Adjustable Wrench Turn Handle Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional adjustable wrenches require direct manipulation of the worm gear to adjust jaw spacing, which can be inconvenient, and existing alternatives do not effectively address the need for a design that allows for easy adjustment by turning the handle.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable wrench featuring a rotating rod with rotating sleeves and an end knob, where the sleeves and end knob are secured to the handle using split drift pins or adhesive, and a gear train including a worm gear that converts rotational movement of the rod into translational movement of the jaw, allowing for jaw adjustment by turning the handle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the worm gear is made directly accessible for adjustment, then the adjustment mechanism is simple, but the ease of operation is reduced because the user must directly manipulate the worm gear instead of turning the handle
Solution Approach 1:
A turn handle is introduced as an intermediary component between the user's hand and the worm gear. The turn handle rotates about the longitudinal axis of the handle, and this rotational motion is transmitted through a gear train (including a bevel gear and worm gear) to produce the jaw adjustment motion. This allows the user to operate the adjustment mechanism by turning the handle rather than directly manipulating the worm gear, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining a reasonable level of mechanical complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the turn handle mechanism is added to enable convenient handle turning for adjustment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components like rotating rod, sleeves, and gear train
Solution Approach 1:
The turn handle mechanism is integrated with the existing handle structure. The rotating rod is disposed within the handle, and the sleeves are positioned on the rotating rod at locations that correspond to cutouts in the handle, allowing the turn handle to be formed as part of the handle assembly rather than as completely separate components. This merging approach reduces the overall device complexity while still providing the improved ease of operation through handle turning.
3Reliability
If the worm gear is constrained within a recess with thick sidewalls, then the structural strength and reliability are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to the specific dimensional constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The head is designed with a recess that has thick sidewalls (with a thickness in direction X of about 25% or more of the cross-sectional dimension E) specifically at the location where the worm gear is disposed. This local quality enhancement provides structural strength and reliability for the worm gear mounting while containing the precision requirements to a specific localized area rather than throughout the entire component.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design provides a convenient and robust adjustable wrench that meets the proof torque requirements of ASME B107.8, enabling easy jaw spacing adjustment without direct manipulation of the worm gear, ensuring reliable performance and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a gear train including a worm gear that converts rotational movement of the rod into translational movement of the jaw
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustable wrench having a first fixed jaw; a handle extending away from the head and having a longitudinal axis; a second jaw selectively positionable with respect to the first jaw; a rotating rod controlling the positioning of said second jaw and comprising two rotating sleeves; one near the head located in the cut out of the handle; one near the rear located in the cut out of the handle; an end knob on the end opposite the gear train operatively coupling said rod to said second jaw; said rod having 3 holes for split drift pins to secure rotating sleeves and end rotating knob; said rod has a smaller diameter at a specified distance from the rod's end to accept a pin. At the rod's end is an end knob. Said sleeves and end knob rotate, at a latitudinal axis (perpendicular) to handle secured by split drift pins or adhesive. Such a wrench may have a p roof torque of at least the minimum level set forth in ASME B107.8 2003 revision.