US2256624A - Wrench joint - Google Patents

Description

p 1941- w. H. O DLUM 7 2,256,624

WRENCH JHIOINT Filed Dec. 14, 1940 C- I H k;

flag wa Patented Sept. 23, 1941 WRENCH JOINT William H. Odlum, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Duro Metal Products Company, Chicago,;1ll., a corporation of Illinois Application December 14, 1940, Serial No. 370,095

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to wrench joints, and is particularly concerned with a universal joint of the type commonly used in conjunction with Wrenches, such as socket wrenches and similarly operated tools.

In using a tool of this type, it is frequently necessary to work in close or cramped quarters. In such cases, it is desirable that the jointed parts of the tool remain in preadjusted relationship until the wrench or other tool is brought into engagement with the nut or part to be serviced. The engagement between the parts, however, should not be so strong as to interfere with the normal universal movement of the parts in performing a working operation.

One method of frictionally engaging the various parts of a universal joint of this general type is shown in Patent No. 1,978,590, issued tober 30, 1934, and assigned to the assignee of the present application. Such a frictional engagement of the parts, while satisfactory for universal joints of approximately half-inch size or V larger, has not been found suitable for universal joints smaller than the half-inch size, due to the fact-that in such construction it is necessary to counterbore the pivot holes in the articulating joint member, which is positioned between the two principalmembers of the universal joint. Such counterboring removes an amount of metal which has been found unduly to weaken universal joints of a siz smaller than one-half inch.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved universal joint for wrenches and the like.

Another object is frictionally to engage pivotally connected portions of a universal wrench joint.

Another object is to engage pivotally connected parts of a universal wrench joint with a frictional force suflicient to support the parts thereof in adjusted relationship, but not suflicient to interfere with a normal working operation of such parts.

Another object is to provide a simple frictional connection between pivoted portions of a universal wrench joint.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several Views.

Referring to the drawing of, which there is one sheet:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevatien showing a universal wrench joint constructed according to the invention, a handle portion and a socket wrench associated therewith being indicated in dotted lines; I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of the line 22 of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 3 is a plan view of a frictional spring member employed inthe construction of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the frictional spring member shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a View in perspective of a double pivotally mounted connecting block employed in the construction of Fig. 2;

Fig. .6- is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a plane similar to that of Fig. 2, and showing a modified typeof tool and embodying a mode ified type of frictional spring member;

Fig. '7 is a view in perspective of a modified type of frictional spring member employed in the construction of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a View in perspective similar to Fig. 5, showing a double pivoted connecting block of the type employed in the structure of Fig. 6.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral II indicates in its entirety a universal wrench joint which is composed mainly of three principal portions, namely, a forked handle portion l2, an intermediate pivoted joint member l3, and a forked tool-engaging portion I4. The handle portion 12, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is provided with a rectangular socket in which to receive a rectangular handle Hi. The forked handle member I2 is generally cylindrical in shape, the end [6 thereof being bifurcated and having aligned openings in opposite sides of the bifurcated portion to receive a pivot pin H. Thejoint member, I3 is here illustrated as being rectangular in section, but the exact conformation thereof is subject to variation as will be apparent to those versed in the art, and is slightly smaller in width than the separation of the bifurcatedarms l6 of the member l2, so as to receive the sides of a U-shaped spring member l8 between the sides of the joint member l3 and the inner faces of the arms Itv when the parts are assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The member I3 and each side of the U-shaped spring member l8 are provided with openings to receive the pivot pin ll therein. An opening I9 is provided centrally of the U-shaped spring member 3 to receive a pin 20, which is secured in a hole drilled centrally of the end of the joint member l3. The nn c on t en he vo ed nt m mber 13 and the -s aped pring. 1. rov ded b th s I have found in the practice of my present invention that by varying-the thickness and spring tension of my frictionally engaging spring members I am able to attain any reasonable desired degree of frictional engagement between the articulated parts of a wrench joint and with no appreciable decrease in strength thereof. It is also possible to attain a material variation in the divergent fromeach other, as indicated in Figs.

3 and 4, so that in inserting the joint member l3, with the spring I8 assembled therewith, be

tween the arms l6 of the forked member I2,-the

sides of'the U-shaped spring member l8 will be displacedinwardly against the resilient action of the spring. When inserted in this manner between the sides of the bifurcated member [2, the sides of the spring will be forced outwardly by the resilient action of the spring into frictional engagement arms IS.

The bifurcated tool-engaging portion 14 is piv otally connected by means of a pivot pin 2| to the opposite end of the articulating joint membar l 3, in a manner similar to that of connecting the handle member l2 to the joint member I 3. A'U-shaped spring 22, similar to the spring [8,

'is' mounted over the oppositeend of the member I3 and is provided with an opening 23 which is-engaged by. a second positioning pin 24 ,in a

.manner. similar to that described for the first pivotal connection.

