US1639078A - Ratchet wrench - Google Patents

Description

' y 1,639,078 J. E. coE

RATCHET WRENCH Aug. 16, 1927.

Filed March 14, 1925 f Inventor JOHN ECOE )its Attorneu Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATESy PATENT OFFICE.

RATCHET WRENCH.

Application led March 14, 1925. Serial No. 15,663.

This invention relates to an improvement in a ratchet wrench, and more particularly to a socket wrench of the reversible type and to the means by which the reversible feature is obtained.

lVhile ratchet wrenches of the reversible type are not new, those previously made are objectionable `because of the number of parts employed, and of the difficulty of assemblying the wrench. v

The primary object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a reversible ratchet wrench which. has a minimum number of parts and which can be quickly and easily assembled with a minimum amount of handling.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a wrench of this type means against which the dog controlling spring rests and which also acts to assist in the assemblying of the. parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide means against which the dog controlling spring rests and which, by reason of its construction, will supplement the action of the spring in holding the dog in the desired position.

Other objects of this invention will appear from a consideration of the following description talren in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof, and in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a wrench provided with spring resting means made in accordance with this invention:

' Fig. 2 is a plan view of a wrench embodying one form of this invention, one side plate being removed;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2; l l' Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2, but illustrating both side plates in position;

Figs.' 5 and 6 are detailed views of one form of spring supporting plate that may be employed;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating another form of this invention and showing the dog in one'of its tooth engaging positions;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 showing the dog in t-he other of itsv tooth engaging positions; `v

Fig. 9 is a perspective yview of the spring supporting means;` andv Fig. 10 is an end view thereof.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 is employed to designate a wrench of the rotary type comprising side plates 11, 12 within which the mechanism is enclosed. One end of the wrench isenlarged to receive a ratchet wheel 13, the

ends 14 and 1 5 of which project through and beyond the outer faces of the platesll and 12,

The platesrll and l2 are joined after the parts have been assembled, as will be described below, by suitable rivets 16, 17, and, 18 or other suitable securing means. On th A wheel 13 between the plates 11y and 12 is formed a gear 19 which is engaged, as shown4 in the drawing, by a dog 20 pivoted preferably upon the rivet 18. Following the general practice the plates 11 and 12 are provided with abutting ianges 21 which terminate at approximately the rivetL 18, so that while the gear 19 is between the plates 11 and 12, it isv not enclosed at the sides as shown in Fig. 3. The structure described thusv far is old and well known andforms no particular, part of this invention.

The flanges 21 of each plate 11 and 12 are cut transversely at 22, and tongues .2S-are indented, as shown in Figs. v2 and 3. Against the ends of the tongues 23 rests a plate 24, which is of a length substantially theJ distance between the flanges 21 so that the plate 24 cannot pass betweenv the tongues. The plate 24 being, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, of a size to fill the space between the platesll and 12, thus forms a transverse barrier between the two parts of thev wrench. Since both the plates 1l and 12 are provided with the indented tongues 28v the plate 24 rests against the ends of bothV tongues,V and thus acts as a guide in cooperation with the rivet 18 to insure the proper location of the plates. This also insures the location ofthe plate 24 at right angles to the outer faces of the wrench 10. The plate 24 is cut away at the center to provide an integral finger 25, which isA bent at right anglesto the body of the plate, as shownA particularly in Figs, 5 and'6. i The dog. 2O is of the usual. substantially triangular construction having ears 26 which engage the teeth of the gear' 1 9 in the usual manner. In accordance with the well known practice, a spring. 27 is provided which will hold the dog in its gear engaging positions; i. e. with either ear 26vin mesh with the gear teeth. One end of the spring 27 extends. over the. finger 25 in. the. Plate 24., which actsasi an anchor for that.` end of the spring, while the other end extends over the apex 28 of the dog 20. Since the plate 2a and its finger 25 are stationary, the end of the spring engaging the finger is at all times stationary, whereas the end of the spring engaging the apex 28 is moved from one side to the other of the center line of the wrench as defined by the rivets 16, 17, and 18.

The dog is thus held by the spring in either of its gear engaging portions and any movement of the dog will tend to compress the spring 27. lVhile the operation of the wrench in one direction will cause the gear to pass the engaging ear 26, the spring 27 will return the ear into engagement with the succeeding notch of the gear, and will not permit the dog to shift out of its desired position unless the dog is positively actuated so that the apex 28 crosses the center line of the wrench at which time the other ear 26 will be brought into engagement with the gear. The dog is so actuated manually by pr-essing upon the ear out of engagement with the gear and pivoting the dog 2O on the rivet 18.

The embodiment'shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 differs from that previously described and set forth in the particular form of support used for the spring 27. In place of the indented tongues 23 of the first embodiment I have provided indented tongues 30, which are substantially opposite the apex 28 of the dog 20. The spring supporting means in this embodiment comprises a flat spring strip 31, the ends 32 of which are hooked over the ends of the tongues 30, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Since the tongues 30 are indented, the ends of the strip 31 will not project beyond the flanges 21 and will not strike the hand of the operator.`

The strip 31 is preferably made in the form of a W, as shown in Fig. 9,the center portion 33 forming an anchor for the spring 27. One end of the spring 27 is slipped over the anchor 33, and the other end over the apex 28 of the dog 20.

