EP4249171A2 - Torque wrench which can be used as a ratchet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a screwing tool with a torque output body (4) which defines an axis and is mounted in a housing (1), with a torque transmission section (5) having a plurality of recesses (6), with a torque transmission section (5) which is prestressed by a force from an energy accumulator (19). at least one of the recesses (6) engaging torque transmission body (7) for the torque-transmitting coupling of the torque transmission section (5) to the housing (1), which torque-transmitting coupling is canceled when the torque transmission body (7) is edge-controlled when a limit torque is exceeded against that of an adjusting device ( 20) adjustable force of the energy storage (19) leaves the recess. For further development that is advantageous in use, a switching element (12) is proposed which can be moved from a release position to a blocking position and which allows the torque transmission body (7) to leave the recess in the release position, but blocks it in the blocking position.

Description

field of technology

The invention relates to a screwing tool with a torque output body which defines an axis and is mounted in a housing, with a torque transmission section having a plurality of recesses, with a torque transmission body which engages in at least one of the recesses and is biased by a force from an energy accumulator for torque-transmitting coupling of the torque transmission section to the housing, which torque-transmitting coupling is canceled when the torque transmission body leaves the recess in an edge-controlled manner when a limit torque is exceeded against the force of the energy accumulator that can be set by an adjusting device.

State of the art

A screwing tool of the type described above is known from DE 20 2018 003 607 U1 . The screwing tool described there has a housing with a head and a drive arm protruding from the head. In the head there is a torque output body with a square section onto which a nut or other screw drive tool can be attached. The torque output body has external teeth with gaps arranged between teeth. A torque transmission body engages in one of the gaps and is acted upon by a plunger, which in turn is acted upon by a compression spring. The preload of the compression spring can be adjusted. The set preload of the compression spring defines a limit torque, which is transferred from the housing to the torque output body. If the torque exceeds the limit torque, the torque transmission body emerges from the recess. This is done in an inclined edge-controlled manner. The blocking element can then form the depression overflowing the limiting tooth. The drive arm, which projects radially from an axis of rotation from the head, can thus be pivoted freely, so to speak, without the torque output body rotating. With the screwing tool, only limited torque can be transferred to a screw connection.

The DE 10 2008 055 581 A1 describes a torque wrench with a head in which a freewheel gear is arranged. The head sits in a forked end of a two-part arm. A first part of the arm, which has the fork, is pivotally attached to the second part of the arm, which has a handle. If a limit torque is exceeded, the two arm parts can pivot slightly against each other, which is accompanied by a clicking noise that indicates that a limit torque has been reached.

The DE 10 2012 103 782 A1 describes a ratchet wrench in which a torque output body is arranged in a head from which a drive arm projects, which is connected to the head via a freewheel lock. There is a movable polygonal section in the freewheel locking mechanism, which can optionally protrude from one of the broad sides of the torque output body, so that a screw connection can be turned both clockwise and counter-clockwise with the screwing tool.

Screwing tools of the type described above are also disclosed in the CN201020685 , DE 10 2017 107 784 A1 , US 3,707,893 A and the US 7,458,297 B1 .

Summary of the invention

The invention is based on the object of further developing the screwing tool in a way that is advantageous for use. The task is solved by the invention specified in the claims.

A screwing tool designed according to the invention is initially and essentially characterized by the fact that a switching element is provided. The switching element can be moved from a release position to a blocking position. In the release position, the torque transmission body can leave the recess when a limit torque is reached, as described above. However, this is not possible in the blocked position. In the release position, the tool functions as a torque wrench. In the blocking position, the tool has the function of a conventional screwing tool, which can also be used to transmit torques that are above the limit torque. It is in particular provided that the screwing tool has a freewheel gear between the torque transmission section and the torque transmission body, so that the screwing tool can be used as a ratchet wrench in the blocking position, as in the DE 10 2012 103 782 A1 is described. In a further development of the invention or the prior art or the invention, a freewheel gear is provided in the torque transmission path between the torque output body and the torque transmission section. As a result of this configuration, the torque wrench can also be used in narrow spaces, since pivoting a handle arm arranged on a head back and forth, for example, is sufficient to gradually transmit a rotary movement to a screw connection. In the final phase of screwing a screw connection, the torque transmitted from the screwing tool to the screw connection increases until a limit torque is reached. Then the torque transmission body slips out of the recess of the torque transmission section, so that the screw connection can only be screwed with an adjustable limit torque.

