Ratchet wrench

Abstract

A ratchet wrench, comprising: a handle; an operating portion, comprising a peripheral wall and a transition portion, wherein a hole-shaped receiving space is formed in the peripheral wall, the handle is connected to the peripheral wall by means of the transition portion, and an accommodating groove is provided in the transition portion and is in communication with the receiving space; a driving member arranged in the receiving space and configured to be capable of rotating about a central axis of the receiving space, an outer peripheral surface of the driving member being provided with first teeth; a pawl arranged in the receiving space and having a first surface and a second surface that are opposite to each other, the first surface being provided with second teeth that are configured to be meshed with the first teeth, and the second surface being arranged facing a side wall of the accommodating groove; and a first elastic element arranged in the accommodating groove and configured to be capable of applying an elastic force to the pawl to push the pawl to move to an end of the accommodating groove, such that the second teeth meshed with the first teeth are separated from the first teeth.

Description

ratchet wrench Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of hand tools, and in particular to a ratchet wrench. Background Art

[0002] Existing ratchet tools feature a main body with a meshing drive element and pawl. The pawl is often mounted to the main body via a shaft. When the main body rotates synchronously with the drive element via the pawl to apply torque to the workpiece, the shaft transmits the supporting force from the main body to the pawl. This limited shaft diameter limits the ratchet tool's maximum output torque. Furthermore, to maintain the pawl's movement, the shaft and pawl, or the shaft and main body, must rotate. This results in significant play during pawl movement, creating idle travel when the ratchet tool switches direction. For assembly purposes, the end of the shaft is often exposed on the main body, making it susceptible to loosening due to collisions.

[0003] Another existing ratchet tool has a pawl placed in a receiving groove. When the main body rotates synchronously with the pawl and the driving member to apply torque to the workpiece, the supporting wall of the receiving groove provides the main body with support for the pawl. The receiving groove is offset from the circular hole-shaped receiving space to the peripheral wall, resulting in a thin supporting wall. When the ratchet tool is in operation, especially when subjected to high torque, the peripheral wall is easily deformed, and the inner diameter of the receiving space becomes a long and short diameter, which easily causes fracture at the weak supporting wall. As a result, the maximum torque of the ratchet tool is relatively low.

[0004] The existing machining method is a single-station process, requiring the accommodation space to be machined in one station, followed by the crescent-shaped slot (e.g., milling) in another station. This requires adjusting the tooling's fixed angle and determining the machining feed direction and angle α. This method involves multiple steps, poor precision, and low efficiency. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved and the technical task proposed by this application are to overcome the defect of low maximum output torque of existing ratchet tools and to provide a ratchet wrench that increases the maximum torque by configuring a head structure.

[0006] To achieve the purpose of the invention, the present application provides a ratchet wrench, comprising: a handle; an operating part, the operating part comprising a peripheral wall and a transition part, a hole-shaped accommodating space is formed inside the peripheral wall, the handle is connected to the peripheral wall through the transition part, a accommodating groove is provided in the transition part, and the accommodating groove is connected to the accommodating space; a driving member, the driving member is arranged in the accommodating space and is configured to be able to rotate around the central axis of the accommodating space, and the outer peripheral surface of the driving member is provided with a first tooth; a pawl, the pawl is arranged in the accommodating groove, the pawl has a first surface and a second surface relative to each other, the first surface is provided with a second tooth, the second tooth is configured to be able to engage with the first tooth, and the second surface is arranged toward the side wall of the accommodating groove; and a first elastic element, the elastic element is arranged in the accommodating groove, the first elastic element is configured to be able to apply elastic force to the pawl to push the pawl to move toward the end of the accommodating groove, so that the second tooth in an engaged state with the first tooth is separated from the first tooth.

[0007] Furthermore, the accommodating groove includes a first end and a second end, the first end of the accommodating groove is adjacent to the center line of the handle, and the second end of the accommodating groove is away from the center line of the handle, the side wall of the first end of the accommodating groove serves as a first support wall, and the side wall of the second end of the accommodating groove serves as a second support wall.

[0008] The thickness of the first supporting wall is not less than the thickness of the peripheral wall.

[0009] Furthermore, the angle between the radial line of the receiving groove and the center line of the handle is between 5° and 20°.

[0010] Furthermore, a working hole is provided inside the driving member.

[0011] Furthermore, a ratio of the thickness of the first supporting wall to the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driving member is between 0.2 and 1.

[0012] Furthermore, the ratio of the angle between the radial line of the accommodating groove and the center line of the handle to the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driving member is between 0.5° / mm and 2.5° / mm.

[0013] Furthermore, the center of curvature of the side wall of the accommodating groove is located on one side of the center line of the handle.

[0014] Furthermore, the thickness of the second supporting wall is smaller than the thickness of the first supporting wall.

[0015] Furthermore, it also includes a support member, which is arranged at the second end of the accommodating groove, and the first elastic element is arranged between the support member and the pawl.

[0016] Furthermore, the pawl is a first wedge-shaped block, and the first wedge-shaped block matches the shape contour of the first end of the accommodating groove.

[0017] Furthermore, the support member is a second wedge-shaped block, and the second wedge-shaped block matches the shape contour of the second end of the accommodating groove.

[0018] Furthermore, the support member is a rod member fixed to the second end of the accommodating groove.

[0019] Furthermore, the number of pawls is m, where m is 2 or 3, and the m pawls are stacked axially along the accommodating space. When the second tooth of any pawl engages with the first tooth, the second tooth of the other pawl engages with the first tooth to maintain a reverse angle of β / m, where β is the central angle corresponding to a first tooth.

[0020] Furthermore, the transition portion and the handle are pivotally connected via a rotating shaft.

[0021] Furthermore, the ratio of the thickness of the peripheral wall to the height of the peripheral wall is between 0.5 and 0.85.

[0022] Furthermore, the thickness of the profile of the transition portion on one side corresponding to the first support wall is greater than the thickness of the profile on the other side.

