Turning tool

The turning tool addresses the limitations of existing tools by incorporating a displaceable actuating element and an insulating sheath, enabling secure engagement with energized fasteners and ensuring electrical safety.

JP7792415B2Active Publication Date: 2025-12-25WERA WERKZEUGE GMBH
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023537504
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Patents
Current Assignee / Owner
Priority Date
2021-01-25
Filing Date
2022-01-24
Publication Date
2025-12-25
Estimated Expiration
2042-01-24

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing turning tools are limited in their ability to effectively engage with both energized bolts and nuts, and they lack sufficient insulation for safe use on live components.

Method used

A turning tool with a displaceable actuating element on the handle allows the head to pivot between close and wide jaw positions, featuring an electrically insulating sheath and an actuating slider with an abutment shoulder to interact with the head, enabling safe engagement with energized fasteners.

Benefits of technology

The tool can securely grip and turn bolts and nuts with varying sizes while ensuring electrical safety by maintaining contact with energized parts, enhancing usability and safety.

✦ Generated by Eureka AI based on patent content.

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Abstract

The invention relates to a turning tool having a head with a fixed jaw (4) and a movable jaw (3), the head being fixed to a handle (1) so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis (20) against a restoring force from a small separation position of the two jaws (3, 4) to a large separation position of the two jaws (3, 4). To allow contact with energized parts with this type of turning tool, the handle has an insulating sheath (11) and is provided with an actuating element (5) displaceable relative to the handle (1), which, when displaced, moves the head (2) from the small separation position to the large separation position.
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a turning tool having a head with a fixed jaw and a movable jaw, the head being swivelable on a handle about a pivot axis against a restoring force from a position where the two jaws are closely spaced apart to a position where the two jaws are widely spaced apart. [Background technology]

[0002] A turning tool of this kind is known, for example, from DE 10 200 04 133 A1.

[0003] In a typical turning tool, an elongated handle carries a head that is hinged to the handle and pivots about a pivot axis so that the distance between the gripping surfaces of the two jaws changes as the head pivots. The head is connected to the handle through a gear so that the two gripping surfaces exert a force toward each other when torque is applied to the handle. This allows the turning tool to loosen and tighten hexagonal bolt heads or nuts with different wrench sizes. The movable jaw is biased by a spring element toward the fixed jaw, causing the head to pivot by the spring element to a first pivot position corresponding to a small jaw separation position. To grip a nut or bolt head at a large jaw separation position, the head must be moved from the first pivot position to a second pivot position where the gripping surfaces of both jaws are spaced apart.

[0004] Also known in the prior art are so-called "Englander" wrenches, in which the gripping surfaces of the two jaws can be moved into different distanced positions by means of an actuating element.

[0005] Further driving tools are known in the prior art, which have a handle with an electrically insulating sheath, and which can be used to turn energized bolts and nuts. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] DE 10 2018 113478 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The object of the present invention is to further improve the universal turning tool in terms of advantageous usage, and in particular to construct the universal turning tool so that it can be used with bolts and nuts that are energized. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The above object is solved by the invention as defined in the claims, which are not only advantageous further developments of the invention as defined in the independent claims but also independent solutions of the object.

[0009] It is first and essentially proposed that a displaceable actuating element is arranged on the handle, by means of which the head can be moved from the small to the large separation position. The actuating element can be an actuating slider displaceable relative to the handle. The handle can have a guide recess into which the actuating slider is inserted. The actuating element can be provided with an abutment shoulder that engages with an abutment surface of the head.

[0010] The head may have two legs. These two legs may give the head a fork-like shape. One of the two legs is formed by the movable jaw, and the other leg is formed by the fixed jaw. The fixed jaw may be provided with a jaw support that is pivotally hinged to the handle. For this purpose, a bolt-shaped shaft may engage in a bearing hole in the handle and / or head or in the jaw support. The jaw support may form a shaft into which the end of the handle fits, and the bolt may cross the shaft. The slide of the movable jaw may be displaceable relative to the jaw support. For this purpose, the slide may have a tooth gap into which the tooth of the handle fits. The movable jaw support may be acted upon by a spring element that presses the two jaws together.

[0011] The actuating element may have an elongated shape and a narrow side extending in the handle longitudinal direction, by means of which the actuating element can be displaced. The narrow side of the actuating element may have a gripping recess or a longitudinal groove into which the thumb of the hand gripping the handle engages, thereby displacing the actuating element by manipulating the thumb. The actuating element preferably engages with a leg spatially assigned to the movable jaw at the head. The handle may be an elongated, flat part having a first wide side and a second wide side facing opposite thereto. Opposite narrow sides extend between the two wide sides. The actuating element is preferably provided on one of the two narrow sides. The narrow side, or in a variant, also one of the wide sides, may form a guide recess into which the actuating element, preferably an actuating slider, is inserted and displaceable from a first position to a second position. The guide recess may be an undercut groove into which a rib of the operating element, for example having a dovetail-shaped cross section, is fitted, i.e. inserted or clamped, so that the operating element is mounted so as to be linearly displaceable on the handle.

