Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Handle clutched to head
Patent
1982-09-27
1984-12-18
Schmidt, Frederick R.
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Handle clutched to head
81 60, B25B 1346
Patent
active
044884591
ABSTRACT:
A closed or open end ratchet wrench head comprising a substantially hollow cylindrical body with a plurality of recesses or pockets formed therein in communication with the central opening of the cylindrical body. A plurality of flexible, swinging pawls that act as jaw members are located in the recesses and extend into the central opening of the body for direct contact with a nut or bolt head. The pawls are preferably formed of high strength spring steel suitably tempered and heat treated for abrasion and impact resistance in combination with resilience for spring action.
The recesses and pawls are shaped to retain the pawls within the recesses while permitting the pawls to flex as required during ratcheting movement. The flexible pawls eliminate the need for separate hardened steel pawls and springs. The cylindrical body is preferably formed from pressed and sintered powdered metal thereby eliminating or minimizing subsequent machining or grinding steps to form the recesses.
In an alternate embodiment that also advantageously utilizes powdered metal technology, the pawls comprise hardened metal slugs extending into the central opening from peripheral recesses tangentially in communication with the central opening. The pawls are urged into the central opening by separate springs within the recesses. The pawls engage the nut flats with area contact and are supported with area contact by thrust walls in the wrench head recesses. The pawls are under a compressive load with driving engagement providing maximum strength with minimum size.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2500835 (1950-03-01), Lang
patent: 2551669 (1951-05-01), Hale
patent: 2712259 (1955-07-01), Cowell
patent: 3598001 (1971-08-01), Thomasian
patent: 4052917 (1977-10-01), Gee
Bailey Ben J.
Bailey Roy E.
Deimen James M.
Meislin Debra S.
Schmidt Frederick R.
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