In a preferred variant of the invention, a switching element is provided, which is designed as a sleeve part. The sleeve part is opposite Movable housing. In particular, it can be moved relative to the housing. The switching element can cooperate with at least one blocking element. However, the switching element preferably works together with several blocking elements. The blocking element can be a ball. The housing can have a window in which the blocking element is arranged. The housing and in particular an arm of the housing preferably has a tube in which the at least one window is arranged. If several blocking elements are provided, the housing has several windows. A plunger can be arranged within the housing. The plunger lies in the force transmission path between the torque transmission body, which can be a ball, and the force storage, which can be a compression spring. The plunger can have one or more blocking recesses. The blocking recesses are arranged in such a way that they are spatially assigned to a window of the housing when the torque transmission body is located in one of the plurality of recesses. By displacing the switching element and in particular by moving the switching element relative to the housing, the switching element can be moved back and forth between a release position and a blocking position. In the release position, the blocking element can emerge from the blocking recess in order, for example, to enter an alternative space of the switching element. In this position the plunger can shift relative to the housing. In particular, it can shift linearly in the pipe. In the blocking position, the blocking element is prevented from emerging from the blocking recess, for example in that an opening of the window pointing in the outer direction of the housing is closed by an abutment flank of the switching element. In the blocking position, the blocking element cannot leave the blocking recess. If a torque is applied to the housing, this torque is transmitted to the torque transmission section with the torque transmission body, which positively engages in a recess in the torque transmission section. The one designed as a circular cylinder Torque transmission body lies in a recess, the bottom of which is adapted to the outline contour of the torque transmission body. The bottom of the recess extends in particular along an inner cylindrical surface. In a cross-sectional plane, the bottom runs on an arcuate line between the two tips of the teeth delimiting the recess, the arc angle being less than 90°. The sections of the bottom wall of the recess adjacent to the teeth thus form oblique flanks in order to apply force to the torque transmission body when a torque is applied. In the blocking position, these forces are diverted via the blocking elements into the housing, i.e. in particular the pipe. The torque transmission section is connected to the torque output body via the freewheel gear, so that the torque is transmitted to the torque output body. The latter can have an output pin onto which a nut or the like can be placed in order to transmit the torque to a screw head or a nut. In the blocking position, the plunger cannot move relative to the housing. The recess has oblique flanks or rounded flanks that convert the torque into a force that forces the torque transmission body out of the recess. The force acts on the plunger, which is acted upon by the spring of the energy accumulator. If the switching element is in the release position, the plunger can shift with the technical success described above that when an adjustable limit force is exceeded, the torque transmission body slips out of the recess and, for example, overflows a tooth delimiting the recess in order to enter a further recess. In the blocking position, displacement of the plunger is not possible, so that the torque transmission body is permanently held in a form-fitting manner in the recess. The torque transmission section preferably has a gear-like shape with teeth evenly distributed in the circumferential direction, between which the depressions are located. The torque transmission section rotatably mounted in a head of the housing, which is preferably located radially outside the torque output body, can thus rotate by any angular degrees within its bearing opening in the head when the torque applied to it exceeds the limit torque. The torque output body can have an output pin that is adjustable in the axial direction with respect to the axis of rotation, as shown in FIG DE 10 2012 103 782 A1 is previously known. The content of this document is fully incorporated into the disclosure content of this application. The output pin has a polygonal section on both ends, which can either protrude from one of the two broad sides of the head pointing away from each other, so that the screwing tool can be used to screw in both a clockwise and counter-clockwise direction. In a further development of the invention it is provided that the plunger has two, three or four or more blocking recesses arranged on a peripheral surface. The blocking recesses are each spatially assigned to a window in which a blocking element lies. The blocking recesses or the windows can be arranged in a uniform circumferential distribution around an axis of extension of the drive arm. At the end of the drive arm there can be an adjusting device which can be used as a handle or is adjacent to a handle and with which the force of the energy accumulator and thus the limit torque can be adjusted by turning the handle. A locking element can be provided with which the rotation of the adjusting device can be blocked. The drive arm preferably projects in the radial direction in relation to a screw rotation axis. The teeth of the torque transmission section preferably project radially outwards, so that they form external teeth. The torque transmission body located in the tooth gap is preferably displaced out of the recess in the radial direction. The plunger also shifts in the radial direction in relation to the screwing direction in order to compress the preloaded spring arranged in a cavity in the drive arm. The drive arm is therefore preferably designed as a tube. On this pipe the switching element can be linear be displaceably arranged, the switching element preferably being arranged immediately adjacent to the head.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Schraubwerkzeuges;

