Tools – Wrench – screwdriver – or driver therefor – Machine
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-19
2001-07-17
Smith, James G. (Department: 3723)
Tools
Wrench, screwdriver, or driver therefor
Machine
C081S057300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260443
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to torquing apparatus and in particular, to hand operated apparatus adapted to transmit and/or augment torque from an input through to an output of the apparatus. Additionally, the invention relates to a device which is especially adaptable for use with pulsating torque apparatus such as impact tools or other external torque providing apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Wrenches are among the most useful hand tools and their design often have conflicting objects. The primary purpose of a wrench is to apply torque to a nut or other fastening device to seat or unseat the device in threaded engagement with a mating object. In order to apply large amounts of torque, wrenches normally have to be either very large in size or use auxiliary mechanisms such as hydraulic or mechanical apparatus to increase the torque provided by the wrench. This tends to make the wrench bulky and large and limit its effectiveness for normal everyday use where the object is to provide a wrench that is relatively small, can fit into tight places and is easy and convenient to use. Examples of torque augmenting devices are known and disclosed in the prior art as follows:
U.S. Pat. No.
Inventor(s)
1,522,839
Rogers
2,204,800
Freeborn
2,235,192
Bailey
2,238,125
Murray
2,292,079
Joyce
2,296,532
Mekeel, Jr.
2,653,489
Charpentier
2,655,015
Linder
2,742,797
Perham
2,783,657
Kohlhagen
2,882,757
Edsall
3,363,482
Case
3,364,794
Ishoika
3,722,325
Rogers
4,041,835
Isler
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,296,532 to Mekeel. Jr. discloses a torque control transmission having a reaction brake which includes a ratchet wheel and latch, and a reversing brake with oppositely facing ratchet wheel and latch. Connector arms support the latches and are pivotally operated by a lever.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,783,657 to Kohlhaaen discloses a constant torque drive having a plurality of gears arranged between a pair of plates, and a pawl pivotally mounted on one of the gears and urged by a spring into operative engagement with a disc-shaped head of a stud to lock the gears against counterclockwise rotation, but permit their rotation in a clockwise direction. The gears are supported by an arm which is connected to a spring to urge the arm in a certain direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,794 to Ishoika discloses a spring torque converter having a plurality of rocking levers, pairs of which are connected with links for coaction with the drive shaft and driven shaft to apply torque. Another embodiment discloses a plurality of crank pins, and a helical spring having one end attached to the respective crank pin and another end attached to an anchoring pin on a carrier portion of the device.
The remaining patents also disclose other torquing devices.
There are also the instances where a wrench is required for use in a torque operation under water. Sometimes, the torquing operation occurs at substantial depths for prolonged period of time. The operation may occur over a substantially large area requiring the user of the wrench to move to the different cites that the torquing operation is to occur. In those instances, with devices requiring hydraulic lines, the amount of pressure necessary to be increased at the surface to convey the pressure through the line must be carefully monitored and controlled.
In addition, the hydraulic line snaking downward through the water to the torque wrench is cumbersome and with increased length difficult to move about a large area under water. There is also the possibility of entanglement of the hydraulic line and where ruptures occur, a substantial amount of hydraulic fluid could be caused to be leaked into the water thereby fouling the environment in violation of federal and state statutes.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a simple, efficient and light weight wrench with torque augmenting means, consisting of a socket wrench which utilizes a rachet arrangement and which includes additional features within the handle of the wrench that enable an auxiliary unit to be connected to the wrench to augment the torque provided by the wrench when situations requiring high torque are encountered. The wrench apparatus is constructed in a manner to facilitate effective coaction of the various components without placing undue stress on the housing and handle of the wrench which enables the wrench to be relatively small for the job it can perform and relatively light and easy to use.
In another embodiment of the invention, the wrench apparatus has two power delivery sockets or driving sockets, one at either end and is relatively symmetrical. The driving sockets can be used for related sizes of nuts that would be used with the device, or for dissimilar shaped fasteners of comparable size. A central driven aperture disposed between the two power delivery sockets has opposed driving fingers extending toward either end of the device to coact with driven arms in the same manner as the single driven aperture hand wrench previously discussed. Spring means are incorporated within the housing to return a middle link, known as the MISSING LINK™, which has opposed driving fingers to an initial position to enhance coaction between the device and an external periodic type of power delivery apparatus, such as an impact wrench.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is constructed with an internal hydraulic assembly connected to a reservoir external to the apparatus for applying torque to a drive output of the wrench.
In still another embodiment of the present invention the wrench is provided with an internal hydraulic assembly, including the hydraulic reservoir, so that the wrench is completely self-contained for applying torque to a drive output.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an augmenter which can be used in confined spaces, and has an envelope sized approximately the same as a standard wrench socket to fit in an area between adjacent nuts.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench augmenter which can operate as a hand wrench or as a plain wrench without any force augmentation.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench having means to enable additional torque to be transmitted to the hand wrench, which in turn is converted to torque at the wrench engaging portion of the apparatus to augment the total torque that can be exerted by the wrench.
It is another object to the present invention to provide a hand wrench with torque augmenting means which can function either as a hand wrench or as a high torque tightening apparatus of limited travel independently of each other.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench augmenter which can be augmented in multiple positions and from either side.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench which is adapted for use with a separate input drive to transmit torque to an output drive such as a socket.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench which is of simple construction, easy to maintain and repair, and adapted to receive differently sized input drives to transmit torque to the output drive.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench constructed with linkage to transmit and convert the torque at the input receptacle to the output drive.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench which is operable without external gears or hydraulics.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench constructed with a housing in which a guide means is disposed to substantially reduce, if not eliminate, forces at an interior portion of the housing and the linkage within the housing, such that the structural integrity of the housing is maintained.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a hand wrench constructed with a housing having side walls arranged to absorb the force of the internal linkage during an operation of the apparatus.
Shakeri Hadi
Smith James G.
Weingram & Associates P.C.
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