Ratchet drive tool with manual and non-manual power actuation
First Claim
1. A drive device operational, optionally and selectively with non-manual power and with manual power,said device comprising coupler means for engaging a tool element forcibly to be rotated, rotatable drive shaft means for reversibly driving said coupler means, selectively, in each of two opposite rotational modes,pivot joint means interposed between said drive shaft means and said coupler means for connecting said drive shaft means to said coupler means,said coupler means being manipulable at said pivot joint means to extend, selectively, coaxially with said drive shaft means and, alternatively, to assume an attitude normal to said drive shaft means,housing means extending coaxially with said drive shaft means for defining handle means for manually gripping and for manipulating said drive device,speed-reducing and power-amplifying means confined in said housing means for regulating rotation of said drive shaft means,non-manual power means for driving said speed-reducing and power-amplifying means, and connector means for coupling said non-manual power means to said drive shaft means, for rotating said drive shaft, in each of two opposite drive directions,said housing means being arcuately manipulable manually, forcibly to rotate said coupler means when said housing means is pivoted at said pivot joint means to extend normally of a rotational axis of said coupler means connected to said drive shaft means,switch means operationally interposed between said non-manual power means and said drive shaft means for selectively connecting power to and for interrupting delivery of power to said drive shaft means,said switch means being closed and functioning to effect delivery of power to said drive shaft means when said drive shaft means extends coaxially with said coupler means, andinterrupter means for opening said switch means to cut off power to said drive shaft means when said coupler means is pivotally oriented to extend normally of a rotational axis of said drive shaft means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ratchet nut runner is energized either manually or by a non-manual power source such as a battery, on-line electrical power or a pneumatic supply. A tubular body or housing, which contains speed-reducing and power-amplifying structures, serves also as the handle or hand grip for the device. A driven drive shaft which extends coaxially from the housing is connected to a head of the device through a pivot joint assembly. An important feature of the drive device is that the housing-enclosed drive shaft is pivotable from a non-manual power drive mode in which the drive shaft is coaxial with a tool-engaging stud or coupler, to a configuration in which the drive shaft extends normally of the coupler for rotation of the drive head manually. A switch which connects non-manual power to the drive shaft operates to cut off power when the device is disposed in a manual mode of operation.
102 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A drive device operational, optionally and selectively with non-manual power and with manual power,
said device comprising coupler means for engaging a tool element forcibly to be rotated, rotatable drive shaft means for reversibly driving said coupler means, selectively, in each of two opposite rotational modes, pivot joint means interposed between said drive shaft means and said coupler means for connecting said drive shaft means to said coupler means, said coupler means being manipulable at said pivot joint means to extend, selectively, coaxially with said drive shaft means and, alternatively, to assume an attitude normal to said drive shaft means, housing means extending coaxially with said drive shaft means for defining handle means for manually gripping and for manipulating said drive device, speed-reducing and power-amplifying means confined in said housing means for regulating rotation of said drive shaft means, non-manual power means for driving said speed-reducing and power-amplifying means, and connector means for coupling said non-manual power means to said drive shaft means, for rotating said drive shaft, in each of two opposite drive directions, said housing means being arcuately manipulable manually, forcibly to rotate said coupler means when said housing means is pivoted at said pivot joint means to extend normally of a rotational axis of said coupler means connected to said drive shaft means, switch means operationally interposed between said non-manual power means and said drive shaft means for selectively connecting power to and for interrupting delivery of power to said drive shaft means, said switch means being closed and functioning to effect delivery of power to said drive shaft means when said drive shaft means extends coaxially with said coupler means, and interrupter means for opening said switch means to cut off power to said drive shaft means when said coupler means is pivotally oriented to extend normally of a rotational axis of said drive shaft means.
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8. In a device for rotatively driving a tool element and including coupler means for engaging a tool element forcibly to be rotated, drive shaft means for reversibly driving said coupler means, selectively, in each of two opposite rotational modes, pivot joint means interposed between said drive-shaft means and said coupler means for connecting said drive shaft means to said coupler means, non-manual power means for driving said drive shaft means, speed-reducing and power-amplifying means for regulating rotation of said drive shaft means, on-off switch means for delivery of non-manual power from said non-manual power means to said speed-reducing and power-amplifying means, and housing means extending coaxially with said drive shaft means for manually gripping and manually manipulating said device,
the improvement wherein said pivot joint means is articulatable between a non-manual drive mode in which said coupler means and said drive shaft means are disposed in a coaxial configuration in which said coupler means can be energized non-manually, and in a manual power configuration in which said coupler means and any rotatable tool connected thereto extend in a direction normally of a longitudinal axis said drive shaft, for optional manual operation of said device, wherein said device further comprises safety switch means interposed operationally between said non-manual power means and said drive shaft means for selectively connecting non-manual power to and for interrupting delivery of non-manual power to said drive shaft means, wherein said safety switch means is closed when said pivot joint means is in a non-manual power supply mode with said coupler means and said drive shaft means being in a coaxial configuration, and wherein articulation of said pivot joint means to position said coupler means to extend normally of said drive shaft means for driving said device manually is operative physically to open said safety switch means to cut off non-manual power to said drive shaft means of said device, thereby to protect an operator of the device during manual use thereof.
Specification