TW202500325A - Ratchet wrench - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention reveals a ratchet wrench which has a body, a driving head, one or several pawl sets, a switching member, and a controlling member. The driving head is rotatably disposed in the body about a working axis. The pawl sets are disposed around the driving head, selectively engaging with the driving head. The switching member is rotatably disposed in the body about the working axis. The controlling member is provided for being stirred to cause the rotation of the switching member. The switching member can press the pawl sets back and forth to engage the driving head by two opposite directions. As such, users may change the operating direction of the driving head, which is engaged by the pawl sets disposed around the driving head, by simply stirring the controlling member. Thus, the structure of the driving head and the pawl sets is changeable, and switching is simplified for user.

Description

Ratchet wrench

This invention relates to a ratchet wrench, particularly one that allows the user to switch the actuation direction of the ratchet.

In the past, ratchet wrenches were equipped with multiple sets of latch blocks to improve the strength and stability of ratchet operation. For example, the ratchet wrench shown in Figures 1 to 3 has a body 91 of the ratchet wrench with multiple receiving grooves 92. The receiving grooves 92 accommodate left and right latch blocks 93 and 94 and a spring 95. A switch body 96 is mounted on one side of the receiving groove 92. The bottom surface of the ratchet wrench 6 is provided with a toggle portion 97, please refer to Figures 2 and 3. When the user rotates the switching body 96, the toggle portion 97 will move and toggle the latch block 94. Please refer to Figure 4. When the user rotates the switching body 96 in the opposite direction, the other toggle portion 98 will toggle the latch block 93. The operating direction of the ratchet wrench can be changed by rotating the switching body 96 to different positions. Among them, since the ratchet wrench has three sets of latch blocks, the ratchet wrench can evenly distribute the torque to each latch block when in use, avoiding damage to the latch blocks 93, 94 or the teeth of the ratchet body 99 due to excessive torque during operation, so that the ratchet wrench has a higher stability and operable torque.

Although the aforementioned ratchet wrench can provide higher stability and operable torque, when the user needs to switch the actuation direction of the ratchet wrench, the user needs to use the switch body to move the latch block. The user needs to hold the body with one hand and rotate the switch body with the other hand. The user needs to use both hands to complete the switching, which is inconvenient in actual use.

One of the purposes of this invention is to provide a ratchet wrench that provides higher stability and operable torque while allowing the user to switch with one hand, thereby improving the convenience of using the ratchet wrench.

In order to achieve the above and other purposes, the present invention provides a ratchet wrench, including a body, a drive head, at least one set of latch block groups, a switch and a control assembly. The body has a working chamber and at least one receiving groove, and the receiving groove is connected to the working chamber. The drive head is accommodated in the working chamber and can rotate around a working axis relative to the body. The drive head has an outer ring surface facing the receiving groove, and the outer ring surface has ratchet teeth. The latch block group includes a first latch block, a second latch block and an elastic member, and the elastic member is sandwiched between the first latch block and the second latch block. The latch block group is accommodated in the receiving groove, and the latch block group engages the ratchet teeth and abuts against the body. The switch has a plurality of shifting parts, and the switch can rotate around the working axis and use the shifting parts to shift one of the first latch block and the second latch block in the latch block group, so that one of the first latch block and the second latch block is disengaged from the ratchet gear. The control assembly is arranged on the body and can rotate around all the switching axes. When the control assembly rotates, the switch is driven to rotate.

Thus, the ratchet wrench provided by the invention utilizes a control assembly to drive the switch to rotate. The control assembly can be disposed on the outer surface of the main body for the user to turn. The user can hold the main body with one hand and turn the control assembly with the thumb or other fingers to drive the switch to rotate, thereby switching the actuation direction of the ratchet wrench, which is convenient to use.

In addition, the control component in the ratchet wrench of this invention can drive the switch to rotate from the side, and then the switch will turn the latch block group. The setting position of the latch block group will not be restricted by the control component and the drive head, and can be set at any position around the drive head, which can improve the freedom of design of the ratchet wrench mechanism and have design flexibility.

Please refer to Figure 5. This embodiment provides a ratchet wrench that can be connected to a socket or other tool by the user, and when the user reciprocates the ratchet wrench, the connected socket or other tool can be driven to rotate in one direction to tighten or remove workpieces such as nuts or screws.