[0023] Furthermore, the height of the peripheral wall gradually increases from a position away from the transition portion to a position adjacent to the transition portion.

[0024] Furthermore, the working hole of the driving member is square.

[0025] Furthermore, it also includes a connecting head, which is slidably connected to the working hole of the driving member, and the connecting head is configured to be able to switch between a first position in which one end of the connecting head is exposed to one side of the working hole and a second position in which the other end of the connecting head is exposed to the opposite side of the working hole.

[0026] To achieve the purpose of the invention, one solution of the ratchet wrench of the present application is that it includes a handle, at least one end of the handle is configured with a ratchet working end, and its characteristics are: the ratchet working end includes:

[0027] The main body is provided with a circular hole-shaped accommodation space and an accommodation groove, and the circular hole-shaped accommodation space is defined by a peripheral wall.

[0028] The driving member is rotatably arranged in the accommodating space, and the outer peripheral surface of the driving member is provided with a first tooth.

[0029] a pawl located in the receiving groove and having a second tooth,

[0030] a first elastic element that applies an elastic force to the pawl; and

[0031] The main body has a transition portion for connecting the handle, the accommodating groove is located in the transition portion and connected to the accommodating space, the accommodating groove has a supporting wall, the pawl tends to be between the second tooth and the supporting wall by the elastic force of the first elastic element, the ratio of the thickness of the supporting wall to the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driving member is 0.2 to 1, and when the main body rotates synchronously with the driving member through the pawl, the supporting wall provides the main body with supporting force on the pawl.

[0032] This ratchet wrench features a support wall located at the transition between the main body and the handle, rather than on the peripheral wall. The ratio of the support wall thickness to the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driver is limited to 0.2 to 1. This ensures sufficient support wall thickness, avoids forming weak spots in the peripheral wall, and increases the ratchet wrench's maximum torque. Furthermore, the thickness of the support wall varies with the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driver, adapting to the maximum torque requirements of ratchet wrenches of varying specifications.

[0033] One method for determining the thickness of the support wall is: the number of second teeth meshing with first teeth is an integer between 3 and 12, and the thickness of the support wall is an average value of the thickness of the support wall corresponding to each second tooth.

[0034] In one embodiment, the thickness of the supporting wall is not less than the thickness of the peripheral wall, so as to ensure the strength of the supporting wall and enable it to withstand sufficiently large torsional forces.

[0035] Specifically, the radial line of the receiving groove is offset toward one side of the centerline of the handle. The radial line of the receiving groove is the straight line between the center of curvature of the sidewall of the receiving groove and the center of curvature of the peripheral wall. The centerline of the handle is the geometric centerline of the handle. The radial line of the receiving groove maintains an angle with the centerline of the handle. This allows the thickness of the support wall to be increased without increasing the overall dimensions of the main body, thereby increasing the maximum torque of the ratchet wrench. Testing has shown that when the angle between the radial line of the receiving groove and the centerline of the handle is between 5° and 20°, the support wall can be positioned appropriately and maintained at an appropriate thickness to increase the maximum torque of the ratchet wrench.

[0036] After testing, the ratio of the angle to the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driving part is 0.5° / mm to 2.5° / mm, which can not only arrange the supporting wall at a suitable position on the main body and maintain a suitable thickness to increase the maximum torque of the ratchet wrench, but also take into account the strength of other parts of the main body.

[0037] Preferably, the receiving groove is crescent-shaped, with the center of curvature of the sidewalls of the receiving groove located to one side of the centerline of the handle. The first end of the receiving groove is adjacent to the centerline of the handle, while the second end of the receiving groove is distal to the centerline of the handle. The first end of the receiving groove accommodates the pawl, and the sidewalls of the first end of the receiving groove serve as support walls, while the sidewalls of the second end of the receiving groove serve as support walls for the first elastic element. Accordingly, the support walls are offset toward the transition portion to allow for a sufficient thickness of the support walls. In particular, the thickness of the support walls is less than that of the peripheral wall, thereby rationally configuring the stress conditions of the transition portion within a defined transition portion profile and increasing the torsion forces it can withstand.

[0038] A support member is disposed at the second end of the receiving groove, and the first elastic element applies elastic force to the pawl via the support member. The support member and the supporting wall support the first elastic element, freeing it from the torque of the workpiece. Consequently, by offsetting the receiving groove relative to the centerline of the handle, the thickness of the supporting wall is reduced, while the thickness of the support wall is increased, thereby increasing the maximum torque of the ratchet wrench.

[0039] Preferably, the pawl is a first wedge-shaped block that matches the shape of the first end of the receiving groove, thereby ensuring that the pawl transmits the torque from the supporting wall to the driving member and can withstand a large supporting force, thereby avoiding irreversible deformation caused by excessive force.

[0040] In one embodiment, the support member is a second wedge-shaped block that matches the contour of the second end of the receiving slot. This maintains the support member in a relatively stable position, ensuring that the first elastic element exerts elastic force on the pawl. Furthermore, the support member can be adjusted within the second end of the receiving slot to maintain its posture and position.

[0041] In one embodiment, the support member is a rod fixed to the second end of the accommodating groove.

[0042] In one embodiment, there are m pawls, where m is 2 or 3, and the m pawls are stacked axially along the receiving space. When the second tooth of any pawl engages with the first tooth, the second tooth of the other pawl engages with the first tooth at a reverse angle of β / m, where β is the central angle corresponding to one first tooth. Accordingly, when twisting a workpiece, the handle only needs to be rotated in the reverse direction through a reverse angle of β / m to engage the second tooth with the first tooth. When twisting a workpiece in a confined space, the handle is difficult to rotate through the central angle corresponding to the first tooth due to space limitations. This structure can reduce the reverse rotation angle of the handle, allowing the second tooth to engage with the first tooth, achieving repeated twisting.

[0043] In one embodiment, the transition portion is integral with the handle.