Fig. 2

eine Draufsicht auf das Schraubwerkzeug;

Fig. 3

die Ansicht in Richtung des Pfeiles III in Figur 2;

Fig. 4

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie IV - IV in Figur 3;

Fig. 5

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie V - V in Figur 3;

Fig. 6

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie VI - VI in Figur 3;

Fig. 7

den Schnitt gemäß der Linie VII - VII in Figur 3;

Fig. 8

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 4, wobei jedoch ein Drehmomentübertragungskörper 7 aus einer Vertiefung 6 herausgetreten ist und einen Zahn 15 überläuft;

Fig. 9

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 5, jedoch in einer Betriebsstellung gemäß Figur 8;

Fig. 10

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 4, jedoch mit von einer Freigabestellung in eine Blockierstellung verschobenem Umschaltglied 12;

Fig. 11

eine Darstellung gemäß Figur 5, jedoch in der in Figur 10 dargestellten Betriebsstellung;

Fig. 12

einen Schnitt gemäß der Linie XII - XII in Figur 2 und

Fig. 13

eine Explosionsdarstellung.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a screwing tool;

Fig. 2

a top view of the screwing tool;

Fig. 3

the view in the direction of arrow III in Figure 2 ;

Fig. 4

the cut according to the line IV - IV in Figure 3 ;

Fig. 5

the cut according to the line V - V in Figure 3 ;

Fig. 6

the cut according to the line VI - VI in Figure 3 ;

Fig. 7

the cut according to the line VII - VII in Figure 3 ;

Fig. 8

a representation according to Figure 4 , however, a torque transmission body 7 has emerged from a recess 6 and overflows a tooth 15;

Fig. 9

a representation according to Figure 5 , but in an operating position according to Figure 8 ;

Fig. 10

a representation according to Figure 4 , but with the switching element 12 moved from a release position to a blocking position;

Fig. 11

a representation according to Figure 5 , however in the in Figure 10 operating position shown;

Fig. 12

a cut along the line XII - XII in Figure 2 and

Fig. 13

an exploded view.

Description of the embodiments

The screwing tool shown in the figures has a housing 1 which has a head 2 at a first end. The head 2 has a cavity in which a rotatable body rests. The rotatable body is made up of several parts. It has a torque output body 4 with a polygonal cavity in which there is an output pin 22, which is displaceable in relation to the axis of rotation A of the torque output body 4 in order to protrude with a polygonal section either on one or the other broad side of the head.

The torque output body 4 is via one in the Figure 7 recognizable freewheel gear coupled to a torque transmission section 5. For this purpose, the torque transmission section 5 has a cavity in which the torque output body 4 is inserted. The torque output body 4 has external teeth into which a locking body 17 located in a bearing recess 18 of the torque transmission section 5 can engage. The locking body 17 is urged into a locking position by a spring, so that when the torque transmission section 5 rotates clockwise, the torque output body 4 is entrained in rotation. However, it will If the torque transmission section 5 is rotated counter-clockwise, the counter-toothing of the locking body 17 can emerge from the external teeth of the torque output body 4, so that the torque transmission section 5 can rotate freely relative to the torque output body 4. With regard to the design of the freewheel gear, attention is paid to the DE 10 2016 101 400 A1 and to those named therein DE 10 2014 113 758 A1 referred. The disclosure content of these writings is included in the disclosure content of this application.

