Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Sliding jaw – cam-closing
Patent
1994-12-19
1996-07-30
Smith, James G.
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Sliding jaw, cam-closing
279 64, B25B 1318
Patent
active
055401244
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to an adjustable gripping device which in a particular aspect is in the form of an adjustable socket.
1. Background Art
Socket sets are a common tool used for driving bolts and nuts. Usually such sockets sets comprise a plurality of sockets of different sizes to suit different sized nuts or bolts. Use of such sockets is often inconvenient where for example many different size nuts or bolts are encountered as different sockets are required to be individually detached from the driving tool or wrench and the correct sized socket reattached to suit the particular size nut or bolt to be driven. Inconvenience also often arises if a particular size socket is not readily available.
Some adjustable sockets have been proposed in the past to overcome the above problem, however, the known adjustable have a number of disadvantages. For example such adjustable sockets are generally relatively complex with some involving springs to bias gripping jaws outwardly. The use of springs often causes difficulties in manufacture and use. Other adjustable sockets such as those disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT/AU86/01319 have jaws with a limited range of opening so that their application is limited. Additionally most adjustable sockets have dimensions which make them unsuitable for use in confined spaces.
2. Disclosure of the Invention
The present invention aims to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the above disadvantages by providing an adjustable gripping device which may be in the form of an adjustable socket which is of simple construction such as to lend itself to easy manufacture. The present invention in a preferred form aims to provide an adjustable gripping device which may be constructed so as to have relatively small overall dimensions whereby to enable it to be used in confined spaces. The present invention further preferably aims to provide an adjustable gripping device in which the range of jaw openings is relatively large so as to facilitate gripping of members of a range of different sizes. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description.
With the above and other objects in view the present invention provides in a first aspect an adjustable gripping device including a body adapted to be driven for rotation about a central axis, a plurality of jaws spaced about said central axis and supported for movement relative to said body and adjuster means mounted to said body and rotatable relative thereto about said central axis, said adjuster means co-operating with said jaws and adapted when rotated to move said jaws along an arcuate path longitudinally of said body and radially inwardly or outwardly relative to said central axis.
The body preferably supports or includes a guide with which each jaw co-operates, each jaw being in bearing engagement with the guide. Preferably the jaws have an arcuate portion or shank and the guide has corresponding arcuate guide surfaces adapted to receive in a complementary manner, the respective arcuate portions or shanks of the jaws so that the jaws are guided along their arcuate path of movement. Preferably the guide and adjuster means define therebetween respective slots through which each jaw projects, each jaw moving inwardly and outwardly of its associated slot upon rotation of the adjuster means. The arcuate guide surfaces of the guide are separated by longitudinally extending ribs so that the jaws are constrained for longitudinal and radial movement as described.
Preferably each jaw is provided with a plurality of teeth and the adjuster means is provided with an internal thread adapted to be engaged by the teeth on the jaws whereby the cooperation between the thread and teeth causes movement of the jaws both longitudinally and radially relative to the body upon rotation of the adjuster means.
The thread on the adjuster means suitably has a pitch circle which increases in diameter longitudinally of the body so to be of generally bell shaped form to match the curv
REFERENCES:
patent: 1390738 (1921-09-01), Williams
patent: 1395585 (1921-11-01), Kizer
patent: 1413444 (1922-04-01), Williams
patent: 1526328 (1925-02-01), Englund
patent: 4608887 (1986-09-01), Colvin
patent: 4892016 (1990-01-01), Anderson
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