[0044] In one embodiment, the transition portion is connected to the handle via a rotating shaft, thereby enabling the posture of the ratchet working end relative to the handle to be adjusted, thereby facilitating adjustment of the posture of the workpiece being twisted.

[0045] Preferably, the ratio of the thickness of the peripheral wall to the height of the peripheral wall is 0.5 to 0.85, which can ensure that the driving part is coupled with the workpiece or the adapter, and also ensure the strength of the main body and the various force transmission components configured on the main body.

[0046] In order to prevent the pawl from losing its working position, the accommodating groove is hidden in the main body.

[0047] In one embodiment, the thickness of the profile of the transition portion on one side corresponding to the supporting wall is greater than the thickness of the profile on the other side thereof, thereby increasing the strength of the supporting wall.

[0048] In one embodiment, the height of the peripheral wall gradually increases from a position away from the transition portion to a position adjacent to the transition portion, thereby increasing the strength of the supporting wall.

[0049] To achieve the purpose of the invention, another embodiment of the ratchet wrench of the present application is that it includes a handle, at least one end of the handle is configured with a ratchet working end, and is characterized in that: the ratchet working end includes:

[0050] The main body is provided with a circular hole-shaped accommodation space and an accommodation groove. The circular hole-shaped accommodation space is defined by a peripheral wall. The accommodation groove is connected to the accommodation space and deviates from the accommodation space.

[0051] The driving member is rotatably arranged in the accommodating space, and the outer peripheral surface of the driving member is provided with a first tooth.

[0052] a pawl located in the receiving groove and having a second tooth,

[0053] a first elastic element that applies an elastic force to the pawl; and

[0054] The radial line of the receiving groove is offset toward the centerline of the handle. The radial line of the receiving groove is the line where the center of curvature of the sidewall and the center of curvature of the peripheral wall of the receiving groove are located. The centerline of the handle is the geometric centerline of the handle. The radial line of the receiving groove maintains an angle with the centerline of the handle. This solution increases the thickness of the supporting wall by offsetting the receiving groove without increasing the specifications or profile of the main body.

[0055] In order to facilitate processing, the accommodating groove is crescent-shaped, and thus can be easily completed by milling.

[0056] The center of curvature of the sidewall of the receiving groove is located on one side of the centerline of the handle. The first end of the receiving groove is adjacent to the centerline of the handle, while the second end of the receiving groove is further away from the centerline of the handle. The first end of the receiving groove accommodates the pawl. The sidewall at the first end of the receiving groove serves as a support wall, while the sidewall at the second end of the receiving groove serves as a support wall for the first elastic element. Thus, the support wall is offset toward the transition portion to make room and ensure the thickness of the support wall.

[0057] The thickness of the supporting wall is smaller than that of the peripheral wall to ensure the strength of the supporting wall and to be able to withstand sufficiently large torsional forces.

[0058] According to tests, when the angle is 5° to 20°, the support wall can be positioned at a suitable position and maintain a suitable thickness to increase the maximum torque of the ratchet wrench.

[0059] After testing, the ratio of the angle to the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driving part is 0.5° / mm to 2.5° / mm, which can not only arrange the supporting wall at a suitable position on the main body and maintain a suitable thickness to increase the maximum torque of the ratchet wrench, but also take into account the strength of other parts of the main body.

[0060] To achieve the purpose of the invention, the present invention provides a method for machining a ratchet wrench, comprising finely machining a circular hole-shaped receiving space and a receiving groove on the main body of the ratchet working end. The method is characterized in that the circular hole-shaped receiving space and the receiving groove are finely machined at the same workstation using CNC turning and milling, and the spindle motion angle is controlled by a program to achieve accurate machining of the angle. The present invention provides a transition portion connecting the handle to the main body of the ratchet working end, the receiving groove connects to the receiving space and deviates from the receiving space toward the transition portion, the receiving groove having a support wall, the pawl using the elastic force of a first elastic element to engage the second tooth with the first tooth, and the back of the pawl rests on the support wall, and the ratio of the thickness of the support wall to the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driving member is limited to 0.2 to 1. The ratchet wrench provides the support wall at the transition portion of the main body connecting the handle, rather than the peripheral wall, to ensure the thickness of the support wall, avoid forming a weak point on the peripheral wall, and increase the maximum torque of the ratchet wrench. Furthermore, as the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driving member changes, the thickness of the support wall also changes to meet the maximum torque requirements of ratchet wrenches of different specifications.

[0061] The present invention also increases the thickness of the supporting wall without increasing the size or profile of the main body by offsetting the radial line of the receiving groove toward one side of the center line of the handle. The radial line of the receiving groove is a perpendicular line passing through the geometric center of the receiving groove and perpendicular to the axis of the circular hole-shaped receiving space, and the center line of the handle is the geometric center line of the handle. The radial line of the receiving groove and the center line of the handle maintain an angle.

[0062] The present application uses CNC turning and milling integrated processing to perform fine processing on the circular hole-shaped accommodation space and the accommodation groove at the same workstation, and the spindle stop angle is controlled by the program to achieve accurate processing of the angle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0063] FIG1 is a schematic orthographic projection of a ratchet wrench of the present application from one viewing angle;

[0064] Figure 2 is a right side view of Figure 1;

[0065] FIG3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG1 ;

[0066] FIG4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB of FIG2 ;

[0067] FIG5 is a schematic diagram of the handle and the main body in FIG4 ;

[0068] FIG6 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the ratchet working end of the present application;

[0069] FIG7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ratchet wrench of the present application from one perspective;

[0070] FIG8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C1-C1 of FIG7 ;

[0071] FIG9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D1-D1 of FIG7 ;

[0072] FIG10 is a schematic orthographic projection diagram of the ratchet wrench of the present application from one perspective;

[0073] FIG11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE of FIG10 ;

[0074] FIG12 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line F1-F1 of FIG11 ;

[0075] FIG13 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line GG of FIG11 ;