[0012] In the first position, which may be a retracted position, the end of the actuating element rests on a step in the guide recess, and in the second position, which may be an actuated position, the actuating element has moved the head from the first pivoted position to a second pivoted position, in which the distance between the two gripping surfaces of the two jaws is increased.

[0013] Advantageously, the actuating element has a butt shoulder that interacts with the butt surface of the head. The butt surface of the head may be integrally formed with the fixed jaw or may be spatially allocated to the side of the head where the movable jaw is located. When the actuating element is displaced from the first position, the butt shoulder can approach the butt surface until it comes into contact with it. Further displacement of the actuating element causes the head to pivot against the restoring force of a spring element. This is the same spring element that moves the two jaws toward each other.

[0014] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides that the handle has a sheath. The handle in particular has an electrically insulating sheath, which can be formed by plastic overmolding. This sheath allows the tool to be used on components that are energized. It is advantageous if the actuating element is electrically insulating or has an electrically insulating sheath. The actuating element extends over most of the electrically insulating sheathed area of ​​the handle. It can protrude beyond the electrically insulating sheath toward the head by means of its abutment shoulder. However, the actuating element is operated by an actuating part, e.g., a thumb recess, located at the end of the actuating element facing away from the abutment shoulder. The turning tool of the present invention can have an actuating slider with an abutment shoulder at its end facing the head and an actuating part at its end facing away from the head.

[0015] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a collar. This may be a collar formed of an electrically insulating sheath and extending around the handle. The collar is adjacent to the end of the sheath facing the head. The collar may have a guide hole through which the actuating element passes. Preferably, the actuating element inserted into the guide recess is displaceably mounted on the handle through a window formed by the guide hole. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below on the basis of the drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view on a broad side of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view on the narrow side of an exemplary embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III of FIG. 2 in a first pivoted position of the head 2 relative to the handle 1, in which the two jaws 3, 4 of the head 2 are in a closely spaced apart position. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a representation according to Figure 3 in a second pivoted position of the head relative to the handle 1, in which the two jaws 3, 4 of the head 2 are in a widely spaced apart position and the actuating element 5 engages with the abutment surface 7 of the head 2 by means of the abutment shoulder 6. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross section along line VV. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings is a turning tool for turning screws with polygonal heads or nuts with polygonal contours. The distance A between the two gripping surfaces 14, 15 of the movable jaw 3 relative to the fixed jaw 4 is variable so that the turning tool can be used to turn nuts or bolts with different spanner widths. When a torque is applied to the handle 1, the gripping surfaces 14, 15 of the two jaws move together. 4 , 1 5The head 2 is hingedly connected to the handle 1 so that it can pivot on the hinge pin 20 so that the head 2 exerts a pushing force against the polygonal side of the nut or bolt, respectively.

[0018] By means of an electrically insulating sheath 11 and an actuating element 5 displaceable along said sheath 11, the head 2 carrying the jaws 3, 4 can be pivoted with a varying distance A, and the metallic head 2 can vary the jaw opening width formed by the two jaws 3, 4 while simultaneously contacting the energized part.

[0019] The handle 1 has an elongated, flat metal body and a hinged end to which the head 2 is pivotally attached using a pin forming an axis 20. The pin passes through bearing holes in both the head 2 and the hinged end of the handle. The head 2 may form a pocket into which the hinged end, forming teeth 19, is inserted. The handle 1 is completely covered by an electrically insulating sheath 11, except for the end that engages in the pocket of the head 2 or the hinged end. The sheath can be applied to a metal substrate by injection molding. The sheath can be made of plastic. The sheath 11 can form a collar 12 that protrudes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the handle and adjacent the hinged end. The handle forms a handguard or mechanical barrier that prevents the hand holding the handle 1 from slipping beyond the handle surface toward the head 2.

[0020] The head 2 forms a fixed jaw 4 hingedly attached to the handle 1 by a pin 20 forming an axis 20. The fixed jaw 4 has a gripping surface 15 for gripping polygonal flanks of nuts or the like. A slide 17 of the movable jaw 3 is displaceable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extension of the gripping surface 15. The slide 17 forms a jaw bottom surface 16 which is formed on the one hand by the gripping surface 15 of the fixed jaw 4 and on the other hand by the gripping surface 14 of the movable jaw 3 located opposite it.