Please refer to Figures 5 to 8. The ratchet wrench provided in this embodiment includes a body 10, a drive head 20, three sets of latch block assemblies 30, 30', 30", a switch 40 and a control assembly.

The main body 10 includes a handle body 11 and a cover plate 12. One end of the handle body 11 is laterally recessed to form a working cavity 111 and three receiving grooves 112, 113, 114. Each of the receiving grooves 112, 113, 114 is connected to the working cavity 111 and arranged in a ring around the working cavity 111. The handle body 11 further forms a step groove 115 between the working cavity 111 and the receiving grooves 112, 113, 114 and the outer surface of the handle body 11. In addition to including the working cavity 111 and the receiving grooves 112, 113, 114, the outline of the step groove 115 further extends along the handle body 11. The handle body 11 forms a step surface 116 around the step groove 115. The cover plate 12 is locked to the handle body 11 by screws 13. The cover plate 12 is received in the step groove 115 and abuts against the step surface 116, so that the working chamber 111, the receiving grooves 112, 113, 114 and the step groove 15 are surrounded by the handle body 11 and the cover plate 12. The handle body 11 also has a through hole 117, which is vertically connected to the step groove 115, and the through hole 117 defines an axis change z. The handle body 11 and the cover plate 12 have an opening 118, 121 respectively. The two openings 118, 121 and the working chamber 111 are arranged along a working axis y. The accommodating grooves 112, 113, 114 are arranged around the working axis y. Preferably, the working axis y is parallel to the switching axis z but does not overlap, that is, the switching axis z stands beside the working axis y.

The drive head 20 is accommodated in the working chamber 111 and is located in the working axis y. The drive head 20 is exposed to the outside through the opening 118. The drive head 20 also has a drive end 21. The drive end 21 is a polygonal column such as a quadrangular column. It protrudes outward from the opening 121 for connecting a sleeve or a similar tool. The drive head 20 has an outer annular surface 22, which faces the accommodating grooves 112, 113, 114 and has ratchet teeth on the surface.

Each of the latch block assemblies 30, 30', 30" has the same structure and is respectively accommodated in each of the accommodating grooves 112, 113, 114 and abuts against the handle body 11, wherein a latch block assembly 30 includes a first latch block 31, a second latch block 32 and an elastic member 33, wherein the elastic member 33 is sandwiched between the first latch block 31 and the second latch block 32, and the first latch block 31 and the second latch block 32 have teeth 311 and 321 on one side facing the outer ring surface 22 of the driving head 20, respectively, and the teeth 311 and 321 can be used to make the latch block assembly 30 engage the ratchet teeth of the outer ring surface 22.

The switch 40 is accommodated in the step groove 115 and is located between the cover plate 12 and the latch block assemblies 30, 30', 30", so that the switch 40 cannot be exposed to the outside. The switch 40 has a round hole 41, which is sleeved on the drive head 20 so that the switch 40 can rotate around the working axis y. A corresponding positioning member 14 and three positioning grooves 42 are further provided between the handle body 11 and the switch 40, so that the switch 40 can be positioned by the positioning member 14 when rotating, and can switch between a first position, a second position, and a third position. The switch 40 faces the working chamber 11. 1 extends to form three toggle parts 43, 44, 45, which are inserted between every two adjacent latch block groups. More specifically, the toggle part 43 is inserted between the two latch block groups 30, 30', the toggle part 44 is inserted between the two latch block groups 30, 30", and the toggle part 45 is inserted between the two latch block groups 30', 30". When the switch 40 rotates, the toggle parts 43, 44, 45 can move and toggle the first latch block or the second latch block in each latch block group. The switch 40 also has a tooth part 46.

The control assembly is disposed on the handle 11 and can rotate around the switching axis z. The control assembly includes a dial button 51, a drive shaft 52 and a gear block 53. One end of the dial button 51 is exposed on the surface of the handle 11 for the user to turn it. The other end of the dial button 51 has a fixing hole 511 and is inserted into the through hole 117 so that the dial button 51 can rotate around the switching axis z. One end of the drive shaft 52 is inserted and fixed to the The fixing hole 511 of the dial button 51 allows the driving shaft 52 to rotate together with the dial button 51. The other end of the driving shaft 52 is accommodated in the step groove 115 and has a non-circular cross-section. The gear block 53 has a non-circular hole 531. The gear block 53 is accommodated in the step groove 115 and sleeved on the driving shaft 52, so that the gear block 53 rotates together with the driving shaft 52, and the gear block 53 is engaged with the tooth portion 46 of the switch 40.

