Ratchet wrenches comprising ratcher gears/rotatable pawls that embody U-jointed, locked socket drive tangs
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A ratchet wrench apparatus comprising:
- a wrench body having a handle whereby a wrench user may manipulate said handle to apply rotational torque to a fastener;
a ratchet wrench head, said ratchet wrench head having a cylindrically recessed head portion;
a dual-directionally rotatable ratchet gear received in said cylindrically recessed head portion of said ratchet wrench head;
a socket drive support having an integral U-joint, said socket drive support and said U-joint assembled in said wrench head such that when assembled said U-joint is both axially non-slidable and axially non-detachable with respect to said wrench head;
a retaining assembly, said retaining assembly retaining said ratchet gear within said recessed head portion; and
a pawl assembly, said pawl assembly operatively affixed within said wrench body and engageable with said ratchet gear.
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Abstract
Standard ratchet wrenches are improved by including swiveling socket drive-tangs within their rotatable drive components. In wrenches using rotatable ratchet gears, the gear comprises a bore and pin that receives a slotted ball tang. The bore further may be threaded to receive a threaded locking bolt that serves to bias the ball tang into a gradual to full locking position. A press and lock button is also described. The invention is depicted in ratchet wrenches using rotatable pawls and in pneumatic drive wrenches which may use either rotatable pawls or gears. Various modifications of the wrenches'"'"' components are described and illustrated, as well.
35 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A ratchet wrench apparatus comprising:
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a wrench body having a handle whereby a wrench user may manipulate said handle to apply rotational torque to a fastener; a ratchet wrench head, said ratchet wrench head having a cylindrically recessed head portion; a dual-directionally rotatable ratchet gear received in said cylindrically recessed head portion of said ratchet wrench head; a socket drive support having an integral U-joint, said socket drive support and said U-joint assembled in said wrench head such that when assembled said U-joint is both axially non-slidable and axially non-detachable with respect to said wrench head; a retaining assembly, said retaining assembly retaining said ratchet gear within said recessed head portion; and a pawl assembly, said pawl assembly operatively affixed within said wrench body and engageable with said ratchet gear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A ratchet wrench apparatus comprising:
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a wrench body having a handle whereby a wrench user may apply rotational torque to a fastener; a ratchet wrench head, said ratchet wrench head comprising a cylindrically recessed head portion having an inner circumference, said inner circumference of said head portion having ratchet gear teeth circumscribed thereon; said ratchet wrench apparatus further rotatably receiving a dual-directionally rotatable ratchet pawl within said ratchet wrench head and in contact with said gear teeth, said rotatable ratchet pawl further comprising a socket drive tang support integrally attached thereto in a fixed axial relationship, said socket drive tang support having an integral U-joint such that said U-joint is integrally attached to said wrench head; a retaining assembly, said retaining assembly retaining said ratchet pawl within said recessed head portion; and a pawl actuator affixed to said ratchet pawl and accessible by a wrench user'"'"'s fingers to selectively engage a pawl in and out of engagement with said ratchet gear teeth. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A pneumatically operated ratchet wrench apparatus comprising:
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a wrench body having a handle whereby a wrench user may apply rotational torque to a fastener; a ratchet wrench head comprising a cylindrically recessed head portion; a dual-directionally rotatable assembly received in said recess, said rotatable assembly further comprising a socket drive support tang having an integral U-joint, said socket drive support tang and said U-joint integrally attached to said rotatable assembly such that when assembled, said U-joint is non-detachable from said rotatable assembly; a pneumatically controlled drive operatively joined to said cylindrically recessed head portion, providing rotational drive torque to said dual-directionally rotatable assembly; an actuator for selectively activating said drive; and a retaining assembly, said retaining assembly rotatably retaining said rotatable assembly within said ratchet wrench head. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A hand-held ratchet wrench comprising:
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a wrench body having a handle; said wrench body having a recessed head therein for receiving a rotatable member; a rotatable member affixed in said recessed head; a ratchet assembly affixed to one of said wrench body or rotatable member and ratchet teeth affixed to said other of said wrench body or said rotatable member; a U-joint support tang integrally attached to said rotatable member such that said U-joint support tang is axially non-slidable and axially non-detachable from said rotatable member.
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Specification