[0021] The slide 17 defines a tooth gap 18 that engages with a tooth 19 on the hinge end of the handle. When the handle 1 pivots relative to the head 2, the tooth 19 engages in the tooth gap 18, causing the gripping surface 14 of the movable jaw 3 to move relative to the gripping surface 15 of the fixed jaw 4.

[0022] In the exemplary embodiment, a spring element 8 formed by a compression spring biases the movable jaw 3 against the fixed jaw 4, causing the gripping surfaces 14, 15 to move towards each other. In the inactivated state, the distance A between the two gripping surfaces 14, 15 is at a minimum value.

[0023] A guide recess 22 is arranged on one of the two narrow sides 10 of the handle 1. However, in an exemplary embodiment not shown, such a guide recess 22 may also be arranged on the wide side 9. The guide recess 22 extends through a guide hole 13 forming a window in the collar 12. The guide hole 13 holds the actuating slider 5 in the guide recess 22.

[0024] 5 shows a cross section of the guide recess 22. The guide recess may have a groove with undercut walls, into which a rib of the actuating element 5 can engage. The rib may have a dovetail-shaped cross section. The rib may be mounted in the groove, in particular in an undercut groove, and in particular inserted or clamped into the groove, in particular in an undercut groove. This is done in order to couple the actuating element 5 on the handle in a manner that allows it to be displaced only linearly. However, the guide recess may also form only a recess with a bottom surface without an undercut.

[0025] FIG. 5 further shows a metal core 26 overmolded with a plastic material, which gives the handle 1 mechanical stability.

[0026] The actuating slider 5 forms an actuating element that allows the head 2 to be pivoted relative to the handle 1, thereby increasing the distance A between the two gripping surfaces 14, 15. This is done against the restoring force of a spring element 8. For this purpose, the head 2 forms an abutment surface 7 arranged on the side of the head 2 on which the movable jaw 3 also rests. The actuating element 5 has an abutment shoulder 6 that abuts against the abutment surface 7 when the actuating element 5 is displaced, thereby causing the head 2 to pivot.

[0027] The actuating element 5 has a portion that extends on the side of the collar 12 facing the head 2 and forms a stop shoulder 6. A further portion of the actuating element 5 extends on the opposite side of the collar 12. This portion forms an actuating portion 25, for example in the form of a thumb recess or a longitudinal groove, by means of which the thumb of the hand gripping the handle 1 can act to displace the actuating element 5. In the exemplary embodiment, the actuating portion 25 is arranged at the end of the actuating element 5 opposite the stop shoulder 6. The end opposite the stop shoulder 6 forms an end 23 that can rest on a step 24 of the guide recess 22 in the basic position of the actuating element 5. In the exemplary embodiment, the actuating portion 25 is formed by a step or depression in the actuating element 5.

[0028] In the basic position shown in Figure 3, where the distance A is at its smallest, the head 2 is guided towards the actuating element 5. In the position shown in Figure 4, where the head 2 is at its maximum pivoted position relative to the handle 1 compared to the basic position, the head 2 is pivoted away from the actuating element 5. During the pivoting of the head 2 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 4, the abutment shoulder 6 slides along the abutment surface 7. Figure 4 shows that in the pivot end position the abutment shoulder 6 supports the corner area of ​​the abutment surface 7.

[0029] The elongated actuating element 5 can be made of plastic or plastic-coated metal parts. In particular, it is electrically insulating.

[0030] The operation of the turning tool is as follows.

[0031] Starting from the basic position shown in Figure 3, in which the distance A between the movable jaw 3 and the fixed jaw 4 is at a minimum and the head 2 is tilted towards the actuating element 5, the head 2 is pivoted, for example, to the position shown in Figure 4, by displacing the actuating element 5 towards the head 2. In this pivoted position, the distance A between the movable jaw 3 and the fixed jaw 4 is greater. With the help of the electrically insulated actuating element 5, the jaw opening width formed by the gripping surfaces 14, 15 can be increased even when the metallic head 2 comes into contact with a part to which voltage is applied.

[0032] The above description is intended to describe the invention encompassed by this application as a whole, which also advances the prior art independently by at least the following combinations of features, two, some or all of which may be combined:

[0033] A turning tool characterized in that it has an actuating element 5 which is displaceable relative to the handle 1 and which, when displaced, moves the head 2 from a small separation position to a large separation position.

[0034] A turning tool characterized in that the actuating element (5) is an actuating slider that is slidable relative to the handle (1).

[0035] A turning tool characterized in that the actuating element (5) has a butt shoulder (6) which engages on the butt surface (7) of the head (2).