[0076] FIG14 is a schematic diagram of the exploded structure of the ratchet working end of the present application;

[0077] FIG15 is a schematic structural diagram of the ratchet working end of the present application;

[0078] FIG16 is a schematic structural diagram of the ratchet working end of the present application;

[0079] FIG17 is a schematic orthographic projection diagram of the ratchet wrench of the present application from one perspective;

[0080] FIG18 is a right side view of FIG17;

[0081] FIG19 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line H1-H1 of FIG17 ;

[0082] FIG20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II of FIG18 ;

[0083] FIG21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line JJ of FIG18 ;

[0084] FIG22 is a schematic diagram of the structure of the ratchet working end of the present application;

[0085] FIG23 is a schematic diagram of the relationship between the torque and the eccentric angle of an eccentric ratchet with a diameter D of the inscribed circle C of the driving member being 10 mm using a single-factor variance analysis;

[0086] FIG24 is a schematic diagram showing the relationship between the torque and the eccentric angle of an eccentric ratchet with a diameter D of the inscribed circle C of the driving member being 16 mm using a single-factor variance analysis;

[0087] FIG25 is a box plot of the life mean values ​​for the 100% ASME life comparison test;

[0088] FIG26 is a line graph showing the mean life span of the 100% ASME life comparison test;

[0089] Explanation of the numbers in the figure: 100 handle, 101 rotating shaft, n center line of the handle; 200 ratchet working end; 210 main body, 211 accommodating space, 212 accommodating groove, 213 first end of the accommodating groove, 214 second end of the accommodating groove, 215 peripheral wall, 216 transition portion, 217 supporting wall, 218 supporting wall, W thickness of the peripheral wall, H height of the peripheral wall, W1 thickness of the supporting wall, W2 thickness of the supporting wall, r radial line of the accommodating groove, x central axis of the accommodating space, α angle between the radial line of the accommodating groove and the center line of the handle, X1 center of curvature of the peripheral wall, X2 center of curvature of the side wall of the accommodating groove, T thickened portion, CW clockwise direction, CCW counterclockwise direction, 220 driving member, 221 first tooth, 222 first working part, 223 retaining ring, 224 connecting head, 225 guide post, 226 second elastic element, steel ball 227, β (central angle corresponding to the first tooth), C (inscribed circle of the driving member), 230 pawl, 231 second tooth, 232 back surface, 233 first surface, 240 first elastic element, 250 supporting member, 2201 guide hole, 2241 guide groove, 2242 positioning hole, 301 second working part, 302 opening. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0090] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention more clear, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without making creative efforts shall fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0091] The terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof in the description and claims of the present invention are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions. For example, a method or product that includes a series of technical features is not necessarily limited to those technical features clearly listed, and may also include other technical features that are not clearly listed and can be included in the method or product.

[0092] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the technical features defined by the terms "first", "second", etc., which have sequential concepts, are only used to clearly describe the defined technical features so that the defined technical features can be clearly distinguished from other technical features, and do not represent such naming in actual implementation. Therefore, it cannot be understood as a limitation on the present invention.

[0093] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments and accompanying drawings.

[0094] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, a ratchet wrench includes a handle 100, a body 210, a driving member 220, a pawl 230, and a first elastic element 240. The body 210 serves as an operating portion of the ratchet wrench.

[0095] The main body 210 includes a peripheral wall 215 and a transition portion 216. The interior of the peripheral wall 215 forms a hole-shaped receiving space 211. The handle 100 is connected to the peripheral wall 215 through the transition portion 216. The transition portion 216 is provided with a receiving groove 212, which is connected to the receiving space 211. The driving member 220 is disposed in the receiving space 211 and is configured to be able to rotate around the central axis x of the receiving space. The outer peripheral surface of the driving member 220 is provided with a first tooth 221. The pawl 230 is disposed in the receiving groove 212. The pawl 230 has an opposite first surface 230. 3 and the second surface, which is also called the back surface 232 of the pawl 230; the first surface 233 is provided with a second tooth 231, which is configured to engage with the first tooth 221, and the back surface 232 is arranged toward the side wall of the accommodating groove 212; the first elastic element 240 is disposed in the accommodating groove 212, and the first elastic element 240 is configured to apply an elastic force f1 to the pawl 230 to push the pawl 230 to move toward the end of the accommodating groove 212, thereby separating the second tooth 231 that is in a meshing state with the first tooth 221 from the first tooth 221.

[0096] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, the ratchet wrench includes a handle 100, the upper end of the handle 100 is integrally configured with a ratchet working end 200, and the lower end of the handle 100 is integrally configured with a second working portion 301. The ratchet working end 200 constitutes one head of the ratchet wrench, and the second working portion 301 constitutes the other head of the ratchet wrench.

[0097] The ratchet working end 200 includes a main body 210, a driving member 220, a pawl 230, a supporting member 250 and a first elastic element 240. The main body 210 serves as an operating portion of the ratchet wrench.