Like that Figures 4 , 8 or 10 As can be seen, the torque transmission section 5 has teeth 15 which point radially outwards in relation to the screwing direction and are arranged in a uniform circumferential distribution around the center. There are trough-like tooth gaps between the teeth, which form depressions 6. The wall of the recess 6 is formed by a curve. The rounding corresponds to a rounding of a torque transmission body 7 formed by a cylinder, which can engage in one of the recesses 6.

The torque transmission body 7 is acted upon by a plunger 8, which extends in a cavity of a drive arm 3, which projects in the radial direction from the head 2 in relation to the screwing direction. The plunger 8 is acted upon by a compression spring 19, which forms an energy accumulator and which is prestressed. By means of an adjusting device 20, which is assigned to a handle 24 arranged at the free end of the drive arm 3, the preload of the compression spring 19 can be adjusted. By rotating the adjusting device 20, a clamping element 27, which is coupled via a thread to a tube 23 formed by the arm 3, is displaced axially relative to the tube 23. A display 25 is provided, which can be observed through a window 21, on which the currently set torque is displayed. The clamping element 27 acts against a pressure piece 26, which acts on the spring 19, which is supported with its other end on the plunger 8.

The plunger 8 has a total of four blocking recesses 10 arranged in a uniform circumferential distribution on its jacket wall (see Figure 6 ), each of which has a blocking element 9 in the form of a ball. Relative to an extension axis of the drive arm 3, each of the four blocking elements 9 can move in a radial direction within a window 11 of the tubular drive arm 3 in order to emerge from the blocking recess 10 in a release position of a switching element 12. For this purpose, the switching element 12 and in particular its inner wall have an alternative space 13.

The switching element 12 is designed as a sleeve-like slide and sits on the outside of the drive arm 3, in the immediate vicinity of the head 2. By moving the switching element 12 in an axial direction relative to the extension axis of the drive arm 3, the switching element 12 can be moved from a release position to a blocking position to be brought. In the release position, which is in the Figures 4 to 9 is shown, the blocking elements 9 can emerge from the blocking recesses 10 in the radial direction, so that the plunger 8 can move within the drive arm 3. On the tube 23, which is firmly connected to the head 2, there is a casing 28 which is flush with the handle 24. This casing has a step on its side facing the head 2, which forms an end stop for the switching element 12. In the release position, in which the torque wrench tool can be used, the switching element 22 rests on the casing 28. The outer surface of the switching element 12 merges flush with the outer surface of the casing 28, which is attached to the tube 23 by means of grub screws 29.

In the in the Figures 10 and 11 In the blocking position of the switching element 12 shown, there is an abutment flank 14 outside the window 11, which is formed by the inner wall of the switching element 12. The blocking elements 9, which lie in the blocking recess 10, are supported on this abutment flank 14, so that they cannot emerge from the blocking recess 10 and thus prevent the plunger 8 from being axially displaceable in relation to the direction of extension of the drive arm 3. The inner radius of the abutment flank 14 running on an inner cylinder surface is only slightly larger than the outer radius of the tube 23 having the windows 11. In the blocking position, the switching element 12 is spaced from the casing 28.

The operation of the screwing tool is as follows: Because of the freewheel gear described above between the torque output body 4 and the torque transmission section 5, an output pin 22 can be rotated in a constant rotational movement by pivoting the drive arm 3 back and forth about the screw axis. By moving the output pin 22 in an axial direction relative to the screwing direction, the direction of rotation of the screwing tool can be reversed.