Please refer to Figures 6 and 9. When the ratchet wrench is used, the user can turn the dial button 51 to switch. When the dial button 51 is turned, the drive shaft 52 and the gear block 53 will be driven to rotate together. Since the gear block 53 is engaged with the tooth portion 46 of the switch member 40, it will also drive the switch member 40 to rotate. Please refer to Figure 9. When the switch member is turned When moved to the first position, the driving parts 43, 44, and 45 do not drive the latch block assembly, and the first latch blocks 31, 31', and 31" and the second latch blocks 32, 32', and 32" in the latch block assembly are engaged with the ratchet teeth on the outer annular surface 22 of the driving head 20 and abut against the handle body 11, so that the driving head 20 cannot rotate relative to the handle body 11.

Please refer to FIG. 10 . When the switch member rotates to the second position, the shifting parts 43, 44, 45 move the first latching blocks 31, 31', 31" of the latching block assembly as the switch member rotates, so that the first latching blocks 31, 31', 31" move and disengage from the ratchet teeth on the outer annular surface 22 of the drive head 20, and the drive head 20 moves along the When the driving head 20 is subjected to force in the clockwise direction, the second latching blocks 32, 32', 32" are engaged and the handle body 11 is abutted, so that the driving head cannot rotate relative to the handle body 11 in the clockwise direction; when the driving head 20 is subjected to force in the counterclockwise direction, the second latching blocks 32, 32', 32" can be pushed to allow the driving head to rotate relative to the handle body 11 in the counterclockwise direction.

Please refer to FIG. 11 . When the switch rotates to the third position, the toggle parts 43, 44, 45 rotate with the switch to move the second latching blocks 32, 32', 32" in the latching block assembly, so that the second latching blocks 32, 32', 32" move to disengage and engage with the ratchet teeth on the outer annular surface 22 of the drive head 20, and the drive head 20 moves along the When the driving head 20 is subjected to force in the clockwise direction, the first latching blocks 31, 31', 31" can be pushed to enable the driving head to rotate relative to the handle body 11 in the clockwise direction; when the driving head 20 is subjected to force in the counterclockwise direction, the first latching blocks 31, 31', 31" are engaged and the handle body 11 abuts against, so that the driving head cannot rotate relative to the handle body 11 in the counterclockwise direction.

By means of the above device, when using the ratchet wrench of the present embodiment, the user can hold the handle of the main body with one hand and turn the dial button with the thumb or other fingers to rotate the dial button to switch and change the actuation direction of the ratchet wrench, thereby having a convenient operation and use effect. At the same time, the ratchet wrench of the present embodiment utilizes the control assembly and the switch component, and can turn multiple sets of latch block assemblies at the same time when switching the actuation direction, and multiple sets of latch block assemblies can be set in the ratchet wrench with a dial-type switching direction, thereby having both better stability and operable torque.

In the above embodiment, the ratchet wrench has three sets of latch block assemblies and three accommodating grooves. However, it is also possible to change it to a single set of latch block assemblies or other numbers of latch block assemblies. In this case, the ratchet wrench can still move the latch block assembly through the control assembly and the switch, so that the setting position of the latch block assembly is not limited to being set at the bottom side of the drive head near the control assembly. The latch block assembly can be set at any position around the drive head, so that the structure of the ratchet wrench has greater design flexibility.

In the above embodiment, the drive shaft of the control assembly is assembled between the knob and the gear block. However, if the drive shaft is omitted, the gear block is directly assembled and fixed to one end of the knob, or the gear block is integrally extended to form a shaft rod, and then the knob is fixed to the shaft rod of the gear block, which are all feasible specific implementation methods.

In the above embodiment, the switch axis is parallel to the working axis, and the use state of the dial button is more in line with the user's intuition. However, if the switch axis is tilted or perpendicular to the working axis, the use state of the dial button or the overall control assembly is changed, the tooth portion 46 and the tooth block 53 can still be tilted or vertically transmitted and engaged, and the control assembly can still drive the switch to rotate, which is still feasible.