[0098] The main body 210 is integrally connected to the handle 100 via a transition portion 216, and the two are manufactured integrally. Generally, the width of the handle 100 is smaller than the outer contour of the head. The transition portion 216 serves to provide a smooth transition between the handle 100 and the head, distributing forces in that area, preventing force concentration and increasing the strength of the connection between the main body 210 and the handle 100. The main body 210 is provided with a circular hole-shaped receiving space 211 and a receiving groove 212. The receiving space 211 is defined by a peripheral wall 215. The peripheral wall 215 has a substantially uniform thickness. In Figures 4 and 5, the outer contour of the peripheral wall 215 at the transition portion 216 is indicated by a dotted arc line. In the actual product, this outer contour is integrated with the transition portion 216 and does not reflect the dotted arc outline. The receiving groove 212 is concealed within the main body 210. The receiving groove 212 connects to the receiving space 211 and deviates from the receiving space 211 toward the transition portion 216. The receiving groove 212 is crescent-shaped. The center of curvature X2 of the side wall of the receiving groove is located on one side of the center line n of the handle, and the radial line r of the receiving groove is offset to one side of the center line n of the handle. The radial line r of the receiving groove is also called the perpendicular bisector of the receiving groove, which refers to the perpendicular bisector of the arc along which the side wall of the receiving groove 212 in Figures 4 and 5 is located. The perpendicular bisector of the receiving groove passes through the midpoint of the arc and also passes through the center of curvature X2 of the side wall of the receiving groove. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the radial line r of the receiving groove is the straight line where the center of curvature X2 of the side wall of the receiving groove and the center of curvature X1 of the peripheral wall are located. The center line n of the handle is the geometric center line of the handle 100 along its length. The length direction is the up-down direction along the paper as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 16. In this manner, the first end 213 of the receiving groove is adjacent to the centerline n of the handle, while the second end 214 of the receiving groove is distal to the centerline n of the handle. The sidewall of the first end 213 of the receiving groove serves as a support wall 217, also referred to as a first support wall, and the sidewall of the second end 214 of the receiving groove serves as a support wall 218, also referred to as a second support wall. The thickness W1 of the support wall is not less than the thickness W of the peripheral wall, and the thickness W1 of the support wall is greater than the thickness W2 of the support wall 218. In Figures 4 and 5, the first end 213 of the receiving groove is located to the right of the radial line r of the receiving groove, while the second end 214 of the receiving groove is located to the left of the radial line r of the receiving groove. In other embodiments, the thickness W1 of the support wall is not less than the thickness W of the peripheral wall to ensure that the support wall 217 provides a sufficiently large supporting force F on the pawl 230 without being damaged.

[0099] The driving member 220 is annular and rotatably mounted within the accommodating space 211 via a retaining ring 223. The outer circumference of the driving member 220 is provided with first teeth 221. The center (inner portion) of the driving member 220 is a sleeve-shaped first working portion 222. The first working portion 222 serves as a working hole. In other embodiments, the driving member 220 may be a solid shaft, with the first working portion 222 serving as a connecting hole or connector for connecting to an adapter, which then rotates the workpiece.

[0100] In this embodiment, the pawl 230 is a first wedge-shaped block. The pawl 230 is located at the first end 213 of the receiving groove and matches the shape and contour of the first end 213 of the receiving groove. The pawl 230 has a second tooth 231 and a back surface 232 facing away from the second tooth 231. The back surface 232 rests on the support wall 217. The second tooth 231 of the pawl 230 engages with the first tooth 221 of the driving member 220.

[0101] The support member 250 is a second wedge-shaped block, and the support member 250 is located at the second end 214 of the receiving groove. Moreover, the second wedge-shaped block as the support member 250 matches the shape profile of the second end 214 of the receiving groove.

[0102] The first elastic element 240 is a helical compression spring. Its two ends are supported on the support member 250 and the pawl 230, respectively. The support of the support member 250 applies an elastic force f1 to the pawl 230, causing the second tooth 231 of the pawl 230 to engage with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220 and for the back surface 232 of the pawl 230 to rest against the support wall 217. When the main body 210 rotates synchronously with the driver 220 via the pawl 230 (clockwise rotation as shown in FIG. 4 ), the support wall 217 provides the main body 210 with a supporting force F on the pawl 230.

[0103] In this embodiment, the ratio of the thickness W1 of the supporting wall to the diameter D of the inscribed circle C of the driving member is 0.2 to 1, see Table 1.

[0104] Furthermore, the thickness W1 of the support wall is determined as follows: the number of second teeth 231 meshing with first teeth 221 is an integer between 3 and 12, and the thickness W1 of the support wall is the average thickness of the support wall corresponding to each second tooth 221. In this method, the thickness of the support wall corresponding to each meshing second tooth 221 is generally the thickness of the support wall determined along the force direction of each meshing second tooth 221. For simplification, the thickness W1 of the support wall can be determined as the minimum thickness of the support wall corresponding to all meshing second teeth 221.

[0105] Moreover, the ratio of the angle α between the radial line of the receiving groove and the center line of the handle to the diameter D of the inscribed circle C of the driving member is 0.5° / mm to 2.5° / mm, see Table 1.

[0106] Table 1 lists the ratio of the thickness W1 of the support wall to the diameter D of the inscribed circle C of the driving member and the ratio of the angle α to the diameter D of the inscribed circle C of the driving member for some specifications of ratchet wrenches.

[0107] Table 1

[0108] When using the ratchet wrench, the first working portion 222 is placed on the workpiece. As shown in FIG4 , the handle 100 is rotated in the clockwise direction CW. The support wall 217 applies a supporting force F to the back surface 232 of the pawl 230, squeezing the pawl 230 between the support wall 217 and the driver 220. The second tooth 231 of the pawl 230 engages with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220, causing the driver 220 to rotate synchronously, thereby twisting the workpiece. During this process, the support member 250 rotates along with the handle 100 and the driver 220. Furthermore, the support wall 217 is subjected to a reaction force from the supporting force F. However, because the thickness W1 of the support wall is greater than the thickness W of the peripheral wall, the support wall 217 can provide a sufficiently large supporting force F without being damaged (deformed or broken). Tests have shown that the angle α between the radial line of the receiving groove and the centerline of the handle is 5° to 20°, and the ratio of the thickness W of the peripheral wall to the height H of the peripheral wall is 0.5 to 0.85, both of which can ensure the coupling between the driver and the workpiece or adapter, and also ensure the strength of the main body 210 and the various force-transmitting components disposed thereon. Conversely, when the first working portion 222 is sleeved onto the workpiece and the handle 100 is rotated counterclockwise (CCW) as shown in FIG4 , the support wall 217 tends to move away from the back surface 232 of the pawl 230, and no supporting force F is applied to the pawl 230. As the handle 100 rotates, the support member 250 rotates accordingly, and the pawl 230, pushed by the elastic force f1 of the first elastic element 240, moves between the support wall 217 and the driver 220. The second teeth 231 of the pawl 230 slide over the first teeth 221 of the driver 220 one by one. The handle 100 idles, and the driver 220 and the workpiece are stationary.

