Open Ended Socket Wrench Gripping Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing open-ended socket wrench designs lack an efficient mechanism for gripping and ratcheting that effectively engages hexagonal fasteners, limiting their versatility and ease of use.

Innovation Solution

The design features a wrench head with outer face plates, gripping pieces that move obliquely to fit hexagonal fasteners, a force member that slides to engage the gripping pieces, and a handle that pivots to extend the force member and release the grip, allowing for ratcheting action around the fastener.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a traditional fixed jaw design is used, then the structure is simple, but the gripping effectiveness on hexagonal fasteners is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegripping effectivenessVSAvoidwrench head structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the gripping pieces movable rather than fixed. Each gripping piece can independently move along its slot to adjust its position and orientation, allowing the wrench to dynamically adapt to the hexagonal fastener's geometry and maintain optimal gripping contact during rotation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the jaw structure into multiple independent gripping pieces (at least two opposing gripping pieces) rather than using a single fixed jaw. This segmentation allows each gripping piece to independently engage with different faces of the hexagonal fastener, improving overall gripping effectiveness while maintaining manageable structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If a ratcheting mechanism is added, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetightening and loosening operationVSAvoidmechanism structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action through the ratcheting mechanism that allows the handle to move in both directions (tightening and loosening) while maintaining unidirectional force transmission during tightening. The gripping pieces periodically engage and disengage from the fastener faces during rotation, enabling continuous operation without removing the wrench.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The force member acts as an intermediary element that transmits force from the handle to the gripping pieces. This mediator allows the operator to apply force to the handle while the force member converts this motion into the appropriate gripping force, simplifying the operation while managing the complexity through a dedicated force transmission component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple gripping pieces are used, then the adaptability to various fasteners is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefastener engagement capabilityVSAvoidwrench head assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The gripping pieces are designed with universal functionality to engage with different faces of hexagonal fasteners. Each gripping piece has a symmetric design with two working faces that can contact adjacent faces of the fastener, allowing the same gripping piece to function in multiple positions and orientations, thereby achieving versatility without requiring entirely different components for each fastener orientation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

This configuration provides a secure grip and efficient ratcheting mechanism for hexagonal fasteners, enabling easy tightening and loosening without removing the wrench, and is adaptable for various environmental conditions.

Implementation Method 1

force the gripping pieces into frictional contact with the peripheral faces of the fastener

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 2

movement of the force member from the withdrawn position to the extended position forces the gripping pieces into the working positions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 3

the handle being pivotal in a driving direction about a handle-pivot axis passing through the outer face plates of the wrench head to push the force member into the extended position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLever: Lever

Data Source

PatentUS9566694B2Open ended socket wrench

Publication Date: 2017.02.14 LACERT MARLON ELWIN

AI summary

A head of an open ended ratchet features outer face plates with voids that delimit a jaw space that is open at one end. Two gripping pieces face toward one another from opposing sides of the jaw space. A working side of each gripping piece features two working faces that lie at an oblique angle to one another to define an inner corner that fits over a respective outer corner of a fastener. The gripping pieces are displaceable along the plates into working positions reaching further into the jaw space. A force member is slidable along the plates to force the gripping pieces into the working position, in which the working faces frictionally engage peripheral faces of the fastener. A handle coupled to the head is pivotally movable in opposing directions to push and release the force member, thereby controlling engagement and release of the gripping pieces with the fastener.