When the dog 20 is shifted from one position to the other, this movement causes the anchor 33 to shift similarly fronr one side to the other of the wrench, so that the anchor 33 and the apex 28 are at all times in the same plane parallel to the center line. 'Thus in each position the spring is substantially parallel to the line of force, and any movement of the dog causes a direct axial compression of the spring. The tongues 30 are provided in the flanges 21 of both side plates 11 and 12, so that the ends 32 of the support thus function, like the plate 24, to guide the plates 11 and 12 to their proper position.

, Since the spring 27 is in this embodiment substantially straight in both positions of the dog 20, it is a very simple operation for the wmllrmen to assemble the parts in posi.-

tion because the necessity of both compressing and binding laterally the spring is not present. Instead the spring is slipped over the anchor 33, the dog being in either of its gear engaging positions, and when the spring is compressed the anchor will shift to the same side of the center line, as the apex 28, so that the spring can be quickly and easily slipped over the apex.

The parts are first assembled, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 or 6 and 7, the rivetsl 16 and 17 being omitted, and then th-e plate 11 is applied. The plate 11 is properly located by means of the end 14 of the Wheel 13, the rivet 18, and the spring supporting means, the end portions of the latter which project above the flanges 21 of the plate 12 engaging the indented tongues of the upper plate. The rivets 16 and 17 are then inserted through the side plates and all three rivets are headed over to secure the side plates together and enclose the wheel, dog, spring, and spring supporting means.

In place of fastening the spring 27 to a post at right angles to the spring by slipping an end loop over the post, the spring in eacli embodiment is supported upon a projecting anchor parallel to the long way of the spring, and which enters the coils of the spring. The anchor not only holds the spring against the apex of the dog, but also keeps the end of the spring equi-distant from the side plates 11 and 12 and so eliminates any lateral shifting or undue friction between the side plates and the spring.

lVhile two embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, applicant is not limited thereto, since it is obvious that other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention as set forth in the following claims. y

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire pro tection by Letters Patent is:

1. A reversible ratchet wrench comprising side plates, a wheel carried by and at one end of said plates, a pivoted dog having an apex and two ears, each ear adapted to engage said wheel and permit its movement in one direction only, the direction depending upon which ear of the dog engages the wheel, a spring, one end of which presses against the apex of said dog to hold it with either ear in engagement with said wheel, said dog and spring being enclosed between said plates, tongues inwardly projecting from said side plates, means resting against said tongues for receiving and supporting the other end of said spring, said means being held by said spring against aid tongues and out of contact with said ogs.

2. A reversible ratchet wrench comprising side plates, a wheel carried by and at one end of said plates, a pivoted dog having an apex and two ears, each ear adapted to en-- ing held by said spring against said tongues and out of contact with said dog and including an anchor which projects into the coils of said spring.

8. A reversible ratchet wrench comprising side plates, a wheel carried by and at one end of said plates, a pivoted dog having any apex and two ears, each ear adapted to engage said wheel and permit its movement in one direction only, the direction depending upon which ear of the dog engagesthe wheel, a spring, one end of which presses against the apex of said dog to hold it with either ear in engagement with said wheel, said dog and spring being enclosed between said plates, tongues inwardly projecting lfrom said side plates, and a spring strip in the form of the letter W for receiving andsupporting the other end of said spring, said strip resting against said tongues.

4t. A reversible ratchet wrench comprising side plates, a wheel carried by and at one end of said plates, a pivoted dog having an apex and two ears, each ear adapted to engage said wheel and permit its movement in one direction only, the direction depending upon which ear of' the dog engages the wheel, a spring, one endof which vpresses against the apex of said dog to hold it with either ear in engagement with said wheel,

said do and spring being enclosed between said pates, tongues inwardly projecting from said side plates, and aspring strip in the form of the letter W forreceiving and supporting the other end of said spring, the

ends of said strip engaging said tongues and the center portion acting as an anchor which projects into the coils of said spring.

5. A reversible ratchet wrench comprising side plates, a wheel carried by and at one end of said plates, a pivoted dog having an apex and two ears, each adapted to engage said wheel and permit its movement in one direction only, the direction depending `upon which ear of the dog engages the wheel, aA

spring, one end of which presses against the apex of said dog to hold it with either ear in engagementv with said wheel, said dog and spring being enclosed between said plates, and flexible means for receiving and supporting said spring. Y*

6. A reversible ratchet wrench comprisingl side plates, a wheel carried by and at oneY end of said plates, a pivoted dog having an apex and two ears, each adapted to engage said wheel and permit its movement in one direction only, the direction depending upon which ear of the dog engages the wheel, a spring, one end vof which presses against the apex of said dog to hold it with either ear j in engagement with said wheel, said dog and spring being enclosed between said plates, and flexible means for receiving and supporting said sprin ,said means including an anchor', which projects into the coils of said spring and shifts laterally when the dog is swung on its pivot from one wheel engaging position to the other in unison with the apex, lwhereby said spring is kept substantially straight in both positions of said dog.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

, JOHN E. COE.

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