[0109] Therefore, the workpiece can be twisted by rotating the handle 100 clockwise (CW), and reset by rotating the handle 100 counterclockwise (CCW). By rotating the handle 100 alternately in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the workpiece can be repeatedly twisted. Turning the ratchet wrench over as shown in FIG4 is equivalent to mirroring the ratchet wrench shown in FIG4 along a plane perpendicular to the paper. The workpiece can then be twisted by rotating the handle 100 counterclockwise (CCW), and reset by rotating the handle 100 clockwise (CW).

[0110] In this embodiment, the processing of the circular hole-shaped receiving space 211 and the crescent-shaped receiving groove 212 on the main body 210 is the key to the processing of the ratchet wrench. After the main body 210 is processed, the driving member 220 and the pawl 230 and other components are assembled to the main body 210.

[0111] This embodiment manufactures the integrated handle 100 and body 210 in the following steps: blanking - forging - polishing (or oscillating) - punching (or drawing) to form the accommodating space 211 - finishing the accommodating space 211 - embossing the shaft (the body of the handle 100) - heat treatment - polishing (or oscillating) - surface treatment (electroplating, blackening, electrophoresis, or paint finish, etc.) - assembly. During the finishing of the accommodating space 211, both the circular hole-shaped accommodating space 211 and the accommodating groove 212 are finished at the same station using CNC turning and milling. The spindle's motion angle is controlled by a program to accurately machine the angle α. This machining method offers fewer steps, higher precision, and greater efficiency.

[0112] Table 2 lists the torque test results when the diameter D of the inscribed circle C of the driving member is 10 mm, 13 mm and 16 mm and the eccentricity of the crescent-shaped receiving groove 212 is 0°, 5°, 10° and 15°.

[0113] Table 2

[0114] As shown in Figure 23, when testing a product with a 10mm diameter inscribed circle C of the driver, the torque of ratchet 230 varied significantly when the angle α (eccentricity) between the radial line of the receiving groove and the centerline of the handle varied. The torque increased significantly with increasing eccentricity. Figure 23 shows the interval calculated using the combined standard deviation and the 95% confidence interval of the mean. In Figure 23, the units of eccentricity are degrees, and the units of torque are Newton-meters.

[0115] When the diameter D of the inscribed circle C of the driving member is 16 mm, the handle 100 is damaged by yield bending during product testing. The product performance is constrained by the strength of the handle 100, and it is impossible to determine the effect of the eccentricity angle on the torque. See Figure 24 for details. Figure 24 shows the interval calculated using the combined standard deviation and the confidence interval of 95% of the mean. In Figure 24, the unit of the eccentricity angle is °, and the unit of the torque is N·m. As shown in Figures 25-26, through 100% ASME life testing, the life when the angle α (eccentricity) between the radial line of the receiving groove and the center line of the handle is 15° is significantly better than the life when the eccentricity is 0°. In Figure 26, the dotted line represents the life when the eccentricity is 15°, and the dotted line represents the life when the eccentricity is 0°. In Figures 24-25, the unit of the eccentricity is °, and the unit of the life is time.

[0116] When the included angle α (eccentricity) is 0°, it is equivalent to the accommodation groove 212 being symmetrical with respect to the center line n of the handle. The included angle α in this application is greater than 0°.

[0117] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 7 to 9, the ratchet wrench differs from the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6 in that:

[0118] The support member 250 is a rod fixed to the second end 214 of the receiving groove. The support member 250 can be fixed to the receiving groove 212 by welding, plugging, etc. One end of the helical compression spring serving as the first elastic element 240 is sleeved on the rod.

[0119] Furthermore, there are two pawls 230, each equipped with a corresponding support member 250 and a first elastic element 240. The two pawls 230 are stacked axially along the accommodating space 211. When the second tooth 231 of one pawl 230 engages with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220 as shown in FIG8 , the second tooth 231 of the other pawl 230 engages with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220 at a reverse angle of β / 2, as shown in FIG9 , where β is the central angle corresponding to one first tooth 221. In this embodiment, the central angle corresponding to one first tooth 221 is 5°. Therefore, when twisting a workpiece, the handle 100 only needs to rotate in the opposite direction by a reverse angle of 2.5° to engage the second tooth 231 of the other pawl 230 with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220. This allows the 72 first teeth 221 on the driver 220 to effectively have 144 first teeth 221, while also maintaining the size of the first teeth 221.

[0120] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the lower end of the handle 100 is configured as an opening 302 for twisting a workpiece.

[0121] The remaining structure of the ratchet wrench is the same as that of the ratchet wrench in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 and will not be described in detail.

[0122] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 10-14, the difference between the ratchet wrench and the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6 is that:

[0123] The transition portion 216 is connected to the handle 100 via the rotating shaft 101 . Therefore, the ratchet working end 200 can rotate around the rotating shaft 101 to adjust its posture relative to the handle 100 .

[0124] In this embodiment, there are two pawls 230, each equipped with a corresponding support member 250 and a first elastic element 240. The two pawls 230 are stacked axially along the accommodating space 211. When the second tooth 231 of one pawl 230 engages with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220, as shown in FIG12 , the second tooth 231 of the other pawl 230 engages with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220, as shown in FIG13 , maintaining a reverse angle of β / 2, where β represents the central angle corresponding to a first tooth. In this embodiment, the central angle β corresponding to a first tooth is 5°. Therefore, when twisting a workpiece, the handle 100 only needs to rotate in the opposite direction through a reverse angle of 2.5° to engage the second tooth 231 of the other pawl 230 with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220. This effectively increases the number of first teeth on the driver 220 from 72 to 144, and allows the first teeth 221 to maintain a larger profile, thereby transmitting greater torque.

