Ratchet Wrench with Offset Latching Grooves for Tight Space Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ratchet wrenches face challenges in operating efficiently in small spaces due to limited rotation angles and distances, leading to idle conditions and manufacturing complexities, with prior solutions either complicating fabrication or resulting in insufficient torque or assembly issues.
Innovation Solution
A ratchet wrench design featuring a wrench head with vertically arranged and offset latching grooves, a driving device with overlapping ratchet members, and an elastic device to urge latching members, allowing for precise assembly and operation in tight spaces while minimizing idle rotations and manufacturing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ratchet wrench operates in extremely limited space with small rotation angle, then the wrench can be used in tight spaces, but the wrench cannot move one-pitch distance and must be immediately returned (idle condition)
Solution Approach 1:
The ratchet member is divided into multiple segments with different numbers of teeth (e.g., 18 teeth, 24 teeth, 30 teeth) arranged in different radial positions. This segmentation allows the wrench to provide multiple latching options within a single rotation cycle, ensuring that at least one latching event occurs even with very small rotation angles in limited spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-circle tooth arrangement to a multi-radial-position tooth arrangement. By distributing teeth across multiple radial positions with different circumferential distances from the rotation center, the system adds a radial dimension to the tooth configuration, enabling latching opportunities at different radii during rotation.
2Ease of operation
If the teeth of the ratchet wrench are made smaller to increase the possibility of the driving member overstriding to lock, then the wrench can operate in smaller spaces, but the torque becomes insufficient or the teeth collapse
Solution Approach 1:
Different radial positions of the ratchet teeth have different local characteristics: outer teeth (larger radius) provide greater torque capacity due to larger lever arm, while inner teeth (smaller radius) allow for more compact design. The system utilizes both regions, allowing the wrench to maintain strength where needed while achieving compactness overall.
Solution Approach 2:
The ratchet teeth are asymmetrically distributed at different radial positions rather than uniformly arranged. This asymmetric configuration allows optimization of tooth size and position according to local requirements: larger teeth at outer positions for torque, smaller teeth at inner positions for compactness.
3Productivity
If prior art uses multiple latching members at different positions with larger angle, then the idle rotation is reduced, but the fabrication becomes complicated and assembly tolerances cause asynchronous conditions leading to failure operations
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple latching members are integrated into a single monolithic ratchet member structure rather than being separate components. This merging simplifies fabrication to a single machining operation, eliminates assembly tolerances between multiple parts, and ensures synchronous operation of all latching members without complex control mechanisms.
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 enables efficient operation in limited spaces, reduces failure rates, simplifies manufacturing and assembly, and maintains sufficient torque, enhancing overall efficiency and economic viability.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic device, disposed in the slot area for urging the first latching member and the second latching member
Data Source
AI summary
A wrench structure for small-distance operations includes a wrench, a driving device, a latching device and an elastic device. The wrench includes a wrench head, a central portion and a rear end which has an operation area and a slot area with two latching grooves that are vertical, parallel and overlapped with each other, each of the latching grooves having a lateral angle offset. The driving device includes a ratchet member disposed in the operation area, an outer ring portion of the ratchet member having plural driving teeth. The latching device includes two latching members, two front end surfaces of the latching members having plural teeth individually, the latching members being in the latching grooves and being connected with the plural driving teeth individually, a lateral angle offset being between the latching members. The elastic device is disposed in the slot area for urging the latching members.