The switch 12 is located in the Figures 4 to 9 Release position shown, in which the plunger 8 can move relative to the drive arm 3, a limited torque can be transmitted to a screw connection with the screwing tool. If the torque is below a limit torque that can be set using the adjusting device 20, the torque transmission body 7 remains in one of the several recesses 6 during screwing, as is the case Figures 4 and 5 show. A torque is transmitted from the housing 1 to the torque transmission section 5 via the torque transmission body 7. The hollow, the depression 6 forms an oblique flank that converts the torque into a radial force that acts against the preload force of the spring 19. The result of this is that the torque transmission body 7 and with it the plunger 8 are displaced in the radially outward direction with respect to the screw rotation axis, which is accompanied by an increase in the spring tension. When the plunger 8 is moved in the direction of the pressure piece 26, a pin of the pressure piece 26 moves into a cavity in the plunger 8. The compression spring 19 extends around the pin or the jacket of the cavity. When a limit torque is reached, the torque transmission body 7 comes out of the Well 6 out as it is Figures 8 and 9 show. The torque transmission body 7 runs over a tooth 15 of the external teeth of the transmission section 5 and can dip into the adjacent recess 6. The torque transmission section 5 is not displaced by the pivoting movement of the drive arm 3. When the drive arm 3 is pivoted further about the screw rotation axis, the teeth 15 adjoining it will also overflow, so that no torque higher than the limit torque is transmitted to the torque output body 4.

If the switching element 12 is in the Figures 10 and 11 shown blocking position, the blocking elements 9 cannot emerge from the blocking recesses 10 assigned to them because they are tied in a form-fitting manner in the blocking recesses 10 by the abutment flank 14. In this operating position, the torque transmission body 7 cannot leave the recess 6 assigned to it even if a limit torque is exceeded, so that in the blocking position of the switching element 12, torques can also be transmitted that are greater than the limit torque and the screwing tool can be used as a "normal" ratchet/ratchet can be used. The forces transmitted from the torque transmission body 7 to the plunger 8 are transmitted via the blocking elements 9 designed as balls into the walls of the windows 11 of the tube 23. There the pipe 23 is connected to the head 2 in a tension-proof manner, the forces are diverted back into the head 2.

The above statements serve to explain the inventions covered by the application as a whole, which independently develop the prior art at least through the following combinations of features, whereby two, more or all of these combinations of features can also be combined, namely:

A screwing tool, which is characterized in that a freewheel gear 16, 17, 18 is provided in the torque transmission path between the torque and the torque output body 4 and the torque transmission section 5.

A screwing tool that is characterized by a switching member 12 that can be moved from a release position to a blocking position, which allows the torque transmission body 7 to leave the recess in the release position, but blocks it in the blocking position.

A screwing tool, which is characterized in that the switching element 12 is a sleeve part which is displaceably guided on the housing 1 and which cooperates with at least one blocking element 9, which is movably mounted in particular in a window 11 of the housing 1 and which, in particular, in the blocking position in a blocking recess 10 of a plunger 8 is tied, which is arranged in the power transmission path between the torque transmission body 7 and the energy storage 19.

A screwing tool, which is characterized in that the plunger 8 has two, three, four or more blocking recesses arranged on a peripheral surface 18 each for the entry of an associated blocking element 9.

A screwing tool, which is characterized in that the switching element 12 forms an escape space 13 for the blocking element 9 in the release position with a first section of its inner wall and an abutment flank 14 for the blocking element 9 in the blocking position with a second section of its inner wall.

A screwing tool, which is characterized in that the torque output body 4 is arranged in a head 2 formed by the housing 1, a drive arm 3 protruding from the head 2, in which a spring forming the energy accumulator 19 is arranged, which is supported by the plunger 8 being interposed the torque transmission body 7 acts.

A screwing tool, which is characterized in that the recesses 6 are formed by tooth gaps arranged between teeth 15.

A screwing tool, which is characterized in that the switching member 12 is linearly displaceable in relation to the direction of extension of the drive arm 3 between the blocking position and the release position.

A screwing tool, which is characterized in that the recess 6 is a trough, the wall of which extends in cross section to the axis A along a circular arc line, the radius of which corresponds in particular to the radius of the torque transmission body 7 designed as a cylinder, the arc length being smaller than a quarter circle , whereby the sections of the wall of the recess 6 adjacent to the teeth form oblique flanks for controlling the torque transmission body 7 from the recess 6.