To summarize the above description, the ratchet wrench of the above embodiment has convenient operation mode and better stability and operable torque, and can also improve the structural design flexibility of the ratchet wrench, which is really expected by consumers and production developers. However, the above embodiment is only to illustrate and explain the technical content of this creation, and the patent scope of this patent shall be based on the scope of the patent application described later.

y: working axis z: switching axis 10: body 11: handle 111: working chamber 112, 113, 114: receiving groove 115: step groove 116: step surface 117: perforation 118: opening 12: cover plate 121: opening 13: screw 14: positioning member 20: drive head 21: drive end 22: outer ring surface 30, 30', 30": latch block assembly 31, 31', 31": first latch block 311: tooth 32, 32', 32": second latch block 321: tooth 33: elastic member 40: Switching element 41: Round hole 42: Positioning slot 43, 44, 45: Toggle section 46: Tooth section 51: Toggle button 511: Fixing hole 52: Drive shaft 53: Tooth block 531: Non-circular hole 91: Body 92: Accommodation slot 93, 94: Clamp block 95: Spring 96: Switching body 97, 98: Toggle section 99: Ratchet body

Figure 1 is a partial three-dimensional exploded view of the ratchet wrench for daily use. Figure 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the ratchet wrench for daily use. Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of the ratchet wrench for daily use. Figure 4 is another schematic diagram of the ratchet wrench for daily use. Figure 5 is a three-dimensional view of the ratchet wrench of this invention. Figure 6 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the ratchet wrench of this invention. Figure 7 is a three-dimensional exploded view of the ratchet wrench of this invention from another perspective. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the ratchet wrench of this invention. Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the ratchet wrench of this invention from another perspective. Figure 10 is a schematic diagram of the ratchet wrench of this invention. Figure 11 is another schematic diagram of the ratchet wrench of this invention.

y: working axis

z: switch axis

11:Handle

117: Perforation

118: Opening

12: Cover plate

121: Opening

13: Screws

14: Positioning piece

20: Drive head

21: Driver end

22: Outer ring surface

30, 30’, 30”: latch block assembly

31, 31’, 31”: First latch block

311: Teeth

32, 32’, 32”: Second latch block

321: Teeth

33: Elastic parts

40: Switching parts

41: Round hole

42: Positioning slot

43, 44, 45: Motion Department

46: Teeth

51: Button

52: Drive shaft

53: Teeth

531: Non-circular hole

Claims (6)

A ratchet wrench comprises: A body, the body having a working cavity and at least one receiving groove, the receiving groove being connected to the working cavity; A driving head, received in the working cavity and capable of rotating around a working axis relative to the body, the driving head having an outer ring surface facing the receiving groove, the outer ring surface having ratchet teeth; At least one set of latching blocks, comprising a first latching block, a second latching block and an elastic member, the elastic member being sandwiched between the first latching block and the second latching block, the set of latching blocks being received in the receiving groove, the set of latching blocks engaging the ratchet teeth and abutting against the body; A switching member having a plurality of shifting parts, the switching member can rotate around the working axis and use the shifting parts to shift one of the first latch block and the second latch block in the latch block group, so that one of the first latch block and the second latch block is disengaged from the ratchet gear; A control assembly is arranged on the body and can rotate around the switching axis, and the switching member is driven to rotate when the control assembly rotates. A ratchet wrench as described in item 1 of the patent application, wherein the switching axis is parallel to but does not overlap with the working axis. A ratchet wrench as described in item 1 of the patent application, wherein the switch has a tooth portion, and the control assembly includes a tooth block, and the tooth block engages with the tooth portion. As described in item 3 of the patent application scope, the control component includes a dial, which is arranged on the main body and can rotate around the switching axis, and when the dial rotates, the gear block is driven to rotate together. As described in item 1 of the patent application scope, the main body of the ratchet wrench includes a cover plate, the switch is located between the cover plate and the latch block assembly, and the switch is shielded by the cover plate and cannot be exposed to the outside. A ratchet wrench as described in any one of items 1 to 5 of the patent application scope, wherein the main body has three receiving grooves, and the receiving grooves are arranged around the working axis. The ratchet wrench includes three sets of latch block assemblies, and each set of latch block assemblies is accommodated in one of the receiving grooves.

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