[0125] In order to apply the elastic force f1 to the pawl 230 , a first elastic element 240 is configured for each pawl 230 , and the two first elastic elements 240 are supported together on the same second wedge block serving as the support member 250 .

[0126] The remaining structure of the ratchet wrench is the same as that of the ratchet wrench in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 and will not be described in detail.

[0127] In the embodiments shown in Figures 7 to 9 and Figures 10 to 14 , there may be three pawls 230, stacked axially along the accommodating space 211. When the second tooth 231 of any pawl 230 engages with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220, the second tooth 231 of the other pawl 230 engages with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220 at a reverse angle of β / 3, where β is the central angle corresponding to one first tooth. For example, if the driver 230 has 60 uniformly distributed first teeth 221, the central angle β corresponding to one first tooth is 6°. When twisting a workpiece, the handle 100 only needs to rotate in the opposite direction by a reverse angle of 2° to engage the second tooth 231 of the other pawl 230 with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220. This allows the 60 first teeth 221 of the driver 220 to effectively have 180 first teeth 221, and allows the first teeth 221 to maintain a larger profile, thereby transmitting greater torque.

[0128] In addition, in this embodiment, the lower end of the handle is not provided with an opening or a hole for twisting the workpiece.

[0129] The remaining structure of the ratchet wrench is the same as that of the ratchet wrench in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 and will not be described in detail.

[0130] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG15 , the difference between the ratchet wrench and the embodiments shown in FIG1 to 6 is that the contour thickness of the transition portion 216 corresponding to the support wall 217 on one side is greater than the contour thickness of the support wall 218 on the other side, so that the contour of the transition portion 216 is asymmetric. In FIG15 , the dotted line represents the symmetry line of the left edge of the transition portion on the right side, and the shadow represents the thickened portion T on the right side, thereby increasing the strength of the support wall 217 to increase the maximum torque of the ratchet wrench.

[0131] The remaining structure of the ratchet wrench is the same as that of the ratchet wrench in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 and will not be described in detail.

[0132] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG16 , this ratchet wrench differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 in that the height H of the peripheral wall 215 gradually increases from a location distal to the transition portion 216 toward a location adjacent to the transition portion 216. Consequently, an angle θ is maintained between the end surface of the peripheral wall 215 and the centerline n of the handle, thereby increasing the strength of the support wall 217 and thereby enhancing the maximum torque of the ratchet wrench. The remaining structure of this ratchet wrench is identical to that of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and is not further described.

[0133] In one embodiment, as shown in Figures 17-22, the ratchet wrench differs from the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6 in that:

[0134] The driving member 220 is cylindrical and is rotatably arranged in the accommodating space 211 via a retaining ring 223 like an axis. The outer peripheral surface of the driving member 220 is provided with a first tooth 221, and the middle of the driving member 220 is a first working portion 222 with a square connecting hole. The first working portion 222 serves as a working hole. The ratchet wrench may further include a connector 224. The connector 224 can be slidably connected in the first working portion 222. The connector 224 can switch between a first position (as shown in FIG18 ) in which one end of the connector exposes one side of the first working portion 222 and a second position in which the other end of the connector exposes the opposite side of the first working portion 222. The exposed end of the connector 224 can be used to connect an adapter to twist the workpiece through the adapter. In this embodiment, the connector 224 is a square column, and the cross-sectional dimensions of the connector 224 match the cross-sectional dimensions of the first working portion 222. A guide groove 2241 is defined on one side of the connector 224. A guide hole 2201 is defined on the peripheral wall of the driver 220 at a position corresponding to the guide groove 2241. A guide post 225 is disposed within the guide hole 2201. One end of the guide post 225 extends into the guide groove 2241, guiding and limiting the connector 224. Two positioning holes 2242 are defined on the other side of the connector 224. Each positioning hole 2242 contains a second elastic element 226 and a steel ball 227. The second elastic element 226 is a helical compression spring. A positioning groove is defined on the inner wall of the square connecting hole of the driver 220. When the connector 224 is in the first position, the second elastic element 226 and steel ball 227, located at the top in Figure 22, are positioned within the square connecting hole. The steel ball 227, pushed by the elastic force f2 of the second elastic element 226, moves toward the inner wall of the square connecting hole of the driver 220 and enters the positioning groove, positioning the connector 224 in the first position. When the connecting head 224 is in the second position, the second elastic element 226 and the steel ball 227 at the bottom of Figure 22 are located in the square connecting hole. The steel ball 227 moves toward the inner wall of the square connecting hole of the driving member 220 under the push of the elastic force f2 of the second elastic element 226 and enters the positioning groove to position the connecting head 224 in the second position.

[0135] In this embodiment, the pawl 230 is a first wedge-shaped block. The pawl 230 is located at the first end 213 of the receiving groove and matches the shape and contour of the first end 213 of the receiving groove. The pawl 230 has a second tooth 231 and a back surface 232 facing away from the second tooth 231. The back surface 232 rests on the support wall 217. The second tooth 231 of the pawl 230 engages with the first tooth 221 of the driving member 220.

[0136] The support member 250 is a second wedge-shaped block, and the support member 250 is located at the second end 214 of the receiving groove. Moreover, the second wedge-shaped block as the support member 250 matches the shape profile of the second end 214 of the receiving groove.

[0137] The first elastic element 240 is a helical compression spring. It is positioned between the support member 250 and the pawl 230, with its ends supported on the support member 250 and the pawl 230, respectively. The first elastic element 240, supported by the support member 250, applies an elastic force f2 to the pawl 230, causing the second tooth 231 of the pawl 230 to engage with the first tooth 221 of the driver 220 and for the back surface 232 of the pawl 230 to rest against the support wall 217. As the main body 210 rotates synchronously with the driver 220 via the pawl 230, the support wall 217 provides the main body 210 with a supporting force F on the pawl 230.

