of more than 120 degrees, and a square groove is formed at their intersection. When the locking block is in its original position, the first jaw, the square groove and the forward claw allow the two parallel sides of the engaging portion to be fitted, and the bolt and nut can be rotated in the forward direction. When the main body is rotated freely in the reverse direction, the bolt and nut reciprocate along the curved surface, rotating alternately in the forward direction and applying tightening force.

Description

Technical Field

[0007]

[0001] The present invention relates to a ratchet wrench that rotates a screw member such as a bolt or nut in the forward direction to tighten it and allows free rotation in the reverse direction, and particularly relates to one that is excellent in improving structure and reducing costs.

Background Art

[0002] The prior invention according to Taiwan Application No. 098123338, "ADJUSTABLE WRENCH", discloses a monkey wrench that can rotate a screw member in the forward direction and allow free rotation in the reverse direction, but has the following problems.

[0003] A wide range of thinning processing is required for the reverse claw, resulting in excessive processing, thus greatly reducing the structural strength of the reverse claw.

[0004] It is necessary to attach a roller-type slider, an elastic member, a cover piece, a protrusion, and a fastening member to the reverse claw respectively. Since there are many related parts, not only does the manufacturing cost remain high, but it is also difficult to improve the assembly efficiency and lacks economic efficiency.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] The present invention provides a ratchet wrench that improves the drawbacks of the prior art, and its gist is as follows.

[0007] This invention requires only machining with a T-shaped milling cutter, and only small curved surfaces and receiving grooves need to be formed on the end faces of the reverse-facing jaws and head seat, eliminating the need for excessive machining by removing material. Therefore, under the same conditions, the reverse-facing jaws of this invention have much higher structural strength than those of the conventional technology. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] This invention enables ratchet functionality simply by providing a guide pin, a locking block, and a spring. Because it requires fewer parts than conventional technology, it reduces manufacturing costs and improves assembly efficiency, resulting in superior economic efficiency compared to conventional technology. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is an exploded perspective view of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an assembly perspective view. [Figure 3A] This is an enlarged perspective view of the locking block in Figure 1. [Figure 3B] This is a plan view of the locking block according to the present invention. [Figure 4] This diagram shows the state in which the screw member is fitted to the first and fourth sides and force is applied in the forward direction. [Figure 5] This is a partial enlargement of Figure 4. [Figure 6] This diagram shows the continuous operation of the present invention during reverse free rotation. [Figure 7] This diagram shows the continuous operation of the present invention during reverse free rotation. [Figure 8] This diagram shows the continuous operation of the present invention during reverse free rotation. [Figure 9] This diagram shows the state in which the locking block moves back and forth and engages with the sixth and third sides of the screw member, applying force in the forward direction. [Figure 10] This figure shows an example in which the present invention is applied to screw members of different sizes. [Figure 11]This figure shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a fixed opening wrench. Embodiment

[0010] Refer to Figures 1 to 11. The present invention is a ratchet wrench that can fasten a screw member (W) by rotating it in the forward direction and allow it to rotate freely in the reverse direction, and consists of at least a body (10), a locking block (20), and a spring (30).

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the main body (10) has a handle (11) and a head portion (12) provided at the tip of the handle (11). The end face (121) of the head portion (12) is provided with a reverse claw (13) and a forward claw (14) spaced apart and facing upward, and these reverse claws (13) and forward claws (14) have a reverse surface (131) and a forward surface (141) that are parallel to each other. As a result, an opening (15) is formed in the space surrounded by the end face (121), the reverse surface (131), and the forward surface (141), through which the engaging portion (W0) of the screw member (W) can enter and exit. The engaging portion (W0) is a regular hexagon, and as shown in Figure 4, the sides are defined as the first side (W1), second side (W2), third side (W3), fourth side (W4), fifth side (W5), and sixth side (W6) in the forward direction from the 3 o'clock position. Furthermore, a avoidance portion (132) is recessed in the reverse-facing surface (131) to prevent interference with the engaging portion (W0) during the ratchet operation of this invention.

[0012] The forward-facing claw (14) is movably attached to the head portion (12), and the forward-facing claw (14) and the end face (121) are provided with a slider (142) and a slide groove (122) corresponding to each other. Furthermore, a pivot groove (123) communicating with the slide groove (122) is formed in the head portion (12), and a worm (124) is mounted in the pivot groove (123). On the other hand, the forward-facing claw (14) is provided with teeth (143) that extend from the slider (142) and mesh with the worm (124), and by manually rotating the worm (124), the forward-facing claw (14) can be moved toward and away from the reverse-facing claw (13) (see Figure 10). This makes it possible to accommodate engagement portions (W0) of different sizes. Furthermore, the forward-facing claw (14) may be fixed to the end face (121) as shown in Figure 11. Such configurations of fixed or movable forward-facing claws (14) are merely a selection of known technologies. However, if a fixed configuration is adopted, a restricting portion (144) that narrows the opening (15) is provided on the forward-facing surface (141), limiting the range of movement of the engaging portion (W0), thereby enabling operation similar to that of a general pipe wrench.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 to 9, in this invention, a curved surface (16) is recessed in the reverse-facing surface (131) and the end surface (121), and a accommodating groove (160) is provided in communication between the curved surface (16) and the opening (15). One end of the curved surface (16) and the accommodating groove (160) is connected to the avoidance portion (132), and the other end is connected to the end surface (121). A front wall (161) and a rear wall (162) are formed on the front and rear of the accommodating groove (160), respectively, and through holes (163) are provided through these front wall (161) and rear wall (162) for installing a guide pin (17) inside the accommodating groove (160). The curved surface (16) and the receiving groove (160) are formed by inserting a T-shaped milling cutter through the opening (15) and cutting in the direction of connection between the opposite surface (131) and the end surface (121).

