Reversible ratchet wrench

• US 7,299,720 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2006
• Issued: 11/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Hopper, Richard L. Jr., Schultz, George W., Burkes, Billy J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas; David B
• Application Number:
  US11/335,962
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 81/62, 81/631
• US Class Current: 81/63.1
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 13/463 a pawl engaging an externally toothed wheel

Abstract

A reversible ratchet including a ratchet body having a drive member for applying torque to a workpiece. The ratchet body defining a receptacle and a ratchet assembly disposed in the receptacle. The ratchet assembly including a rotatable gear, a first pawl and a second pawl, where the first and second pawls are engageable with the gear. The ratchet includes a reverse lever coupled to the first and second pawls and movable between a first position and a second position. The first pawl engaging the gear in the first position of the reverse lever, and the second pawl engaging the gear in the second position of the reverse lever. The ratchet also includes a cover plate connected to the ratchet body. The cover plate includes a spacer that engages the reverse lever to allow movement of the reverse lever substantially only between the first and second positions.

Claims

1. A reversible ratchet comprising:

a ratchet body having a drive member for applying torque to a workpiece, the ratchet body defining a receptacle having an opening;

a ratchet assembly disposed in the receptacle, the ratchet assembly including a rotatable gear, a first pawl and a second pawl, the first and second pawls being engageable with the gear;

a reverse lever coupled to the first and second pawls and movable between a first position and a second position, the first pawl engaging the gear in the first position of the reverse lever, and the second pawl engaging the gear in the second position of the reverse lever; and

a cover plate connected to the ratchet body and covering at least a portion of the opening, the cover plate including a spacer engaging the reverse lever to allow movement of the reverse lever substantially only between the first and second positions, wherein the spacer is disposed at least partially within the receptacle.

2. The ratchet of claim 1, further comprising a plunger and a spring, the spacer defining a channel for receiving the plunger and the spring, the spring being positioned between the plunger and the cover plate so as to bias the plunger into engagement with the reverse lever.

3. The ratchet of claim 1, further comprising a plunger and a spring, the spacer defining a channel for receiving the plunger and the spring and the reverse lever defining a plurality of detents, the spring being positioned between the plunger and the cover plate so as to bias the plunger into engagement with at least one of the detents defined by the reverse lever.

4. The ratchet of claim 1, wherein the cover plate is integrally formed with the spacer.

5. The ratchet of claim 1, wherein the spacer defines at least one groove, the groove adapted to receive a connector to secure the cover plate to the ratchet body.

6. The ratchet of claim 1, wherein the spacer defines a plurality of the grooves, each of the grooves adapted to receive a connector for securing the cover plate to the ratchet body.

7. A reversible ratchet comprising:

a ratchet body having a drive member for applying torque to a workpiece, the ratchet body including a peripheral wall structure defining a receptacle and an opening;

a rotatable gear positioned in the receptacle, the gear defining a plurality of gear teeth;

a first pawl and a second pawl positioned adjacent to the gear in the receptacle, each of the first and second pawls including a plurality of pawl teeth adapted to matingly engage the gear teeth;

a reverse lever coupled to the first and second pawls and movable between a first position and a second position, the first pawl engaging the gear in the first position of the reverse lever, and the second pawl engaging the gear in a second position of the reverse lever;

a cover plate connected to the ratchet body and covering at least a portion of the opening; and

a spacer positioned between the cover plate and the reverse lever, the spacer engaging the reverse lever to substantially limit movement of the reverse lever to rotational movement substantially between the first and second positions, the spacer at least partially disposed within the receptacle, and the cover plate being integral with the spacer.

8. The ratchet of claim 7, further comprising a plunger and a spring, the spacer defining a channel for receiving the plunger and the spring, the spring being positioned between the plunger and the cover plate so as to bias the plunger into engagement with the reverse lever.

9. The ratchet of claim 7, further comprising a plunger and a spring, the spacer defining a channel for receiving the plunger and the spring and the reverse lever defining a plurality of detents, the spring being positioned between the plunger and the cover plate so as to bias the plunger into engagement with at least one of the detents defined by the reverse lever.

10. The ratchet of claim 7, wherein the spacer defines at least one groove, the groove adapted to receive a connector for securing the cover plate to the ratchet body.

11. The ratchet of claim 7, wherein the spacer defines a plurality of grooves, each of the grooves adapted to receive a connector for securing the cover plate to the ratchet body.

12. A reversible ratchet comprising:

a ratchet body having a drive member for applying torque to a workpiece, the ratchet body defining a receptacle;

a rotatable gear positioned in the receptacle and connected to the drive member,

a first pawl and a second pawl positioned adjacent to the gear, the first and second pawls engageable with the gear;

a cover plate connected to the ratchet body; and

a reversing mechanism having a cam portion and a lever connected to the cam portion, the cam portion positioned adjacent to the first and second pawls on a side of the first and second pawls opposite to the cover plate, the lever being switchable between a first position where the cam portion contacts the first pawl so as to cause the first pawl to engage the gear and a second position where the cam portion contacts the second pawl so as to cause the second pawl to engage the gear.

13. The ratchet of claim 12, wherein the cover plate includes a spacer engaging the reverse lever to allow movement of the reverse lever in substantially only between the first and second positions.

14. The ratchet of claim 12, wherein the cover plate includes a spacer integrally formed with the cover plate, the spacer engaging the reverse lever to allow movement of the reverse lever in substantially only between the first and second positions.

15. The ratchet of claim 12, further comprising a plunger and a spring, the spacer defining a channel for receiving the plunger and the spring, the spring being positioned between the plunger and the cover plate so as to bias the plunger into engagement with the reverse lever.

16. The ratchet of claim 12, further comprising a plunger and a spring, the spacer defining a channel for receiving the plunger and the spring and the reverse lever defining a plurality of detents, the spring being positioned between the plunger and the cover plate so as to bias the plunger into engagement with at least one of the detents defined by the reverse lever.

17. The ratchet device of claim 12, wherein the spacer defines at least one groove, the groove adapted to receive a connector for securing the cover plate to the ratchet body.

18. The ratchet device of claim 12, wherein the spacer defines a plurality of grooves, each of the grooves adapted to receive a connector for securing the cover plate to the ratchet body.