Abstract: A ratchet useful for wrenches is provided having a pawl and a main gear that reside in a case, wherein the pawl is biased to engage teeth of the main gear to permit rotation in a selected direction. According to an aspect of the invention, a biasing mechanism is housed within the pawl and acts outwardly from the pawl against one or more ramped surfaces formed in the case, thereby biasing the pawl rotationally. For example, the biasing mechanism may be a coil spring housed within a bore extending through the pawl, aligned parallel to an axis of rotation of the pawl. The spring is compressed between two ball bearings, urging the ball bearings axially outwardly against the ramped surfaces. The ramped surfaces are shaped so that a component of the force of the ball bearings creates a rotational moment on the pawl.

Abstract: A torque wrench is provided having body and a handle that is rotatably mounted to the body for adjusting the torque setting, and an axially movable sleeve operable to selectively lock the handle. The sleeve includes a rigid member and an elastomeric member, such as an O-ring, and the sleeve is configured to act against a locking ball held in a bore of the handle. The sleeve is selectively movable between two positions: (a) a locked position wherein the rigid member firmly retains the locking ball seated in one of several detents in the body, thereby preventing rotation of the handle; and (b) an unlocked position wherein the elastomeric member biases the locking ball inwardly, deflecting when the locking ball unseats from the detent to permit handle rotation. When the sleeve is in the unlocked position, the locking ball can incrementally “click” over the detents during handle rotation.

Abstract: An antifriction force transmission, especially useful in torque wrenches comprises a freely rotatable cylindrical roller, opposed interface reaction surfaces in cooperative relation with the roller, and the roller and the reaction surfaces cooperating for effecting relative separating movement of the reaction surfaces when at least one of the reaction surfaces is caused to move transversely relative to the other of the reaction surfaces.

Abstract: A plunger has a perimeter for spaced cooperation with a guide bore along a reciprocation axis. For alleviating lateral thrust friction between the plunger perimeter and guide bore, antifriction roller structure has an axle with journals engaged in radius bearings on axis transverse to the reciprocation axis of the plunger. Mounting of the antifriction roller structure is such that annular wheel surfaces on the roller effect rolling engagement with the guide bore.

Abstract: A torque control mechanism for wrenches and the like in which a pivot block has one end rockably engaging a force tranmsission member, an axially movable plunger has one end rockably opposing a second end of the pivot block, a ball screw carried by the plunger has a control ball element engaging the second end of the pivot block, a balance cam carried by the plunger provides seat for a coiled compression spring having its opposite end engaged by an antifriction device permitting the spring to turn for adjustment purposes, a rotatably adjustable transfer screw engages the antifriction device and is threaded through a stop adjusting nut mounted in the distal end portion of tubular housing for the mechanism.

Abstract: An ajustable torque controlling mechanism has a drive shaft for driving connection with a member to be driven and a torque releasable clutch connected with the shaft and including a wear resistant torque sensitive ball detent release device and a compression spring rate adjusting arangement including radial arms on the clutch co-acting with generally ellipsoidal control edges carried by the housing surrounding the shaft.

Abstract: Multiple range calibrating apparatus for checking the accuracy of torque wrenches and other force measuring instruments comprising a mechanism for applying torque to a torque receiving element connected between the instrument being checked and a force measuring device or instrumentality. The torque receiving element is connected to the measuring device by a novel linkage that is adjustable to vary the ratio of input torque to the force applied to the measuring device so that instruments of varying capacity or calibrated in different multiple measuring scales may be tested therewith. The multiple scales on the measuring device are related to the linkage ratios so that different units of torque may be indicated. This greatly enlarges the utilization range of such testers.