[0036] A turning tool, characterized in that the actuating element (5) has an elongated shape and an elongated side surface (21) extending in the longitudinal direction of the handle, and one end surface forms a stop shoulder.

[0037] A turning tool characterized in that the head (2) has a first leg spatially allocated to the movable jaw (3) and a second leg spatially allocated to the fixed jaw (4), and the actuating element (5) engages with the first leg.

[0038] A turning tool characterized in that the handle (1) has two opposite wide sides (9) and two opposite narrow sides (10), and the actuating element (5) is arranged on the narrow sides (10).

[0039] A turning tool characterized in that the handle (1) has a sheath (11) made of an electrically insulating material and the actuating element (5) is made from or coated with an electrically insulating material.

[0040] A turning tool characterized in that it has a collar 12 protruding from the handle 1 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the handle, the collar 12 having a guide hole 13 within which an operating element 5 is displaceably guided, and / or the operating element 5 is mounted on a sheath 11 of the handle so as to be displaceable in a straight line.

[0041] A spring element 8 arranged in the head 2 movable jaw 3 of fixed jaw 4 and biasing the head 2 in a first pivoting position corresponding to a small separation between the two jaws 3, 4; and / or the actuating element 5 is inserted into a guide recess 22 forming a step 24, on which an end 23 of the actuating element 5 opposite the abutment shoulder 6 can rest.

[0042] All disclosed features are essential to the invention (both by themselves and in combination with one another). The disclosure of the present application incorporates in its entirety the disclosures of the relevant / additional priority documents (copies of earlier applications), with the intention of incorporating the features of these documents into the claims of the present application. The dependent claims are characterized by independent, inventive further developments of the prior art, even without the features of the claims cited therein, in particular for the purpose of filing a divisional application based on these claims. The invention specified in each claim may additionally have one or more features specified in the preceding description, particularly those designated by reference signs and / or specified in the sign explanations. The present invention also relates in particular to embodiments in which individual features set forth in the preceding description are not implemented, insofar as they are clearly unnecessary for the respective intended use or can be replaced by other means having the same technical effect. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] 1 handle 2 heads 3 Movable jaw 4 Fixed jaw 5 Actuating element, actuating slider 6. Abutment shoulder 7. Abutment surface 8 Spring Elements 9. Broad Side 10 Narrow Side 11 Electrical insulating sheath 12 colors 13 Guide hole 14 Gripping surface 15 Gripping surface 16 Bottom 17 Slide section 18 Interdental space 19 teeth 20 axes 21 Long and narrow side, handle surface 22 Guide recess 23 End 24 Step section 25 Operating unit 26 cores A. Distance

Claims

1. A turning tool having a head (2) with a fixed jaw (4) and a movable jaw (3), and an operating element (5) mounted in a guide recess (22) so as to be displaceable on a handle (1), the head (2) being fixed to the handle (1) so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis (20) against a restoring force from a small distance position of the two jaws (3, 4) to a large distance position of the two jaws (3, 4) by displacement of the operating element (5) relative to the handle (1). the handle (1) has a sheath (11) made of an electrically insulating material, and the actuating element (5) is made of or coated with an electrically insulating material; and A turning tool, characterized in that the actuating element (5) is displaceably guided in a guide hole (13) of a collar (12) protruding from the handle (1) perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the handle.

2. 2. A turning tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (5) is an actuating slider that is slidable relative to the handle (1).

3. 3. A turning tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating element (5) has a butt shoulder (6) which engages with a butt surface (7) of the head (7).

4. 4. A turning tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the actuating element (5) has an elongated shape and an elongated side surface (21) extending in the longitudinal direction of the handle and has one end face forming the abutment shoulder (6).

5. 5. A turning tool according to claim 1, wherein the head (2) has a first leg spatially allocated to the movable jaw (3) and a second leg spatially allocated to the fixed jaw (4), and the actuating element (5) engages with the first leg.

6. 6. A turning tool according to claim 1, wherein the handle (1) has two opposite wide sides (9) and two opposite narrow sides (10), and the actuating element (5) is arranged on the narrow sides (10).

7. 7. A turning tool according to claim 1, wherein the actuating element (5) is mounted so as to be linearly displaceable on the sheath (11) of the handle.

8. 8. The turning tool according to claim 1, wherein a spring element (8) arranged on the head (2) biases the movable jaw (3) against the fixed jaw (4) and biases the head (2) in a first pivoted position corresponding to a small separation position of the two jaws (3, 4).

9. 4. A turning tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the actuating element (5) is inserted into a guide recess (22) which forms a step (24), and an end of the actuating element (5) opposite the abutment shoulder (6) can rest on the step (24).

Citation Information

Patent Citations

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    US5746097A

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