Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Machine
Patent
1996-04-24
1998-06-23
Meislin, D. S.
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Machine
81383, 74105, B25B 1346
Patent
active
057689571
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to hand tools. More particularly, but not exclusively, this invention relates to a ratchet tool with a lever mechanism comprising a lever and linkage configuration adapted to increase the mechanical advantage of a rotating ratchet wheel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There are many situations in the service and manufacturing industries, and elsewhere, where a hand tool is required to rotate an object to which direct access may not be possible. The use of a spanner may be difficult to operate as the radial movement of the spanner requires free space to effect turning of a nut or bolt.
A known type of ratchet tool consists of a ratchet wheel with a toothed rim mounted in one end of an elongate housing with a pawl mounted adjacent the ratchet wheel and extending against the toothed rim. The elongate housing is rotated about the ratchet wheel in one direction to loosen or tighten a nut. The mechanical action of these ratchet tools also requires space around the nut area to effect turning of the ratchet wheel. This may be difficult in confined spaces, which results in either not being able to rotate the ratchet tool or only being able to turn the nut in small incremental degrees.
Another known ratchet tool is that described in New Zealand patent specification No. 198861/199602. That ratchet tool has a handle mechanism comprising a lever with one pivot joint and attached to a plunger. The plunger is connected to a drive mechanism which drives a ratchet wheel. When the lever is squeezed, the longitudinal movement of the plunger translates into a rotary motion of the ratchet wheel. A limitation with this handle mechanism is that much force is required by a user to operate the handle and apply torque to loosen or tighten a nut.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to overcome at least some of the these disadvantages or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a lever assembly for converting lateral motion of a handle end of a lever means into reciprocating motion of a distal end of the lever means comprising a mounting means to fix the lever assembly to a position where reciprocating motion is required, the lever means comprising the handle end adapted to permit manual gripping and adapted to be movable under manual pressure toward the mounting means and a reciprocating portion of the distal end of the lever means at a distal position, first and second linkage means spaced apart from each other and pivotably mounted between the handle end of the lever means and the mounting means in substantially the same plane so that four pivot points form the corners of a four sided figure, the first linkage means being pivotably connected closer to the distal end of the lever means than the second linkage means, the length of the sides and the relationship between the lever means and the mounting means providing reciprocal motion at the distal end of the lever means.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of attaching the lever assembly to a hand tool comprising the steps of: distal end of the lever means; and mounting bracket to be positioned in place about the housing.
According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a method of detaching the lever assembly from a hand tool comprising the steps of: mounting bracket to be removed from about the housing; and ball on the distal end of the rod to remove the lever assembly from the hand tool.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1. shows a cross-sectional view of a ratchet tool through the housing and sleeve according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 2. shows a side view of a lever assembly and ratchet tool according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 3. shows an end view of the lever assembly on a hand tool.
FIG. 4. shows a bottom view of the lever asse
REFERENCES:
patent: 1709378 (1929-04-01), Sulger
patent: 2708383 (1955-05-01), Herbst et al.
patent: 2726563 (1955-12-01), Blackburn
patent: 4323009 (1982-04-01), Volgt
patent: 4507989 (1985-04-01), Baker
Danganan Joni B.
Meislin D. S.
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