[0138] When using a ratchet wrench, when the connecting head 224 is in the first position, the connecting head 224 is connected to the adapter, which is put on the workpiece through the adapter. The handle 100 is rotated clockwise CW from Figure 20, and the supporting wall 217 applies a supporting force F to the back side 232 of the pawl 230, squeezing the pawl 230 between the supporting wall 217 and the driving member 220. The second tooth 231 of the pawl 230 engages with the first tooth 221 of the driving member 220, and the driving member 220 is rotated synchronously to twist the workpiece. On the contrary, the connector 224 is connected to the adapter, which is put on the workpiece through the adapter. When the handle 100 is rotated counterclockwise CCW in Figure 20, the support wall 217 tends to move away from the back side 232 of the pawl 230, and no supporting force F is applied to the pawl 230. As the handle 100 rotates, the support member 250 rotates accordingly, and the pawl 230 moves between the support wall 217 and the driving member 220 under the push of the elastic force f1 of the first elastic element 240, and the second teeth 231 of the pawl 230 slide over the first teeth 221 of the driving member 220 one by one, the handle 100 idles, and the driving member 220 and the workpiece are stationary.

[0139] Therefore, the handle 100 can be rotated clockwise to rotate the workpiece, and rotated counterclockwise to return the handle 100 to its original position. By rotating the handle 100 alternately in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, the workpiece can be repeatedly rotated. When the connector 224 is in the second position, the handle 100 can be rotated counterclockwise to rotate the workpiece, and rotated clockwise to return the handle 100 to its original position.

[0140] The remaining structure of the ratchet wrench is the same as that of the ratchet wrench in the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6 and will not be described in detail.

[0141] Obviously, the above embodiments of the present invention are merely examples for the purpose of clearly illustrating the present invention, and are not intended to limit the embodiments of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other variations or modifications can be made based on the above description. It is not necessary and impossible to enumerate all embodiments here. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present invention shall be included within the scope of protection of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A ratchet wrench, comprising: A handle; An operating portion, the operating portion includes a peripheral wall and a transition portion. An annular accommodation space is formed inside the peripheral wall. The handle is connected to the peripheral wall through the transition portion. A receiving groove is provided in the transition portion, and the receiving groove communicates with the accommodation space; A driving member, the driving member is disposed in the accommodation space and is configured to be rotatable about the central axis of the accommodation space. The outer peripheral surface of the driving member is provided with first teeth; A pawl, the pawl is disposed in the receiving groove. The pawl has opposite first and second surfaces. Second teeth are provided on the first surface, and the second teeth are configured to be capable of meshing with the first teeth. The second surface faces the side wall of the receiving groove; And A first elastic element, the first elastic element is disposed in the receiving groove, and the first elastic element is configured to apply an elastic force to the pawl to push the pawl towards the end of the receiving groove, so that the second teeth in the meshing state with the first teeth are separated from the first teeth.

2. The ratchet wrench according to claim 1, wherein, The receiving groove includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the receiving groove is adjacent to the center line of the handle, and the second end of the receiving groove is away from the center line of the handle. The side wall of the first end of the receiving groove serves as a first support wall, and the side wall of the second end of the receiving groove serves as a second support wall.

3. The ratchet wrench according to claim 2, wherein, The thickness of the first support wall is not less than the thickness of the peripheral wall.

4. The ratchet wrench according to claim 2, wherein, The angle between the radial line of the receiving groove and the center line of the handle is between 5° and 20°.

5. The ratchet wrench according to claim 2, wherein, A working hole is provided inside the driving member.

6. The ratchet wrench according to claim 5, wherein, The ratio of the thickness of the first support wall to the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driving member is between 0.2 and 1.

7. The ratchet wrench according to claim 5, wherein, The ratio of the angle between the radial line of the receiving groove and the center line of the handle to the diameter of the inscribed circle of the driving member is between 0.5° / mm and 2.5° / mm.

8. The ratchet wrench according to claim 2, wherein, The center of curvature of the side wall of the receiving groove is located on one side of the center line of the handle.

9. The ratchet wrench according to claim 2, wherein, The thickness of the second support wall is less than the thickness of the first support wall.

10. The ratchet wrench according to claim 2, further comprising a support member, the support member is disposed at the second end of the receiving groove, and the first elastic element is disposed between the support member and the pawl.

11. The ratchet wrench according to claim 2, wherein, The pawl is a first wedge block, and the first wedge block matches the shape profile of the first end of the receiving groove.

12. The ratchet wrench according to claim 10, wherein, The support member is a second wedge block, and the second wedge block matches the shape profile of the second end of the receiving groove.

13. The ratchet wrench according to claim 10, wherein, The support member is a rod fixed to the second end of the receiving groove.

14. The ratchet wrench according to claim 1, wherein, The number of the pawls is m, where m is 2 or 3. The m pawls are stacked along the axial direction of the accommodation space. When the second teeth of any one of the pawls are meshed with the first teeth, the second teeth of another pawl maintain a reverse angle of β / m with the meshing of the first teeth, where β is the central angle corresponding to one of the first teeth.

15. The ratchet wrench according to claim 1, wherein, The transition portion and the handle are pivotally connected through a rotating shaft.

16. The ratchet wrench according to claim 1, wherein, The ratio of the thickness of the peripheral wall to the height of the peripheral wall is between 0.5 and 0.

85.

17. The ratchet wrench according to claim 2, wherein, The profile thickness of the transition portion on the side corresponding to the first support wall is greater than the profile thickness on the other side.

18. The ratchet wrench according to claim 1, wherein, The height of the peripheral wall gradually increases from a position away from the transition portion to a position adjacent to the transition portion.

19. The ratchet wrench according to claim 5, wherein, The working hole of the driving member is square.

20. The ratchet wrench according to claim 19, further comprising a connector, the connector is slidably connected in the working hole of the driving member, and the connector is configured to be able to switch between a first position where one end of the connector exposes one side of the working hole and a second position where the other end of the connector exposes the opposite side of the working hole.

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