' The tool-engaging portion I 4 is here illustrated 'asihaving'a rectangular tool-engaging studv 25 formed integrally therewith, the stud 25 being provided .with' a conventional type of spring-pressed ball catch 26 embodied therein to engage a tool or other element, such as the wrench socket 27 indicated as in operative position' thereon.

r T .Inthe modified structureillustrated in Fig. 6, r a handle portion 30 of the type generally referred to 'by'the industry. as a.speeder handle is 'provided with. a bifurcated end portion,3|,, adapted U shaped spring member 33 therein, in a manner similar to that described for; the construction illustratedin Figs. .1 to: 5, inclusive, the parts springitselfbefore tempering, as best illustrated in Fig. 7. The tab 36 isof asiae and extension to fit within the recess inthe end of the mem- 1 I ber 32Tto anchor the U,shaped spring 33 to the joint member 32, to' prevent independent rotative movement of the spring and the joint mem-.

her on their common pivot pin34.

' A square tool-engaging stud 31 is formed on a bifurcated tool-engaging portion 38 in a manner similar to that illustrated and described for the construction of the member l4 ofFigs. 1 and 5 '2.'A second1Ushaped spring member 39 is assembled over the end of the member 32 with a tab 40 inserted in a groove 4| inthe member 32; This assembly'is pivotally mounted between the arms of the tool-engaging portion 38 by means of a pivot pin 42 in a manner similar to 36, thejoint the assembly of the handle member member32, and the spring 33.

frictional engagement between the parts without changing the thickness of the springs, but merely by varying the degree of divergence between the sides of the spring members before assembling them with the other parts of the structure.

7, I have found further that the use of the presentfrictional spring connection is suitable for use in all sizes of universal wrench joints from the smallest to the largest now being manufac- 'tured, and that the use of the frictional spring with the inner faces of the 7 connection does not complicate the manufacture of the universal joint since the spring has a tendency to holdthe parts in assembledposition even beforethe pivot pins are inserted. Sincethere is no appreciable flexing .of thespring during v "to receive an articulating joint member .31 and,

use, and since the sides of the spring have a tendency to separate to compensate for. any wear which may occur between the sides of the spring and the inner faces of the bifurcated co-operation portion, the connection will remain operative and without appreciable change. in frictional engagement throughout the life. of theuniversal joint. j

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may.

be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I ,do notwish tobe limited to the precise details of construction set forth, .but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of. the appended claims;

Having thus described my inventiorriwhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

a 1. A wrench joint comprising a forked having parallel inner faces, a co-operating pivoted joint element having .parallel sides mounted between said parallel inner facesto be "spaced inwardly therefrom, and a spring'embracing an end and said parallel sides of said joint element, the sides of said spring, being held in compression between the inner faces; ofsaid forked element, said spring being connected to said joint element to move pivotally therewith. 1

2. In a wrench joint having a forked element and a co-operative pivoted joint element, a frictional spring traversing an end of said joint'element and extendinglong'itudinally of the sides of said joint element, said spring engaging said. joint element to move pivotally therewith,;and said spring being held in compression between the sides of said forked element. i

3; In a wrench joint having a forked element and ace-operatingpivotedjoint element, a frictional leaf spring traversing an endof said joint element and interposed between a side of said joint element and said forked element, the pive otal connection between said forked element and 'ment, a centerstud'protruding from an end of said joint element, a U shaped leaf frictional spring traversing an end of said joint element with said stud penetrating the web of said'spring,

said spring extending longitudinally of the sides gaging-said forked element.

of said joint element, said spring frictionally en el emerit- 5. In a wrench universal joint having a forked element and a co-operating pivoted joint element, a center stud protruding from an end of said joint element, a U shaped leaf frictional spring traversing an end of said joint element with said stud penetrating the web of said spring, said spring extending longitudinally of the sides of said joint element, said spring being pivoted concentrically with said joint element, said spring frictionally engaging said forked element.

6. In a wrench universal joint having a forked element and a co-operating pivoted joint element, said joint element having a recess in an end thereof, a U shaped leaf frictional spring traversing an end of said joint element, a por-' tion of the web of said spring being offset and positioned in said recess, said spring extending longitudinally of the side of said joint element, said spring friotionally engaging said forked element.

'7. In a wrench joint having a pair of forked elements and a co-operating pivoted joint element, said forked elements being pivoted to said joint element in planes substantially at right angles to each other, a frictional spring traversing an end of said joint element and extending longitudinally of the sides of said joint element, said spring engaging said joint element to move pivotally therewith.

8. In a wrench joint having a pair of forked elements and a co-operating pivoted joint element, said forked elements being pivoted to said joint element in planes substantially at right angles to each other, a frictional spring traversing an end of said joint element and extending longitudinally of the sides of said joint element, said spring having anchoring engagement with one of said elements, and being pivotally mounted to move pivotally with another of said elements.

9. In a wrench joint having a pair of forked elements and a co-operating pivoted joint element, said forked elements being pivoted to said joint element in planes substantially at right angles to each other, a frictional spring of U shape, positioned within each of said forked elements, and pivoted concentrically therein with said joint element, said spring having interlocking connection with one of said elements, and frictional engagement with another of said elements.

10. In a wrench joint having a forked element and a co-operating pivoted joint element, a frictional spring traversing an end of said joint element and extending longitudinally of the sides of said joint element, said spring having interlocking engagement with one of said elements, and having frictional engagement with the other of said elements, said spring being penetrated by a pivotal connection between said elements.

11. A wrench joint comprising a forked element, a co-operating pivoted joint element, and a spring overlying an end and embracing two opposite sides of said joint element, said spring being interposed between the joint element and the forked element, and connected to one of said elements to move pivotally therewith.

WILLIAM H. ODLUM.

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