Abstract: There is disclosed a fold-away wrench having a wrench head (9) pivotally mounted on a handle (2). The wrench head (4) is an open flexible ring socket (3a) locatable over a fastener such as a nut, bolt or screw to move it. Pins (17) are provided for engagement with the wrench head (4) to close the wrench head over a fastener to be moved. Preferably, the wrench head (4) is pivotable on an axis pin (10) at one end of the socket ring while at the other end of the socket ring is a fulcrum pin (17) for closing the socket over the fastener.

Abstract: A socket for use on fasteners, such as a locking nut inaccessible to closed sockets or ring wrenches, comprises a minimum of two swivel jaws pivotally mounted in the same plane, and fixed and secured together at a swivel end by an axis pin. Such locking nuts may be found, for example, on a tie rod (track rod) or tie rod end within a vehicle steering rack. The swivel jaws advantageously open and close as required around the fastener. Lock/drive portions, preferably in the form of apertures, align with each other and an appropriate drive spigot means is engaged into the lock/drive apertures to not only lock the swivel jaws closed around a polygonal drive surface of the fastener, but to provide a drive torque via a torque drive bar for operating the socket.

Abstract: A wrench has a head portion (10) adapted to engage and apply torque to a workpiece, including a ring member (14) which surrounds the workpiece and has a fixed end (16) and a free end (18) such that, when the ring engages a workpiece and a torque is applied in a predetermined direction (48), the ring closes around the workpiece, increasing the grip between the wrench and the workpiece even if the workpiece is substantially worn, damaged or undersized.

Abstract: A head portion (2) and handle portion (3) pivot about an axis pin (6). The head portion (2) is first biased in the required drive direction (D) bias being sustained by a resilient cam (5) being to one side of a clamping shoe (7) centre line (7a). When torque is applied in the drive direction (D) to a levered end (3a) of the handle portion the resultant force acts through the pertinent cam (3c) on levered end (3b) of the handle portion forcing the clamping shoe (7) inwards locking the inner surface (2b) and clamping surface (7c) onto the drive portion (4) of a socket (8) or circular drive (9) in order to operate a fastener (10). A spring cam (5) takes up any play between the handle portion (3) head portion (2) axis pin (6) clamping shoe (7) and drive portion (4) yet compresses sufficiently to allow the instant gearless drive (1) relative to the drive portion (4) to be repositioned (R).

Abstract: A wrench or one way drive has a flexible head (2) with a split aperture (20) for loosely engaging a separate drive such as a socket or the head of a fastener (31) (a nut, bolt, screw or the like). Cam means, preferably pins (11,11a), are located on a handle (3) and engage the head (2) preferably through slots (21,22) in the head. The slots diverge outwardly so that as the handle is moved relative to the head the split aperture (20) closes and the flexible head (2) increasingly clamps a drive socket, for example the more and more torque is applied to the handle.

Abstract: A wrench (1) is disclosed having a handle (3), a head portion (2) for engaging a drive socket (4) to tighten or slacken a fastener such as a nut, bolt or screw, and an operative portion (9) intermediate the handle and head portion. The head portion (2) is a flexible ring (2a) having a radial gap (2g) therein and an arm (2c, 2e) extending radially outwardly from each end of the ring respectively. The arms, preferably of unequal lengths, are mounted on the operative part (9) so that when the handle (3) is rotated in a drive direction (D) the head portion (2) clamps onto the drive socket (4) with increasing pressure as drive torque increases through rotation of the handle. Movement of the handle (3) in the opposite direction (R) allows free rotation of the head portion (2) relative to the drive socket (4).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for testing a shock absorber and/or suspension system while in situ in a motor vehicle. The method comprising first raising a wheel and the bodywork or chassis of a motor vehicle under test from a ground engaging position to a raised position by means of a lifting device in supportive engagement with the wheel, and moving the lifting device away from the wheel to allow the wheel to return to the ground engaging position under free fall whereby relative vertical motion occurs between the wheel and the bodywork during the fall. Characteristics of the relative motion of the vehicle as a consequence of the fall are assessed and compared to a corresponding characteristic obtained for the motor vehicle having new or as new shock absorbers and suspension system whereupon the condition of the shock absorber and/or suspension system of the tested vehicle is established.

Abstract: A portable hand-held device (1) is provided for testing the boiling point of fluids, especially hydraulic fluid such as brake fluid. The device includes a probe (3) for immersion in fluid to be tested, in particular in a fluid reservoir, and the probe (3) comprises an inner casing (11) defining a housing (11A) for a semi-encapsulated portion of fluid and an outer sheath (7) defining a shroud surrounding the inner casing (11). A heater (5) and a temperature sensor (6) are present in the housing (11A), and apertures (10, 13) are provided to permit fluid flows to and from the housing (11A). The device senses the onset of the equilibrium reflux boiling temperature of the fluid in the housing (11A).

Abstract: Apparatus for use in the bleeding of fluid systems, especially the hydraulic brake system of a motor vehicle, comprises fluid pumping equipment (1) for pumping fluid to a main fluid reservoir (8) of the fluid system via a supply conduit (24). The pumping equipment (1) includes a fluid container (6) and an air pump (2) serving to discharge fluid from the container (6) into the supply conduit (24). The pump (2) is driven through an electric circuit (C1.C2) including a fluid pressure control (14) and a fluid level control (15A) of the container (6). The delivery end of the supply conduit (24) passes through an opening (26) of the reservoir (8) which opening (26) is sealed by an elastomeric plug (18) laterally expandable by a compression device. The above apparatus considerably conveniences the bleeding of motor vehicle brake systems.