[0014] The locking block (20) is slidably combined with the accommodating groove (160) and is manufactured by powder metallurgy. The locking block (20) has a pressing surface (21) corresponding to the curvature of the curved surface (16), and further includes a guide groove (22) through which the guide pin (17) penetrates. The guide groove (22) is arc-shaped corresponding to the curvature of the pressing surface (21) and has a closed reverse end (221) and a forward end (222). When the pressing surface (21) slides along the curved surface (16), the guide pin (17) and the guide groove (22) prevent the locking block (20) from falling out of the accommodating groove (160), and as shown in FIGS. 4 to 9, the pressing surface (21) can reciprocate along the curved surface (16).

[0015] The spring (30) is provided in the guide groove (22) and is arranged such that one end abuts against the guide pin (17) and the other end abuts against the reverse end (221) of the guide groove (22). Thereby, the spring (30) applies a preload in the reverse direction to the locking block (20), holds the locking block (20) in the original position as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and positions the pressing surface (21) at the top dead center where it cannot slide further in the reverse direction along the curved surface (16).

[0016] The locking block (20) has a first jaw (23) and a second jaw (24) that intersect each other within the opening (15), and the angle between them (θ) must exceed 120 degrees, which in this embodiment is 156 degrees. In addition, a square groove (25) is provided at the intersection of the first jaw (23) and the second jaw (24). As a result, the portion of the second jaw (24) that is close to the square groove (25) is located outside the housing groove (160), while the remaining portion is housed inside the housing groove (160), thereby ensuring the sliding stability of the locking block (20). When the locking block (20) is in its original position (see Figures 4 and 5), the first jaw (23) is parallel to the forward-facing surface (141), and the parallel first side (W1) and fourth side (W4) of the engaging portion (W0) are inserted into the opening (15) and fitted into the first jaw (23) and the forward-facing surface (141). The lower end corner of the first side (W1) is fitted into the corner groove (25). At this time, since the pressing surface (21) is at the top dead center, the main body (10) and the locking block (20) can be fastened by reliably rotating the screw member (W) in the forward direction. On the other hand, if the handle (11) becomes unable to rotate in the forward direction due to ambient conditions or user operation, it is necessary to rotate it freely in the reverse direction (see Figures 6 to 8). At this time, the corner and first side (W1) of the engaging portion (W0) push the locking block (20), moving the locking block (20) from its original position against the spring (30). At this time, the fourth side (W4) and its lower end corner roll relative to each other along the forward surface (141). Subsequently, when the pressing surface (21) slides in the forward direction along the curved surface (16) and reaches the bottom dead center, the locking block (20) returns to its original position due to the restoring force of the spring (30). At this time, the other parallel sixth side (W6) and third side (W3) of the engaging portion (W0) switch to their corresponding positions on the upper half of the first jaw (23) and the forward-facing surface (141), as shown in Figure 9, and tighten by alternately rotating the screw member (W) in the forward direction. Similarly, by rotating it in the reverse direction, the fifth side (W5) and second side (W2), then the fourth side (W4) and first side (W1), then the third side (W3) and sixth side (W6), and then the second side (W2) and fifth side (W5) switch in sequence and fit into the first jaw (23), the square groove (25), and the forward-facing surface (141).

[0017] In the present invention, by setting the included angle (θ) between the first jaw (23) and the second jaw (24) to be greater than 120 degrees, when the locking block (20) is in its original position and the two parallel sides of the engaging portion (W0) are fitted, a predetermined clearance is formed between the second jaw (24) and the engaging portion (W0). This clearance ensures smooth reciprocating movement of the locking block (20), and the corner portion of the engaging portion (W0) engaged with the angular groove (25) presses against the angular groove (25) and the first jaw (23), driving the locking block (20) against the spring (30) and enabling the pressing surface (21) to move along the curved surface (16). Therefore, the configuration of providing the angular groove (25) and setting the included angle (θ) between the first jaw (23) and the second jaw (24) to be greater than 120 degrees is an important requirement constituting the inventive step of the present invention.

[0018] When the forward claw (14) is movably attached to the head portion (12), a notch groove (26) is preferably provided in the second jaw (24) of the locking block (20). The width of this notch groove (26) is set to be larger than the thickness of the rib (145) formed between the slider (142) and the forward surface (141) so as to prevent interference when corresponding to the engaging portion (W0) with a small diameter (see Fig. 10). Also, as shown in Fig. 1, since the notch groove (26) is provided, the end face of the spring (30) is in an oval shape and its width can be accommodated across the notch groove (26).