All features disclosed are essential to the invention (individually, but also in combination with one another). The disclosure content of the associated/attached priority documents (copy of the prior application) is hereby fully included in the disclosure of the application, also for the purpose of including features of these documents in the claims of the present application. The subclaims, even without the features of a referenced claim, characterize with their features independent inventive developments of the prior art, in particular in order to make divisional applications based on these claims. The invention specified in each claim may additionally have one or more of the features provided in the above description, in particular with reference numbers and/or in the list of reference numbers. The invention also relates to designs in which individual features mentioned in the above description are not implemented, in particular to the extent that they are clearly dispensable for the respective intended use or can be replaced by other technically equivalent means. <b>List of reference symbols</b> 1 Housing 25 Advertisement 2 Head 26 Pressure piece 3 Drive arm 27 Clamping element 4 Torque output body 28 Sheathing 5 Torque transmission section 29 grub screw 6 deepening 7 Torque transmission body 8th Pestle A axis 9 Blocking element 10 Blocking recess 11 Window 12 switching element 13 Alternative space 14 abutment flank 15 Tooth 16 gearing 17 Barrier body 18 bearing recess 19 Spring/energy storage 20 Adjustment device 21 Window 22 output pin 23 Pipe 24 Handle

Claims (15)

Screwing tool with a switching member (12) that can be moved from a release position to a blocking position, the tool in the release position having the function of a torque wrench, in which a torque-transmitting coupling of a torque transmission body (7) fixed to the housing to a torque transmission section (5) is canceled when a torque transmission section (5) is released the torque applied to the housing (1) exceeds a limit torque that can be set using an adjusting device (20), and in the blocking position can also transmit torques to the torque transmission body (7) which are above the limit torque. Screwing tool according to claim 1, characterized in that the cancellation of the torque-transmitting coupling is blocked in the blocking position. Screwing tool according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the torque transmission body (7) leaves a recess (6) of the torque transmission section (5) in an edge-controlled manner when the limit torque is exceeded if a force of a prestressed energy storage device (19) which can be set by the adjusting device (20) is exceeded becomes. Screwing tool according to claim 3, characterized in that the torque transmission body (7) is blocked from leaving the recess (6) in the blocking position. Screwing tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the torque transmission path between Torque output body (4) and torque transmission section (5) a freewheel gear (16, 17, 18) is provided. Screwing tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching element (12) is a sleeve part which is displaceably guided on the housing (1) and which cooperates with at least one blocking element (9). Screwing tool according to claim 6, characterized in that the blocking element (9) is movably mounted in a window (11) of the housing (1). Screwing tool according to claim 7, characterized in that the blocking element (9) is locked in the blocking position in a blocking recess (10) of a plunger (8) which is arranged in the force transmission path between the torque transmission body (7) and the force accumulator (19). Screwing tool according to claim 8, characterized in that the plunger (8) has two, three, four or more blocking recesses (18) arranged on a circumferential surface, each for the entry of an associated blocking element (9). Screwing tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching element (12) has an escape space (13) with a first section of its inner wall for the blocking element (9) in the release position and with a second section of its inner wall an abutment flank (14) for that Blocking element (9) forms in the blocking position. Screwing tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the switching member (12) is linearly displaceable between the blocking position and the release position with respect to the direction of extension of the drive arm (3). Screwing tool according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (6) is a trough, the wall of which extends in cross section to the axis (A) along an arcuate line. Screwing tool according to claim 12, characterized in that the radius of the trough corresponds to the radius of the torque transmission body (7) designed as a cylinder, the arc length being smaller than a quarter circle, the sections of the wall of the recess (6) adjacent to the teeth forming oblique flanks , to control the torque transmission body (7) from the recess (6). Screwing tool with a torque output body (4), in which a torque-transmitting coupling of a torque transmission body (7) fixed to the housing to a torque transmission section (5) is canceled when a torque applied to the housing (1) exceeds a limit torque that can be set with an adjusting device (20), thereby characterized in that a freewheel gear (16, 17, 18) is provided in a torque transmission path between the torque output body (4) and the torque transmission section (5). Screwing tool characterized by one or more of the characterizing features of one of the preceding claims.

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