[0019] Fig. 11 shows an embodiment in which the forward claw (14) is fixed to the end face (121) of the head portion (12). In this case, one end of the curved surface (16) and the accommodation groove (160) is continuous with the avoidance portion (132), and the other end is connected to the forward surface (141).

[0020] From the above, the present invention has at least the following inventive steps.

[0021] The present invention only needs to form a curved surface and an accommodation groove in a small range on the reverse claw and the end face of the head portion by a T-shaped milling cutter, without requiring excessive machining over a large range as in the prior art. Therefore, the structural strength of the reverse claw is significantly improved compared to the prior art.

[0022] This invention achieves a ratchet function simply by providing a guide pin, a locking block, and a spring, making it more economical than conventional designs.

[0023] The above is merely one example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made within the scope of the claims of the present invention are included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] (W) Screw component (W0) Engagement part (W1) First side (W2) Second side (W3) Third side (W4) Fourth side (W5) Fifth side (W6) Sixth side (10) Main body (11) Handle (12) Head section (121) End face (122) Slide groove (123) Pivotal groove (124) Warm (13) Reverse claw (131) Reverse side (132) Avoidance part (14) Prograde claw (141) Prograde surface (142) Slider (143) Teeth (144) Regulatory Department (145) Rib (15) Opening (16) Curved surface (160) Storage groove (161) Front wall (162) Back wall (163)Through hole (17) Guide pin (20) Locking block (21) Pressing surface (22) Guide groove (221) Reverse end (222) Forward end (23) First jaw (24) Second jaw (25) Square groove (26) Notched groove (θ) included angle (30) Spring

Claims

1. A ratchet wrench comprising at least the following: The device comprises a main body, the main body having a head seat on the handle portion, the end face of the head seat having forward and reverse claws spaced apart, the forward and reverse claws having a reverse and forward surface that are parallel and opposite to each other, and an opening is formed between the reverse surface, the forward surface and the end face through which the fastening portion of a screw member can enter and exit, the head seat and the reverse claws have curved surfaces, and a housing groove is provided that connects the curved surface and the opening, and a latch block is provided, the latch block is mounted in the housing groove via a guide column and has a pressing surface corresponding to the curved surface, the latch block is reciprocating when the pressing surface slides and engages along the curved surface, the latch block has a first jaw portion and a second jaw portion that intersect each other in the opening, the angle between the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion exceeds 120 degrees, and furthermore at the intersection of the first jaw portion and the second jaw portion A ratchet wrench characterized by having a square groove and a spring, the spring applying a reverse preload to the latch block, holding the latch block in its initial position, preventing the pressing surface from continuously sliding in the reverse direction along the curved surface, and holding the first jaw parallel to the forward surface, thereby enabling the engagement of two parallel sides of the fastening part by the first jaw, the square groove, and the forward surface, thereby enabling the screw member to rotate in the forward direction, and further, when the handle pushes the latch block by free-spinning in the reverse direction, the pressing surface is slidably engaged in the forward direction along the curved surface, and the action of the spring causes the latch block to reciprocate and return to its initial position, thereby switching the engagement of the other two parallel sides of the fastening part with the first jaw and the forward surface, and alternately driving the screw member to rotate in the forward direction to apply tightening force.

2. The ratchet wrench according to claim 1, characterized in that the portion of the second jaw adjacent to the corner groove is held outside the housing groove, and the remaining portion is housed inside the housing groove.

3. The ratchet wrench according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide column is erected within the housing groove, the latch block is provided with a guide groove through which the guide column passes, the guide groove is formed in an arc shape corresponding to the curvature of the pressing surface and has a closed reverse end and a forward end.

4. The ratchet wrench according to claim 3, characterized in that the spring is positioned in the guide groove, one end of the spring abuts against the guide column, and the other end abuts against the opposite end.

5. The ratchet wrench according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a relief portion is provided on the opposite side, one end of the curved surface and the receiving groove is connected to the relief portion, and the other end is connected to the end surface.

6. The ratchet wrench according to claim 5, characterized in that the forward pawl and the end face are provided with corresponding sliding parts and sliding grooves, the head seat is provided with a pivot groove communicating with the sliding groove, a worm is attached to the pivot groove, and the forward pawl is provided with teeth extending from the sliding part and capable of engaging with the worm, thereby driving the forward pawl to engage and disengage from the reverse pawl by manually rotating the worm.

7. The ratchet wrench according to claim 6, characterized in that the latch block has a notched groove in the second jaw portion.

8. The ratchet wrench according to claim 7, characterized in that the spring is positioned in the guide groove and the width of the spring is accommodated transversely within the notched groove.

9. The ratchet wrench according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the forward-facing claw is fixed to the end face, the forward-facing face is provided with a limiting portion that can narrow the opening, and the reverse-facing face is provided with a relief portion.

10. The ratchet wrench according to claim 9, characterized in that one end of the curved surface and the receiving groove is connected to the relief portion, and the other end is connected to the forward surface.

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